Input device including a wheel assembly for scrolling an image in multiple directions
DCFirst Claim
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1. An input device for scrolling an image relative to an image display screen, said device comprising:
- a housing having at least one opening;
a finger-engagable control member provided within said housing and having a portion extending through said opening permitting user manipulation thereof, said finger-engagable control member being endlessly rotatable about a rotating axis extending within the housing and tiltable about a tilting axis,a central internal area located within an internal rotatable surface of the finger-engagable control member;
a rotation sensor positioned within the central internal area of the endlessly rotatable finger-engagable control member configured to sense rotation of the finger-engagable control member; and
a tilt sensor configured to sense tilting of the finger-engagable control member.
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Abstract
A computer input device having a housing and a finger-engagable scrolling device. A portion of the scrolling device is endlessly rotatable about a first axis to preferably cause vertical scrolling of an image on a display. The scrolling device is pivotally movable relative to the housing about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. The finger-engagable scrolling device may contain rotation sensor within a scroll wheel assembly. The finger-engagable scrolling device may also contain lateral arms extending laterally from the finger-engagable scrolling device.
63 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An input device for scrolling an image relative to an image display screen, said device comprising:
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a housing having at least one opening; a finger-engagable control member provided within said housing and having a portion extending through said opening permitting user manipulation thereof, said finger-engagable control member being endlessly rotatable about a rotating axis extending within the housing and tiltable about a tilting axis, a central internal area located within an internal rotatable surface of the finger-engagable control member; a rotation sensor positioned within the central internal area of the endlessly rotatable finger-engagable control member configured to sense rotation of the finger-engagable control member; and a tilt sensor configured to sense tilting of the finger-engagable control member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer input device for scrolling an image, said device comprising:
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a housing having at least one opening; a finger-engagable control member provided within said housing and having a portion extending through said opening permitting user manipulation thereof, said finger-engagable control member being endlessly rotatable about a rotating axis extending within the housing and tiltable about a tilting axis; a first lateral contact arm extending laterally from a first lateral side of the finger-engagable control member and a second lateral contact arm extending from a second lateral side of the finger-engagable control member, the first lateral contact arm and the second lateral contact arm being generally horizontal; a rotation sensor for sensing rotation of the finger-engagable control member; and a tilt sensor for sensing tilting of the finger-engagable control member, the tilt sensor having a first contact switch at a first lateral side of the finger-engagable control member along the rotating axis of the finger-engagable control member and a second contact switch at a second lateral side of the finger-engagable control member along the rotating axis of the finger-engagable control member, wherein the first lateral contact arm is configured to contact the first contact switch when the finger-engagable control member is pivoted in the direction of the first contact switch and the second lateral contact arm is configured to contact the second contact switch when the finger-engagable control member is pivoted in the direction of the second contact switch. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer input device for scrolling an image, said device comprising:
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a housing having at least one opening; a finger-engagable control member provided within said housing and having a portion extending through said opening permitting user manipulation thereof, said finger-engagable control member being endlessly rotatable about a rotating axis extending within the housing and tiltable about a tilting axis; a first lateral contact arm extending laterally from a first lateral side of the finger-engagable control member and a second lateral contact arm extending from a second lateral side of the finger-engagable control member, the first lateral contact arm and the second lateral contact arm being generally horizontal; a circuit board underlying the finger-engagable control member and including a first contact switch and a second contact switch thereon, the first contact switch and the second contact switch at opposite sides of the finger-engagable control member, wherein the first contact switch underlies the first lateral contact arm and the second contact switch underlies the second lateral contact arm. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification