Multi-dimensional scroll wheel

• US 8,416,198 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2008
• Issued: 04/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Rathnam, Lakshman, Bokma, Louis, Rothkopf, Fletcher, Mucignat, Andrea, Kocalar, Erturk, Lyon, Benjamin, Fisher, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): HARRISON, CHANTE E
• Application Number:
  US12/205,757
• Publication Number:
  US 20090141046A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,677 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/156, 345/661, 345/902, 715/738, 715/864
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A multi-dimensional scroll wheel is disclosed. Scroll wheel circuitry is provided to detect input gestures that traverse the center of the scroll wheel and to detect multi-touch input. The scroll wheel can include a first plurality of sensor elements arranged in a first closed loop and a second plurality of sensor elements arranged in a second closed loop, the first and second closed loops being concentrically arranged about the center of the scroll wheel.

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

a touch sensitive surface surrounding a touch sensitive mechanical push button, wherein the touch sensitive mechanical push button is capable of being depressed relative to the touch sensitive surface surrounding the touch sensitive mechanical push button, enabling relative displacement between the touch sensitive mechanical push button and the touch sensitive surface surrounding the touch sensitive mechanical push button; and

a controller configured to detect a gesture traversing the touch sensitive surface and the touch sensitive mechanical push button.

2. The input device of claim 1, wherein

the touch sensitive surface is enabled by a first plurality of circumferentially arranged sensor elements, the first plurality of sensor elements being concentrically arranged relative to the touch sensitive mechanical push button, and wherein the controller is configured to detect a gesture traversing the first plurality of sensor elements and the touch sensitive mechanical push button.

3. The input device of claim 2, wherein the touch sensitive surface is further enabled by a second plurality of circumferentially arranged sensor elements, the second plurality of sensor elements being concentrically arranged relative to the touch sensitive mechanical push button, and wherein the controller is configured to detect a gesture traversing the first plurality of sensor elements, the second plurality of sensor elements and the touch sensitive mechanical push button.

4. The input device of claim 2, wherein a user interface application is configured to be executed in response to the detection of the gesture.

5. The input device of claim 2, wherein the gesture comprises a linear motion.

6. The input device of claim 2, wherein the gesture comprises a linear motion and a user interface application is configured to change a display of content in response to the detection of the gesture.

7. The input device of claim 6, wherein the first plurality of sensor elements are concentrically arranged relative to one or more capacitive sensor elements.

8. The input device of claim 6, wherein the first plurality of sensor elements are concentrically arranged relative to a trackpad.

9. The input device of claim 2, wherein the first plurality of sensor elements comprise capacitive sensor elements.

10. The input device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to detect a simultaneous presence of two or more objects on the touch sensitive surface and the touch sensitive mechanical push button.

11. The input device of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to execute a user interface application in response to the simultaneous detection of the objects.

12. The input device of claim 11, wherein the simultaneous detection comprises:

the controller detecting a presence of a first of two objects on the touch sensitive mechanical push button, and

the controller detecting a rotation of a second of the two objects on the Touch sensitive surface.

13. The input device of claim 12, wherein the user interface application comprises a zoom-in or a zoom-out operation executed in response to the rotation of the second object on the touch sensitive surface while the first object touches the touch sensitive mechanical push button.

14. The input device of claim 10, wherein the simultaneous detection comprises:

the controller sensing a first object on the touch sensitive surface, and

the controller sensing a second object the touch sensitive surface.

15. The input device of claim 10, wherein the simultaneous detection comprises:

the controller sensing a first object on the touch sensitive mechanical push button, and

the controller sensing a second object on the touch sensitive surface.

16. The input device of claim 10, wherein the simultaneous detection comprises:

the controller detecting a pinching gesture by two objects.