Scroll wheel assembly for scrolling an image in multiple directions

Abstract

A scroll wheel assembly for computer input device having a housing. The scroll wheel assembly includes a housing and an engagable scroll wheel. The scroll wheel is rotatable with a shaft to preferably cause vertical scrolling of an image on a display. The scroll wheel is laterally pivotable relative to the housing and the shaft. A ball joint is used to couple the scroll wheel to the shaft and permit this functional arrangement. A sensor is preferably positioned within the housing for sensing lateral movement of the rotatable member. In response to sensed lateral pivotable movement of the rotatable member, the image is horizontally scrolled, preferably in the direction of the lateral movement. The scrolling speed can be affected relative to the amount of displacement of the rotatable member and/or the amount of time that the rotatable member is displaced a predetermined amount. The computer input device having the rotatable member may take the form of a keyboard, a mouse, a trackball device, or another type of computer input device.

1 . A computer input device, comprising: 
 a scroll wheel; and    a ball joint, said scroll wheel coupled to the ball joint permitting movement of the scroll wheel with the ball joint in a first direction and movement of the scroll wheel with respect to the ball joint in a second direction different from the first direction.    
   
   
       2 . The computer input device of  claim 1 , wherein said scroll wheel is coupled to the ball joint permitting rotational movement of the scroll wheel with the ball joint in the first direction and pivotable movement of the scroll wheel with respect to the ball joint in the second direction.  
   
   
       3 . The computer input device of  claim 2 , further comprising housing, and an aperture located in the housing, the scroll wheel extending through the aperture to permit manipulation by a user, said ball joint being substantially disposed within the housing.  
   
   
       4 . The computer input device of  claim 2 , wherein said ball joint includes an outer surface and said scroll wheel includes an inner surface interfacing with the outer surface of the ball joint.  
   
   
       5 . The computer input device of  claim 2 , further comprising a first protruding pin and a corresponding first guide slot, wherein one of said scroll wheel and said ball joint having the first protruding pin and the other said scroll wheel and said ball joint having the corresponding first guide slot.  
   
   
       6 . The computer input device of  claim 2 , wherein said computer input device is an electronic mouse.  
   
   
       7 . The computer input device of  claim 2 , further comprising a tilt sensor for sensing the tilt of the scroll wheel.  
   
   
       8 . The computer input device of  claim 7 , wherein said tilt sensor includes a binary switch.  
   
   
       9 . The computer input device of  claim 7 , wherein said tilt sensor includes a potentiometer.  
   
   
       10 . The computer input device of  claim 7 , said tilt sensor includes an encoder and an optical sensor.  
   
   
       11 . The computer input device of  claim 10 , wherein the optical sensor comprises a light source and a light sensor, the light source providing light to the light sensor in an axis parallel to an axis of said second direction and wherein the encoder rotates in relation to the optical sensor when the scroll wheel is moved in the second direction.  
   
   
       12 . The computer input device of  claim 1 , wherein the ball joint is comprised of two semicircular elements.  
   
   
       13 . A computer input device, comprising: 
 a scroll wheel;    a rotational axle forming an axis of rotation for the scroll wheel; wherein said scroll wheel is coupled to the axle such that a rotational force applied to the scroll wheel will cause the axle to rotate with the scroll wheel and that a lateral force applied to the scroll wheel will cause the scroll wheel to pivot relative to the axle.    
   
   
       14 . The computer input device of  claim 13 , wherein said computer input device is an electronic mouse.  
   
   
       15 . The computer input device of  claim 13 , further comprising a tilt sensor for sensing the tilt of the scroll wheel.  
   
   
       16 . The computer input device of  claim 15 , further comprising a biasing device for urging the scroll wheel towards a neutral position.  
   
   
       17 . The computer input device of  claim 13 , wherein said wheel is mounted for downward displacement to serve as an actuator.  
   
   
       18 . A computer input device, comprising: 
 a housing, said housing having an aperture therein;    a scroll wheel disposed within the housing and having a portion extending through the aperture permitting endless rotational and limited tilting movement of the scroll wheel relative to the housing;    a rotational axle; wherein said scroll wheel is coupled to the axle such that a rotational force applied to the scroll wheel will cause the axle to rotate with the scroll wheel and that a lateral force applied to the scroll wheel will cause the scroll wheel to pivot relative to the axle;    means for sensing the rotation of the scroll wheel;    means for sensing the angular displacement of the scroll wheel.    
   
   
       19 . The computer input device of  claim 18 , further comprising means for biasing the scroll wheel towards a neutral position.  
   
   
       20 . The computer input device of  claim 11  wherein the rotation of the encoder in relation to the optical sensor causes light from the light source to be periodically blocked from the light sensor.