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 tiltable relative to the housing and the shaft. A sensor is preferably positioned within the housing for sensing tilting of the rotatable member. In response to sensed tilting movement of the rotatable member, the image is horizontally scrolled, preferably in the direction of the lateral movement. 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 for scrolling an image, the device comprising: 
 a housing having an opening;    a finger-engagable control member provided within the housing and having a portion extending through the opening permitting user manipulation thereof, the finger-engagable control member being endlessly rotatable about a rotating axis extending within the housing and tiltable about a tilting axis;    a rotation sensor for sensing rotation of the finger-engagable control member; and    an optical tilt sensor for sensing tilting of the finger-engagable control member.    
   
   
       2 . The computer input device of  claim 1 , wherein when the finger-engagable control member is rotated, a signal is transmitted to scroll the image in a first scroll direction and wherein when the finger-engagable control member is tilted, a signal is transmitted to scroll the image in a second scroll direction, the second scroll direction being approximately perpendicular to the first scroll direction.  
   
   
       3 . The computer input device of  claim 1 , wherein the tilting axis is perpendicular to the rotating axis.  
   
   
       4 . The computer input device of  claim 1 , further comprising a carriage housing at least a portion of the finger-engagable control member.  
   
   
       5 . The computer input device of  claim 4  wherein the carriage may be rotated irrespective of tilting.  
   
   
       6 . The computer input device of  claim 1  wherein the optical tilt sensor is positioned at the rear of the finger-engagable control member.  
   
   
       7 . The computer input device of  claim 6  further comprising a tilt axle, wherein the optical tilt sensor includes an encoder mounted to the tilt axle.  
   
   
       8 . The computer input device of  claim 1  wherein the optical tilt sensor comprises a light source, a light sensor and a movable intervening member between the light source and the light sensor.  
   
   
       9 . The computer input device of  claim 8  wherein when the finger-engagable member is tilted in a first rotational direction, the movable intervening member moves in the same rotational direction.  
   
   
       10 . The computer input device of  claim 1  wherein the optical tilt sensor is positioned at the rear of the finger-engagable control member underlying the tilting axis of the finger-engagable control member and comprises a light source, a light sensor and a movable intervening member between the light source and the light sensor, the movable intervening member being operatively connected to a tilt axle, the tilt axle being operatively connected to the finger-engagable control member along the tilting axis.  
   
   
       11 . The computer input device of  claim 1  further comprising a carriage containing at least a portion of the finger-engagable control member.  
   
   
       12 . The computer input device of  claim 11  further comprising a tilt axle operatively connected to the carriage along the tilting axis, wherein the optical tilt sensor is located at the rear of the finger-engagable control member underlying the tilting axis and includes a light source, a light sensor, and a movable intervening member between the light source and the light sensor, the movable intervening member being operatively connected to the tilt axle.  
   
   
       13 . The computer input device of  claim 1  wherein the device is an electronic mouse.  
   
   
       14 . A computer input device for scrolling an image, the device comprising: 
 a housing having an opening;    a finger-engagable control member provided within the housing and having a portion extending through the opening permitting user manipulation thereof, the finger-engagable control member being endlessly rotatable about a rotating axis extending within the housing and tiltable about a tilting axis;    a carriage for housing at least a portion of the finger-engagable control member and being tiltable about the tilting axis;    a shaft extending from the carriage;    a light-blocking member coupled to the shaft; and    a tilt sensor configured for sensing a position of the light blocking member.    
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 14  wherein the tilt sensor includes a light source and a light sensor that is configured to sense light from the light source.  
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 15  wherein the light-blocking member is configured to block transmission of light between the light source and the light sensor.  
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 15  wherein tilting the finger-engagable control member along the tilting axis causes corresponding tilting of the carriage.  
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 15  wherein when the finger-engagable member is tilted in a first rotational direction, the light-blocking member moves in the same rotational direction.  
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 14  further comprising a rotation sensor for sensing rotation of the finger-engagable control member.  
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 14  wherein the device is an electronic mouse.