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US 2011/0227828 A1Published application
Multi-function roller apparatus and method for a control device
AssigneesLogitech, Inc., Logitech Europe S.A.
InventorsChristian Michel Blandin, Marc Bidiville, Darragh Luttrell, Denis O'Keeffe, Timothy O'Sullivan, Erik Charlton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A roller for a mouse includes a roller wheel having an outer portion formed of metal and a corrugated surface; a pivot arm configured to pivot in a first direction to contact the corrugated surface and to pivot in a second direction to move away from the corrugated surface; and user operable device configured to be translated to pivot the pivot arm.
Claims34
A control device comprising:
- a roller wheel having an outer portion formed of metal and a hub inside the outer portion formed a second material having a lower density than the outer portion, wherein the outer portion has a higher moment of inertia than the hub and a corrugated surface is formed on the hub;
- a pivot arm configured to pivot in a first direction to contact the corrugated surface and to pivot in a second direction to move out of contact with the corrugated surface, wherein if the pivot arm is pivoted in the second direction the roller wheel is configured to continue to rotate after a user pushing force is applied to the roller wheel along a rotation direction of the roller wheel, and wherein the outer portion of the roller wheel formed of metal is configured to provide inertia for the continued rotation;
- and
- a user operable device configured to be moved to pivot the pivot arm.
1 more element
A mouse comprising:
- a carriage having an opening formed therein;
- a roller wheel rotationally coupled to the carriage and disposed at least partially in the opening, wherein the roller wheel includes an outer portion formed of metal and a corrugated surface;
- a pivot arm pivotally coupled to the carriage and configured to pivot in a first direction to contact the corrugated surface and to pivot in a second direction to move out of contact with the corrugated surface, wherein if the pivot arm is pivoted in the second direction the roller wheel is configured to continue to rotate after a user pushing force is applied to the roller wheel along a rotation direction of the roller wheel, and wherein the outer portion of the roller wheel formed of metal is configured to provide inertia for the continued rotation;
- a cam slidably coupled to the pivot arm and rotationally coupled to the carriage, wherein if the cam is rotated, the cam is configured to pivot the pivot arm;
- and
- a user operable device configured to rotate the cam.
3 more elements
A control device comprising:
- a roller wheel having an outer portion formed of a first material and a hub inside the outer portion formed a second material having a lower density than the outer portion, wherein the outer portion has a higher moment of inertia than the hub and a corrugated surface is formed on the hub;
- a pivot arm configured to pivot in a first direction to contact the corrugated surface and to pivot in a second direction to move out of contact with the corrugated surface, wherein if the pivot arm is pivoted in the second direction the roller wheel is configured to continue to rotate after a user pushing force is applied to the roller wheel along a rotation direction of the roller wheel, and wherein the outer portion of the roller wheel formed of the first material is configured to provide inertia for the continued rotation;
- and
- a user operable device configured to be moved to pivot the pivot arm.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.