Scroll wheel device for portable computers
AssigneeDell Products L.P.
InventorsEduardo Escamilla, Darin Lee Cepeda
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A portable notebook computer includes a base having an exterior surface. A keyboard is mounted on the exterior surface. A palmrest area is mounted on the exterior surface adjacent the keyboard. A scroll device is mounted in the exterior surface adjacent the palmrest area. The scroll device includes a first portion protruding from the exterior surface, and a second portion extending through the exterior surface and recessed into the base. The scroll device is bi-directionally rotatable relative to the exterior surface and resiliently depressible into the base.
Claims8
A computer comprising:
- a base including an exterior surface;
- a keyboard mounted on the exterior surface;
- a palmrest area on the exterior surface adjacent the keyboard;
- a stationary mounting bracket mounted in the exterior surface;
- a rotating-only scroll wheel mounted in the stationary mounting bracket;
- a reciprocably movable mounting bracket resiliently mounted in the stationary mounting bracket;
- a rotating and reciprocating scroll wheel mounted in the reciprocably movable mounting bracket;
- a belt rotatable engaged with the scroll wheels, the belt including a plurality of tabs separated by spaces between the tabs;
- and
- a pair of opposed sensors mounted on opposite sides of the belt, whereby rotation of the belt moves the tabs and spaces between the sensors for generating a frequency signal from the sensors.
A computer system comprising:
- a base including an exterior surface;
- a palmrest area on the exterior surface adjacent the keyboard;
- a microprocessor mounted in the base;
- a storage coupled to the microprocessor;
- a stationary mounting bracket mounted in the exterior surface;
- a rotating-only scroll wheel mounted in the stationary mounting bracket;
- a reciprocably movable mounting bracket resiliently mounted in the stationary mounting bracket;
- a rotating and reciprocating scroll wheel mounted in the reciprocably movable mounting bracket;
- a belt rotatably engaged with the scroll wheels, the belt including a plurality of tabs separated by spaces between the tabs;
- and
- a pair of opposed sensors mounted on opposite sides of the belt, whereby rotation of the belt moves the tabs and spaces between the sensors for generating a frequency signal from the sensors.
A method of providing input into a portable computer comprising:
- providing a base having an exterior surface;
- mounting a keyboard on the exterior surface;
- forming a palmrest area on the exterior surface adjacent the keyboard;
- mounting a stationary mounting bracket mounted in the exterior surface;
- mounting a rotating-only scroll wheel in the stationary mounting bracket;
- resiliently mounting a reciprocably movable mounting bracket in the stationary mounting bracket;
- mounting a rotating and reciprocating scroll wheel in the reciprocably movable mounting bracket;
- rotatably engaging a belt with the scroll wheels, the belt including a plurality of tabs separated by spaces between the tabs;
- and
- mounting a pair of opposed sensors on opposite sides of the belt, whereby rotation of the belt moves the tabs and spaces between the sensors for generating a frequency signal from the sensors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.