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US 6,842,169 B2Granted
Hand-held electronic device with multiple input mode thumbwheel
AssigneeResearch In Motion Limited
InventorsJason T. Griffin, Chao Chen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A thumbwheel input device oriented on an incline and comprising a wheel such that a first input is generated by rotation of the wheel about its axis, and a holder also having an axis of rotation and a portion thereon to receive the wheel whereby a second input is generated by rotation of the holder about the second axis.
Claims8
A thumbwheel input device for a handheld electronic device with a housing, in an inclined orientation, comprising:
- a. a wheel that has an axle rotating around a first axis of rotation, and that partially protrudes through the device housing on an incline;
- b. a rotating encoder switch that receives a first input when the wheel rotates about its first axis, and that has an aperture in which the wheel axle sits;
- c. a printed circuit board with a first side and second side, with the rotating encoder switch attached to the first side of the printed circuit board;
- d. a holder, having a second axis of rotation, that contains the wheel, the printed circuit board, and the rotating encoder switch, and that is oriented on an incline;
- e. a tactile switch, attached to the second side of the printed circuit board, for receiving a second input;
- and
- f. a stop that engages the tactile switch for receiving a second input about the second axis of rotation.
4 more elements
A thumbwheel input device for a handheld electronic device with a housing, in an inclined orientation, comprising:
- a. a wheel that is rotatable about a first axis of rotation and that partially protrudes through the device housing on an incline;
- b. a printed circuit board;
- c. a rotating encoder switch attached to the printed circuit board and operatively engaged with the wheel to receive an input when the wheel rotates about its first axis;
- and
- d. a holder, having a second axis of rotation, that holds the wheel, the printed circuit board, and the rotating encoder switch, and that is oriented on an incline.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.