Patent ID: 11860587
Assignee: APPLE INC.
Field: Computer technology (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 7:
8. An electronic device, comprising:
an enclosure;
a processing unit positioned within the enclosure;
a touch-sensitive display operably coupled to the processing unit, the touch-sensitive display configured to receive a touch input and provide a graphical output;
a scroll wheel configured to receive a rotational input and comprising:
a scroll wheel body along an exterior side of the enclosure; and
a shaft assembly extending through an opening of the enclosure and defining:
an end surface positioned within the enclosure; and
an outer peripheral surface positioned within the enclosure; and

a variable resistance mechanism comprising:
a friction element at least partially surrounding the outer peripheral surface of the shaft assembly and configured to contact the outer peripheral surface of the shaft assembly; and
an actuator configured to vary a force with which the friction element is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the shaft assembly during the rotational input, thereby varying a resistive torque of the scroll wheel during the rotational input.