Patent ID: 9600098
Date: 2017-03-21
CPC Classifications: G06F

Claim:
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 carriage receiving at least a portion of the finger-engagable control member; a rotation sensor for sensing rotation of the finger-engagable control member; an optical tilt sensor for sensing tilting of the finger-engagable control member; 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; and a carriage receiving a lower portion of the finger-engagable control member, the carriage further including: wherein when the finger-engagable control member is rotated, a signal is transmitted to scroll the image relative to a display screen on which the image is displayed in a first scroll direction and wherein when the finger-engagable control member is tilted, a signal is transmitted to scroll the image relative to the display screen on which the image is displayed in a second scroll direction, the second scroll direction being approximately perpendicular to the first scroll direction.