Patent ID: 7675026
Filing Date: 2010-03-09
Classification: G01D

Abstract:
1. A user navigational apparatus comprising: a dial; a coding element coupled to the dial, the coding element comprising a track of alternating reflective and non-reflective sections located within a plane of the coding element, wherein each of the reflective and non-reflective sections comprises a substantially oblique leading edge relative to a direction of movement of the coding element; and an encoder comprising an emitter and a detector, the emitter configured to generate a light signal incident on the track of the coding element, the detector configured to detect a reflected light signal reflected off of the reflective sections of the track and to generate a channel signal corresponding to the reflected light signal; a switch coupled to the dial, the switch to generate a first button click operation in response to depression of only a portion of the dial; an independent button disposed within a center of the dial; a dome switch operationally coupled to the independent button; and an illumination ring approximately surrounding the independent button, wherein the dial circumscribes the illumination ring and the independent button.