Patent ID: 6930959

Claim:
An input device for an information handling apparatus, comprising: a rolling wheel; a pivot pin attached to the rolling wheel allowing rolling movement of the wheel in clockwise and counterclockwise directions; a platform comprising a wheel track for supporting the wheel as it moves in a lateral direction and at least one pivot pin track comprising a plurality of pivot wells; the pivot pin having a tip providing a sliding contact for sliding in the platform such that the pivot pin is movable along the pivot pin track in the platform from at least a first operating position to a second operating position; wherein the pivot pin comprises a spring for providing a variable length to the pivot pin such that the pivot pin is in a normally extended state and is movable to a depressed state such that the pin maintains contact with the bottom of the track at least when it is in one of the operating positions; and a sensor for detecting the pressing of the rolling wheel when the wheel is in one of the operating positions, a sensor for detecting the rotation of the rolling wheel; and a control mechanism for providing a first set of control signals responsive to the sensed rotation and for providing a second set of signals responsive to the sensed pressing of the rolling wheel when the pivot pin is in the first operating position and a third set of control signals when the pivot pin is in the second operating position.