Patent ID: 7146005

Claim:
An input element for inputting data, comprising: an actuator wheel supported axially on a ball bearing to provide rotary movement of the actuator wheel in opposite directions along a plane of the bearing and to provide tilting movement of the actuator wheel out of the plane of the rotary movement on two sides of the bearing; sensors that determine the rotational and tilting movements of the actuator wheel; and a processing unit, operatively coupled to the sensors, wherein the processing unit executes: a rotary function for each determined rotational direction; a first key function that is independent of the rotary functions, the first key function being triggered by a determined tilting that is in the direction of a first side that is out of the plane of the rotary movement; and a second key function that is independent of the rotary functions, the second key function being triggered by a determined tilting function that is in the direction of a second side that is out of the plane of the rotary movement.