Adaptive scroll wheel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11422643-B2
Application number	US-202117334446-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 28, 2021
Priority date	Jun 27, 2018
Publication date	Aug 23, 2022
Grant date	Aug 23, 2022

Abstract

A peripheral device with an adaptive scroll wheel can be used to provide additional control of a host computing device. A variable force is used to change friction on the adaptive scroll wheel for different situations. Examples include stopping a scroll wheel at an end of a document, changing a number of ratchet steps based on a number of items on a list, and changing scroll profiles based on application, such as a scroll profile for document processing and a scroll profile for gaming.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer mouse, the mouse comprising:
a housing;
a communication interface integrated with the housing, wherein the communication interface is configured to enable bidirectional communication between the mouse and a host computer;
a sensor integrated with the housing, the sensor configured to detect motion of the mouse relative to a surface that the mouse is positioned in proximity to;
a scroll wheel integrated with the housing, the scroll wheel configured to enable a user of the mouse to rotate the scroll wheel to control an aspect of the host computer;
an electromagnet integrated with the housing configured to dynamically alter a force that resists rotation of the scroll wheel by the user, wherein the electromagnet comprises a permanent magnet and a magnetizing device configured to receive varying amounts of electrical energy; and
one or more processors configured to:
receive, from the host computer, data indicative of a number of elements in a list that the user traverses by rotating the scroll wheel;
in response to receiving the data, modify the force provided by electromagnet on the scroll wheel based on the number of elements of the list;
measure a rotation of the scroll wheel in relation to the electromagnet; and
transmit to the host computer an indication of traversal of the list based on measuring the rotation of the scroll wheel.

2. The mouse of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
receive additional data from the host computer, wherein the additional data includes a changed number of elements of the list or a new list that is selected; and
further modify the force of the electromagnet on the scroll wheel based on the changed number of elements of the list or the new list that is selected.

3. The mouse of claim 1 , wherein the mouse is configured to stop rotation of the scroll wheel as the user reaches an end of the list.

4. The mouse of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
receive a script command from the host computer, wherein the script command comprises a force profile for the electromagnet to apply to the scroll wheel; and
modify the force of the electromagnet on the scroll wheel based on the force profile.

5. A computer input peripheral apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
a housing;
a communication interface integrated with the housing, wherein the communication interface is configured to enable bidirectional communication between the apparatus and a host computer;
a sensor integrated with the housing, the sensor configured to detect motion of the apparatus relative to a surface that the apparatus is positioned in proximity to;
a rotatable member integrated with the housing, the rotatable member configured to enable a user of the apparatus to rotate the rotatable member to control an aspect of the host computer;
an adjustable force generator configured to dynamically alter a force that resists rotation of the rotatable member by the user; and
one or more processors configured to:
receive, from the host computer, data indicative of a number of elements in a list that the user traverses by rotating the rotatable member; and
in response to receiving the data, modify the force provided by the adjustable force generator to the rotatable member based on the number of elements of the list.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
receive additional data from the host computer, wherein the additional data includes a changed number of elements of the list or a new list that is selected; and
modify the force of the adjustable force generator based on the changed number of elements of the list or the new list.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the additional data includes the number of elements on the list has changed beyond a threshold number, and the force of the adjustable force generator on the rotatable member is changed based on the number of elements on the list changing beyond the threshold number.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein modifying the force changes a number of ratchet steps based on a reduced number of items on the list.

9. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein modifying the force stops rotation in one direction of the rotatable member at an end of the list.

10. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
receive a script command from the host computer, wherein the script command comprises a force profile for the adjustable force generator to apply to the rotatable member; and
modify the force of the adjustable force generator on the rotatable member based on the force profile.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein:
the force profile comprises a force function for a ratchet step; and
the force function is asymmetrical.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the force profile maps a plurality of ratchet steps to one rotation of the rotatable member.

13. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to receive a request from the host computer to temporarily increase or decrease force of the adjustable force generator on the rotatable member, and
temporarily increase or decrease the force on the rotatable member based on the request from the host computer.

14. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
receive a current location in the list;
map a rotation of the rotatable member to a length of the list; and
stop rotation of the rotatable member at an end of the list.

15. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the adjustable force generator comprises ferritic substrates positioned at opposing ends of an electropermanent magnet assembly, each ferritic substrate comprising a plurality of teeth protruding radially from the ferritic substrate.

16. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the apparatus receives through an application program interface a number of elements in a new list after the new list is selected.

17. A method for using a computer input peripheral device comprising:
receiving, from a host computer, a list comprising a number of elements;
ascertaining the number of elements on the list;
measuring a rotation of a rotatable member in relation to an adjustable force generator of an input peripheral device electronically coupled with the host computer, wherein the rotatable member is configured to be rotated by a user to control an aspect of the host computer;
modifying a force of the adjustable force generator on the rotatable member based on the number of elements of the list; and
transmitting to the host computer an indication of traversal of the list based on measuring the rotation of the rotatable member.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
receiving data, from the host computer, comprising an indication of a preset; and
modifying the force of the adjustable force generator on the rotatable member further based on the preset.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein modifying the force changes a number of ratchet steps based on a reduced number of items on the list.

20. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
receiving a current location in the list;
mapping the rotation of the rotatable member to a length of the list; and
stopping rotation of the rotatable member at an end of the list.

Assignees

• Logitech Europe Sa

Inventors

• Dunant Jean-Claude
• Stoeckli Jan
• Vlasov Maxim
• Ramond Nicolas
• Cerisier Patrick

Classifications

• G06F3/0362 Primary

  with detection of one-dimensional [1D] translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts · CPC title

• G06F3/0482

  Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus · CPC title

• G06F3/0485

  Scrolling or panning · CPC title

• G06F3/03543

  Mice or pucks (G06F3/03541 takes precedence) · CPC title