Dual Scroll Wheel Assembly for Intuitive Horizontal Scrolling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional scroll wheels on mice are inefficient for horizontal scrolling, requiring drag-and-drop operations that decrease efficiency and user experience, and additional designs for horizontal scrolling either lack quick and comfortable operation or fail to provide intuitive haptic feedback.
Innovation Solution
A dual-scroll wheel assembly with a first scroll wheel for vertical scrolling and a second scroll wheel for horizontal scrolling, providing haptic feedback in a direction perpendicular to the first, allowing for quick and intuitive horizontal scrolling through flexion or extension movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional scroll wheel is used for horizontal scrolling, then the device structure remains simple, but the operation efficiency decreases and user experience deteriorates due to requiring drag-and-drop operations
Solution Approach 1:
The scroll wheel is divided into two functionally independent components: a first scroll member for vertical scrolling and a second scroll member for horizontal scrolling. Each scroll member can be operated independently, allowing efficient vertical and horizontal scrolling without requiring drag-and-drop operations, thus resolving the contradiction between operation efficiency and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The scroll wheel assembly is designed to perform multiple functions: the first scroll member handles vertical scrolling while the second scroll member handles horizontal scrolling. This multi-functional design enables both vertical and horizontal scrolling operations to be performed efficiently through simple rotational movements, improving productivity without excessive complexity
2Ease of operation
If additional designs are provided for horizontal scrolling, then horizontal scrolling capability is improved, but the operation comfort decreases and haptic feedback intuitiveness is lost
Solution Approach 1:
Different scroll members are designed with distinct operational characteristics: the first scroll member provides vertical scrolling with corresponding vertical haptic feedback, while the second scroll member provides horizontal scrolling with corresponding horizontal haptic feedback. This localized differentiation ensures that each scroll member provides intuitive and comfortable operation for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between operation comfort and haptic feedback intuitiveness
3Productivity
If a dual-scroll wheel assembly is implemented, then vertical and horizontal scrolling efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The first scroll member and second scroll member are integrated into a unified scroll wheel assembly that shares common structural elements such as the wheel body and mounting mechanism. This merging approach allows both vertical and horizontal scrolling functions to be implemented efficiently while minimizing the increase in device complexity through shared components and compact integration
Data Source
AI summary
Implementations of the subject matter described herein provide a solution in which a quick and comfortable operation can be achieved while providing the improved intuitiveness. In the solution, a scroll assembly for use with a pointing device is provided. The scroll assembly comprises: a first scroll member for controlling a first movement of an object on a user interface; and at least one second scroll member for controlling a second movement of the object on the user interface, the second scroll member being adapted to, in response to an operation applied substantially in the first direction, rotate and provide a haptic feedback in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.