US 11,928,268 B2
Trackball device including an adaptive brake
Jason Scott Morrison, Chadron, NE (US); and Erik Summa, Austin, TX (US)
Assigned to Dell Products L.P., Round Rock, TX (US)
Filed by Dell Products L.P., Round Rock, TX (US)
Filed on Jan. 13, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/647,849.
Prior Publication US 2023/0221809 A1, Jul. 13, 2023
Int. Cl. G06F 3/0354 (2013.01)
CPC G06F 3/03541 (2013.01) 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus comprising:
a housing comprising a cavity for a trackball;
a first mounting assembly attached to the housing, the first mounting assembly comprising a first wheel assembly comprising:
a first wheel coupled to the trackball and configured to rotate about a first axis; and
a first brake system configured to apply a first braking force to the first wheel, the first brake system comprising a first magnetorheological fluid (MRF) rotational brake, the first MRF rotational brake configured to apply the first braking force to the first wheel to adjust a first resistance applied to the trackball in a first direction of rotation of the trackball;
a second mounting assembly attached to the housing, the second mounting assembly comprising a second wheel assembly comprising:
a second wheel coupled to the trackball and configured to rotate about a second axis; and
a second brake system configured to apply a second braking force to the second wheel, the second brake system comprising a second magnetorheological fluid (MRF) rotational brake, the second MRF rotational brake configured to apply the second braking force to the second wheel to adjust a second resistance applied to the trackball in a second direction of rotation of the trackball, and
an optical sensor attached to the housing, the sensor configured to measure a breaking force applied by the first brake system and the second brake system,
wherein the second braking force is different from the first braking force and the second braking force is independently controlled from the first braking force.