US 12,260,031 B1
Hubless scroll wheel
Léo Zeender, Lausanne (CH); Jean-Claude Dunant, Fey (CH); and Frédéric Alexis Guillaume de Goumoëns, Vaud (CH)
Assigned to Logitech Europe S.A., Lausanne (CH)
Filed by Logitech Europe S.A., Lausanne (CH)
Filed on Oct. 31, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/498,276.
Int. Cl. G06F 3/0362 (2013.01); G01R 33/07 (2006.01); G06F 3/01 (2006.01); G06F 3/0354 (2013.01)
CPC G06F 3/0362 (2013.01) [G01R 33/072 (2013.01); G06F 3/016 (2013.01); G06F 3/03543 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A hubless scroll wheel for a computer peripheral device, comprising:
a wheel defining an open interior, the wheel comprising a plurality of contactless indexing features positioned at different angular positions about the wheel;
at least one fixed contactless ratchet member disposed proximate the wheel, wherein:
the wheel is rotatable relative to the at least one fixed contactless ratchet member;
each of the plurality of contactless indexing features and the at least one fixed contactless ratchet member comprises one or both of a magnet and a ferromagnetic material; and
the at least one fixed contactless ratchet member is configured to interact with the plurality of contactless indexing features to produce a tactile response as the wheel is rotated relative to the at least one fixed contactless ratchet member; and
at least one sensor that is configured to detect a magnitude and direction of rotation of the wheel relative to the at least one sensor.