Embodiments of present disclosure relates to a wheel assembly that can be used with mouse or other input device. The wheel assembly includes a wheel, a magnet for generating a magnetic field, and at least three magnetic sensors for sensing an absolute angular position of the wheel. The magnet coupled to the wheel and operable to rotate with a rotation of the wheel. The at least three magnetic sensors are arranged within a plane that is located in a predetermined distance from the magnet and substantially parallel to a main direction of the magnetic field generated by the magnet. Compared to the conventional sensors that measure the relative position of the wheel, such multiple magnetic sensors based wheel assembly enables a direct absolute angular position measurement.

A roller wheel module includes a roller wheel, an elastic member, and an adjustment assembly. The roller wheel includes a ratchet structure and has a configuration surface. The configuration surface is divided into a blank region and a ratchet region. The ratchet structure is disposed on the configuration surface and is located in the ratchet region. The elastic member is disposed next to the roller wheel and has a first end and a second end opposite to each other. The first end of the elastic member is connected to the adjustment assembly, and the adjustment assembly drives the second end of the elastic member to move between the blank region and the ratchet region. The roller wheel module allows the user to switch between a ratchet rotating mode and a smooth rolling mode according to requirements, and allows the user to quickly scrolling and have a better touch feel.

A portable device (e.g., a wireless device such as a cell phone) is provided with a flexible keyboard and a flexible display screen. Such flexible components may be stored in the housing of the portable device when not in use. The flexible display screen and flexible keyboard may be expanded from the housing when the flexible components are utilized by a user. Non-flexible display and input components may be provided on the exterior of the portable device such that the device may be used, in some form, while the flexible components are stored. In one embodiment, a portion of the flexible display (or flexible keyboard) may be utilized when the flexible display (or flexible keyboard) is stored in said first housing.

In a method for starting an application, a first device determines a relative location relationship between the first device and a second device; and the first device starts a target application based on the relative location relationship.

Input devices having a deformable membrane and methods of their use are disclosed. In one embodiment, an input device includes a body, a deformable membrane coupled to the body such that the body and the deformable membrane define an enclosure filled with a medium, and an internal sensor disposed within the enclosure, the internal sensor having a field of view configured to be directed through the medium and toward a bottom surface of the deformable membrane. The input device further includes a controller configured to receive an output signal from the internal sensor corresponding to a deformation in the deformable membrane, determine a gesture based on the output signal from the internal, and provide a gesture signal corresponding to the gesture.

A handheld electronic device is described for controlling three-dimensional content displayed in a user interface of a computing device. The handheld electronic device may include an electromagnetic sensing system for detecting a pose of the handheld electronic device in three-dimensional space and at least one communication module to trigger transmission of the commands to manipulate three-dimensional content displayed in the computing device based on detected changes in the pose of the handheld electronic device.

An input device comprises a depressible element with two switches including a first switch configured to generate a first signal when the depressible element is depressed by a threshold distance and a second switch configured to generate a second signal indicating when the depressible element is depressed by the threshold distance and the second switch is in an active state. One or more processors may be configured to receive the first signal from the first switch; configure the second switch to change from an inactive state to an active state in response to receiving the first signal; receive the second signal from the second switch in the active state; determine whether the second signal indicates that the depressible element is depressed by the threshold distance; and generate event data confirming that the depressible element is depressed by the threshold distance in response to receiving the second signal.

A method and system for processing control commands in a computer-graphics (CG) environment includes displaying a CG environment according to a current view setting. A first user command generated from user interaction with a touch-enabled first input device is received. The command defines an adjustment to the current view setting. The displaying of the CG environment is adjusted in accordance with the view adjustment defined by the first user command. A second user command generated from user interaction with a second input device other than the touch-enabled first input device is received. The second user command defines a CG creation/editing action within the CG environment. The application of the CG creation/editing action defined by the second user command is then displayed. The first and second input devices may be physically separate and the first and second user commands may be logically separate.

An input device comprises a depressible element with two switches including a first switch configured to generate a first signal when the depressible element is depressed by a threshold distance and a second switch configured to generate a second signal indicating when the depressible element is depressed by the threshold distance and the second switch is in an active state. One or more processors may be configured to receive the first signal from the first switch; configure the second switch to change from an inactive state to an active state in response to receiving the first signal; receive the second signal from the second switch in the active state; determine whether the second signal indicates that the depressible element is depressed by the threshold distance; and generate event data confirming that the depressible element is depressed by the threshold distance in response to receiving the second signal.

A portable device (e.g., a wireless device such as a cell phone) is provided with a flexible keyboard and a flexible display screen. Such flexible components may be stored in the housing of the portable device when not in use. The flexible display screen and flexible keyboard may be expanded from the housing when the flexible components are utilized by a user. Non-flexible display and input components may be provided on the exterior of the portable device such that the device may be used, in some form, while the flexible components are stored. In one embodiment, a portion of the flexible display (or flexible keyboard) may be utilized when the flexible display (or flexible keyboard) is stored in said first housing.