Nio Usa, Inc.

James A Chion

Timothy Jon Meador

Robin Bigio

Pierluigi Dalla Rosa

The disclosure describes methods and systems for controlling a rotary dial input device. A dial of the rotary dial input device has a specific mass that, in conjunction with a low-friction rotational bearing system, provides a momentum scrolling effect when physically spun and released. Upon spinning the dial freely, without subsequent user contact, the mass and velocity of the rotating dial provides momentum that causes the dial to continue to rotate for one or more revolutions. During this rotation a corresponding effect is provided, or dynamically rendered, to a user interface display device. Such an effect scrolls a list of objects displayed at the same, or a substantially similar, rate of speed to that of the dial rotating under momentum.

System and method for providing momentum scrolling via a rotary user interface device

A multiple input rotary dial user interface device and system is provided. The rotary dial user interface device may include a rotationally fixed touchpad, disposed within a center of a rotatable dial. Although fixed rotationally, the touchpad of the rotary dial user interface device may move in a linear axial direction, along the rotational axis, with or independently of the rotary dial. In addition to providing input by rotating the rotary dial, a user can provide input via touching the touchpad, actuating the touchpad, and/or actuating the rotary dial in the linear axial direction. In some cases, the rotary dial user interface device may employ the use of a static rotary encoder sensing rotation of an encoder wheel affixed to the rotary dial to determine momentum characteristics associated with the dial.

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San Francisco, CA, United States of America

James A Chion