TWI889603B - Mouse - Google Patents

Abstract

A mouse includes a roller wheel, a conductive rotary shaft, a first permanent magnetic device, a second permanent magnetic device, a circuit board, a conductive first linking device, a conductive second linking device, and a controller. The roller wheel is fitted with a rotary center thereof on the rotary shaft. The first permanent magnetic device is electrically connected to a first end of the rotary shaft. The second permanent magnetic device is electrically connected to a second end of the rotary shaft. The first linking device is electrically connected to the circuit board and electrically contacts the first permanent magnetic device. The second linking device is electrically connected to the circuit board and electrically contacts the second permanent magnetic device. The controller, responsive to the rotation pulses associated with the roller wheel and the command signals, transmits a current in the first current direction or the second current direction or alternately in the first current direction and the second current direction to drive the roller wheel to rotate based on the current.

Description

mouse

The present invention relates to a mouse, and in particular to a mouse which provides multiple scroll wheel operation modes by utilizing electromagnetic effect.

As data processing systems and their input peripherals continue to develop, the mouse is still an indispensable input peripheral for most data processing systems. The mouse is used to perform cursor operations, positioning and clicking functions on the data processing system's display, and the data processing system executes specific control instructions in response to the rotation of the scroll wheel, such as scrolling windows on the display, zooming in and out of images, or adjusting the volume.

Prior art mice have been designed to provide special operation modes for their scroll wheels. For example, prior art mice use mechanical force or magnetic force to provide ratchet force associated with operating the scroll wheel, so that each rotation of the scroll wheel will present multiple segment senses. There are also prior art mice that provide a shuttle mode for their scroll wheel operation, that is, the scroll wheel can continuously rotate forward or reverse. Prior art mice provide a shuttle mode for their scroll wheel operation by adding weight to the scroll wheel to provide the centrifugal force required when the scroll wheel rotates, thereby achieving continuous rotation. Obviously, this will make the scroll wheel of the prior art mouse appear bulky during general operation.

In addition, if the mouse of the prior art provides a ratchet force and a shuttle mode for its scroll wheel, it is necessary to add mechanisms and components in addition to the mechanisms and components that provide the ratchet force so that the mechanisms and components that generate the ratchet force are separated from the scroll wheel. Obviously, this will increase the manufacturing cost and weight of the mouse of the prior art.

In addition, there is no mouse that provides a slow rotation mode for its scroll wheel, that is, the scroll wheel provides a few milliseconds of forward rotation and immediately provides a few milliseconds of reverse rotation, and this action is repeated continuously to complete slow scrolling.

Therefore, one of the technical problems that the present invention aims to solve is to provide a mouse that utilizes electromagnetic effect to provide multiple scroll wheel operation modes.

According to a preferred specific embodiment of the present invention, a mouse includes a scroll wheel, a rotating shaft, a first permanent magnetic element, a second permanent magnetic element, a circuit board, a first connecting element, a second connecting element and a controller. The scroll wheel has a rotating center. The rotating shaft is conductive and has a first end and a second end. The scroll wheel is fitted on the rotating shaft with the rotating center. The first permanent magnetic element is conductive and electrically connected to the first end of the rotating shaft. The second permanent magnetic element is conductive and electrically connected to the second end of the rotating shaft. The first current direction is defined from the first permanent magnetic element to the second permanent magnetic element. The second current direction is defined from the second permanent magnetic element to the first permanent magnetic element. The first connecting element is conductive. The first connecting element is electrically connected to the circuit board and electrically contacts the first permanent magnetic element. The second connecting element is conductive. The second connecting element is electrically connected to the circuit board and electrically contacts the second permanent magnetic element. The controller is electrically connected to the circuit board. The controller responds to the rotation pulse signal and the command signal of the roller, and transmits the current along the first current direction or the second current direction or alternately along the first current direction and the second current direction through the circuit board, the first connecting element, the first permanent magnetic element, the rotating shaft, the second permanent magnetic element and the second connecting element, thereby driving the roller to rotate in the forward direction or the reverse direction or alternately in the forward direction and the reverse direction based on the current.

Furthermore, the mouse according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention further comprises a housing and a roller bracket. The housing has an opening. The roller bracket is fixed in the housing. The roller is arranged in the housing. A part of the roller is exposed outside the opening of the housing. The roller is rotatably fixed on the roller bracket by a rotating shaft.

Furthermore, the mouse according to the preferred specific embodiment of the present invention also includes a first buffer and a second buffer. The first buffer is conductive. The roller bracket has a first side and a second side. The roller bracket includes a first support platform formed on the first side and a second support platform formed on the second side. The first buffer is arranged on the first support platform. The first buffer abuts against the first connecting element. The first permanent magnetic element abuts against the first buffer. The second buffer is conductive. The second buffer is arranged on the second support platform. The second buffer abuts against the second connecting element. The second permanent magnetic element abuts against the second buffer.

In a specific embodiment, the housing includes an upper housing and a lower housing. The opening is formed on the upper housing. The roller bracket is fixed to the lower housing in a limited and movable manner.

In a specific embodiment, the first connecting element includes a first body and a first abutting portion. The first abutting portion extends from the first body. The first body is electrically connected to the circuit board. The first permanent magnetic element electrically contacts the first abutting portion. The second connecting element includes a second body and a second abutting portion. The second abutting portion extends from the second body. The second body is electrically connected to the circuit board. The second permanent magnetic element electrically contacts the second abutting portion.

In a specific embodiment, the first connecting element and the second connecting element are both made of copper sheets.

Unlike the prior art mice that can provide more than one operation mode for their scroll wheels, the mouse according to the present invention utilizes electromagnetic effect to provide multiple scroll wheel operation modes, and has low manufacturing cost and light weight.

The advantages and spirit of the present invention can be further understood through the following detailed description of the invention and the attached drawings.

Please refer to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, which schematically depict a mouse 1 according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 schematically depicts a mouse 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention in an exterior view. Figure 2 schematically depicts some components and members of the mouse according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention in an exploded view. Figure 3 schematically depicts some components and members of the mouse according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention in another exploded view. Figure 4 schematically depicts some components and members of the mouse according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention assembled together in an exterior view. Figure 5 schematically depicts some components and members of the mouse according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention assembled together in another exterior view.

As shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, the mouse 1 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a scroll wheel 12, a rotating shaft 14, a first permanent magnetic element 16, a second permanent magnetic element 18, a circuit board 20, a first connecting element 22, a second connecting element 24 and a controller 26.

The roller 12 has a rotation center 120. The rotating shaft 14 is electrically conductive and has a first end 142 and a second end 144. The roller 12 is fitted on the rotating shaft 14 with the rotation center 120. The first permanent magnetic element 16 is electrically conductive and electrically connected to the first end 142 of the rotating shaft 14. The second permanent magnetic element 18 is electrically conductive and electrically connected to the second end 144 of the rotating shaft 14.

The first current direction is defined as pointing from the first permanent magnetic element 16 to the second permanent magnetic element 18. The second current direction is defined as pointing from the second permanent magnetic element 18 to the first permanent magnetic element 16. The first connecting element 22 is conductive. The first connecting element 22 is electrically connected to the circuit board 20 and electrically contacts the first permanent magnetic element 16. The second connecting element 24 is conductive. The second connecting element 24 is electrically connected to the circuit board 20 and electrically contacts the second permanent magnetic element 18. The controller 26 is electrically connected to the circuit board 20.

The controller 26 responds to the rotation pulse signal and command signal of the roller 12, and transmits current along the first current direction or the second current direction or alternately along the first current direction and the second current direction through the circuit board 20, the first connecting element 22, the first permanent magnetic element 16, the rotating shaft 14, the second permanent magnetic element 18 and the second connecting element 24, thereby driving the roller 12 to rotate in the forward direction or the reverse direction or alternately in the forward direction and the reverse direction based on the current. Like the mouse of the prior art, the rotation pulse signal of the scroll wheel 12 of the mouse 1 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention can be generated by sensing by a mechanical, optical or magnetic sensing device, etc., and these mechanical, optical or magnetic sensing devices will not be described in detail here.

The rotation of the scroll wheel 12 of the mouse 1 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is based on the electromagnetic effect generated by the current and the first permanent magnetic element 16 and the second permanent magnetic element 18 to provide thrust to the scroll wheel 12, thereby rotating the scroll wheel 12. In the following examples, the current transmitted along the first current direction is a positive current, and the current transmitted along the second current direction is a negative current, but the present invention is not limited to this. Please refer to Figure 6, which is a timing diagram of the rotation pulse and current of an example of the scroll wheel 12 of the mouse 1 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention in the slow rotation mode. The user can press a button (not shown in the figure) installed on the housing 10 of the mouse 1 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention to input a slow rotation command. As shown in FIG6 , after the controller 26 receives the slow rotation command, the user operates the roller 12 to input the first rotation pulse signal to determine whether the roller 12 rotates forward or reversely. The dotted line frame in FIG6 represents that the user operates the roller 12 to input the first rotation pulse signal to make the roller 12 rotate forward. The controller 26 then alternately outputs a positive current for a few milliseconds and a negative current for a few milliseconds, so that the roller 12 rotates alternately forward and reverse slowly. According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mouse 1 can change the rotation of the scroll wheel 12 by adjusting the current size and the duration of the current pulse.

Referring to FIG. 7 , FIG. 7 is a timing diagram of the rotation pulse and current of the scroll wheel 12 of the mouse 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention in an example of operation in the shuttle mode. As shown in FIG. 7 , when the shuttle mode is activated, the controller 26 starts to output a positive current to drive the scroll wheel 12 to rotate forward and continues for a time length T1, and then switches to output a negative current to decelerate the scroll wheel 12, or stops outputting to allow the scroll wheel 12 to stop rotating naturally. In the example shown in FIG. 7 , after the controller 26 stops outputting, the scroll wheel 12 still continues to rotate forward for a time length T2 (indicated by the dotted frame in FIG. 7 ).

Referring to FIG8 , FIG8 is a timing diagram of another example of the rotation pulse and current of the scroll wheel 12 of the mouse 1 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention in the shuttle mode operation. As shown in FIG8 , when the shuttle mode is activated, the controller 26 starts to output a positive current to drive the scroll wheel 12 to rotate in the forward direction and continues for a time length T1. Then, the user touches the scroll wheel 12 with a finger to force the scroll wheel 12 in the shuttle mode operation to stop rotating. At this time, the mechanical, optical sensing device or magnetic sensing device does not sense the rotation pulse within a few milliseconds, and the controller 26 stops outputting the current (shown by the dotted frame in FIG8 ).

Referring to FIG. 9 , FIG. 9 is a timing diagram of the rotation pulse and current of the scroll wheel 12 of the mouse 1 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention in an example of operation in the step sense mode. As shown in FIG. 9 , when the user operates the scroll wheel 12 in the forward direction, when the mechanical, optical sensing device or magnetic sensing device senses that the first rotation pulse is a forward rotation, the controller 26 immediately outputs a negative current pulse to form a force to make the scroll wheel 12 rotate in the reverse direction, so that the user can feel the step sense when operating the scroll wheel 12. The mouse 1 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention can change the magnitude of the ratchet force provided to the scroll wheel 12 by adjusting the magnitude of the current.

Referring to FIG. 10 , FIG. 10 is a timing diagram of the rotation pulse and current of the mouse 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention when the scroll wheel 12 is switched from the step sense mode to the shuttle mode. As shown in FIG. 10 , when the user operates the scroll wheel 12 in reverse for a time length T3, the controller 26 immediately outputs a plurality of positive current pulses to form a force to rotate the scroll wheel 12 forward, so that the user can feel the step sense when operating the scroll wheel 12. Then, when the shuttle mode is activated, the controller 26 starts to output a positive current to drive the scroll wheel 12 to rotate forward for a time length T1, and then switches to output a negative current to decelerate the scroll wheel 12, or stops outputting the positive current to allow the scroll wheel 12 to stop rotating naturally. In the example shown in FIG. 10 , after the controller 26 stops outputting, the roller 12 continues to rotate in the forward direction for a time period T2.

Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 1 , 4 and 5 , the mouse 1 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention further comprises a housing 10 and a roller bracket 28. The housing 10 has an opening 1022. The roller bracket 28 is fixed in the housing 10. The roller 12 is disposed in the housing 10. A portion of the roller 12 is exposed outside the opening 1022 of the housing 10. The roller 12 is rotatably fixed to the roller bracket 28 by a rotating shaft 14.

Furthermore, as also shown in FIG. 2 , FIG. 3 , FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 , the mouse 1 according to the preferred specific embodiment of the present invention further includes a first buffer 30 and a second buffer 32. The first buffer 30 is conductive. The roller bracket 28 has a first side 282 and a second side 284. The roller bracket 28 includes a first support platform 286 formed on the first side 282 and a second support platform 288 formed on the second side 284. The first buffer 30 is disposed on the first support platform 286. The first buffer 30 abuts against the first connecting element 22. The first permanent magnetic element 16 abuts against the first buffer 30. The second buffer 32 is conductive. The second buffer sheet 32 is disposed on the second support platform 288. The second buffer sheet 32 abuts against the second connecting element 24. The second permanent magnetic element 18 abuts against the second buffer sheet 32.

In a specific embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1 , the housing 10 includes an upper housing 102 and a lower housing 104. An opening 1022 is formed on the upper housing 102. As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 , the roller bracket 28 is movably fixed to the lower housing 104. For example, the mouse 1 according to the preferred specific embodiment of the present invention further includes a plurality of limiting members 34. The plurality of limiting members 34 are fixed to the lower housing 104. The circuit board 20 is also fixed to the lower housing 104. The circuit board 20 has holes and gaps (not marked with symbols in the figure) to allow the roller bracket 28 and the plurality of limiting members 34 to pass through the holes and gaps. The roller bracket 28 is fixed by some limiting members 34. The mouse 1 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention further comprises two springs 36, respectively abutting between the first support platform 286 and the lower housing 104 and between the second support platform 288 and the lower housing 104, so that the roller bracket 28 is fixed to the lower housing 104 in a limited and movable manner. In this way, the roller 12 can be pressed downward. The mouse 1 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention further comprises a switch 38. The switch 38 is electrically connected to the circuit board 20 and is placed on the roller 12. When the roller 12 is pressed downward, the switch 38 is triggered.

In a specific embodiment, the first connecting element 22 includes a first body 222 and a first abutting portion 224. The first abutting portion 224 extends from the first body 222. The first body 222 is electrically connected to the circuit board 20. The first permanent magnetic element 16 electrically contacts the first abutting portion 224. The second connecting element 24 includes a second body 242 and a second abutting portion 244. The second abutting portion 244 extends from the second body 242. The second body 242 is electrically connected to the circuit board 20. The second permanent magnetic element 18 electrically contacts the second abutting portion 244.

In a specific embodiment, the first connecting element 22 and the second connecting element 24 are both made of copper sheets. The first connecting element 22 and the second connecting element 24 made of copper sheets have elasticity so as not to affect the operation of pressing the roller 12 downward.

Through the above detailed description of the present invention, it can be clearly understood that the mouse according to the present invention uses electromagnetic effect to provide multiple scroll wheel operation modes, and has low manufacturing cost and light weight. According to the preferred specific embodiment of the present invention, the mouse can change the rotation of the scroll wheel by adjusting the current size and the duration of the current pulse.

The above detailed description of the preferred specific embodiments is intended to more clearly describe the features and spirit of the present invention, but is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to the preferred specific embodiments disclosed above. On the contrary, the purpose is to cover various changes and arrangements with equivalents within the scope of the patent application for the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the patent application for the present invention should be interpreted in the broadest sense based on the above description, so as to cover all possible changes and arrangements with equivalents.

1: Mouse 10: Housing 102: Upper housing 1022: Opening 104: Lower housing 12: Scroll wheel 120: Rotation center 14: Rotation axis 142: First end 144: Second end 16: First permanent magnetic element 18: Second permanent magnetic element 20: Circuit board 22: First connecting element 222: First body 224: First abutment 24: Second connecting element 242: Second body 244: Second abutment 26: Controller 28: Scroll wheel bracket 282: First side 284: Second side 286: First support platform 288: Second support platform 30: First buffer 32: Second buffer plate 34: Limiting member 36: Spring 38: Switch

FIG. 1 is a top view of a mouse according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded view of some components and members of the mouse according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is another exploded view of some components and members of the mouse according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an external view of some components and members of the mouse according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention assembled together. FIG. 5 is another external view of some components and members of the mouse according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention assembled together. FIG. 6 is a timing diagram of the rotation pulse and current of an example of the mouse according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention in which the scroll wheel is operated in a slow rotation mode. FIG. 7 is a timing diagram of the rotation pulse and current of an example of a mouse whose scroll wheel is operated in a shuttle mode according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a timing diagram of the rotation pulse and current of another example of a mouse whose scroll wheel is operated in a shuttle mode according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a timing diagram of the rotation pulse and current of an example of a mouse whose scroll wheel is operated in a paragraph sense mode according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a timing diagram of the rotation pulse and current of an example of a mouse whose scroll wheel is switched from a paragraph sense mode to a shuttle mode according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

1: Mouse

104: Lower shell

12: Scroll wheel

120: Rotation center

14: Rotating shaft

144: Second end

18: Second permanent magnetic element

20: Circuit board

24: Second connecting element

242: Second subject

244: Second contact portion

26: Controller

28: Roller bracket

284: Second side

288: The second support platform

30: First buffer

32: Second buffer

34: Restriction components

36: Spring

38: Switch

Claims (6)

A mouse comprises: a scroll wheel having a rotation center; a rotating shaft which is electrically conductive and has a first end and a second end, the scroll wheel being sleeved on the rotating shaft with the rotation center; a first permanent magnetic element which is electrically conductive and electrically connected to the first end; a second permanent magnetic element which is electrically conductive and electrically connected to the second end, wherein a first current direction is defined from the first permanent magnetic element to the second permanent magnetic element, and a second current direction is defined from the second permanent magnetic element to the first permanent magnetic element; a circuit board; a first connecting element which is electrically conductive, the first connecting element being electrically connected to the circuit board and electrically contacting the first permanent magnetic element; a second connecting element which is electrically conductive and electrically connected to the circuit board and electrically contacts the second permanent magnetic element; and a controller which is electrically connected to the circuit board, wherein the controller transmits a current in response to a rotation pulse signal and a command signal about the roller via the circuit board, the first connecting element, the first permanent magnetic element, the rotating shaft, the second permanent magnetic element and the second connecting element along the first current direction or the second current direction or alternately along the first current direction and the second current direction, thereby driving the roller to rotate in a forward direction or a reverse direction or alternately in the forward direction and the reverse direction based on the current. The mouse as described in claim 1 further comprises: a housing having an opening; and a roller bracket fixed in the housing, wherein the roller is disposed in the housing, a portion of the roller is exposed outside the opening, and the roller is rotatably fixed to the roller bracket by the rotating shaft. The mouse as described in claim 2 further includes: a first buffer plate, which is conductive, wherein the roller bracket has a first side and a second side, the roller bracket includes a first supporting platform formed on the first side and a second supporting platform formed on the second side, the first buffer plate is arranged on the first supporting platform, the first buffer plate is against the first connecting element, and the first permanent magnetic element is tightly against the first buffer plate; and a second buffer plate, which is conductive, the second buffer plate is arranged on the second supporting platform, the second buffer plate is against the second connecting element, and the second permanent magnetic element is tightly against the second buffer plate. A mouse as described in claim 2, wherein the shell includes an upper shell and a lower shell, the opening is formed on the upper shell, and the roller bracket is fixed to the lower shell in a limited and movably manner. A mouse as described in claim 1, wherein the first connecting element includes a first body and a first abutting portion, the first abutting portion extends from the first body, the first body is electrically connected to the circuit board, and the first permanent magnetic element electrically contacts the first abutting portion; the second connecting element includes a second body and a second abutting portion, the second abutting portion extends from the second body, the second body is electrically connected to the circuit board, and the second permanent magnetic element electrically contacts the second abutting portion. A mouse as described in claim 1, wherein the first connecting element and the second connecting element are both made of a copper sheet.

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