Mouse device

Abstract

The present application relates to a mouse device comprising a base, a cover, a carrier, a circuit board and a roller. The cover is coupled to the base, and the front end of the cover has a first magnetic member. The carrier is movably suspended between the cover and the base and has a second magnetic member, and the first magnetic surface of the first magnetic member is parallel to and opposite to the second magnetic surface of the second magnetic member. The circuit board is disposed on the base. The roller is rotatably disposed in the carrier. When the roller is forced to drive the carrier to move relative to the base, the carrier triggers a switch device of the circuit board, and the second magnetic member is deflected relative to the first magnetic member with the movement of the carrier, so that the second magnetic surface is deflected away from the first magnetic surface. When the roller is released, the magnetic attraction force between the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member drives the second magnetic surface to be deflected parallel to the first magnetic surface, so that the carrier is reset. The present application can allow the user to complete the corresponding input operation by pressing or pressing the roller with the finger.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a mouse device, and more particularly to a mouse device that uses magnetic force to drive the scroll wheel back to its original position. Background Technology

[0002] In current mouse designs, to enhance functionality, in addition to allowing for forward and backward rotation of the mouse wheel (e.g., controlling the vertical scroll bar of a window interface), a scroll wheel biasing function can be further configured to allow users to perform corresponding axial operations (e.g., controlling the horizontal scroll bar of a window interface by laterally biasing the scroll wheel with their fingers). A common structural design uses a slender spring arm connecting the mouse base and a support for housing the scroll wheel. The support can be flexibly mounted on the mouse base, allowing it to tilt left and right. With this design, when the scroll wheel, housed in the support, is subjected to lateral force, the support deflects accordingly as the spring arm deforms under pressure, triggering a microswitch on the mouse circuit board to complete the corresponding input operation.

[0003] However, since the aforementioned support base and mouse base are connected only by a one-piece molded slender spring arm, the above design usually has the problems of the spring arm structure being difficult to mold and the spring arm being prone to breakage after repeated bending and deformation over a period of time. Summary of the Invention

[0004] One of the objectives of this invention is to provide a mouse device that uses magnetic force to drive the scroll wheel back to its original position, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, a mouse device is provided, comprising:

[0006] Base;

[0007] The top cover fits onto the base and forms a slot, and the front end of the top cover has a first magnetic element;

[0008] A support base, which is movably suspended between the upper cover and the base and has a second magnetic element, wherein the first magnetic surface of the first magnetic element and the second magnetic surface of the second magnetic element are parallel to each other and opposite to each other;

[0009] A circuit board, which is mounted on the base and has a switching device corresponding to the position of the support; and

[0010] A roller, which is rotatably disposed in the support and protrudes from the slot;

[0011] When the roller is subjected to force to drive the carrier to move relative to the base, the carrier triggers the switching device, and the second magnetic element deflects relative to the first magnetic element as the carrier moves, causing the second magnetic surface to deflect away from the first magnetic surface.

[0012] When the roller is released, the magnetic attraction between the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element drives the second magnetic surface to deflect parallel to the first magnetic surface, causing the support to return to its original position.

[0013] As an optional technical solution, the top cover extends downward to form a pair of cantilever arms corresponding to the position of the support seat, and the support seat is movably engaged between the pair of cantilever arms to be movably suspended above the base.

[0014] As an optional technical solution, each cantilever has a guide groove and a locking hole. The support extends outward to form a positioning post corresponding to the position of the guide groove. The positioning post moves along the guide groove to the position of locking with the locking hole, so that the support can be movably locked between the pair of cantilever.

[0015] As an optional technical solution, the switching device includes at least one first switch, which is located on at least one side of the support; when the roller is subjected to lateral force, the support is biased to trigger the at least one first switch, and the second magnetic element deflects laterally toward the at least one first switch.

[0016] As an optional technical solution, the carrier also has a trigger post, and the switching device also includes a second switch located below the trigger post; when the roller is pressed, the trigger post presses down to trigger the second switch, and the second magnetic element deflects downward toward the second switch.

[0017] As an optional technical solution, the at least one first switch and the second switch are micro switches or infrared transceiver switches.

[0018] As an optional technical solution, the support base also has a trigger post, and the switch device is located below the trigger post. When the roller is pressed, the trigger post presses down to trigger the switch device, and the second magnetic element deflects downward toward the switch device.

[0019] As an optional technical solution, the switching device is a bipolar Hall magnetic field sensor and is positioned corresponding to the second magnetic element, which is a magnet. When the roller is subjected to lateral force, the second magnetic element deflects laterally relative to the first magnetic element, causing the first magnetic end of the second magnetic element to move away from the switching device and the second magnetic end of the second magnetic element to move closer to the switching device, thereby triggering the switching device.

[0020] As an optional technical solution, the switching device is a unipolar Hall magnetic field sensor located below the second magnetic element, which is a magnet; when the roller is pressed, the second magnetic element deflects downward toward the switching device to trigger the switching device.

[0021] As an optional technical solution, one of the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component is a magnet, and the other of the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component is a magnet or a magnetically conductive material.

[0022] In summary, the magnetic scroll wheel return design adopted in this invention not only allows users to perform corresponding input operations (such as controlling the horizontal scroll bar of the window operation interface to move left and right or closing browser tabs) by side-pressing or pressing down the scroll wheel with their fingers, thereby improving the functionality of the mouse, but also effectively solves the problem mentioned in the prior art that the support base and the mouse base are only connected by a one-piece molded slender spring arm, which makes the spring arm structure difficult to form and the spring arm easy to break, thereby extending the service life of the mouse device.

[0023] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments, but this is not intended to limit the present invention. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 This is a partially exploded view of a mouse device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A top view of a mouse device.

[0026] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A simplified top-down view of a mouse device when the scroll wheel is turned to the left.

[0027] Figure 4 for Figure 2 A simplified top-down view of a mouse device when the scroll wheel is turned to the right.

[0028] Figure 5 for Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of a mouse device along section line AA.

[0029] Figure 6 for Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of a mouse device when the scroll wheel is pressed.

[0030] Figure 7 This is a partial perspective view of a mouse device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 8This is a partial perspective view of a mouse device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 9 for Figure 8 A simplified top-down view of a mouse device when the scroll wheel is turned to the left.

[0033] Figure 10 for Figure 8 A simplified top-down view of a mouse device when the scroll wheel is turned to the right. Detailed Implementation

[0034] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 ,as well as Figure 4 , Figure 1 This is a partially exploded view of a mouse device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 for Figure 1 Top view of mouse device 10. Figure 3 for Figure 2 A simplified top-down view of the mouse device 10 when the scroll wheel 20 is tilted to the left. Figure 4 for Figure 2 A simplified top-view diagram of the mouse device 10 when the scroll wheel 20 is tilted to the right, as shown below. Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 as well as Figure 4 As shown, the mouse device 10 includes a base 12, a top cover 14, a support 16, a circuit board 18, and a scroll wheel 20. To clearly illustrate the actuation relationships of the internal components of the mouse device 10, [details omitted]. Figure 3 as well as Figure 4 The base 12 and the top cover 14 are omitted in the drawing. The top cover 14 fits onto the base 12 and forms a slot 22. The front end of the top cover 14 has a first magnetic element 24. The support base 16 is movably suspended between the top cover 14 and the base 12 and has a second magnetic element 26. Figure 2 It is understood that the first magnetic surface 25 of the first magnetic element 24 and the second magnetic surface 27 of the second magnetic element 26 are parallel and opposite to each other (preferably separated by a distance, but not limited to this, and they can also be designed with their surfaces attached to each other) to generate magnetic attraction. One of the first magnetic element 24 and the second magnetic element 26 can be a magnet, and the other of the first magnetic element 24 and the second magnetic element 26 can be a magnet or a magnetically conductive material (e.g., iron or other metals). The roller 20 is rotatably disposed in the support 16 and protrudes from the slot 22 to allow the user to perform forward and backward rotation operations by pushing the roller 20 with their finger (e.g., controlling the vertical scroll bar of the window operation interface to move up and down).

[0035] In this embodiment, the upper cover 14, corresponding to the position of the support seat 16, can preferably extend downward to form a pair of cantilever arms 28 (i.e., two cantilever arms 28). The support seat 16 is movably engaged between the pair of cantilever arms 28 to be movably suspended above the base 12 (but not limited to this; in another embodiment, it can also adopt a design where a support extends upward from the base 12 to allow the support seat 16 to be suspended on the base 12). More specifically, as... Figure 1 As shown, each cantilever 28 can be formed with a guide groove 30 and a locking hole 32. The support seat 16 protrudes outward to form a positioning post 34 corresponding to the position of the guide groove 30. Through the above guide groove positioning design, during the assembly of the mouse device 10, the positioning post 34 can move accurately along the guide groove 30 to the position of locking with the locking hole 32, so that the support seat 16 carrying the roller 20 can be movably locked between the two cantilever 28 of the upper cover 14, thereby quickly completing the assembly between the support seat 16 and the upper cover 14, thereby reducing assembly tolerance and effectively eliminating the assembly gap between the upper cover 14, the support seat 16, and the roller 20.

[0036] Furthermore, the circuit board 18 is disposed on the base 12 and has a switching device 36 at a position corresponding to the support 16. More specifically, in this embodiment, the switching device 36 may include at least one first switch 38 (at... Figures 3-4 The device includes two switches (but is not limited to this) and a second switch 40, and the carrier 16 also has a trigger post 42. The first switches 38 are preferably microswitches and are located on both sides of the carrier 16 (in this embodiment, the switching device includes two first switches 38). The second switch 40 is preferably a microswitch and is located below the trigger post 42, allowing the user to trigger the switching device 36 by biasing or pressing down the scroll wheel 20. It should be noted that the switch configuration of the switching device 36 is not limited to the above embodiment; it can also adopt a unidirectional trigger design to simplify the scroll wheel trigger design of the mouse device 10. For example, in another embodiment, the switching device 36 can be a single microswitch located below the trigger post 42, thereby providing a unidirectional trigger function where the user can press down the scroll wheel 20 to trigger the switching device 36.

[0037] Through the above design, such as Figure 2 as well as Figure 3 As shown, when the roller 20 is subjected to a lateral force f1 and biased to the left, the bearing seat 16 will be affected by the magnetic attraction between the first magnetic element 24 and the second magnetic element 26, and will deflect relative to the first magnetic element 24 toward the first switch 38 located on the left. Figure 3(This can be considered as a clockwise deflection) until the support 16 comes into lateral contact with the first switch 38 located on the left. In this way, the support 16 deflects and triggers the first switch 38 located to the left of the first magnetic element 24 to complete the corresponding input operation (e.g., controlling the horizontal scroll bar of the control window operation interface to move horizontally to the left). Simultaneously with the completion of the triggering operation of the bias roller 20 and the roller 20 being released and no longer under force, the magnetic attraction between the first magnetic element 24 and the second magnetic element 26 can drive the second magnetic surface 27 from... Figure 3 The position deflection shown returns to the position shown. Figure 2 The position shown is parallel to the first magnetic surface 25, so that the support 16 is positioned from... Figure 3 The position shown is rotated to the left and returned to its original position. Figure 2 The initial un-deflected position shown allows the roller 20 to automatically return to its original position.

[0038] On the other hand, such as Figure 2 as well as Figure 4 As shown, when the roller 20 is biased to the right by a lateral force f2, the bearing seat 16 will be affected by the magnetic attraction between the first magnetic element 24 and the second magnetic element 26, and will deflect relative to the first magnetic element 24 toward the first switch 38 located on the right. Figure 4 (This can be considered as deflecting counterclockwise) until the support 16 comes into lateral contact with the first switch 38 located on the right. In this way, the support 16 deflects and triggers the first switch 38 located to the right of the first magnetic element 24 to complete the corresponding input operation (e.g., controlling the horizontal scroll bar of the control window interface to move horizontally to the right). Simultaneously with the completion of the triggering operation of the bias roller 20 and the roller 20 being released and no longer under force, the magnetic attraction between the first magnetic element 24 and the second magnetic element 26 can drive the second magnetic surface 27 from... Figure 4 The position shown deflects back Figure 2 The position shown is parallel to the first magnetic surface 25, so that the support 16 is positioned from... Figure 4 The position shown is reversed to the right. Figure 2 The initial un-deflected position shown allows the roller 20 to automatically return to its original position.

[0039] In addition, please see Figure 5 And the diagram, Figure 5 for Figure 2 The figure shows a cross-sectional view of the mouse device 10 along section line AA. The figure also shows a cross-sectional view of the mouse device 10 when the scroll wheel 20 is pressed. Figure 5 as well as Figure 6 As shown, when the roller 20 is pressed down, the support seat 16 will be affected by the magnetic attraction between the first magnetic element 24 and the second magnetic element 26, and will deflect downward relative to the first magnetic element 24 (in Figure 6(This can be considered as deflecting clockwise) until the trigger post 42 triggers the second switch 40. In this way, the carrier 16 can press down to trigger the second switch 40 to complete the corresponding input operation (such as closing the browser page). Simultaneously with the triggering operation of the roller 20 being completed and the roller 20 being released and no longer under force, the magnetic attraction between the first magnetic element 24 and the second magnetic element 26 can drive the second magnetic surface 27 from... Figure 6 The position shown deflects upwards back to Figure 5 The position shown is parallel to the first magnetic surface 25, so that the support 16 is positioned from... Figure 6 The downward deflection position shown has been returned to its original position. Figure 5 The initial un-deflected position shown allows the roller 20 to automatically return to its original position.

[0040] In summary, the magnetic scroll wheel return design adopted in this invention not only allows users to perform corresponding input operations (such as controlling the horizontal scroll bar of the window operation interface to move left and right or closing browser tabs) by side-pressing or pressing down the scroll wheel with their fingers, thereby improving the functionality of the mouse, but also effectively solves the problem mentioned in the prior art that the support base and the mouse base are only connected by a one-piece molded slender spring arm, which makes the spring arm structure difficult to form and the spring arm easy to break, thereby extending the service life of the mouse device.

[0041] It is worth mentioning that the triggering design of the switching device of the present invention is not limited to the micro switch triggering design mentioned in the above embodiments; it can also adopt an optical triggering design. For example, please refer to... Figure 7 This is a partial perspective view of a mouse device 10' according to another embodiment of the present invention, wherein, in order to clearly show the internal component configuration of the mouse device 10', Figure 7 The base 12 and the top cover 14 are omitted from the drawing, and the circuit board 18' is partially simplified. Components with the same number as those mentioned in the above embodiments have the same structure or function, and their related descriptions will not be repeated here. In this embodiment, the mouse device 10' includes a base 12, a top cover 14, a support 16', a circuit board 18', and a scroll wheel 20. The circuit board 18' has a switch device 36' at the position corresponding to the support 16'. The switch device 36' may include at least one first switch 38' (in...). Figure 7(Only one is shown in the image, but not limited to this) and a second switch 40'. The support 16' can extend downward to form a first trigger post 17 corresponding to the position of the first switch 38', and the support 16' can extend downward to form a second trigger post 29 corresponding to the position of the second switch 40'. The first switch 38' can be an infrared transceiver switch and is located on one side of the support 16' (or on one side of the first trigger post 17). The second switch 40' can be an infrared transceiver switch and is located below the second trigger post 29. In this way, the user can generate the effect of triggering the first switch 38' by blocking the optical sensing of the first switch 38' with the first trigger post 17 by biasing the roller 20, or generate the effect of triggering the second switch 40' by blocking the optical sensing of the second switch 40' with the second trigger post 29 by pressing down the roller 20. As for the relevant description of the above optical blocking trigger design, it is common in the prior art and will not be repeated here. It should be noted that the switch configuration of the switch device 36' is not limited to the above embodiment. It can be modified to adopt a one-way trigger design to simplify the scroll wheel trigger design of the mouse device 10'. For example, in another embodiment, the switch device 36' can be a single infrared transceiver switch and located below the second trigger post 29, thereby providing the user with a one-way trigger function that can be triggered by pressing the scroll wheel 20.

[0042] In practical applications, the switching device triggering design of this invention can also adopt a dual-magnetic-pole induction triggering design. For example, please refer to [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 8 , Figure 9 ,as well as Figure 10 , Figure 8 This is a partial perspective view of a mouse device 100 according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 9 for Figure 8 A simplified top-down view of the mouse device 100 when the scroll wheel 20 is turned to the left. Figure 10 for Figure 8 A simplified top view of the mouse device 100 with the scroll wheel 20 tilted to the right, wherein the internal component configuration of the mouse device 100 is clearly shown. Figure 8The base 12 and top cover 14 are omitted from the illustration, and the circuit board 102 is shown in a simplified form. Components with the same number as those mentioned in the above embodiments have the same structure or function, and their related descriptions will not be repeated here. In this embodiment, the mouse device 100 includes a base 12, a top cover 14, a support base 16, a scroll wheel 20, and a circuit board 102. The circuit board 102 is disposed on the base 12 and has a switch device 104 corresponding to the position of the second magnetic component 26. The switch device 104 can be a bipolar Hall magnetic field sensor, and the second magnetic component 26 is a magnet. The bipolar Hall magnetic field sensor can detect whether the second magnetic component 26 is deflected to the left or right relative to the first magnetic component 24 by generating different voltage outputs corresponding to different distances between itself and the two magnetic poles of the magnet. As for the relevant description of the bipolar Hall magnetic field sensor's bipolar induction principle, it is common in the prior art and will not be repeated here.

[0043] With the above design, when the roller 20 is subjected to a lateral force f1 and deflected to the left, the bearing seat 16 will deflect to the left relative to the first magnetic element 24 (in... Figure 9 (This can be viewed as a clockwise deflection), during which... Figure 9 It is known that the first magnetic end P1 (e.g., the N pole) of the second magnetic element 26 is relatively far away from the switch device 104, and the second magnetic end P2 (e.g., the S pole) of the second magnetic element 26 is relatively close to the switch device 104. Therefore, when the second magnetic element 26 deflects to the left relative to the first magnetic element 24, causing a change in the relative distance between the switch device 104 and the first magnetic end P1 and the second magnetic end P2 respectively, the second magnetic element 26 can trigger the switch device 104 to complete the corresponding input operation (e.g., controlling the horizontal scroll bar of the control window operation interface to move horizontally to the left). On the other hand, when the roller 20 is subjected to a lateral force f2 deflected to the right, the support 16 will deflect to the right relative to the first magnetic element 24 (in...). Figure 10 (This can be viewed as a deflection in the counter-clockwise direction), during which... Figure 10 It is known that the first magnetic end P1 of the second magnetic element 26 is relatively close to the switch device 104, and the second magnetic end P2 of the second magnetic element 26 is relatively far away from the switch device 104. Therefore, when the second magnetic element 26 deflects to the left relative to the first magnetic element 24, causing the relative distance between the switch device 104 and the first magnetic end P1 and the second magnetic end P2 to change, the second magnetic element 26 can trigger the switch device 104 to complete the corresponding input operation (e.g., control the horizontal scroll bar of the control window operation interface to move to the right).

[0044] It should be noted that, by Figure 8It is understood that the scroll wheel press-triggered design of the mouse device 100 adopts the optical triggering design mentioned in the above embodiment, which uses the second trigger post 29 to trigger the second switch 40'. However, it is not limited to this. The present invention can adopt a single-pole induction triggering design. For example, in another embodiment, the switching device can be a single-pole Hall magnetic field sensor located below the second magnetic element, and the second magnetic element can be a magnet. The single-pole Hall magnetic field sensor can be triggered when the magnet approaches to a certain distance. As for the relevant description of the magnetic induction principle of the single-pole Hall magnetic field sensor, it is common in the prior art and will not be repeated here. In this way, when the scroll wheel is pressed, the second magnetic element can deflect downward toward the switching device to sense and trigger the switching device, thereby completing the corresponding input operation (such as closing the browser tab).

[0045] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. All equivalent changes and modifications made within the scope of the claims of the present invention should be included in the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A mouse device, characterized in that, It includes: Base; The top cover fits onto the base and forms a slot, and the front end of the top cover has a first magnetic element; A support base, which is movably suspended between the upper cover and the base and has a second magnetic element, wherein the first magnetic surface of the first magnetic element and the second magnetic surface of the second magnetic element are parallel to each other and opposite to each other; A circuit board, which is mounted on the base and has a switching device corresponding to the position of the support; and A roller, which is rotatably disposed in the support and protrudes from the slot; When the roller is subjected to force to drive the carrier to move relative to the base, the carrier triggers the switching device, and the second magnetic element deflects relative to the first magnetic element as the carrier moves, causing the second magnetic surface to deflect away from the first magnetic surface. When the roller is released, the magnetic attraction between the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element drives the second magnetic surface to deflect parallel to the first magnetic surface, causing the support to return to its original position.

2. The mouse device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The top cover extends downwards from the position of the support to form a pair of cantilever arms, and the support is movably engaged between the pair of cantilever arms to be movably suspended above the base.

3. The mouse device according to claim 2, characterized in that, Each cantilever has a guide groove and a locking hole. The support extends outward to form a positioning post corresponding to the guide groove. The positioning post moves along the guide groove to the position where it engages with the locking hole, so that the support can be movably engaged between the pair of cantilever arms.

4. The mouse device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The switching device includes at least one first switch located on at least one side of the support; when the roller is subjected to lateral force, the support is biased to trigger the at least one first switch, and the second magnetic element deflects laterally toward the at least one first switch.

5. The mouse device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The support also has a trigger post, and the switching device further includes a second switch located below the trigger post; when the roller is pressed, the trigger post presses down to trigger the second switch, and the second magnetic element deflects downward toward the second switch.

6. The mouse device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The at least one first switch and the second switch are micro switches or infrared transceiver switches.

7. The mouse device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The support also has a trigger post, and the switch device is located below the trigger post. When the roller is pressed, the trigger post presses down to trigger the switch device, and the second magnetic element deflects downward toward the switch device.

8. The mouse device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The switching device is a bipolar Hall magnetic field sensor and is positioned corresponding to the second magnetic element, which is a magnet. When the roller is subjected to lateral force, the second magnetic element deflects laterally relative to the first magnetic element, causing the first magnetic end of the second magnetic element to move away from the switching device and the second magnetic end of the second magnetic element to move closer to the switching device, thereby triggering the switching device.

9. The mouse device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The switching device is a unipolar Hall magnetic field sensor located below the second magnetic element, which is a magnet; when the roller is pressed, the second magnetic element deflects downward toward the switching device to trigger the switching device.

10. The mouse device according to claim 1, characterized in that, One of the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component is a magnet, and the other of the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component is a magnet or a magnetically conductive material.

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