Patent ID: 6285355
Filing Date: 2001-09-04
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A mouse-associated Z-axis encoder for generating electric reference signals for moving and locating a finger post on a computer, comprising:a rotary-shaft mount fixedly connected to an inner side of a mouse, an encoding disc, and an encoding wheel;said rotary-shaft mount having a connection seat connected to an upper portion thereof, a rotary shaft and a plurality of cylindrical sleeves being axially provided on said connection seat, each of said cylindrical sleeves receiving a contact finger and an elastic element surrounding said contact finger, at least one of said contact fingers being electrically connected to electric signals;said encoding disc being disposed in said encoding wheel, said encoding disc and said encoding wheel being mounted around said rotary shaft provided on said rotary-shaft mount;said encoding wheel having a portion protruding from said mouse, said encoding disc being provided on a surface thereof with a plurality of conductive contacting areas, whereby when said encoding wheel is rotated from a position outside of said mouse, said contact fingers selectively contact said conductive contacting areas on said encoding disc to constitute an electric circuit that generates different electric reference signals for moving and locating the finger post of the computer on a third axis or the Z-axis coordinate.