Patent ID: 6172358
Filing Date: 2001-01-09
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
An optical input device comprising:a clamping stage having a pair of shaft retaining members projecting therefrom, said shaft retaining members being spaced apart from one another and each of said shaft retaining members having an axial hole formed therethrough, said clamping stage having a photo-detector retaining member projecting therefrom, said photo-detector retaining member having a photo-detector recess formed therein, said clamping stage having a light source retaining member projecting therefrom, said light source retaining member having a light source recess formed therein, said clamping stage having a plurality of clamping hooks projecting from a lower edge thereof;a photo-detector, said photo-detector being received within said photo-detector recess;a light source, said light source being received within said light source recess;a circuit board having a plurality of clamping holes formed therethrough, said plurality of clamping holes corresponding to said plurality of clamping hooks, said plurality of clamping hooks being received within said plurality of clamping holes to removably capture said clamping stage in locking engagement with said circuit board;an optical chopper wheel having a plurality of slits formed therethrough, said optical chopper wheel having a shaft member projecting therefrom, said shaft member having first and second ends, said first and second ends of said shaft member being respectively received in said axial holes of said pair of shaft retaining members, whereby a light beam projected from said light source passes through said plurality of slits of said optical chopper wheel and is received by said photo-detector, said photo-detector producing a signal corresponding to rotation of said optical chopper wheel about said shaft, said optical chopper wheel being manually actuatable in rotative displacement by a user.