Abstract:
An operation control device includes a housing, a control module having a movable operating device carried on a carrier frame in the housing and partially exposed to the outside and rotatable and axially slidable by the user, a circuit module, which includes a rotation sensor module for sensing the direction and amount of rotation of the movable operating device and producing a respective control signal and magnetic sensors for sensing the direction and amount of axial displacement of the movable operating device in a non-contact manner. The human-friendly design of the operation control device facilitates cursor control, assuring high operation stability and comfort.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan patent application number 099225383, filed on Dec. 29, 2010. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to cursor control technology and more particularly, to an operation control device, which is a human-friendly design that allows the user to keep in one same posture during operation, enhancing operation stability and comfort. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Following fast development of the modern technology and electronic industry, many different kinds of consumer electronics, such as computer, mobile telephone, digital camera, personal digital assistant, multimedia player and etc., have entered into our daily life. Nowadays, computer has become an important tool and is intensively used by people daily. Further, following the development and popularization of home and office networks, people can use the internet to search information, listen to music, watch movies and TV news, play on-line games, send and receive e-mails, make on-line shopping, on-line subscription and on-line payment. 
         [0006]    Further, a computer has multiple functions, bringing convenience to the user. Further, a computer may be equipped with a keyboard and/or mouse for controlling a cursor on a display screen for menu item selection, cursor dragging or other operations. When operating a computer mouse, a user may rest the wrist of the hand on the desk or a mouse pad and then move the computer mouse or click the button of the computer mouse with the fingers. However, when going to move the computer mouse over a big area, the user must lift the wrist from the desk or mouse pad. Excessive or improper use of a computer may cause pain in the wrist (the so-called carpal tunnel syndrome). In order to eliminate this problem, wrist rests are created. A wrist rest is a device used to support the wrist while typing or when using a computer mouse. However, leaning the wrists on a wrist rest for long periods can put a lot of pressure on the undersides of the wrists. This may cause carpal tunnel syndrome to develop. Actually, a wrist rest does help align the user&#39;s hands and wrists while mousing. Further, an improperly used wrist rest may actually cause more repetitive stress injuries for those who mouse for extended periods of time. To avoid wrist injury, a wrist pad may be used. However, when operating a mouse, the user may lift the hand from the wrist pad to move the mouse, lowering the practicability of the wrist pad. Therefore, computer manufacturers are trying hard to create orthopedically engineered computers and computer peripheral devices. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is one object of the present invention to provide an operation control device, which is a human-friendly design, enhancing operation stability and comfort. 
         [0008]    To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, an operation control device comprises a housing, a control module and a circuit module. The control module and the circuit module are accommodated in the housing. The housing has an elongated slot located on the top side thereof. The control module comprises a carrier frame mounted in the housing, and a movable operating device supported on the carrier frame and suspending in the elongated slot and peripherally partially protruding over the top side of the housing for operation by the user. The circuit module comprises a circuit board carrying a microprocessor, a rotation sensor module electrically connected to the microprocessor and adapted for sensing the direction and amount of rotation of the movable operating device, and two magnetic sensors respectively electrically connected to the microprocessor and adapted for sensing the direction and amount of axial displacement of the movable operating device. Thus, the user can rest the wrists of the hand on a wrist pad at the front side of the housing, and then rotate or slide the movable operating device to control the functioning of a cursor on a display screen of an electronic apparatus with which the operation control device is used. This human-friendly design does not cause the user&#39;s fingers to ache after a long operation, assuring operating stability and comfort. 
         [0009]    Further, the movable operating device of the control module comprises an elongated base member, and a sleeve sleeved onto the elongated base member and rotatable and axially slidable by the user relative to the elongated base member. Further, the rotation sensor module is mounted in the elongated base member and surrounded by the sleeve. Therefore, the sleeve protects the rotation sensor module against outside dust and micro particles and keeps the rotation sensor module from sight, assuring sensing accuracy of the rotation sensor module and saving the surface space of the circuit board of the circuit module. Thus, the invention has small-sized and nice-looking characteristics. 
         [0010]    Further, each magnetic sensor consists of a lever pivotally mounted in the housing and biasable by the movable operating device, a magnet located on one end of the lever, and, a magnetic sensing element adapted for sensing the strength of the magnetic field induced by the magnet that is indicative of the direction and amount of axial displacement of the movable operating device. Subject to the non-contact sensing operation of the magnetic sensors, the invention effectively and accurately senses the amount and direction of the displacement of the movable operating device and eliminates the drawbacks of mechanical fatigue and contact error of conventional contact switch designs. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is an elevational view of an operation control device in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the operation control device in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is another exploded view of the operation control device in accordance with the present invention when viewed from another angle. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is an elevational view of the operation control device in accordance with the present invention after removal of the top cover shell of the housing. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a schematic sectional side view taken in an enlarged scale along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of part A of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a schematic top view of the present invention, illustrating an operation status of the operation control device. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a schematic sectional view of the present invention, illustrating the user pressed the sleeve of the movable operating device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0019]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4 , an operation control device in accordance with the present invention is shown comprising a housing  1 , a control module  2  and a circuit module  3 . 
         [0020]    The housing  1  comprises a bottom cover shell  11 , a top cover shell  12  covered on the bottom cover shell  11  and an accommodation chamber  10  defined in between the bottom cover shell  11  and the top cover shell  12 . The bottom cover shell  11  comprises a plurality of upright retaining lugs  111  and posts  112  respectively symmetrically disposed near the two distal ends thereof, a plurality of spring seats  113  bilaterally disposed near the rear side and respectively disposed adjacent to the upright retaining lugs  111 , a plurality of spring holders  114  respectively disposed at a front side relative to the spring seats  113 , and a plurality of upright pivot pins  115  respectively disposed adjacent to the posts  112 . The top cover shell  12  comprises two locating holes  122  disposed near the two distal ends thereof, an elongated slot  121  connected between the two locating holes  122  in communication with the accommodation chamber  10 , a front opening  123  located on the middle near the front side thereof for the mounting of an operating device  124 , and a plurality of connection elements  125  respectively fastened to the posts  112  of the bottom over shell  11 . 
         [0021]    The control module  2  is accommodated in the accommodation chamber  10  of the housing  1 , comprising a carrier frame  21 , a movable operating device  22  carried on the carrier frame  21  and peripherally partially protruding over the elongated slot  121  of the top cover shell  12  of the housing  1 , and a plurality of spring members  213  respectively mounted in the spring seats  113  and stopped against the bottom wall of the carrier frame  21  to support the carrier frame  21  in a floating condition. The carrier frame  21  comprises two end lugs  211  respectively upwardly extended from the two distal ends thereof and respectively fastened to the locating holes  122  of the top cover shell  12  and protruding over the top side of the top cover shell  12  of the housing  1  for supporting the movable operating device  22 , two coupling hooks  212  respectively downwardly extended from the end lugs  211  and respectively coupled to the upright retaining lugs  111  of the bottom cover shell  11  of the housing  1 , a plurality of press portions  214  located on the front side thereof, and a plurality of bearing portions  215  respectively abutted against the press portion  214 . The movable operating device  22  comprises an elongated base member  221  that comprises a coupling hole  2210  axially disposed at each of two distal ends thereof and two rod members  2211  respectively mounted between the coupling hole  2210  on each of the distal ends of the elongated base member  221  and a retaining groove  2111  on each of the two end lugs  211  of the carrier frame  21 , a sleeve  222  sleeved onto the rod members  2211  and the elongated base member  221 , and two annular end caps  2222  respectively fastened to the two distal ends of the axial hole  2221  of the sleeve  222  and supported on the rod members  2211  for allowing the sleeve  222  to be rotated and axially slidably moved with the annular end caps  2222  relative to the elongated base member  221  and the rod members  2211 . 
         [0022]    The control module  2  further comprises an actuation member  23 , which comprises an actuation portion  231  located on the middle part of the front side thereof, two annular end blocks  232  respectively downwardly protruded from the two distal ends thereof and respectively capped on the spring holders  114 , a hook  2321  extended from each of the annular end blocks  232  and respectively hooked in a vertically extending hook hole  1141  on each of the spring holders  114  and a plurality of pivot holders  234  located on the bottom side thereof, two spring members  233  respectively mounted in between the spring holders  114  and the annular end blocks  232  to support the actuation member  23  in the bottom cover shell  11  in a floating condition, and a balance rod  235  pivotally mounted in the pivot holders  234  of the actuation member  23 . 
         [0023]    The circuit module  3  is accommodated in the accommodation chamber  10  inside the housing  1  at a front side relative to the control module  2 , comprising a circuit board  30 , a microprocessor  31  installed in the circuit board  30 , a rotation sensor module  32  mounted in the elongated base member  221  of the movable operating device  22  and electrically connected to the microprocessor  31  and adapted for sensing the amount and direction of rotation of the sleeve  222 , a plurality of control switches  33  electrically connected to the microprocessor  31  and operable by the operating device  124  and the actuation portion  231  of the actuation member  23 , two magnetic sensors  34  electrically connected to the microprocessor  31  and respectively disposed near the two distal ends of the movable operating device  22  and adapted for sensing the direction and amount of axial displacement of the movable operating device  22  in a non-contact manner and producing a corresponding signal, and a connection interface  35  electrically connected to the microprocessor  31  and electrically connectable to a communication port of an external electronic apparatus, for example, computer (not shown) for signal transmission in a wired or wireless manner. The connection interface  35  can be a wired interface means, such as USB or PS2 connector, or a wireless interface means, such as infrared, radio-frequency, or Bluetooth interface means. 
         [0024]    The aforesaid magnetic sensors  34  each comprise a lever  341 , which has a pivot hole  3411  vertically located on a middle part thereof and pivotally coupled to one of the upright pivot pins  115  of the bottom cover shell  11  and a contact portion  3412  located on one end, namely, the rear end thereof and rested in one respective bearing portion  215  of the carrier frame  21  and pushable by the sleeve  222  by means of one respective annular end cap  2222 , a magnet  342  located on one side of an opposite end, namely, the front end of the lever  341 , a magnetic sensing element  343  located on one of the two distal ends of the circuit board  30  and electrically connected to the microprocessor  31  for sensing approach of the magnet  342 , and a return spring  3413  connected between the opposite side of the front end of the lever  341  and one of the two posts  112  of the bottom cover shell  11  for returning the lever  341  to its former position after the lever  341  having been biased. 
         [0025]    In the aforesaid preferred embodiment of the present invention, the housing  1  consists of the bottom cover shell  11  and the top cover shell  12 . Alternatively, the housing  1  can be a single-piece member having an accommodation chamber  10  defined therein for accommodating the control module  2  and the circuit module  3 . Further, the rod members  2211  of the movable operating device  22  can be round rods, oval rods, or any other shape of rods that facilitates rotating and sliding the sleeve  222  relative to the rotation sensor module  32  in the elongated base member  221 . Further, the rod members  2211  are made of a self-lubricating material, for example, POM (polyoxymethylene) or PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene). The rotation sensor module  32  comprises a light transmitter (not shown) adapted for emitting a predetermined light onto the inside wall of the sleeve  222 , a lens (not shown), and a light receiver adapted for receiving the light reflected by the inside wall of the sleeve  222  through the lens and outputting a corresponding signal to the microprocessor  31  for computing. Thus, when the user rotates the sleeve  222 , the rotation sensor module  32  will output a signal to the microprocessor  31  that is indicative of the amount and direction of the rotation of the sleeve  222 . Further, the inside wall of the sleeve  222  can be colored, or processed to provide recessed portions or raised portions, facilitating mapping and image recognition. After computing of the sensed signal from the rotation sensor module  32  by the microprocessor  31 , the microprocessor  31  outputs a control signal through the connection interface  35  to the external electronic apparatus to control the movement of the cursor on the display screen of the external electronic apparatus. Further, the sleeve  222  can be made of a meshed fabric, nonwoven cloth, plastic, rubber or leather, and peripherally marked with a laser mark, or printed or coated with a textual or graphic design. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6  and  FIG. 4  again, the operation control device can be used in or with a computer, notebook computer, mobile telephone or any of a variety of other electronic apparatus. During application, the connection interface  35  is electrically connected to a communication port of the external electronic apparatus by a wired (or wireless) connection method. At this time, the user can rest the wrists of the hands on a wrist pad (not shown) in front of the front opening  123  of the top cover shell  12  of the housing  1 , and rotate the sleeve  222  on the elongated base member  221  with the fingers. At this time, the rotation sensor module  32  senses the direction and amount of the rotation of the sleeve  222 , and outputs a corresponding signal to the microprocessor  31 , enabling the microprocessor  31  to output a corresponding control signal through the connection interface  35  to the external electronic apparatus to control the movement of the cursor on the display screen of the external electronic apparatus in Y-axis direction (up/down direction). Further, the annular end caps  2222  support the sleeve  222  on the rod members  2211 , enabling the sleeve  222  to be rotated transversely forwards/backwards and moved axially leftwards/rightwards on the rod members  2211  relative to the elongated base member  221  and the rotation sensor module  32  without causing much friction. Thus, the user can operate the movable operating device  22  stably and comfortably. 
         [0027]    Further, as stated above, the rotation sensor module  32  is mounted in the elongated base member  221  between the rod members  2211  and surrounded by the sleeve  222 . Therefore, the sleeve  222  protects the rotation sensor module  32  against outside dust and micro particles and keeps the rotation sensor module  32  from sight, assuring sensing accuracy of the rotation sensor module  32  and saving the surface space of the circuit board  30 . Thus, the invention has small-sized and nice-looking characteristics. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8  and  FIGS. 2 and 4  again, the length of the sleeve  222  is shorter than the length of the elongated slot  121  of the top cover shell  12  of the housing  1 , and the rotation sensor module  32  is surrounded by the sleeve  222 . Thus, the user can slide the sleeve  222  axially leftwards or rightwards in the elongated slot  121  along the rod members  2211 . When moving the sleeve  222  axially in the elongated slot  121  toward one locating hole  122 , one annular end cap  2222  is forced against the contact portion  3412  of the lever  341  of one magnetic sensor  34  to bias the lever  341  in one direction, moving the magnet  342  of the respective magnetic sensor  34  toward the associating magnetic sensing element  343  at the circuit board  30 . At this time, the magnetic sensing element  343  senses the strength of the magnetic field induced by the magnet  342  that is indicative of the distance of axial displacement of the sleeve  222 , and outputs a corresponding signal to the microprocessor  31 , enabling the microprocessor  31  to output a corresponding control signal through the connection interface  35  to the external electronic apparatus to control the movement of the cursor on the display screen of the external electronic apparatus in X-axis direction (left/right direction). Further, the magnetic sensing element  343  can be a Hall IC or MR (magneto-resistive) sensor. Subject to the non-contact sensing operation of the magnetic sensors  34 , the invention effectively and accurately senses the amount and direction of the displacement of the sleeve  222  and eliminates the drawbacks of mechanical fatigue and contact error of conventional contact switch designs. 
         [0029]    Further, when the user presses down the sleeve  222  of the movable operating device  22  to lower the carrier frame  21 , the coupling hooks  212  are lowered with the carrier frame  21  relative to the upright retaining lugs  111  of the bottom cover shells  11  of the housing  1 , and the press portions  214  are lowered with the carrier frame  21  to force the actuation member  23  downwardly, causing the respective hooks  2321  to be moved downwardly in the respective vertically extending hook holes  1141  of the respective spring holders  114 . At this time, the spring members  213  are compressed between the respective spring seats  113  and the carrier frame  21 , and the spring members  233  are compressed between the respective spring holders  114  and the annular end blocks  232  of the actuation member  23 . At the same time, the actuation portion  231  of the actuation member  23  is forced to trigger one control switch  33  on the circuit board  30  of the circuit module  3 , producing a cursor clicking effect. Thus, the user can press down, rotate or slide the sleeve  22  to drag or click the cursor. When released the pressure from the sleeve  22 , the spring members  213 ;  233  immediately return the carrier frame  21  and the actuation member  23  upwardly to their former position. 
         [0030]    Further, when the user presses down the sleeve  22 , the pressure may be applied to the sleeve  22  at a location deviated from the midpoint of the sleeve  22 , causing the sleeve  22 , the carrier frame  21  and the actuation member  23  to tilt. This problem is eliminated subject to the functioning of the balance rod  235 . As stated above, the balance rod  235  is pivotally coupled to the pivot holders  234  of the actuation member  23 . When the carrier frame  21  is moved downwards, the balance rod  235  is biased to keep the carrier frame  21  and the actuation member  23  in balance. Further, the aforesaid operating device  124  can be a button, roller, rolling ball, or any finger-operable member operable by the user to trigger one control switch  33  of the circuit module  3  in controlling the cursor to perform a specific input mode. 
         [0031]    A prototype of operation control device has been constructed with the features of  FIGS. 1˜8 . The operation control device functions smoothly to provide all of the features disclosed earlier. 
         [0032]    Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.