Mouse device

A mouse device includes a casing, a switch, a button, a travel distance adjustment and a knob structure. The button is exposed to a top side of the casing. A first end of the travel distance adjustment assembly is contacted with the button. A second end of the travel distance adjustment assembly includes an internal thread structure. The internal thread structure of the travel distance adjustment assembly is engaged with an external thread structure of the knob structure. While an operating part of the knob structure is rotated, the knob structure is not moved and the travel distance adjustment assembly is moved upwardly relative to the knob structure to push the force-exerted part upwardly. Consequently, a triggering speed of the switch is increased.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an input device, and more particularly to a mouse device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The widely-used input devices include for example mouse devices, keyboard devices or trackballs. As known, mouse devices are prevailing because they are very easy-to-use. When a mouse device is held by a user's palm, the user may move the mouse device to control movement of the cursor shown on the computer screen. In addition, by manipulating the buttons of the mouse device with the user's fingers, the user may click and select a desired icon shown on the computer screen or execute a corresponding function. As a consequence, most users and most manufacturers of the input devices pay much attention to the keyboard devices.

Please refer toFIGS. 1 and 2.FIG. 1is a schematic perspective view illustrating the appearance of a conventional mouse device.FIG. 2is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a portion of the conventional mouse device as shown inFIG. 1. The mouse device1comprises a casing11, plural buttons12, plural switches13and a circuit board14. The plural switches13are aligned with the corresponding buttons12. The circuit board14is electrically connected with the plural switches13. Each button12comprises a triggering part123, a fixing part121and a pressing part122. The fixing part121and the pressing part122are located at two opposite sides of the button12, respectively. The fixing part121of the button12is connected with the casing11. A first end of the triggering part123is connected with the pressing part122. A second end of the triggering part123is protruded toward the inner side of the casing11. While the pressing part122of any button12is pressed down by the user, the pressing part122of the button12is swung downwardly relative to the fixing part121of the button12(i.e., a fulcrum). Consequently, the triggering part123is moved downwardly to trigger the corresponding switch13, and the circuit board14issues a key signal.

Generally, after the pressing part122of the button12is pressed down for a travel distance larger than a specified distance, the switch13is triggered by the triggering part123. In other words, the specified distance is the factor influencing the triggering speed of the switch13. As known, in case that the travel distance of moving the triggering part123to trigger the switch13is shorter after the pressing part122of the button12is pressed down, the triggering speed of the switch13is faster. Conventionally, the travel distance of moving the triggering part123to trigger the switch13is fixed after the pressing part122of the button12is pressed down, and the travel distance is unable to be adjusted by the user. Consequently, the conventional mouse device1cannot meet the special requirements of the user. For example, the conventional mouse device1is not suitable for playing the electronic sports game.

In other words, the conventional mouse device needs to be further improved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a mouse device, and more particularly to a mouse device with an adjustable switch-triggering speed so as to meet the operating requirements of different users.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a mouse device is provided. The mouse device includes a casing, a switch, a button, a travel distance adjustment and a knob structure. The switch is disposed within the casing. The button is exposed to a top side of the casing, and includes a triggering part, a pivotal part, a pressing part and a force-exerted part. The pivotal part is pivotally coupled to the casing and arranged between the pressing part and the force-exerted part. A first end of the triggering part is connected with the pressing part. A second end of the triggering part is protruded toward an inner side of the casing so as to trigger the switch. The travel distance adjustment assembly is disposed within the casing. A first end of the travel distance adjustment assembly is contacted with the force-exerted part. A second end of the travel distance adjustment assembly includes an internal thread structure. The knob structure includes an operating part, a rotating shaft and an external thread structure. The operating part is exposed outside the casing. The external thread structure is formed on the rotating shaft. A first end of the rotating shaft is connected with the operating part. A second end of the rotating shaft is protruded toward the inner side of the casing. Consequently, the external thread structure and the internal thread structure are engaged with each other. While the operating part is rotated, the knob structure is not moved and the travel distance adjustment assembly is moved upwardly relative to the knob structure to push the force-exerted part upwardly, so that the pressing part is swung downwardly and a triggering speed of the switch is increased.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The embodiments of present invention will be described more specifically with reference to the following drawings. Generally, in the drawings and specifications, identical or similar components are designated by identical numeral references. For well understanding the present invention, the elements shown in the drawings are not in scale with the elements of the practical product. In the following embodiments and drawings, the elements irrelevant to the concepts of the present invention or the elements well known to those skilled in the art are omitted. It is noted that numerous modifications and alterations may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention.

Please refer toFIGS. 3 and 4.FIG. 3schematically illustrates the connection between a mouse device and a computing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 4is a schematic perspective view illustrating the appearance of the mouse device according to the embodiment of the present invention. The computing device3comprises a computer host31and a computer screen32. The computer host31is in communication with the mouse device2and the computer screen32. In this embodiment, the computer host31is in communication with the mouse device2and the computer screen32in a wired transmission manner. Alternatively, the computer host is in communication with the mouse device and the computer screen in a wireless transmission manner. A graphic-based window321and a cursor322are displayed on the computer screen32. When the user's palm holds the mouse device3to move the mouse device2, the cursor322shown on the computer screen32is correspondingly moved by the computer host31according to the displacement amount of the mouse device2. The implementation examples and principles of operating the mouse device to control the cursor on the computer screen are well known to those skilled in the art, and are not redundantly described herein.

Please refer toFIG. 5.FIG. 5is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a portion of the mouse device as shown inFIG. 4. For succinctness, only one button, one switch, one travel distance adjustment assembly and one knob structure are shown. The mouse device2comprises a casing21, plural buttons22, plural switches23corresponding to the buttons22, plural travel distance adjustment assemblies25, plural knob structures26and a circuit board24. The plural switches23are electrically connected with the circuit board24. Each button22is aligned with one switch23, one travel distance adjustment assembly25and one knob structure26.

The casing21comprises a top cover211and a base212. The top cover211and the base212are combined together. The switches23, the travel distance adjustment assemblies25, the circuit board24and at least portions of the knob structures26are accommodated within an accommodation space between the top cover211and the base212.

These buttons22are exposed outside the top cover211of the casing21. Consequently, the buttons22can be operated and pressed by the user. Each button22comprises a pivotal part220, a triggering part223, a force-exerted part221and a pressing part222. The force-exerted part221and the pressing part222are located at two opposite sides of the button22, respectively. The pivotal part220of the button22is pivotally coupled to the top cover211of the casing21. Moreover, the pivotal part220of the button22is arranged between the force-exerted part221and the pressing part222. A first end of the triggering part223is connected with the pressing part222. A second end of the triggering part223is protruded toward the inner side of the casing21.

When the pressing part222of any button22is pressed down by the user, the pivotal part220of the button22is rotated relative to the top cover211. Consequently, the pressing part222of the button22is swung downwardly and the triggering part223is moved downwardly to trigger the switch23. Meanwhile, the circuit board24, which is electrically connected with the switch23, generates a button signal. The button signal is transmitted to the computing device3, which is in communication with the mouse device2. According to the button signal, the computing device3executes a corresponding command or function.

A first end of the travel distance adjustment assembly25pushes against the force-exerted part221of the button22upwardly. A second end of the travel distance adjustment assembly25comprises an internal thread structure250. Each knob structure26comprises an operating part261, a rotating shaft262and an external thread structure263. The external thread structure263is formed on the rotating shaft262. The operating part261is disposed and exposed outside the casing21. Consequently, the operating part261can be operated and rotated by the user. A first end of the rotating shaft262is connected with the operating part261. A second end of the rotating shaft262is protruded toward the inner side of the casing21. Consequently, the external thread structure263and the internal thread structure250are engaged with each other. By rotating the operating part261, the triggering speed of the corresponding switch23is adjustable. The associated principle will be described as follows.

In an embodiment, the casing21further comprises plural recesses213. These recesses213are exposed outside the casing21and located under the base212. The operating part261of the knob structure26is accommodated within the corresponding recess213. Each travel distance adjustment assembly25comprises an adjustment structure251and an elastic element252. The adjustment structure251comprises a threaded channel2511. The internal thread structure250is formed in the threaded channel2511. When the rotating shaft262of the corresponding knob structure26is inserted into the threaded channel2511, the internal thread structure250is engaged with the external thread structure263on the rotating shaft262. Moreover, the elastic element252is arranged between the corresponding button22and the corresponding adjustment structure251. That is, the two ends of the elastic element252are contacted with the force-exerted part221of the button22and the adjustment structure251, respectively.

Preferably but not exclusively, the casing21further comprises plural first perforations214corresponding to the plural travel distance adjustment assemblies25and plural second perforations215corresponding to the plural buttons22. The elastic element252is penetrated through the corresponding first perforation214. The triggering part223is penetrated through the corresponding second perforation215. Optionally, the mouse device2further comprises plural locking rings27corresponding to the plural knob structures26. Preferably but not exclusively, the locking rings27are E-shaped locking rings. Each locking ring27is locked on the rotating shaft262of the corresponding knob structure26and arranged between the corresponding travel distance adjustment assembly25and the base212of the casing21. Since the knob structure26is fixed by the locking ring27, the knob structure26is not detached from the casing21.

Hereinafter, a method of adjusting the triggering speed of the switch23of the mouse device2by the user will be illustrated with reference toFIGS. 5 and 6.FIG. 6is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a portion of the mouse device as shown inFIG. 5, in which the triggering speed the switch is increased. For succinctness, only one button, one switch, one travel distance adjustment assembly and one knob structure are shown. For increasing the triggering speed of the switch23of the mouse device2as shown inFIG. 5, the user has to rotate the operating part261of the knob structure26. Since the internal thread structure250of the travel distance adjustment assembly25is engaged with the external thread structure263of the knob structure26, the adjustment structure251of the travel distance adjustment assembly25is moved upwardly relative to the knob structure26in response to the rotation of the operating part261. As the adjustment structure251of the travel distance adjustment assembly25is moved upwardly, the elastic element252is moved upwardly to push the force-exerted part221of the button22. While the force-exerted part221of the button22is pushed upwardly, the pivotal part220of the button22is rotated relative to the casing21in a direction D1and the pressing part222of the button22is swung downwardly. Since the travel distance of moving the triggering part223to trigger the switch23is shortened after the pressing part222of the button22is pressed down, the triggering speed of the switch23is increased.

For decreasing the triggering speed of the switch23of the mouse device2as shown inFIG. 6, the user has to rotate the operating part261of the knob structure26in a reverse direction. Since the internal thread structure250of the travel distance adjustment assembly25is engaged with the external thread structure263of the knob structure26, the adjustment structure251of the travel distance adjustment assembly25is moved downwardly relative to the knob structure26in response to the rotation of the operating part261. As the adjustment structure251of the travel distance adjustment assembly25is moved downwardly, the force of the elastic element252to push the force-exerted part221of the button22is decreased. Since the force applied to the force-exerted part221of the button22is decreased, the pivotal part220of the button22is rotated relative to the casing21in a direction D2and the pressing part222of the button22is swung upwardly. Since the travel distance of moving the triggering part223to trigger the switch23is increased after the pressing part222of the button22is pressed down, the triggering speed of the switch23is decreased.

Especially, while the operating part261of the knob structure26is rotated, the knob structure26is only rotated but not moved upwardly or downwardly. That is, the position of the operating part261is kept unchanged, and the operating part261is not shrunk inwardly or protruded outwardly. Consequently, the operation convenience of the operating part261is enhanced, and the overall appearance of the mouse device2is not impaired.