Input device having indicating lamp

The present invention relates to an input device having an indicating lamp. The input device includes a case and an electronic lighting module. The electronic lighting module includes a printed circuit board, an electronic lighting element and a light guide post. The light guide post has a crooked shape. Due to the crooked shape, the light beams emitted by the electronic lighting element are no longer focused as a spot on the surface of the case.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an input device, and more particularly to an input device having an indicating lamp.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Nowadays, with increasing development of high technology industries, electronic devices are widely used in our daily lives. For most electronic devices, a variety of electronic lighting elements are used to generate light signals to notify the user. For example, a red light signal is shown if an electric hot-water heater is cooking water. After the water contained in the electric hot-water heater has been boiled, the red light signal is switched to a green light signal to notify the user that the water has been boiled and is now feasible to drink. The examples of using electronic lighting elements in electronic devices to notify the users are too numerous to be enumerated. For example, electronic lighting elements may be utilized in computer systems and the peripheral devices thereof. As known, an input device such as a mouse is an important peripheral device of a computer for establishing contact between the computer and the user. The mouse has an indicating lamp to emit light signals to notify the user of different operating statuses of the mouse.

Hereinafter, an input device having an indicating lamp and the operations of the input device will be illustrated in more details with reference toFIG. 1.FIG. 1is a schematic exploded view of an input device having an indicating lamp according to the prior art. The input device1principally comprises a case14and an electronic lighting module. A case perforation141is formed in the case14. The electronic lighting module comprises a printed circuit board10, an electronic lighting element11, a light guide post13and a lamp cover16. The electronic lighting element11is disposed on the printed circuit board10for emitting light beams. The light guide post13is arranged between the case14and the electronic lighting element11for guiding the light beams. For assembling the input device1, an end of the light guide post13is contacted with the electronic lighting element11and the other end of the light guide post13is inserted into the case perforation141. The length H1of the light guide post13is substantially identical to the vertical distance between the electronic lighting element11and the case perforation141. In addition, the electronic lighting element11is aligned with the case perforation141. That is, the electronic lighting element11and the case perforation141are arranged along the same vertical line. The lamp cover16is disposed on the surface of the case14and shelters the case perforation141from being exposed. During operation of the input device1, the electronic lighting element11emits light beams. Since the electronic lighting element11is contacted with the light guide post13, the light beams are guided by the light guide post13to the case perforation141. Since the lamp cover16is made of transparent material, the light beams finally penetrate through the lamp cover16so as to indicate a light signal on the surface of the input device1.

The conventional input device having an indicating lamp, however, still has some drawbacks. For example, the light beams are not uniformly distributed on the lamp cover. Due to a light gathering property of the electronic lighting element, the majority of the light beams emitted by the electronic lighting element are focused on a spot. The light beams are then conducted through the light guide post to the lamp cover such that the light beams are not uniformly distributed on the lamp cover. Under this circumstance, the light signal is not pleasing to the eye and readily discomforts the vision of the user.

Therefore, there is a need of providing an input device having an indicating lamp for uniformly displaying the light signal so as to obviate the drawbacks encountered from the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an input device having an indicating lamp for uniformly displaying the light signal.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an input device having an indicating lamp. The input device includes a case and an electronic lighting module. The case has a case perforation therein. The electronic lighting module includes a printed circuit board, an electronic lighting element arranged on the printed circuit board for emitting light beams, and a light guide post for guiding the light beams. The light guide post has an end contacted with the electronic lighting element and the other end inserted into the case perforation. The light guide post has a length greater than a vertical distance between the case perforation and the electronic lighting element.

In an embodiment, the input device further includes a lamp cover, which is disposed on a surface of the case, for sheltering the case perforation.

In an embodiment, the light guide post has a crooked shape.

In an embodiment, an angle is defined between the light guide post and the vertical line downwardly extended from the case perforation.

Preferably, the input device is a mouse.

Preferably, the electronic lighting element is a light emitting diode (LED).

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an input device having a multi-stage indicating lamp. The input device includes a case and an electronic lighting module. The case has multiple case perforations therein. The electronic lighting module includes a printed circuit board, a first electronic lighting element arranged on the printed circuit board for emitting first light beams, a second electronic lighting element arranged on the printed circuit board for emitting second light beams, and a light guide member. The light guide member includes a light guide platform, multiple upper light guide posts for guiding the first and second light beams, and multiple lower light guide posts for guiding the first and second light beams. The upper light guide posts have respective first ends inserted into respective case perforations. The lower light guide posts have respective second ends contacted with the first and second electronic lighting elements. The number of the upper light guide posts is equal to the number of the lower light guide posts. The light guide member has a length greater than a vertical distance between the first electronic lighting element and the corresponding case perforation.

In an embodiment, the input device further includes a light-shielding member arranged between the light guide member and the printed circuit board. The light-shielding member has multiple channels. The lower light guide posts are inserted into corresponding channels.

In an embodiment, the input device further includes a lamp cover, which is disposed on a surface of the case, for sheltering the case perforations.

In an embodiment, the lower light guide posts of the light guide member have crooked shapes.

In an embodiment, an angle is defined between each of the lower light guide posts of the light guide member and the vertical line downwardly extended from the corresponding case perforation.

Preferably, the input device is a mouse.

Preferably, the first electronic lighting element is a light emitting diode (LED).

Preferably, the second electronic lighting element is a light emitting diode (LED).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 2is a schematic exploded view of an input device having an indicating lamp according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the input device2principally comprises a case24and an electronic lighting module. A case perforation241is formed in the case24. The electronic lighting module comprises a printed circuit board20, an electronic lighting element21, a light guide post23and a lamp cover26. The electronic lighting element21is disposed on the printed circuit board20for emitting light beams B (as is also shown inFIG. 3). An exemplary electronic lighting element21is a light emitting diode (LED). The light guide post23is arranged between the case24and the electronic lighting element21for guiding the light beams B. For assembling the input device2, an end of the light guide post23is contacted with the electronic lighting element21and the other end of the light guide post23is inserted into the case perforation241. In order to preventing the light beams emitted by the electronic lighting element21from being focused as a spot on the surface of the input device2, the light guide post23for guiding the light beams B is modified. In accordance with a key feature of the present invention, the length of the light guide post23is greater than the vertical distance H2between the electronic lighting element21and the case perforation241. The vertical distance H2denotes the imaginary distance between the electronic lighting element21and the case perforation241if the electronic lighting element21and the case perforation241are arranged along the same vertical line. In other words, the light guide post23may have any crooked shape, as is shown inFIG. 2. Alternatively, the electronic lighting element21is not necessarily aligned with the case perforation241. The electronic lighting element21and the case perforation241are arranged along different vertical lines and the electronic lighting element21is horizontally deviated from the case perforation241such that the light guide post23is a tilted elongate strip. The shape of the light guide post23and the position of the case perforation241relative to the light guide post23are not restricted as long as the length of the light guide post23is greater than the vertical distance H2between the electronic lighting element21and the case perforation241. In other words, the light guide post23may have an arbitrary shape with the proviso that the length of the light guide post23is greater than the vertical distance H2between the electronic lighting element21and the case perforation241.

FIG. 3is a schematic cross-sectional view of the input device having an indicating lamp according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. Please refer toFIGS. 2 and 3. During operation of the input device2, the electronic lighting element21emits light beams B. Since the electronic lighting element21is contacted with the light guide post23, the light beams B are guided by the light guide post23to the case perforation241. Due to the crooked shape of the light guide post23, some of the light beams B are focused on the light guide post23. The remaindering portions of the light beams B are not focused by the light guide post23but are guided to the case perforation241through the light guide post23. Since the lamp cover26is made of transparent material, the light beams B finally penetrate through the lamp cover26so as to indicate a light signal on the surface of the input device2. Under this circumstance, the light beams B are no longer focused as a spot on the surface of the input device2.

The operations and working principles of the input device having an indicating lamp according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention have been illustrated as above. Nevertheless, the above concept is applicable to an input device having a multi-stage indicating lamp. Referring toFIG. 4, an exploded view of an input device having a multi-stage indicating lamp according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 4, the input device3principally comprises a case34and an electronic lighting module. A plurality of case perforations341are formed in the case34. The electronic lighting module comprises a printed circuit board30, a first electronic lighting element31, a second electronic lighting element32, a light guide post member33, a light-shielding member35and a lamp cover36. The first electronic lighting element31and the second electronic lighting element32are disposed on the printed circuit board30for emitting first and second light beams, respectively. Examples of the first electronic lighting element31and the second electronic lighting element32are light emitting diodes (LEDs). The light guide member33is used for guiding the first and second light beams. The light guide member33comprises a light guide platform331, multiple upper light guide posts332and multiple lower light guide posts333. The lower light guide posts333have respective ends contacted with the first electronic lighting element31and the second electronic lighting element32. The upper light guide posts332have respective ends inserted into the case perforations341. The number of the upper light guide posts332is equal to the number of the lower light guide posts333. In addition, the number of the upper light guide posts332is equal to the number of the case perforations341. The light-shielding member35are arranged between the light guide member33and the printed circuit board30for preventing the light beams emitted by the first electronic lighting element31and the second electronic lighting element32from being interfered with each other. The light-shielding member35has several channels351. The lower light guide posts333are inserted into corresponding channels351such that the light beams emitted by the first electronic lighting element31and the second electronic lighting element32are shielded by the sidewalls of the channels351.

In accordance with a key feature of the present invention, the length of the light guide member33is greater than the vertical distance between the first electronic lighting element31and the corresponding case perforation341. More especially, the lower light guide posts333of the light guide member33are tilted such that an angle “a” is defined between each of the lower light guide posts333and the vertical line downwardly extended from the case perforations341. The vertical line downwardly extended from the case perforations341is substantially parallel with the length direction of the upper light guide posts332. In other words, each of the lower light guide posts333is substantially a tilted elongate strip. The first electronic lighting element31and the second electronic lighting element32, which are disposed on the printed circuit board30, and corresponding case perforations341are arranged along different vertical lines. Since the first electronic lighting element31and the second electronic lighting element32are contacted with different lower light guide posts333, the first electronic lighting element31and the second electronic lighting element32are horizontally deviated from the case perforations341, as can be seen inFIG. 4. The operations of the input device3are identical to those of the input device2shown in the first preferred embodiment, and are not redundantly described herein. In particular, the directions of the light beams emitted by the electronic lighting elements31are not parallel with the upper light guide posts332in order to avoid the light gathering effect.

It is noted that, however, those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the light guide member may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention.FIG. 5is a schematic exploded view of an input device having an indicating lamp according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention. Like the second preferred embodiment, the input device4of the third preferred embodiment principally comprises a case44and an electronic lighting module. A plurality of case perforations441are formed in the case44. The electronic lighting module comprises a printed circuit board40, a first electronic lighting element41, a second electronic lighting element42, a light guide post member43, a light-shielding member45and a lamp cover46. The light guide member43comprises a light guide platform431, multiple upper light guide posts432and multiple lower light guide posts433. The multiple lower light guide posts433comprises a first lower light guide post (not shown), a second lower light guide post4332, a third lower light guide post4333and a fourth lower light guide post4334. The first lower light guide posts and the third lower light guide post4333are tilted to the right side of the input device4such that an angle is defined between each of the first lower light guide posts and the third lower light guide post4333and the vertical line downwardly extended from corresponding case perforations441. Similarly, the second lower light guide post4332and the fourth lower light guide post4334are tilted to the left side of the input device4such that an angle is defined between each of the second lower light guide post4332and the fourth lower light guide post4334and the vertical line downwardly extended from corresponding case perforations441. It is of course that the light-shielding member45and the printed circuit board430are modified depending on the lower light guide posts433.

From the above description, the light beams are no longer focused as a spot on the surface of the case by using an improved light guide post to guide the light beams. Consequently, the problem of causing light gathering property occurred in the conventional light guide post is overcome. Since the light beams are uniformly distributed on the lamp cover and the luminance of the indicating lamp is reduced, the light signal becomes pleasing to the eye and thus comforts the vision of the user. In comparison with the prior art, the present invention can obviate the drawbacks encountered from the prior art.