Abstract:
The present invention relates to a mouse device having a tilt wheel encoding mechanism. The tilt wheel encoding mechanism includes a scroll wheel, a wheel carrier and a multi-direction switch unit. The scroll wheel is operable by a user. The wheel carrier has a receptacle for receiving the scroll wheel therein such that the scroll wheel is rotatable in the receptacle. By using the multi-direction switch unit to generate plural triggering signals, this encoding mechanism is simplified.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a mouse having a wheel mechanism, and more particularly to a mouse having a tilt wheel encoding mechanism. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     An input device such as a mouse or a keyboard has been widely employed in a computer system for scrolling images shown on the display screen upwardly and downwardly. For example, by rotating a scroll wheel of the input device forwardly or backwardly, a specified control signal is generated to control the scrolling operations of web pages. In addition to the vertical scroll movement, it is important to achieve the horizontal scroll movement. For example, since the texts or graphs shown in the graphic-based window of the display screen usually fail to be fully browsed, the horizontal scroll movement is required to move the web page or the document in the left or right direction so as to display the desired image as required. 
     For facilitating a user to perform the horizontal scroll movement of the web pages shown on the display screen by operating the scroll wheel, a tilt scroll wheel module capable of being tilted leftwards or rightwards is developed. Such tilt scroll wheel module is applicable to an input device such as a mouse or a keyboard. Referring to  FIG. 1 , a schematic outward view of a mouse having a tilt scroll wheel module is illustrated. The tilt scroll wheel module  11  of the mouse  1  is positioned within an opening  101  of the main body  10  of the mouse  1 , and the scroll wheel  12  is partially protruded from the outer surface of the main body  10  such that the tilt scroll wheel module  11  can be manipulated by a user. The scroll wheel  12  of the tilt scroll wheel module  11  can be rotated forwardly (as shown in the arrow F) or backwardly (as shown in the arrow B) to generate a control signal, thereby scrolling the image shown on the display screen upwardly and downwardly. Furthermore, the scroll wheel  12  can be pressed down (as shown in the arrow D), tilted toward the left side (as shown in the arrow L) or tilted toward the right side (as shown in the arrow R) so as to generate three other control signals. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a schematic perspective view of the tilt scroll wheel module used in the tilt scroll wheel module of  FIG. 1  is illustrated. The tilt scroll wheel module  11  principally comprises a scroll wheel  12 , a rotating shaft  13 , a carrier member  14  and a supporting member  15 . The supporting member  15  has a receptacle  151  at the top side thereof. In addition, three switch units  16 A,  16 B and  16 C are arranged under the bilateral sides of the carrier member  14  and under the rear end of the carrier member  14 , respectively. The rotating shaft  13  is supported on a notch structure  141  of the carrier member  14 , so that the scroll wheel  12  is rotatable along the rotating shaft  13 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 2  again. The tilt scroll wheel module  11  further comprises lateral wing structures  142 A and  142 B at bilateral sides of the carrier member  14  and above the switch units  16 A and  16 B, respectively. In addition, the front and rear ends of the carrier member  14  are formed as protrusion rods  143 A and  143 B. The protrusion rod  143 A is movably supported on the receptacle  151  of the supporting member  15 . Whereas, the protrusion rod  143 B is placed on the top surface of the switch unit  16 C. In a case that the scroll wheel  12  is tilted toward the left or right side, the receptacle  151  of the supporting member  15  and the top surface of the switch unit  16 C are used as the fulcrum portions such that the carrier member  14  is movable in the left or right direction. Meanwhile, the lateral wing structure  142 A or  142 B will touch and trigger the switch unit  16 A or  16 B. In addition, in a case that the scroll wheel  12  is pressed down, the receptacle  151  of the supporting member  15  is served as the fulcrum portion such that the protrusion rod  143 B is moved downwardly to trigger the switch unit  16 C. 
     The tilt scroll wheel module  11  mentioned above, however, still has some problems. For example, in the case that the scroll wheel  12  is not enabled, the protrusion rod  143 B of the carrier member  14  is slightly in contact with the top surface of the switch unit  16 C but the switch unit  16 C is not triggered. If the scroll wheel  12  is pressed down, the switch unit  16 C may be triggered by the protrusion rod  143 B of the carrier member  14 . Unfortunately, the depressing force applied onto the scroll wheel  12  is likely to improperly swing toward the left or right side due to a slippery hand or other reasons. Under this circumstance, the lateral wing structure  142 A or  142 B is likely to touch and trigger the switch unit  16 A or  16 B. As a consequence, the mouse  1  is suffered from an erroneous operation such as interruption of a current control signal or generation of an unanticipated control signal. 
     For solving the above problems, an input device with a tilt scroll wheel module was disclosed in a co-pending Taiwanese Patent Application No. 95100875, which was filed by the same assignee of the present application on Jan. 10, 2006, and the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a schematic perspective view of the tilt scroll wheel module disclosed in Taiwanese Patent Application No. 95100875 is illustrated. In accordance with a feature of  FIG. 3 , the tilt scroll wheel module  21  further includes two confining members  27  and  28  for confining the carrier member  24  in position. The confining members  27  and  28  have complementary shapes. Due to the complementary shapes, the confining member  27  is shifted downwardly to be engaged with the confining member  28  while the scroll wheel  22  is pressed down to trigger the switch unit  26 C. Therefore, the carrier member  24  is confined in position so as to avoid improperly swinging the carrier member  24  toward the left or right side or otherwise allow for tiny swing of the carrier member  24 . Under this circumstance, the carrier member  24  will no longer trigger the switch unit  26 A or  26 B while the scroll wheel  22  is pressed down to trigger the switch unit  26 C. Until the depressing force applied onto the scroll wheel  22  is eliminated, the scroll wheel  22  is moved upwardly and returns to its original shape due to a restoring force generated from the compressed switch unit  26 C. Meanwhile, the confining member  27  is disengaged from the confining member  28 , so that the carrier member  24  can be tilted toward the left or right side as required. 
     The tilt scroll wheel module  21  of  FIG. 3  is effective for solving the problem occurred in the tilt scroll wheel module  11  of  FIG. 2 . However, there are still some drawbacks. For example, since two switch units are arranged at the bilateral sides of the scroll wheel and associated triggering components are required to trigger these two switch units, the volume thereof occupies much working space within the mouse and is adverse to space utilization. In addition, too many components increase the assembling time of mounting the switch units and the triggering components onto the proper positions of the mouse. 
     Therefore, there is a need of providing a mouse having a simplified tilt wheel encoding mechanism. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a mouse having a tilt wheel encoding mechanism by using a multi-direction switch unit, so that the tilt wheel encoding mechanism is simple in the structure and easily assembled. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provides a mouse device. The mouse device includes a main body and a tilt wheel encoding mechanism. The main body includes a base. The tilt wheel encoding mechanism includes a scroll wheel, a wheel carrier and a multi-direction switch unit. The scroll wheel is operable by a user. The wheel carrier includes a first end, a second end, a triggering arm adjacent to the second end, a first support part arranged on the base for supporting the first end, a second support part arranged on the base for supporting the second end, and a receptacle for receiving the scroll wheel therein such that the scroll wheel is rotatable in the receptacle. The triggering arm further includes an indentation. The multi-direction switch unit is disposed under the triggering arm and includes a triggering button, which is embedded into the indentation. 
     In an embodiment, the wheel carrier further includes two sidewalls cooperatively defining a receptacle for receiving the scroll wheel therein. 
     In an embodiment, the wheel carrier further includes a wheel carrier axle protruded from the first end thereof, and the first support part is a support plate having a notch for receiving the wheel carrier axle therein. 
     In an embodiment, the wheel carrier further includes a vertical support plate at the second end thereof, and the second support part includes a confining recess for receiving the vertical support plate therein. 
     Preferably, the multi-direction switch unit is a three-direction switch. 
     Preferably, the multi-direction switch unit is a five-direction switch. 
     The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic outward view of a mouse having a tilt scroll wheel module according to prior art; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic perspective view of the tilt scroll wheel module of the mouse in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic perspective view of the tilt scroll wheel module disclosed in Taiwanese Patent Application No. 95100875; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic exploded view of a mouse having a tilt wheel encoding mechanism according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5A  is a schematic perspective view of a three-direction switch; 
         FIG. 5B  is a schematic perspective view a five-direction switch; and 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic assembled view of the tilt wheel encoding mechanism of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a schematic exploded view of a mouse having a tilt wheel encoding mechanism according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. 
     The mouse of  FIG. 4  principally includes a base  200 , a scroll wheel  201 , a wheel carrier  202 , a first support part  203 , a second support part  204  and a multi-direction switch unit  205 . The wheel carrier  202  includes a first sidewall  202 A, a second sidewall  202 B, a first end  2021 , a second end  2022  and a triggering arm  2023 . The triggering arm  2023  has an indentation  20231 , as is shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 4  again. A wheel carrier axle  202 C is protruded from the first end  2021  of the wheel carrier  202 . The first support part  203  is a support plate having a notch  203 A. The wheel carrier  202  further includes a vertical support plate  202 D at the second end  2022 . The second support part  204  is a confining recess formed in the base  200 . 
     Hereinafter, the structure and the operation of the encoding mechanism will be illustrated as follows. 
     First of all, the scroll wheel  201  is partially received within a receptacle  202 E between the first sidewall  202 A and the second sidewall  202 B. Then, the wheel carrier axle  202 C at the first end  2021  of the wheel carrier  202  is received in the notch  203 A of the first support part  203 , and the vertical support plate  202 D at the second end  2022  of the wheel carrier  202  is received in the confining recess  204 . In addition, an encoder receiving structure  202 B 1  is extended from a second sidewall  202 B 1  of the wheel carrier  202  for accommodating a mechanical encoder  202 B 2  therein. 
     The multi-direction switch unit  205  is arranged on a circuit board (not shown) and includes a triggering button  205 A. The triggering button  205 A is received within the indentation  20231  of the triggering arm  2023 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , two examples of the multi-direction switch unit  205  are schematically illustrated. In  FIG. 5A , the multi-direction switch unit  205  is a three-direction switch. In  FIG. 5B , the multi-direction switch unit  206  is a five-direction switch. As shown in  FIG. 5A , three triggering signals are generated when the triggering button  205 A of the three-direction switch  205  is triggered. That is, in response to external forces exerting on the triggering button  205 A as shown in the arrows R 1 , R 2  and R 3 , first, second and third triggering signals are respectively generated. Until the external force applied onto the triggering button  205 A is eliminated, the triggering button  205 A returns to its original position. As previously described, the conventional switch unit is triggered to generate a triggering signal. In contrast, a single three-direction switch  205  can be triggered to generate three triggering signals. Likewise, as shown in  FIG. 5B , five triggering signals are generated when the triggering button  206 A of the five-directional switch  206  is triggered. That is, in response to external forces exerting on the triggering button  206 A as shown in the arrows R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4  and R 5 , five triggering signals are respectively generated. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , a schematic assembled view of the mouse shown in  FIG. 4  is illustrated. Hereinafter, the structure and the operations of the tilt wheel encoding mechanism will be illustrated with reference to  FIG. 4 , and  FIG. 6 . 
     First of all, the scroll wheel  201  is partially received within the receptacle  202 E between the first sidewall  202 A and the second sidewall  202 B, and a portion of the scroll wheel  201  is protruded from the outer surface of the main body such that the scroll wheel  201  can be manipulated by a user. 
     When the scroll wheel  201  is rotated, the mechanical encoder  202 B 2  within the encoder receiving structure  202 B 1  will generate a third axle signal to control image scrolling. When the scroll wheel  201  is pressed down to have the wheel carrier  202  move downwardly, the triggering arm  2023  of the wheel carrier  202  will touch the triggering button  205 A of the three-directional switch  205 . Meanwhile, the triggering button  205 A is triggered in response to the external force along the direction R 1 , thereby generating the fist triggering signal. When the scroll wheel  201  is tilted toward the left side in the direction R 2 , the wheel carrier  202  is swung toward the left side in the direction R 2  in a swing radius D equivalent to the distance between the confining recess  204  and the triggering arm  2023  and with the confining recess  204  serving as a fulcrum. Meanwhile, the triggering button  205 A is also tilted toward the left side in the direction R 2  to generate the second triggering signal because the triggering button  205 A of the multi-direction switch unit  205  is embedded into the indentation  20231  of the triggering arm  2023 . Similarly, when the scroll wheel  201  is tilted toward the right side in the direction R 3 , the triggering button  205 A is also tilted toward the right side in the direction R 3  to generate the third triggering signal. 
     The magnitude of the swing radius D indicates the degree of tilting the wheel carrier  202  to trigger the multi-direction switch unit  205 . For example, if the encoding mechanism has a larger swing radius D 1  (i.e. D 1 &gt;D), a smaller degree of tilting the wheel carrier  202  is required to trigger the multi-direction switch unit  205 . 
     Likewise, by operating the scroll wheel  201 , five triggering signals are generated when the triggering button  206 A of the five-direction switch  206  is triggered. 
     From the above description, the tilt wheel encoding mechanism according to the present invention has functions similar to the conventional tilt scroll wheel module by using a single multi-direction switch unit. Moreover, the problems of using three switch units will be solved so as to avoid an erroneous operation. 
     While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.