Abstract:
An input device, that includes a casing having at least an opening, a supporting base set on the casing, a base plate set within the casing, at least one pressure sensor set on the base plate, and an actuator movably set on the supporting base. Wherein the actuator is at least a touching point set within the opening and above the pressure sensor, so when a user presses the actuator and moves the touching point downwards, the touching point touches the pressure sensor to enable the pressure sensor to produce a corresponding sensing signal.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to an input device, and more particularly, to an input device with a fulcrum installed in the middle.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. FIG. 1 is an exploded diagram of an input device, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an input device according to the prior art. The input device  10  is set on the back plane  18 , a cylinder actuator  12  that has a top surface  32  that interfaces with a user. Moreover, the input device  10  further comprises a protuberance  28  in a side and a cylinder pillar  20  at a bottom. A supporting wall  14  fixed on the back plane  18  encloses the actuator  12 , the supporting wall  14  comprises a slit  30  in accordance with the protuberance  28  for keeping in position the actuator  12 . An elastic component  17  with a circular hole  22  in the center is located under the actuator  12 , with the elastic component  17  further comprising four actuating pillars  16 . The cylinder pillar  20  of the actuator  12  is slidably disposed in a groove  24  of the back plane  18 . Furthermore, four pressure sensors  26  located under the four actuating pillars  16  of the back plane  18  measure pressure.  
           [0005]    Please refer to FIG. 3 of a diagram of the input device  10  depressed by a user according to the prior art. When the user presses an upper surface  32  of the actuator  12 , the actuator  12  heels by a groove  24  set on the back plane  18  as a fulcrum. As shown is FIG. 3, the actuator  12  inclines left to the figure and represses the actuating pillars  16  of the elastic component  17  to depress the sensor  26  set on the back plane  18 , the sensor  26  transforms the depressing pressure into a sensing signal. After that time, a whole process of sensing is completed.  
           [0006]    A defect of the input device  10  according to the prior art is that the groove  24  serves as a fulcrum for an operation of the actuator  12 . The actuator  12  and the elastic component  17  of the prior input device  10  are both set above the fulcrum of the groove  24 , so that a distance between the upper surface  32  of the input device  10  and the groove  24  needs to lengthen to locate the elastic component  17 . Specifically, it not only needs a large displacement to move the actuator  12  for the user, but also needs more space to move the actuator  12 . To allow for a movable space for the actuator  12 , the input device  10  needs to be rigged around by a supporting wall  14 . The result being more space needed for the whole input device  10 .  
           [0007]    Furthermore, the elastic component  17  provided for actuating the sensor  26  and supporting the actuator  12 , has to be set up so that the actuator  12  has an elastic force restoring to an origin after the user used. Since the elastic component  17  is almost pure rubber, it has a high elasticity. The elastic component  17  can not provide an effective elastic function, and in addition, deformation of the actuating pillar  16  results in it not matching correctly with the sensor  26 , so leading the input device  10  to fail.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    It is therefore a primary objective of the present invention to provide an input device having characteristics of being cleverly designed and firm with a fulcrum installed in the middle.  
           [0009]    In a preferred embodiment, the present invention includes an input device, the input device comprising:  
           [0010]    a casing having at least an opening, a supporting base set on the casing, a base plate set within the casing, at least a pressure sensor set on the base plate, and an actuator movably set on the supporting base. Wherein the actuator comprises at least a touching point set within the opening and above the pressure sensor, so when a user presses the actuator and moves the touching point downwards, the touching point touches the pressure sensor to enable the pressure sensor to produce a corresponding sensing signal.  
           [0011]    It is an advantage of the present invention that it provides an input device with a fulcrum at the actuator.  
           [0012]    These and other objectives and the advantages of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after having read the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, which is illustrated in the various figures and drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is an exploded diagram of an input device according to the prior art.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a section view of an input device according to the prior art.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is a diagram of an input device depressed by a user according to the prior art.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a present invention input device used in a mouse.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is an exploded diagram of the present invention input device.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 is a section view along  6 - 6  of the present invention input device.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 7 is a diagram of the present invention input device depressed by a user.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 8 is a section view of another preferred embodiment of the present invention input device.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 9 is a diagram of the present invention input device depressed by a use as shown in FIG. 8.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 10 is a diagram of the present invention input device used in a game pad.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 11 is a diagram of another preferred embodiment of an actuator of the present invention input device. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0024]    Please refer to FIG. 4 of a perspective view of a present invention input device  40  used in a mouse  38 . The mouse  38  is convenient for a user to control an input device  40  of this invention.  
         [0025]    Please refer to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. FIG. 5 is an exploded diagram of the present invention input device, and FIG. 6 is a section view along  6 - 6  of the present invention input device. For showing the input device  40  of this invention clearly, FIG. 5 or FIG. 6 only show a portion of a casing  38 . In order to cooperate with the input device  40 , the casing comprises a groove  39  to have a capacity of the input device  40 . The input device  40  of this invention is set on the casing  38 , and the input device  40  comprises a back plane  48 . There are four switches  56  set on the back plane  48  that are used to measure pressure and transfer the pressure to a sensing signal. The back plane  48  is fixed within the casing  38  by four fixing pillars  64 . The movable portion of the input device  40  is an actuator  42 , an upper surface  62  of the actuator  42  is a touching surface of a user, a lower surface of the actuator  42  comprises four touching points  58 , an arc surface  66  in the center (please refer to FIG. 6), and a bar  50  with a top end fixed at a bottom center of the actuator  42 . The casing  38  comprises a supporting base  67  monolithically formed with the casing  38  corresponding to the concave surface  66 . The center of the supporting base  67  comprises an open hole  52  that passes through the casing  38 . Furthermore, the casing  38  further comprises four openings  60  corresponding to the touching points  58 . The bar  50  of the actuator  42  passes through the open hole  52 , a base  54  fixed at a lower end of the bar  50 , and an elastic component  46  is clamped between the base  54  and an edge of the open hole  52 . A screw  51  is used to fix the base  54  to the lower end of the bar  50  by passing through a screw opening  53  set on the base  54 . In addition, the touching points  58  also passes through the open holes  60  of the casing  38  and elongate into the inner of the casing  38 . Four switches  56  on the back plane  48   30  correspond to the four touching points  58 .  
         [0026]    As for an operating principle of the present invention input device  40 , please refer to FIG. 7 of a diagram of the present invention input device  40  depressed by a use. When the user presses an upper surface  62  of the actuator  42 , the actuator  42  heel slides along the arc surface  66 . As shown is FIG. 7, the actuator  42  inclines left to the figure and the touching point  58  presses a corresponding switch  56  by passing through the open hole  60  of the casing  38 . Thus enabling the switch  56  to produce a sensing signal. After that time, a whole process of sensing is completed. A helical spring  46  clamped between the casing  38  and the base  54  provides a restoring elastic force to an origin equilibrium point for the actuator  42 .  
         [0027]    Compared to the prior input device  10 , a fulcrum of the present invention input device  40  is equivalent to the center  70  as shown in FIG. 6. The distance between the fulcrum  70  of the present input device  40  and the upper surface  62  of the actuator  42  is shortened. Compared to a long distance between the fulcrum  24  of the prior input device  10  and the upper surface  32  of the actuator  12 , the size of the present input device  40  is decreased.  
         [0028]    Additionally, the actuator  12  and the elastic component  17  of the prior input device  10  are both set above the fulcrum, the user needs more displacement to actuate the actuator  12  and needs a lot of space to move the actuator  12 . For remaining a movable space for the actuator  12 , the input device  10  needs to be rigged around by a supporting wall  14 . It increases the space required for the whole prior input device  10 . Comparatively, the present input device  40  takes the actuator  42  as a fulcrum, the bar  50  and the helical spring suspended in midair are capable of swinging in a direction. It is convenient to actuate the present input device  40  for the user, and moreover, it effectively decreases space for movement of the actuator  42 .  
         [0029]    A supporting mechanism of the present input device  40  is provided by the helical spring  46 , with the switch  56  provided by the touching point  58 . The helical spring  46  is made of a metal so that alife of the helical spring  46  is longer than the elastic rubber material of the prior input device  10  naturally. Since the helical spring  46  is responsible for an elastic supporting mechanism of the present input device  40 , the touching point  58  of the switch  56  needs not to be provided with elasticity and can be monolithically formed with stiff materials. The moving condition of the touching point  58  is guided by the corresponding open hole  60  of the casing  38 , so it is not important that the touching point  58  can not actuate the corresponding switch  56  exactly. Thus, it can be seen that the structure of the present input device  40  is firmer than the prior input device  10 .  
         [0030]    Another preferred embodiment of the present input device  40  can be illustrated with FIG. 8. Please refer to FIG. 8 of a sectional view of another preferred embodiment of the present invention input device. The input device  80  is set on the casing  38 , and the casing  78  comprises a supporting base  106  that is monolithically formed with the casing  78 . The center of the supporting base  106  comprises an open hole  92  passing through the casing  78 . The movable portion of the input device  80  is comprised of an actuator  82 , a bar  90  and a base  94 . The base  94  is fixed at a lower end of the bar  90  by a screw  91  so as to clamp a helical spring  86  between the open hole  92  and the base  94 . A back plane  88  set fixedly within the casing  78  further comprises a switch  96 . A touching point  98  of the actuator  82  passing through an opening  100  of the casing  78  is corresponding to the switch  96 . The center of the actuator  82  bottom is an arc surface for exactly matching with the supporting base. Please refer to FIG. 9 of a diagram of the present invention input device depressed by a use as shown in FIG. 8. When a user presses an upper surface  102  of the actuator  82 , the actuator  82  heels slidably along the arc surface of the supporting base. The touching point  98  presses a corresponding switch  96  by passing through the opening  100  of the casing  78 . Thus enabling the switch  96  to produce a sensing signal.  
         [0031]    Please refer to FIG. 10 of a diagram of the present invention input device  40  used in a game pad  120 . The input device  40  above mentioned is used in a preferred embodiment of a mouse shape casing, but that does not mean the input device  40  is only used in a game pad. To match with the abilities of the game pad, the actuator  42  of the input device  40  can further dispose a joystick  72  as shown in FIG. 11 in order to enhance enjoyment in using the input device  40 .  
         [0032]    The above disclosure is not intended to be limiting. Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.