Patent Publication Number: US-2015070279-A1

Title: Multi function mouse device

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a mouse device, and more particularly to a multi-function mouse device. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     With increasing development of science and technology, multimedia products and computers become essential in our daily lives. In the computer systems, input devices play important roles for communicating the computer host and the user. The widely-used input devices include for example mouse devices, keyboard devices or trackballs. Among these input devices, mouse devices are the most prevailing because they are very easy-to-use. When a mouse device is held by a user&#39;s palm, the user may move the mouse to control movement of the cursor shown on the computer screen. In addition, by manipulating the buttons of the mouse device with the user&#39;s fingers, the user may click and select a desired icon shown on the computer monitor or execute a corresponding function. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating the connection between a conventional wheel mouse device and a computer system. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the computer system  2  comprises a computer host  21  and a computer monitor  22 . The computer host  21  is in communication with the wheel mouse device  1  and the computer monitor  22 . A cursor  221  and a graphic-based window  222  are displayed on the computer monitor  22 . The wheel mouse device  1  is used for controlling the cursor  221 , so that the computer host  21  executes a corresponding command. The wheel mouse device  1  comprises a casing  10 , a left button  11 , a right button  12 , and a scroll wheel  13 . The casing  10  is used for supporting a user&#39;s palm. When the casing  10  is moved by the user to result in a displacement amount, the cursor  221  shown on the computer monitor  22  is correspondingly moved by the computer host  21  according to the displacement amount. By clicking the left button  11  or the right button  12 , a control signal is issued to the computer host  21 . In response to the control signal, the computer host  21  executes a corresponding command. By rotating the scroll wheel  13 , the graphic-based window  222  shown on the computer monitor  21  may be scrolled upwardly or downwardly. The basic functions of the wheel mouse device  1  have been described above. 
     From the above discussions, the conventional wheel mouse device has only the cursor control function when the conventional wheel mouse device is moved by the user. For executing a specified command, the user has to move the mouse device to have the cursor move to a specified computer program icon and then click the icon to execute the specified command. 
     For solving the above drawbacks, a mouse device capable of executing a special function has been disclosed. The mouse device is equipped with a functional button. After the functional button of the mouse device is pressed down, the computer host executes a corresponding command according to a motion trajectory of the casing. For example, if the casing of the mouse device is moved to a specified distance in the left direction after the functional button is pressed down, a “Backward” function is implemented to allow the graphic-based window (e.g. a web browser) shown on the computer monitor browsing page to go backward to the previous page. The above technologies have been disclosed in for example Taiwanese Patent No. 1406157 and Taiwanese Patent Publication No. 200939077, and are not redundantly described herein. 
     However, since the multimedia technologies and various application programs are gradually developed in recent years, the interface of the graphic-based window of the computer becomes more complicated and more diversified. Under this circumstance, the functions provided by the above mouse device are gradually insufficient to meet the user&#39;s requirements. 
     Therefore, it is important to increase the functions of the mouse device without the need of additionally installing the functional button. Consequently, the space within the casing of the mouse device can be saved. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a multi-function mouse device for providing a predetermined function according to a moving distance and a motion trajectory. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multi-function mouse device. The multi-function mouse device is in communication with a computer host for controlling a cursor shown on a computer monitor. The computer monitor is in communication with the computer host. The multi-function mouse device includes a casing, a displacement sensing module, a mode selection element, and a controlling unit. The casing has a casing surface. The displacement sensing module is disposed within the casing. The displacement sensing module generates at least one displacement amount signal in response to movement of the casing. The mode selection element is disposed on the casing surface. When the mode selection element is triggered, an enabling signal is generated. The controlling unit is connected with the displacement sensing module and the mode selection element for receiving the at least one displacement amount signal, thereby judging a motion trajectory of the casing. If the controlling unit judges that the motion trajectory is not larger than a predetermined distance and the enabling signal is received, the controlling unit issues a first predetermined function signal to the computer host, so that a first predetermined command corresponding to the first predetermined function signal is executed by the computer host according to the first predetermined function signal. Whereas, if the controlling unit judges that the motion trajectory is larger than the predetermined distance and the enabling signal is received, the controlling unit issues a second predetermined function signal to the computer host according to the motion trajectory, so that a second predetermined command corresponding to the second predetermined function signal is executed by the computer host according to the second predetermined function signal. 
     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 diagram illustrating the connection between a conventional wheel mouse device and a computer system; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic perspective view illustrating the outer appearance of a multi-function mouse device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the internal structure of the multi-function mouse device of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram illustrating the connection between the multi-function mouse device of  FIG. 2  and a computer system; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic functional block diagram illustrating the relationship between the multi-function mouse device and the computer system as shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram illustrating the use of the multi-function mouse device of  FIG. 2  to control the cursor shown on the computer monitor; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram illustrating the use of the multi-function mouse device of  FIG. 2  in a first operating mode; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram illustrating the use of the multi-function mouse device of  FIG. 2  in a second operating mode; 
         FIG. 9  schematically illustrates the motion trajectory of the multi-function mouse device of  FIG. 8  in the second operating mode; and 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic perspective view illustrating the outer appearance of a multi-function mouse device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     For solving the drawbacks encounter from the prior art, the present invention provides a multi-function mouse device.  FIG. 2  is a schematic perspective view illustrating the outer appearance of a multi-function mouse device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 3  is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the internal structure of the multi-function mouse device of  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram illustrating the connection between the multi-function mouse device of  FIG. 2  and a computer system.  FIG. 5  is a schematic functional block diagram illustrating the relationship between the multi-function mouse device and the computer system as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 2-5 . The multi-function mouse device  3  comprises a casing  30 , a displacement sensing module  31 , a mode selection element  32 , and a controlling unit  33 . The casing  30  has a casing surface  301 . The mode selection element  32  is disposed on the casing surface  301 . When the mode selection element  32  is triggered, an enabling signal S 1  is generated. The displacement sensing module  31  is disposed within the casing  30 . In response to the movement of the casing  30 , a corresponding displacement amount signal S 2  is generated. The controlling unit  33  is connected between the mode selection element  32  and the displacement sensing module  31  for receiving the enabling signal S 1  and the displacement amount signal S 2 . In this embodiment, the controlling unit  33  is a microprocessor. Moreover, the mode selection element  32  is a physical button, but is not limited thereto. Alternatively, in some other embodiments, the mode selection element  32  is an optical sensor or a capacitive touchpad. 
     The computer system  4  comprises a computer host  41  and a computer monitor  42 . The computer host  41  is in communication with the multi-function mouse device  3  and the computer monitor  42 . A cursor  421  and a graphic-based window  422  are displayed on the computer monitor  42 . In this embodiment, the graphic-based window  422  is illustrated by referring to a graphic-based window of a web browser, but is not limited thereto. 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram illustrating the use of the multi-function mouse device of  FIG. 2  to control the cursor shown on the computer monitor. For operating the multi-function mouse device  3  to control the cursor  421  shown on the computer monitor  42 , the user&#39;s palm P is firstly supported on the casing surface  301 . At the same time, a finger F 1  is placed near the mode selection element  32 , or the finger F 1  is placed on the mode selection element  32  but the mode selection element  32  is not pressed and triggered by the finger F 1 . Consequently, no enabling signal S 1  from the mode selection element  32  is received by the controlling unit  33 . When the casing  30  is moved by the user according to the practical requirements, the displacement amount signal S 2  corresponding to the motion trajectory of the casing  30  is transmitted from the displacement sensing module  31  to the controlling unit  33 . According to the received displacement amount signal S 2 , the controlling unit  33  can realize the motion trajectory of the casing  30 , thereby generating a corresponding cursor displacement signal S 3  to the computer host  41 . According to the cursor displacement signal S 3 , the cursor  421  is correspondingly moved by the computer host  41 . 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram illustrating the use of the multi-function mouse device of  FIG. 2  in a first operating mode. For operating the multi-function mouse device  3  to allow the computer host  41  to execute a first predetermined command, the user&#39;s palm P is firstly supported on the casing surface  301 . At the same time, the finger F 1  is placed on the mode selection element  32  to press and trigger the mode selection element  32 . When the casing  30  is moved and the motion trajectory of the casing  30  is not larger than a predetermined distance, the enabling signal S 1  from the mode selection element  32  and the displacement amount signal S 2  from the displacement sensing module  31  are received by the controlling unit  33 . After the controlling unit  33  judges that the he motion trajectory is not larger than the predetermined distance, the controlling unit  33  issues a first predetermined function signal S 4  to the computer host  41 . According to the first predetermined function signal S 4 , a first predetermined command corresponding to the first predetermined function signal S 4  is executed by the computer host  41 . 
     In this embodiment, a backspace function is implemented in response to the execution of the first predetermined command, and the predetermined distance is a near-zero distance. Consequently, even if the user presses and triggers the mode selection element  32  of the multi-function mouse device  3  without moving the casing  30 , a backspace action is performed on the graphic-based window  422  that is displayed on the computer monitor  42 . For example, while keying in the web browser, the backspace action may be performed. However, those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. For example, in a variant example, a delete function is implemented in response to the execution of the first predetermined command. 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram illustrating the use of the multi-function mouse device of  FIG. 2  in a second operating mode. For operating the multi-function mouse device  3  to allow the computer host  41  to execute a second predetermined command, the user&#39;s palm P is firstly supported on the casing surface  301 . At the same time, the first F 1  is placed on the mode selection element  32  to press and trigger the mode selection element  32 . When the casing  30  is moved along a motion trajectory L, the enabling signal S 1  from the mode selection element  32  and the displacement amount signal S 2  from the displacement sensing module  31  are received by the controlling unit  33 . After the controlling unit  33  judges the type of the motion trajectory L, the controlling unit  33  issues a second predetermined function signal S 5  corresponding to the motion trajectory L to the computer host  41 . 
       FIG. 9  schematically illustrates the motion trajectory of the multi-function mouse device of  FIG. 8  in the second operating mode. The motion trajectory is a linear motion trajectory in an X-axis direction, a linear motion trajectory in a Y-axis direction, a linear motion trajectory in a specified direction between the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, or a letter-shaped motion trajectory. Moreover, each motion trajectory is correlated with a corresponding predetermined command. 
     If a single displacement amount signal including only an X-axis direction moving vector is received by the controlling unit  33  in response to the movement of the casing  30  and a magnitude of the X-axis direction moving vector is higher than a first threshold value, the controlling unit  33  judges that the motion trajectory of the casing  30  is the linear motion trajectory in the X-axis direction. For example, the linear motion trajectory in the X-axis direction includes a motion trajectory Z 1  or a motion trajectory Z 2 , wherein the motion trajectory Z 1  and the motion trajectory Z 2  are opposed to each other. In this embodiment, if the controlling unit  33  judges that the motion trajectory of the casing  30  is the motion trajectory Z 1 , the predetermined command is executed by the computer host  41  to implement a “Backward” function of a web browser. In addition, if the controlling unit  33  judges that the motion trajectory of the casing  30  is the motion trajectory Z 2 , the predetermined command is executed by the computer host  41  to implement a “Forward” function of the web browser. However, those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. 
     Moreover, if a single displacement amount signal including only a Y-axis direction moving vector is received by the controlling unit  33  in response to the movement of the casing  30  and a magnitude of the Y-axis direction moving vector is higher than a second threshold value, the controlling unit  33  judges that the motion trajectory of the casing  30  is the linear motion trajectory in the Y-axis direction. For example, the linear motion trajectory in the Y-axis direction includes a motion trajectory Z 3  or a motion trajectory Z 4 , wherein the motion trajectory Z 3  and the motion trajectory Z 4  are opposed to each other. In this embodiment, if the controlling unit  33  judges that the motion trajectory of the casing  30  is the motion trajectory Z 3 , the predetermined command is executed by the computer host  41  to implement a function of opening a web browser software (e.g. an Internet Explorer software). In addition, if the controlling unit  33  judges that the motion trajectory of the casing  30  is the motion trajectory Z 3 , the predetermined command is executed by the computer host  41  to implement a screen-locking function. However, those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. 
     If a single displacement amount signal including an X-axis direction moving vector and a Y-axis direction moving vector is received by the controlling unit  33  in response to the movement of the casing  30  and a magnitude of the X-axis direction moving vector is higher than the first threshold value and a magnitude of the Y-axis direction moving vector is higher than the second threshold value, the controlling unit  33  judges that the motion trajectory of the casing  30  is the linear motion trajectory in the specified direction between the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. For example, the linear motion trajectory in the specified direction between the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction includes a motion trajectory Z 5 , a motion trajectory Z 6 , a motion trajectory Z 7  or a motion trajectory Z 8 . 
     For example, if the controlling unit  33  judges that the motion trajectory of the casing  30  is the motion trajectory Z 5 , the predetermined command is executed by the computer host  41  to implement a zooming out function. Moreover, if the controlling unit  33  judges that the motion trajectory of the casing  30  is the motion trajectory Z 6 , the predetermined command is executed by the computer host  41  to implement a zooming in function. Moreover, if the controlling unit  33  judges that the motion trajectory of the casing  30  is the motion trajectory Z 7 , the predetermined command is executed by the computer host  41  to implement a function of closing an application program (e.g. a function of closing an Internet Explorer software). Moreover, if the controlling unit  33  judges that the motion trajectory of the casing  30  is the motion trajectory Z 8 , the predetermined command is executed by the computer host  41  to implement a CapsLock function. However, those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. 
     Moreover, plural displacement amount signals (e.g. a first displacement amount signal, a second displacement amount signal and a third displacement amount signal) may be sequentially received by the controlling unit  33  in response to the movement of the casing  30 . If the X-axis (Y-axis) direction moving vector of the second displacement amount signal is opposed to the X-axis (Y-axis) direction moving vector of the first displacement amount signal and the X-axis (Y-axis) direction moving vector of the third displacement amount signal, and if the magnitude of the X-axis (Y-axis) direction moving vector of the first displacement amount signal, the magnitude of the X-axis (Y-axis) direction moving vector of the second displacement amount signal and the magnitude of the X-axis (Y-axis) direction moving vector of the third displacement amount signal are all higher than a predetermined threshold value, the controlling unit  33  judges that the motion trajectory of the casing  30  is a reciprocating motion trajectory (a Z letter-shaped motion trajectory). For example, the reciprocating motion trajectory includes a motion trajectory Z 9 , a motion trajectory Z 10  or a motion trajectory Z 11 . In this embodiment, if the controlling unit  33  judges that the motion trajectory of the casing  30  is the reciprocating motion trajectory, the predetermined command is executed by the computer host  41  to implement an Enter function. However, those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. 
     By the way, when the casing  30  is moved, the casing  30  is usually unable to be accurately moved in the linear direction. That is, the motion trajectory of the casing  30  may be slightly shifted. Preferably, after the magnitude of the X-axis direction moving vector and the magnitude of the Y-axis direction moving vector of the received displacement amount signal are analyzed by the controlling unit  33  of the multi-function mouse device  3 , the controlling unit  33  can realize the anticipated motion trajectory of the casing  30  according to the proportion of the magnitude of the X-axis direction moving vector to the magnitude of the Y-axis direction moving vector. For example, if the magnitude of the X-axis direction moving vector and the magnitude of the Y-axis direction moving vector of the displacement amount signal received by the controlling unit  33  are 10 mm and 5 mm, respectively, the controlling unit  33  may judge that the displacement amount signal including only the X-axis direction moving vector is received. Consequently, the shifted motion trajectory of the casing  30  will not cause erroneous operation of the multi-function mouse device  3 . 
       FIG. 10  is a schematic perspective view illustrating the outer appearance of a multi-function mouse device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In comparison with the multi-function mouse device of the first embodiment, the multi-function mouse device  3 ′ of this embodiment further comprises a first button  34 , a second button  35 , and a scroll wheel  36 . The first button  34  and the second button  35  are disposed on the casing surface  301 , and arranged side-by-side. The scroll wheel  36  is protruded out of the casing surface  301 , and arranged between the first button  34  and the second button  35 . By clicking the first button  34  or the second button  35 , a corresponding control signal is generated. According to the control signal, a corresponding command is executed by the computer host  41 . By rotating the scroll wheel  36 , the graphic-based window  422  displayed on the computer monitor  42  is scrolled upwardly or downwardly. The structures and functions of the other components of the multi-function mouse device  3 ′ of this embodiment are substantially identical to those of the first embodiment, and are not redundantly described herein. 
     From the above descriptions, by judging whether the motion trajectory of the casing  30  reaches the predetermined distance after the mode selection element  32  is triggered, the controlling unit  33  may determine whether the operating mode of the multi-function mouse device  3  or  3 ′ needs to be switched. In comparison with the conventional mouse device of  FIG. 1  with the functional button, which is equivalent to the mode selection element  32 , the multi-function mouse device  3  or  3 ′ of the present invention can provide more functions without the need of installing an additional physical button. In other words, the multi-function mouse device of the present invention has enhanced industrial usefulness. 
     Moreover, since a small memory space is required to store various predetermined moving trajectories and corresponding predetermined commands, the predetermined moving trajectories and the corresponding predetermined commands may be stored in a memory of the controlling unit  33 . Consequently, the multi-function mouse device can provide various functions without the need of installing a driver in the computer host  41 . 
     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.