Roller module for a mouse device having a movable magnet

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11099667-B1
Application number	US-202016912296-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jun 25, 2020
Priority date	Apr 1, 2020
Publication date	Aug 24, 2021
Grant date	Aug 24, 2021

Abstract

A mouse device includes a casing and a roller module. The roller module is installed within the casing. The roller module includes a roller wheel, a movable magnet, a first magnet and a second magnet. In response to a repulsive force between the first magnet and the movable magnet, the roller module is in a tactile feel mode. In response to an attractive force between the second magnet and the movable magnet, the roller module is in a smooth scrolling mode.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A roller module for a mouse device, the roller module comprising:
a roller wheel comprising a wheel body, a rotation shaft and a ratchet, wherein the rotation shaft is connected with the wheel body and synchronously rotated with the wheel body, the ratchet is installed on the rotation shaft, and the ratchet has a toothed surface;
a roller bracket, and the rotation shaft of the roller wheel is supported by the roller bracket, so that the wheel body is rotatable relative to the roller bracket through the rotation shaft;
a movable magnet;
a receiving channel, wherein the movable magnet is accommodated within the receiving channel and movable within the receiving channel;
a first magnet, wherein when the first magnet is close to the movable magnet, a first repulsive force between the first magnet and the movable magnet is generated and the movable magnet is moved toward the toothed surface of the ratchet in response to the first repulsive force, so that the roller wheel is in a tactile feel mode; and
a second magnet, wherein when the second magnet is close to the movable magnet, an attractive force between the second magnet and the movable magnet is generated and the movable magnet is moved toward the second magnet in response to the attractive force, so that the roller wheel is in a smooth scrolling mode.

2. The roller module according to claim 1 , wherein the roller module further comprises a rolling ball, and the rolling ball is magnetically attracted by the movable magnet and arranged between the movable magnet and the toothed surface of the ratchet, wherein as the movable magnet is moved toward the toothed surface and the rolling ball is contacted with the toothed surface, the roller wheel is in the tactile feel mode, wherein as the movable magnet is moved toward the second magnet and the rolling ball is separated from the toothed surface, the roller wheel is in the smooth scrolling mode.

3. The roller module according to claim 1 , wherein the receiving channel is installed on the roller bracket.

4. The roller module according to claim 1 , wherein the roller module further comprises a switching assembly, and the first magnet and the second magnet are installed on the switching assembly, wherein one of the first magnet and the second magnet is adjusted to be close to the movable magnet through an operation of the switching assembly.

5. The roller module according to claim 4 , wherein the switching assembly comprises a first accommodation structure and a second accommodation structure, wherein the first accommodation structure and the second accommodation structure are rotatable about a rotation axis, the first magnet is accommodated within the first accommodation structure, and the second magnet is accommodated within the second accommodation structure.

6. The roller module according to claim 4 , wherein the roller module further comprises an operation part, wherein a first end of the operation part is connected with the switching assembly, and a second end of the operation part is operable by a user, wherein as the operation part is operated by the user, the switching assembly is correspondingly moved, so that the one of the first magnet and the second magnet is moved to be close to the movable magnet.

7. The roller module according to claim 4 , wherein the roller module further comprises a motor, wherein the motor provides motive power to the switching assembly, so that the one of the first magnet and the second magnet is moved to be close to the movable magnet.

8. The roller module according to claim 1 , wherein the roller module further comprises a third magnet, wherein when the third magnet is close to the movable magnet, a second attractive force between the third magnet and the movable magnet is generated and the movable magnet is moved toward the toothed surface of the ratchet in response to the second repulsive force, so that the roller wheel is in another tactile feel mode, wherein a magnitude of the first attractive force and a magnitude of the second attractive force are different.

9. A mouse device, comprising:
a roller wheel comprising a wheel body, a rotation shaft and a ratchet, wherein the rotation shaft is connected with the wheel body and synchronously rotated with the wheel body, the ratchet is installed on the rotation shaft, and the ratchet has a toothed surface;
a movable magnet;
a first magnet, wherein when the first magnet is close to the movable magnet, a first repulsive force between the first magnet and the movable magnet is generated and the movable magnet is moved toward the toothed surface of the ratchet in response to the first repulsive force, so that the roller wheel is in a tactile feel mode;
a second magnet, wherein when the second magnet is close to the movable magnet, an attractive force between the second magnet and the movable magnet is generated and the movable magnet is moved toward the second magnet in response to the attractive force, so that the roller wheel is in a smooth scrolling mode;
a switching assembly, and the first magnet and the second magnet are installed on the switching assembly, wherein one of the first magnet and the second magnet is adjusted to be close to the movable magnet through an operation of the switching assembly, wherein the switching assembly comprises a first accommodation structure and a second accommodation structure, wherein the first accommodation structure and the second accommodation structure are rotatable about a rotation axis, the first magnet is accommodated within the first accommodation structure, and the second magnet is accommodated within the second accommodation structure; and
a casing, wherein the roller wheel, the movable magnet, the first magnet and the second magnet are accommodated within the casing, and at least a portion of the wheel body is exposed outside the casing so as to be operated by a user.

10. The mouse device according to claim 9 , wherein the mouse device further comprises a rolling ball, and the rolling ball is magnetically attracted by the movable magnet and arranged between the movable magnet and the toothed surface of the ratchet, wherein as the movable magnet is moved toward the toothed surface and the rolling ball is contacted with the toothed surface, the roller wheel is in the tactile feel mode, wherein as the movable magnet is moved toward the second magnet and the rolling ball is separated from the toothed surface, the roller wheel is in the smooth scrolling mode.

11. The mouse device according to claim 9 , wherein the mouse device further comprises a roller bracket, and the rotation shaft of the roller wheel is supported by the roller bracket, so that the wheel body is rotatable relative to the roller bracket through the rotation shaft.

12. The mouse device according to claim 11 , wherein the mouse device further comprises a receiving channel, wherein the movable magnet is accommodated within the receiving channel and movable within the receiving channel.

13. The mouse device according to claim 12 , wherein the receiving channel is installed on the roller bracket.

14. The mouse device according to claim 9 , wherein the mouse device further comprises an operation part, wherein a first end of the operation part is connected with the switching assembly, and a second end of the operation part is operable by the user, wherein as the operation part is operated by the user, the switching assembly is correspondingly moved, so that the one of the first magnet and the second magnet is moved to be close to the movable magnet.

15. The mouse device according to claim 9 , wherein the mouse device

Assignees

• Primax Electronics Ltd

Inventors

• Cheng Li-Kuei
• Tsai Sheng-An
• Tsai Yung-Ming
• Huang Shu-An
• Wu Chun-Che

Classifications

• H01F7/0242

  Magnetic drives, magnetic coupling devices · CPC title

• G06F3/0362 Primary

  with detection of one-dimensional [1D] translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts · CPC title

• G06F3/03543

  Mice or pucks (G06F3/03541 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01F7/02

  Permanent magnets {[PM]} · CPC title