Wheel control mechanism and mouse device with same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12057266-B2
Application number	US-202217944915-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 14, 2022
Priority date	Aug 26, 2022
Publication date	Aug 6, 2024
Grant date	Aug 6, 2024

Abstract

A wheel control mechanism includes a support base, a wheel module, a first magnetic module and a second magnetic module. The wheel module, the first magnetic module and the second magnetic module are installed on the support base. The first magnetic module generates a magnetic attractive force to attract a metal ratchet of the wheel module. By adjusting the position of the second magnetic module relative to the first magnetic module, the strength of the magnetic attractive force is changed. Consequently, the rotation of the wheel module results in a tactile feel or does not result in the tactile feel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A wheel control mechanism for a mouse device, the wheel control mechanism comprising:
a support base comprising a first supporting part, a second supporting part and a third supporting part, which are combined together;
a wheel module rotatably installed on the first supporting part, and comprising a wheel body and a metal ratchet, wherein the wheel body comprises a rotary shaft, the metal ratchet is connected with the rotary shaft, and the metal ratchet is synchronously rotated with the wheel body;
a first magnetic module installed on the second supporting part, and comprising a first magnetic element, a first magnetic conductor and a second magnetic conductor, wherein the first magnetic element is arranged between the first magnetic conductor and the second magnetic conductor, and each of the first magnetic conductor and the second magnetic conductor comprises a first end and a second end opposed to the first end, wherein the first end of the first magnetic conductor and the first end of the second magnetic conductor are aligned with a periphery region of the metal ratchet, and a magnet accommodating space is formed between the second end of the first magnetic conductor and the second end of the magnetic conductor; and
a second magnetic module comprising an adjustment element, a swinging element, a second magnetic element and a third magnetic element, wherein the adjustment element is pivotally coupled to the third supporting part, the swinging element is connected with the adjustment element and aligned with the magnet accommodating space, the second magnetic element is installed on an end of the swinging element away from the adjustment element, and the third magnetic element is installed on another end of the swinging element away from the adjustment element, wherein the second magnetic element and the third magnetic element are swingable along a same path,
wherein when the adjustment element drives the swinging element to swing, the second magnetic element and the third magnetic element are selectively introduced into the magnet accommodating space or departed from the magnet accommodating space,
wherein if the second magnetic element is introduced into the magnet accommodating space and like poles of the second magnetic element and the first magnetic element face each other, magnetic attractive forces generated at the first end of the first magnetic conductor and the first end of the second magnetic conductor attract the metal ratchet, so that a rotation of the wheel body results in a tactile feel,
wherein if the third magnetic element is introduced into the magnet accommodating space and unlike poles of the third magnetic element and the first magnetic element face each other, the magnetic attractive forces generated at the first end of the first magnetic conductor and the first end of the second magnetic conductor are attenuated, so that the rotation of the wheel body does not result in the tactile feel.

2. The wheel control mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the periphery region of the metal ratchet has a toothed structure, and the toothed structure comprises plural convex parts and plural concave parts, wherein the plural convex parts and the plural concave parts are alternatively arranged on the periphery region of the metal ratchet.

3. The wheel control mechanism according to claim 2 , wherein the first end of the first magnetic conductor and the first end of the second magnetic conductor comprise claw structures, and the claw structures are aligned with the corresponding convex parts.

4. The wheel control mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the first magnetic conductor and the second magnetic conductor are silicon steel sheets.

5. The wheel control mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the first magnetic element, the second magnetic element and the third magnetic element are strong magnets.

6. The wheel control mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the adjustment element comprises a shaft part and an adjusting part, wherein the adjusting part is connected with a first end of the shaft part, and the swinging element is radially connected with a second end of the shaft part, which is opposed to the first end of the shaft part, wherein through the shaft part, the adjusting part drives the swinging element to swing.

7. The wheel control mechanism according to claim 6 , wherein the third supporting part comprises a support structure, wherein the support structure is externally protruded from a side of the third supporting part, and the shaft part is penetrated through the support structure.

8. The wheel control mechanism according to claim 7 , wherein the third supporting part further comprises an avoidance recess, and the avoidance recess is concavely formed in a side of the support structure, wherein the avoidance recess is aligned with the swinging element, and the swinging element is permitted to be received within the avoidance recess.

9. The wheel control mechanism according to claim 6 , wherein the mouse device comprises a casing, wherein the casing comprises an upper cover and a lower cover, which are combined together.

10. The wheel control mechanism according to claim 9 , wherein the adjusting part has a knob structure, and the lower cover comprises an adjusting hole corresponding to the adjusting part, wherein the knob structure is exposed outside the adjusting hole.

11. The wheel control mechanism according to claim 9 , wherein the support base further comprises at least two fixing parts, and the at least two fixing parts are fixed on the lower cover.

12. The wheel control mechanism according to claim 9 , wherein an operation end of the upper cover has an opening corresponding to the wheel body, wherein a portion of the wheel body is exposed outside the opening.

13. The wheel control mechanism according to claim 6 , wherein the adjusting part is an adjusting gear.

14. The wheel control mechanism according to claim 13 , wherein the wheel control mechanism further comprises a driving module, wherein the driving module comprises a driving motor and a transmission gear set, and the transmission gear set is connected with the driving motor, wherein the transmission gear set is engaged with the adjusting gear to drive the adjustment element.

15. The wheel control mechanism according to claim 14 , wherein the support base further comprises a fourth supporting part beside the third supporting part, and the driving module is installed on the fourth supporting part.

16. The wheel control mechanism according to claim 15 , wherein the fourth supporting part comprises an accommodation recess, and the driving motor is accommodated within the accommodation recess.

17. The wheel control mechanism according to claim 14 , wherein the wheel control mechanism further comprises a rotating speed detector that detects a rotating speed of the wheel body, wherein the metal ratchet and the rotating speed detector are respectively installed on opposite sides of the wheel body.

18. The wheel control mechanism according to claim 17 , wherein the rotating speed detector is electrically connected with the driving module, wherein the second magnetic element or the third magnetic element is selectively introduced into the magnet accommodating space by the driving module according to the rotating speed of the wheel body.

19. The wheel control mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the second supporting part comprises an installation recess and a covering plate, wherein the first magnetic module is disposed within the ins

Assignees

• Primax Electronics Ltd

Inventors

• Su Chun-Nan
• Wu Chun-Che
• Tsai Sheng-An
• Hsieh Ming-Hao
• Cheng Li-Kuei

Classifications

• G06F3/0362

  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

• H02K7/116

  with gears · CPC title

• G06F3/03543

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

• H01F7/0231

  Magnetic circuits with PM for power or force generation · CPC title

• G06F3/016

  Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user · CPC title