Radiant energy – Photocells; circuits and apparatus – Optical or pre-photocell system
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-20
2002-02-05
Lee, John R. (Department: 2878)
Radiant energy
Photocells; circuits and apparatus
Optical or pre-photocell system
C250S231140, C345S158000, C345S165000, C345S184000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06344643
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an optical mouse with scrolling function, and more particularly to an encoder wheel module and circuit board arrangement for an optical mouse.
FIGS. from
1
through
3
show an encoder wheel module and circuit board arrangement for use in an optical mouse with scrolling function. This structure of encoder wheel module and circuit board arrangement comprises a circuit board
1
having a microswitch
24
, a mount
2
mounted on the circuit board
1
, the mount
2
comprising two side blocks
20
at two opposite lateral sides and a wheel holder
21
raised from one side block
20
, an optical encoder wheel
3
revolvably supported on the wheel holder
21
between the side blocks
20
, a transmitter
22
mounted in one of the side blocks
20
and controlled by the microswitch
24
at the circuit board
1
to emit a light beam through radial slots at the optical encoder wheel
3
, an optical detector
23
mounted in the other of the side blocks
20
and controlled by the microswitch
24
at the circuit board
1
to read the light beam transmitted by the transmitter
22
and to output a signal indicative of the direction and amount of rotation of the optical encoder wheel
3
, and a linking mechanism
4
mounted on the mount
2
and moved with the optical encoder wheel
3
to trigger the microswitch
24
at the circuit board
1
. The linking mechanism
4
is comprised of a first pressure plate
40
, a second pressure plate
41
, and a spring member
42
. The first pressure plate
40
and the second pressure plate
41
each has a crossed profile. The first pressure plate
40
comprises a front endpiece
400
inserted into a recessed hole
210
at the wheel holder
21
, two side wings
401
respectively supported on blocks
211
at two sides of the recessed hole
210
, and a rear endpiece
402
connected to one end of the spring member
42
. The second pressure plate
41
comprises a front endpiece
410
extended through two projecting stop wall portions
200
at one side block
20
and suspending above the microswitch
24
, two side wings
411
stopped below the projecting stop wall portions
200
, and a rear endpiece
412
connected to one end of the spring member
42
opposite to the rear endpiece
402
of the first pressure plate
400
. When the optical encoder wheel
3
is depressed as shown in
FIG. 4
, the first pressure plate
40
is forced by the optical encoder wheel
3
to turn the second pressure plate
41
, thereby causing the front endpiece
410
of the second pressure plate
41
to trigger the microswitch
24
. This arrangement is still not satisfactory in function. The use of the linking mechanism
4
complicates the structure of the encoder wheel module and circuit board arrangement, and greatly increases its manufacturing cost. Installing the linking mechanism
4
is also not an easy job. Because the pressure plates
40
and
41
and the spring member
42
are tiny, it is difficult to accurately install the pressure plates
40
and
41
and the spring member
42
in position. During installation, the spring member
42
may be forced to jump away, or to push the second pressure plate
41
out of place. In order to hold the linking mechanism
4
, the design of the mount
2
is complicated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been accomplished to provide an encoder wheel module and circuit board arrangement for an optical mouse, which eliminates the aforesaid drawbacks. It is one object of the present invention to provide an encoder wheel module and circuit board arrangement, which has a simple structural design. It is another object of the present invention to provide an encoder wheel module and circuit board arrangement, which is inexpensive to manufacture. According to one aspect of the present invention, the encoder wheel module and circuit board arrangement comprises a circuit board having a microswitch as the third button switch, a mount mounted on the circuit board, the mount having an integrally-formed bottom frame, an integrally-formed suspension arm spaced above the bottom frame, and an integrally-formed connecting portion connected between the bottom frame and the suspension arm at a rear side, the suspension arm having a front tongue suspending above the microswitch, an optical encoder wheel supported on the suspension arm, a transmitter mounted on the mount at one side and controlled by the circuit board to emit a light beam through radial slots at the optical encoder wheel, and an optical detector mounted on the mount at one side opposite to the transmitter and controlled by the circuit board to read the light beam transmitted by the transmitter, wherein when the optical encoder wheel is depressed, the microswitch is triggered by the front tongue of the suspension arm to accomplish third button activation. According to another aspect of the present invention, the suspension arm comprises two upright support plates disposed at two opposite sides for supporting the optical encoder wheel, the upright support plates each comprising a top V-cut and a recessed portion in the top V-cut for supporting wheel axle means of the optical encoder wheel. According to still another aspect of the present invention, the optical encoder wheel comprises a toothed disk portion at one side thereof, and the suspension arm of the mount comprises a spring plate pressed on the toothed disk portion at the optical encoder wheel to guide rotary motion of the optical encoder wheel step by step. According to still another aspect of the present invention, the suspension arm of the mount comprises two wings at two opposite sides for supporting the transmitter and the optical detector, the wings each having a plurality of through holes through which respective contact pins of the transmitter or the optical detector are extended and connected to the circuit board.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5530455 (1996-06-01), Gillick et al.
patent: 5952997 (1999-09-01), Hu
patent: 6014130 (2000-01-01), Yung-Chou
patent: 6097371 (2000-08-01), Siddiqui et al.
patent: 6137477 (2000-10-01), Hu
patent: 6157369 (2000-12-01), Merminod et al.
patent: 6188393 (2001-02-01), Shu
Dexin Corporation
Lee John R.
Rosenberg , Klein & Lee
LandOfFree
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