Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device – Cursor mark position control device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-26
2001-09-04
Jankus, Almis R. (Department: 2674)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
Cursor mark position control device
C345S156000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06285355
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a mouse-associated Z-axis encoder that may be properly depressed and/or rotated as a mid-key having elastic elements on the mouse to either move or locate a finger post (usually a arrow shown on a screen of a monitor) along a third axis, i.e. the Z-axis coordinate on a computer.
A personal computer is very important in our daily life because it has been widely employed to conveniently process various kinds of information about data exchange, business transaction, and client contact, and do various kinds of complicate works, including word processing, computeraided design, handwriting input, etc. To execute these works on the personal computer, mouse plays a very important role to move and locate the finger post on the computer. For instance, the Windows series products provided by MICROSOFT and the AutoCAD series computer-aided design software provided by AUTODESK all rely on a mouse to move and locate the finger post.
FIG. 11
illustrates a conventional mouse that is mainly used to provide a main frame of a computer with reference signals for moving and locating the finger post along two axes, that is, the X-axis and Y-axis coordinates on a general plane. However, such conventional mouse now fails to satisfy the need of general software designers and computer users. For instance, there are many kinds of software having an environment that requires moving and locating the finger post in a three-dimensional space, such as the above-mentioned AutoCAD series computer-aided design software and many other three-dimensional TV games. Since the conventional mouse can only provide reference signals for moving and locating the finger post along the X and Y axes, it is necessary to use keys on a keyboard or other auxiliary apparatus to simulate or provide reference signals for moving and locating the finger post along a third axis, that is, the Z-axis of a three-dimensional coordinate. To move and/or locate the finger post on a three-dimensional coordinate by operating the keys and/or the auxiliary apparatus is, of course, very inconvenient to users and has poor sensitivity and accuracy. Therefore, it has been a difficult condition in the information industry and many other related industries to move and locate the finger post along a third axis (the Z-axis) coordinate on a computer with the currently available mouse.
It has been tried to incorporate an encoder in the form of a optoelectronic coupler in the conventional mouse shown in
FIG. 11
to retrieve reference signals for moving and/or locating the finger post along the Z-axis coordinate. However, this design necessitates wide change in the mechanisms of the conventional mouse and therefore more complicate accessories and circuit design, as well as increased manufacturing cost. Moreover, the conventional Z-axis encoder does not work with keys A
1
, A
2
and A
3
or other finger post controlling element originally provided on the conventional mouse. As a matter of fact, there are many difficulties in employing the optoelectronic coupler type encoder to control the finger post via the conventional mouse, and this design is therefore only a product still in the experimental stage and not industrially practical for use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a mouse-associated Z-axis encoder that is mounted in a mouse at the position corresponding to the mid-key. By easily rotate and/or depress the Z-axis encoder, reference signals for moving and locating the finger post along the Z-axis of a three-dimensional coordinate may be generated and sent to a computer to which the mouse is connected.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a mouse-associated Z-axis encoder that has structurally simple conductive contact fingers to contact with an encoding disc having predetermined series of conductive contacting areas thereon. By rotating the encoding disc, electrical encoding signals in the form of pulse are generated for controlling the finger post on the Z-axis coordinate. The use of the Z-axis encoder of the present invention does not necessitate big change of any old mechanism, circuit and component design in the conventional mouse and is therefore industrially practical for use. To achieve the above and other objects, the mouse-associated Z-axis encoder of the present invention mainly includes a rotary-shaft mount fixed to inside of a conventional mouse at a position corresponding to the mid-key thereof, and an encoding disc disposed in an encoding wheel. The rotary-shaft mount has a connection seat connected to an upper portion thereof. A rotary shaft and a plurality of cylindrical sleeves are axially provided on the connection seat. Each of the cylindrical sleeves has a contact finger and an elastic element around the contact finger disposed therein. At least one of the contact fingers is connected to an electric signal. The encoding disc and the encoding wheel are together mounted around the rotary shaft. The encoding wheel is partially protruded from the mouse at the position of the mid-key. The encoding disc has several series of connected or non-connected conductive contacting areas provided thereon and can be elastically touched by the contact fingers. When the encoding wheel is rotated directly from outside of the mouse, an electrical circuit among the contact fingers generates an electric reference signal for moving and locating the finger post on the Z-axis coordinate directly through the mouse. And, when the encoding wheel is depressed, the rotary-shaft mount is brought downward to touch a mid-key switch in the mouse, so that the movement and location of the finger post along the Z-axis may be effectuated directly at the mid-key position on the mouse.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5530455 (1996-06-01), Gillick et al.
patent: 5912661 (1999-06-01), Siddiqui
patent: 6014130 (2000-01-01), Yung-Chou
patent: 6075518 (2000-06-01), Pruchniak
patent: 6157369 (2000-12-01), Merminod et al.
patent: 6166721 (2000-12-01), Kuroiwa et al.
patent: 6188389 (2001-02-01), Yen
patent: 6188393 (2001-02-01), Shu
Jankus Almis R.
Key Mouse Electronic Enterprise Co.
Pro-Techtor Inter-national Services
Tran Henry N.
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