Multi-direction input device

• US 20080291157A1
• Filed: 05/21/2007
• Published: 11/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zippy Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: Zippy Technology Corporation
• Inventors: Chou, Chin-Wen
• Granted Patent: US 7,782,303 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts

Abstract

A multi-direction input device for computers includes a directional wheel, a sliding member and a plurality of electrodes. The directional wheel has a rotational degree-of-freedom and two moving degree-of-freedom to be moved downwards, perform forward rolling, backward rolling and sideward moving thereby to connect corresponding electrodes to generate corresponding signals. In regular conditions the sliding member can be in cooperation with a movable contact to support the directional wheel. When the directional wheel is moved downwards the sliding member drives a corresponding electrode to generate a click signal.

Claims

1. A multi-direction input device, comprising:

a directional wheel which has an axle, a coaxial gear located at a first side thereof and a coaxial annular inclined surface located at a second side thereof, and a rotational degree-of-freedom for rolling forward and rolling backward and two moving degree-of-freedom for moving sideward and downward to perform click operation;

a sliding member which is located at the second side of the directional wheel and includes an inclined surface corresponding to the coaxial annular inclined surface such that when the directing wheel is moved downward the sliding member is slid by directing of the coaxial annular inclined surface and the inclined surface; and

a plurality of electrodes, including

a first electrode, a second electrode and a third electrode that are located at the second side of the directional wheel such that when the directional wheel is moved downward the sliding member slides to form electric connection between the first electrode and the second electrode;

when the directional wheel is moved towards the second side the axle forces the first electrode to form electric connection with the third electrode;

a fifth electrode, a sixth electrode and a seventh electrode that are located at the first side of the directional wheel, the fifth electrode and the seventh electrode being interposed by a movable contact which is conductive and elastic, and has one end electrically connected to the sixth electrode and another end constantly in contact with a gear surface of the coaxial gear such that in regular conditions the movable contact is not connected to the fifth electrode or the seventh electrode;

when the directional wheel rotates the gear surface moves the movable contact to connect the fifth electrode or the seventh electrode; and

a fourth electrode and an eighth electrode that are located at the first side of the directional wheel such that when the directional wheel is moved towards the first side the axle forces the fourth electrode and the eighth electrode to form electric connection.

2. The multi-direction input device of claim 1, wherein the first electrode is a common electrode and has a conductive first elastic reed, the first elastic reed being located outside one end of the axle, when the directional wheel is moved towards the second side, the axle forces the first elastic reed in contact with the third electrode to form electric connection between the third electrode and the first electrode, in the regular conditions the first elastic reed being not in contact with the third electrode.

3. The multi-direction input device of claim 1, wherein the fourth electrode is a common electrode and has a conductive third elastic reed, the third elastic reed being located outside one end of the axle, when the directional wheel is moved towards the first side, the axle forces the third elastic reed in contact with the eighth electrode to form electric connection between the eighth electrode and the third electrode, in the regular conditions the third elastic reed being not in contact with the eighth electrode.

4. The multi-direction input device of claim 1, wherein the sliding member has an actuation contact to trigger the second electrode.

5. The multi-direction input device of claim 4, wherein the first electrode is a common electrode and has a conductive second elastic reed, the second elastic reed being located outside one end of the actuation contact, when the directional wheel is moved downwards the actuation contact is moved towards the second elastic reed to force the second elastic reed in contact with the second electrode to form electric connection between the first electrode and the second electrode, in the regular conditions the second elastic reed being not in contact with the second electrode.

6. The multi-direction input device of claim 1, wherein the movable contact includes a metal pin and an elastic element fastened to one end of the metal pin, the elastic element having one end connecting to the sixth electrode, the metal pin having a top end constantly in contact with the gear surface of the coaxial gear.

8. The multi-direction input device of claim 1, wherein the movable contact is a spring which has one end connecting to the sixth electrode and a top end constantly in contact with the gear surface of the coaxial gear.

9. The multi-direction input device of claim 1, wherein the sliding member has a flexible support leg at a bottom end thereof, the support leg having a bend spot to serve as a fulcrum to allow the support leg to be depressed downward and bounce back when the support leg receives a force at an upper side.

10. The multi-direction input device of claim 9, wherein the support leg has a sliding channel at the bottom thereof.

11. The multi-direction input device of claim 10, wherein the sliding channel is securely mounted onto a sliding track to direct the sliding member to slide reciprocally.

7. The multi-direction input device of claim 7, wherein the elastic element is a spring.

12. An input device to trigger an encoder to generate a click signal, comprising:

a directional wheel which is movable downwards and has an axle and a coaxial annular inclined surface;

a sliding member which has an inclined surface corresponding to the coaxial annular inclined surface and an actuation contact;

when the directional wheel is moved downwards the sliding member slides by jointed directing of the coaxial annular inclined surface and the inclined surface; and

a first electrode and a second electrode located at a same side of the directional wheel, the first electrode and the second electrode being electrically connected to the encoder, the first electrode having a conductive second elastic reed, the second electrode being located at an outer side of one end of the actuation contact, when the directional wheel is moved downwards and the sliding member slides the actuation contact is moved towards the second elastic reed to force the second elastic reed in contact with the second electrode such that the first electrode and the second electrode form electric connection to trigger the encoder to generate a click signal, in regular conditions the second elastic reed being not in contact with the second electrode.

13. The input device of claim 12, wherein the sliding member has a flexible support leg at a bottom end thereof, the support leg having a bend spot to serve as a fulcrum to allow the support leg to be depressed downward and bounce back when the support leg receives a force at an upper side.

14. The input device of claim 13, wherein the support leg has a sliding channel at the bottom thereof.

15. The input device of claim 14, wherein the sliding channel is securely mounted onto a sliding track to direct the sliding member to slide reciprocally.