Encoding module for a cursor input device

• US 6,459,421 B1
• Filed: 12/02/1999
• Issued: 10/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: KYE Systems Corporation
• Original Assignee: KYE Systems Corporation
• Inventors: Tai, Wen-Hsiang, Chou, Yu-Tang, Chiang, Ming-Hheng, Cho, Tim
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIZIALI, JEFFREY J
• Application Number:
  US09/453,844
• Time in Patent Office: 1,034 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/158, 345/163-167, 345/173, 345/184
• US Class Current: 345/166
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0312 for tracking the rotation of a spherical or circular member, e.g. optical rotary encoders used in mice or trackballs using a tracking ball or in mouse scroll wheels tracking relative movement in co-operation with a regularly or irregularly patterned surface, e.g. as in optical mice G06F3/0317; constructional details of scroll or thumb-wheels G06F3/0362; optical rotary encoders G01D5/3473
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03549 Trackballs G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• 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

An encoding module for a cursor input device includes an optical encoder roller rotatable relative a roller supporting frame about a horizontal axis, a base member having the roller supporting frame on the base member such that the roller supporting frame is movable vertically toward and away from the base member, a switch mounted on the base member and disposed below a switch actuating block of the roller supporting frame such that downward movement of the roller supporting frame relative to the base member will enable the switch actuating block to engage the switch. The roller engages intermittently the roller supporting frame to permit rotation of the roller relative to the roller supporting frame in steps.

Claims

1. An encoding module for a cursor input device, comprising:

an optical encoder roller having first and second lateral surfaces, a plurality of angularly disposed apertures that extend through said first and second lateral surfaces, and an axle extending axially through said roller and having opposite and portions that project respectively from said first and second lateral surfaces;

a roller supporting frame having front and rear parts and opposite lateral parts that interconnect said front and rear parts to form said roller supporting frame with a roller opening, each of said lateral parts being formed with an upwardly extending axle support that has a respective one of said end portions of said axle mounted thereon such that a lower portion of said roller extends through said roller supporting frame at said roller opening and such that said roller is rotatable relative to said roller supporting frame about a horizontal axis, said roller supporting frame further having a switch actuating block that extends from one of said lateral parts outwardly of said roller opening;

a base member;

installing means for installing said roller supporting frame on said base member such that said roller supporting frame is movable vertically toward and away from said base member;

biasing means disposed between said base member and said roller supporting frame for biasing said roller supporting frame upwardly and away from said base member;

a switch mounted on said base member and disposed below said switch actuating block such that downward movement of said roller supporting frame relative to said base member will enable said switch actuating block to engage said switch;

rotation control means, provided on said roller and said roller supporting frame, for intermittent releasable engagement between said roller and said roller supporting frame so as to permit rotation of said roller relative to said roller supporting frame in steps; and

an optical transmitter and an optical receiver mounted in spaced-apart manner on the base member, with said roller having a lower portion positioned between said optical transmitter and said optical receiver such that rotation of said roller relative to said roller supporting frame will cause the optical signal from said optical transmitter to intermittently extend through one of said apertures in the roller to be detected by said optical receiver.

2. The encoding module of claim 1, wherein said roller includes an encoder disk formed with said apertures and an annular rim flange that extends from a periphery of said encoder disk toward one of said lateral parts of said roller supporting frame and that has an inner wall surface formed with a plurality of angularly displaced positioning grooves, said encoder disk and said rim flange cooperating to confine a cavity therein.

3. The encoding module of claim 1, wherein said roller is provided with a tire for traction purposes.

4. The encoding module of claim 1, wherein said base member has a stop post that extends toward said front part of said roller supporting frame to limit the range of downward pivoting movement of said roller supporting frame relative to said base member.

5. The encoding module of claim 4, wherein said biasing means includes a coiled compression spring sleeved on said stop post and having opposite ends that abut respectively against said base member and said front part of said roller supporting frame.

6. The encoding module of claim 1, wherein said rotation control means includes:

a plurality of angularly displaced protuberances formed on one of said lateral surfaces of said roller; and

a resilient member having one end secured to one of said lateral parts of said roller supporting frame and an opposite end that extends toward said one of said lateral surfaces of said roller and that engages releasably said protuberances.

7. The encoding module of claim 1, wherein each of said axle supports has an axle hole and a vertically extending notch that permits insertion of one of said end portions of said axle into said axle hole.

8. The encoding module of claim 1, wherein said roller supporting frame is a unitary piece that is formed integrally.

9. The encoding module of claim 1, wherein the cursor input device is one of a trackball, a touch pad and a notebook computer.

10. An encoding module for a cursor input device, comprising:

an optical encoder roller having first and second lateral surfaces, and an axle extending axially through said roller and having opposite end portions that project respectively from said first and second lateral surfaces;

a roller supporting frame having front and rear parts and opposite lateral parts that interconnect said front and rear parts to form said roller supporting frame with a roller opening, each of said lateral parts being formed with an upwardly extending axle support that has a respective one of said end portions of said axle mounted thereon such that a lower portion of said roller extends through said roller supporting frame at said roller opening and such that said roller is rotatable relative to said roller supporting frame about a horizontal axis, said roller supporting frame further having a switch actuating block that extends from one of said lateral parts outwardly of said roller opening;

a base member;

biasing means disposed between said base member and said roller supporting frame for biasing said roller supporting frame upwardly and away from said base member;

means for installing said roller supporting frame on said base member such that said roller supporting frame is movable vertically toward and away from said base member, said installing means including;

a pair of vertically extending shaft supporting members that extend from said base member;

a horizontal pivot shaft positioned on said rear part of said roller supporting frame, and having opposite ends, each end of said pivot shaft being pivotally coupled to a separate shaft supporting member; and

wherein said front part of said roller supporting frame contacts the biasing means which pivots said roller supporting frame about an axis defined by said pivot shaft;

switch mounted on said base member and disposed below said switch actuating block such that downward movement of said roller supporting frame relative to said base member will enable said switch actuating block to engage said switch;

rotation control means, provided on said roller and said roller supporting frame, for intermittent releasable engagement between said roller and said roller supporting frame so as to permit rotation of said roller relative to said roller supporting frame in steps.