Mouse-associated Z-axis encoder

Abstract

A mouse-associated Z-axis encoder mainly including a rotary-shaft mount, an encoding disc, and an encoding wheel, and being mounted in a mouse at a position corresponding to a mid-key of the mouse. The rotary-shaft mount has a connection seat provided 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 mounted therein. At least one of the contact fingers is connected to electric signals. The encoding disc is disposed in the encoding wheel so that they are together mounted around the rotary shaft. The encoding wheel is partially protruded from the mouse via the position for the mid-key. There are several series of connected or non-connected conductive contacting areas provided on the surface of the encoding disc. When the encoding wheel is rotated, the contact fingers sequentially and elastically contact with the conductive contacting areas on the encoding disc to generate reference signals for moving the finger post on the Z-axis coordinate. When the encoding wheel is depressed, a lower end of the rotary-shaft mount contacts with and actuates a mid-key switch in the mouse to effectuate the location of the finger post on the Z-axis coordinate.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.