WO2011065988A1

WO2011065988A1 - Air mouse device

Info

Publication number: WO2011065988A1
Application number: PCT/US2010/029750
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tsang-Der Ni; Chin-Chieh Lien; Ruey-Der Lou; Deng-Huei Hwang; Meng-Chang Hsu; Chun-Yuan Huang; Hung-Yu Ku; Tsai-Lien Su; Lan-Fen Chiu; Lung-Chang Chiu; Li-Ling Chen; Mei-Feng Lee; Jui-Lien Peng; Tsai-Ju Peng; Chung-Yu Lai; Cheng-Fu Hsiung
Original assignee: Imu Solutions, Inc
Priority date: 2009-11-27
Filing date: 2010-04-02
Publication date: 2011-06-03
Also published as: TWM388038U

Abstract

An air mouse device is provided and includes a shell structure. The shell structure includes a bottom structure and a tail structure. The bottom structure includes a sliding contact surface and a finger holding indentation. The tail structure is formed in succession from the bottom structure and includes a tapered profile having a principal axis directed to an upward oblique direction with respect to the sliding contact surface.

Description

AIR MOUSE DEVICE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an air mouse device, and more particularly to an air mouse device having a human-engineering structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The micro-electro-mechanical motion sensors, e.g. the gyroscope and the accelerometer, are widely applied to an air mouse device. The air mouse device can be operated in the air by a three-dimensional motion and employs the motion sensors to sense the hand motion and gesture, so that a variety of air mouse devices are gradually seen on the market. At present on the market, whether international companies, e.g. Logitech and Gyration, or domestic companies, e.g. OMNI MOTION, provide air mouse devices. However, it seems lack of completed consideration for the contour design to meet the human-engineering discipline for each of the provided air mouse devices. And, due to the lack of the detail consideration for ergonomic application for the user, the known air mouse device is not easy to be handled by just using one single hand to hold it in the palm to perform a motion and/or gesture sensing control and concurrently to launch and execute the functions of the selected items on the screen via pressing varieties of buttons on the air mouse by the fmger(s). Therefore, the user cannot help but to change the hand-holding means in response to a change of the use state. This incomplete consideration on the human engineering causes the user of feeling uncomfortable in handling the air mouse, and the merit of convenience of using a free motion to operate the air mouse device greatly falls short of its target. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to improve the abovementioned disadvantage of the contour structure of the air mouse device to meet the human-engineering. The user, then, can easily hold the air mouse device and move it in the air so as to control a motion of the cursor on the screen. The user also can conveniently operate the push button of the air mouse device by a finger when holding it in the palm to select an item on the screen and perform the function of the item, wherein the item is pointed at by the cursor.

[0004] It is therefore an aspect of the present invention to provide an air mouse device. The air mouse device includes a shell structure. The shell structure includes a bottom structure and a tail structure. The bottom structure includes a sliding contact surface and a finger holding indentation. The tail structure is formed in succession from the bottom structure and includes a tapered profile having a principal axis directed to an upward oblique direction with respect to the sliding contact surface.

[0005] It is therefore another aspect of the present invention to provide an air mouse device. The air mouse device includes a shell structure. The shell structure includes a lower surface structure having an indentation, wherein the indentation accommodates a finger to hold the shell structure.

[0006] It is still another aspect of the present invention to provide a mouse device including a shell structure. The shell structure includes a tail structure. The tail structure includes a tapered profile having a principal axis, wherein when the shell structure is positioned on a horizontal plane, the principal axis has a positive elevation angle with respect to the horizontal plane. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood through the following descriptions with reference to the drawings, wherein:

[0008] Fig. l(a)-Fig. 1(f) are schematic diagrams respectively showing views of an air mouse device according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0009] Fig. 2(a), Fig. 2(b) and Fig. 2(c) are schematic diagrams respectively showing a side-view profile, a top-view profile and a rear-view profile of the air mouse device according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0010] Fig. 3(a) and Fig. 3(b) are schematic diagrams respectively showing a button released state and a button pressed state of the air mouse device operated in the air according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0011] Fig. 4(a) and Fig. 4(b) are schematic diagrams respectively showing a button pressed state and a button released state of the air mouse device operated on a fixed plane according to the first embodiment of the present invention; and

[0012] Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a mouse device according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0013] The present invention will now be described more specifically with reference to the following embodiments. It is to be noted that the following descriptions of preferred embodiments of this invention are presented herein for the purposes of illustration and description only; it is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to the precise form disclosed. [0014] Please refer to the figures from Fig. 1(a) to Fig. 1(f), which are the schematic diagrams respectively showing the views of the air mouse device 20 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1(a), Fig. 1(b), Fig. 1(c), Fig. 1(d), Fig. 1(e) and Fig. 1(f) are the schematic diagrams respectively showing the side view, the top view, the bottom view, the front view, the rear view and the stereoscopic view of the air mouse device 20 taken from a distance. Fig. 1(a) further shows the system 10 associated with the air mouse device 20. As shown in Fig. 1(a), the system 10 includes the air mouse device 20, the screen 21, the fixed plane S23 and the hand 24. There is the cursor 211 on the screen 21. The hand 24 operates the air mouse device 20 to control a movement of the cursor 21 1 on the screen 21. The air mouse device 20 may have an operation mode being one selected from a group consisting of a plane operation mode, an air operation mode, and a combination thereof. When the hand 24 drives the air mouse device 20 to make a translational motion on the fixed plane S23 for controlling the movement of the cursor 211, the air mouse device 20 is operated in the plane operation mode. When the hand 24 drives the air mouse device 20 to make an accelerated motion or a three-dimensional motion in the air for controlling a movement of the cursor 211, the air mouse device 20 is operated in the air operation mode.

[0015] The air mouse device 20 includes the shell structure 30. The hand 24 may operate the shell structure 30 in order that the air mouse device 20 operates in the plane operation mode or in the air operation mode. In an embodiment, the shell structure 30 includes the bottom structure 40 and the tail structure 50. The bottom structure 40 has the sliding contact surface S41 and the index-finger holding indentation G42. For instance, the index-finger holding indentation G42 may be a groove. The indentation surface S42 of the index-finger holding indentation G42 faces the position Q4 below the sliding contact surface S41. There is the surface S41R opposite to the sliding contact surface S41. The tail structure 50 is connected to the bottom structure 40 and includes the profile P50 having the tapered profile P51. The tapered profile P51 includes the principal axis AX1 having the principal axis direction H51 being in the upward oblique direction H41R1 of the surface S41R. In an embodiment, the tail structure 50 is formed in succession from the bottom structure 40, and the principal axis direction H51 is in a true rearward upward oblique direction of the surface S41R. In other words, the tapered profile P51 has the principal axis AX1 directed to the upward oblique direction H41R1 with respect to the sliding contact surface S41. As shown in Fig. 1(a) and Fig. 1(c), the sliding contact surface S41 may includes the surfaces S41 1, S412 and S413, and the surfaces S411, S412 and S413 are located respectively in different areas on the bottom structure 40.

[0016] For instance, when the air mouse device 20 is operated in the plane operation mode and the sliding contact surface S41 of the bottom structure 40 goes into a slide on the fixed plane S23, the slide corresponds to a movement of the cursor 211 on the screen 21. For instance, when the air mouse device 20 is operated in the air operation mode and goes into the motion MT 1 driven by the hand 24 and the index-finger holding indentation G42 is held by the index finger 242 of the hand 24, the motion MT1 corresponds to a movement of the cursor 211 on the screen 211.

[0017] In an embodiment, the bottom structure 40 includes the bottom surface S4A, the front end EA41 and the back end EA42. The front end EA41 is located in the front side of the bottom surface S4 A, and the back end EA42 is located in the rear side of the bottom surface S4A. The bottom surface S4A includes the sliding contact surface S41 and the indentation surface S42 of the index-finger holding indentation G42. The index-finger holding indentation G42 is disposed in the intermediate area 40A between the front end EA41 and the back end EA42; i.e., the indentation surface S42 concave in the intermediate area 40A of the bottom surface S4A forms the index-finger holding indentation G42.

[0018] As shown in Fig. 1(a), Fig. 1(b) and Fig. 1(c), in an embodiment, the tail structure 50 includes the base part 51, the intermediate part 53 and the tail tip part 52. A portion 511 of the base part 51 is connected to the bottom structure 40, the intermediate part 53 is located between the base part 51 and the tail tip part 52, and the profile P50 of the tail structure 50 is gradually tapered from the base part 51 through the intermediate part 53 to the tail tip part 52 to form the smooth curved surface S521 on the tail tip part 52. In an embodiment, the tail structure 50 includes the base part 51 and the tail tip part 52. A portion 51 1 of the base part 51 is connected to the bottom structure 40, and the profile P50 of the tail structure 50 is gradually tapered from the base part 51 to the tail tip part 52 to form the smooth curved surface S521 on the tail tip part 52.

[0019] The profile P50 of the tail structure 50 includes the tapered profile P51. The tapered profile P51 may be the cone-shaped profile P51A, a pyramid-shaped profile or another tapered profile. In an embodiment, seen in the side view, the angle a between the principal axis AX1 (or the principal axis direction H51) and the sliding contact surface S41 may be in a range from 5 to 11 degrees, or may be greater than or equal to 11 degrees. Preferably, the angle a may be in a range from 7 to 9 degrees. In an embodiment, the tip portion P511 of the tapered profile P51 is located on the tail tip part 52 of the tail structure 50, and forms the smooth curved surface S521. In Fig. 1(a), the smooth curved surface S521 has the side-view profile curve C521, and the side-view profile curve C521 has the curvature radius RU1. In Fig. 1(b), the smooth curved surface S521 has the top-view profile curve C522, and the top-view profile curve C522 has the curvature radius RU2. The deviation percentage between the curvature radius RU1 and the curvature radius RU2 may be within 30%, 20%, 10% or 5%.

[0020] In an embodiment, a semi-ellipsoid profile has a principal axis direction and is used to approximate to the tapered profile P51. Thus, the principal axis direction of the semi-ellipsoid profile may represent the principal axis direction H51 of the tapered profile P51. In an embodiment, a semi-ellipse curve has a principal axis direction and is used to approximate to the side-view profile curve C521 of the smooth curved surface S521. Thus, the principal axis direction of the semi-ellipse curve may represent the principal axis direction H51 of the tapered profile P51. The contour of the tail structure 50 is considered. As shown in Fig. 1(a), the tail structure includes the lower curved surface S55, the hold curved surface S56 and the fitting curved surface S57. The lower curved surface S55 is connected to the bottom structure 40. The hold curved surface S56 is connected to the lower curved surface S55 and includes the smooth curved surface S521. The fitting curved surface S57 is connected to the hold curved surface S56 and is disposed on an opposite side E51 of the lower curved surface S55.

[0021] In an embodiment provided according to the figures from Fig. 1(a) to Fig. 1(f), the shell structure 30 includes the bottom structure 40, the tail structure 50 and the first structure 60. The first structure 60 is disposed on the bottom structure 40, is connected to the bottom structure 40 and the tail structure 50, and may include the top structure 61 and the intermediate structure 68. In an embodiment, the upper side, the lower side and the rear side of the intermediate structure 68 are connected to the top structure 61 , the bottom structure 40 and the tail structure 50, respectively. The top structure 61 is connected to the tail structure 50 and includes the push-lamella structure 61 1 and the hole G61. The hole may be punched through the push-lamella structure 61 1. The push-lamella structure 61 1 may be disposed on the front side 6 IP of the top structure 61, the hole G61 may be disposed on the intermediate area 61Q of the top structure 61, and the rear side 61R of the top structure 61 is connected to the tail structure 50. For instance, the hole G61 also may be disposed on an opposite side E61 of the index- finger holding indentation G42 in the up-down direction. The rear side 61R of the top structure 61 may be connected to the base part 51 of the tail structure 50. In an embodiment, the push-lamella structure 611 includes the push lamella 61 11 and the push lamella 61 12 adjacent to the push lamella 611 1.

[0022] In an embodiment, as shown in Fig. 1(a), the profile P611 of the push-lamella structure 61 1 has the push-button curved surface S61 1, and the push-button curved surface S611 has the side-view profile curve C611. The push-button curved surface S611 includes the push-button curved sub-surface

5611 1 on the push lamella 611 1 and the push-button curved sub-surface

56112 on the push lamella 6112. As shown in Fig. 1(b), the front portion C611A of the side-view profile curve C611 has the front endpoint RP1 and the reference point RP2, and the push-button reference tangent line TA61 is defined at the reference point RP2 for the side-view profile curve C61 1. In an embodiment, the index-finger holding indentation G42 has the indentation-mouth width WA42. The distance between the front endpoint RPl and the reference point RP2 may be the indentation-mouth width WA42, the curvature radius RU1 or the curvature radius RU2. Referring to the side view, the angle β between the push-button reference tangent line TA61 and the principal axis AXl may be in a range from 13 to 23 degrees, or another number in degree. The arrangement of the angle β may cause a finger to press the push-lamella structure 611 without constraint. Preferably, the angle β may be in a range from 16 to 20 degrees.

[0023] In an embodiment provided according to the figures from Fig. 1(a) to Fig. 1(f), as shown in Fig. 1(b), the air mouse device 20 includes the shell structure 30, the sensing unit 70, and the push buttons 62, 63 and 64. The sensing unit 70 is disposed in the shell structure 30 and includes the first unit 71. The first unit 71 senses the motion MT1 and includes at least one of the gyroscope 711 and the accelerometer 712. The push button 62 is mounted on the shell structure 30 through the hole G61 of the top structure 61. The position of the push button 62 may corresponds to the position of the index-finger holding indentation G42 of the bottom structure 40 in the up- down direction. The push button 63 may be disposed in the front portion 30 A of the shell structure 30. The push button 64 may be disposed in the front portion 30A of the shell structure 30. The push-lamella structure 61 1 includes the push lamellae 611 1 and 6112 used for respectively pressing the push buttons 63 and 64.

[0024] In an embodiment, the air mouse device 20 is applied to the air operation mode. Chiefly conforming to the contact surface of the thumb 241 of the hand 24, the curvatures and the configurations are selected for the push-button curved sub-surfaces S61 11 and S61 12 of the push-button curved surface S61 1, so that the thumb 241 may easily press the push button 62, the push lamella 61 11 or the push lamella 61 12. In an embodiment, as shown in Fig. 1(b), the profile of the air mouse device 20 is designed according to the human engineering. The top-view profile periphery curve of the air mouse device 20 has a plurality of slopes, and the design of the plurality of slopes is described as follows. The absolute values of the plurality of slopes from the positions QAl l and QA12 respectively to the tip portion TT of the top-view profile periphery curve gradually become large. For instance, the absolute value CUl of a slope at each of the positions QA21 and QA22 gradually become large into the absolute value CU2 of a slope at each of the positions QA31 and QA32, and further gradually become large into the absolute value CU3 of a slope at each of the positions QA41 and QA42. The dimensions of the top-view profile periphery curve are also changed correspondingly. The width Wl between the positions QA21 and QA22 gradually become small into the width W2 between the positions QA31 and QA32, further gradually become small into the width W3 between the positions QA41 and QA42, and gradually become small until the tip portion TT into a joined smooth curve.

[0025] In an embodiment provided according to the figures from Fig. 1(a) to Fig. 1(f), the air mouse device 20 includes the shell structure 30. The shell structure 30 includes the bottom structure 40 and the tail structure 50. The bottom structure 40 has the sliding contact surface S41 and the finger holding indentation G40. For instance, the finger holding indentation G40 may be a groove. The finger holding indentation G40 has the indentation surface S40 facing the position Q4 below the sliding contact surface S41. The tail structure 50 is connected to the bottom structure 40. The finger holding indentation G40 is the index-finger holding indentation G42, the middle-finger holding indentation G43 or the ring-finger holding indentation G44. The bottom surface S4A of the bottom structure 40 may include the sliding contact surface S41 and the indentation surface S40 of the finger holding indentation G40. For instance, when the air mouse device 20 is operated in the air operation mode and goes into the motion MT2 driven by the hand 24 and the finger holding indentation G40 is held by the index finger 242, the middle finger or the ring finger of the hand 24, the motion MT2 corresponds to the trajectory 212 on the screen 212.

[0026] In an embodiment provided according to the figures from Fig. 1(a) to Fig. 1(f), the air mouse device 20 includes the shell structure 30. The shell structure 30 includes the bottom structure 40 and the tail structure 50. The bottom structure 40 has the sliding contact surface S41. The tail structure 50 is connected to the bottom structure 40, and the profile P50 of the tail structure 50 includes the tapered profile P51. In an embodiment, the tail structure 50 is located in the rear side of the shell structure 30, the rear side of the bottom structure 40 is formed in succession from the front side of the tail structure 50, and the front side of the bottom structure 40 is located in the front side of the shell structure 30. Besides, the base part 51 of the tail structure 50 may be located in the front side of the tail structure 50.

[0027] Please refer to Fig. 2(a), Fig. 2(b) and Fig. 2(c), which are the schematic diagrams respectively showing the side-view profile, the top-view profile and the rear- view profile of the air mouse device 20 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 2(a), the side- view profile periphery curve CS0 of the air mouse device 20 includes the curves CS 1, CS2 and CS3. The curve CS 1 may be located in a side-view profile periphery of the first structure 60, the curve CS2 may be located in a side-view profile periphery of the tail structure 50, and the curve CS3 may be located in a side-view profile periphery of the finger holding indentation G40. As shown in Fig. 2(b), the bottom-view profile periphery curve CB0 of the air mouse device 20 includes the curves CB1, CBIM, CB2 and CB2M. The curves CB 1 and CBIM may be located in the front side of a bottom- view profile periphery of the air mouse device 20, wherein the curve CBIM is a mirror curve of the curve CB1, so that the curves CB1 and CB IM form a full characteristic curve. The curves CB2 and CB2M may be located in the intermediate and the rear sides of the bottom-view profile periphery of the air mouse device 20, wherein the curve CB2M is a mirror curve of the curve CB2, so that the curves CB2 and CB2M form a full characteristic curve.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 2(c), the rear-view profile periphery curve CR0 of the air mouse device 20 includes the curves CR1, CR1M, CR2 and CR2M. The curves CR1 and CR1M may be located in the upper side of a rear- view profile periphery of the air mouse device 20, wherein the curve CR1M is a mirror curve of the curve CR1, so that the curves CR1 and CR1M form a full characteristic curve. The curves CR2 and CR2M may be located in the lower side of the bottom- view profile periphery of the air mouse device 20, wherein the curve CR2M is a mirror curve of the curve CR2, so that the curves CR2 and CR2M form a full characteristic curve. Each of the curves CS 1, CS2, CS3, CB1, CB2, CR1 and CR2 may be expressed in a polynomial equation y =∑a_mx^m

m=o , wherein n>0. In an embodiment, the coefficient ∞ of each of the abovementioned curves may be shown in Table 1.

Table 1

[0029] Please refer to Fig. 3(a) and Fig. 3(b), which are the schematic diagrams respectively showing the button released state and the button pressed state of the air mouse device 20 operated in the air according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3(a) and Fig. 3(b) show the first operation configuration 1 1 and the second operation configuration 12 of the air mouse device 20, respectively, wherein the air mouse device 20 is operated in the air operation mode. Each of the first operation configuration 11 and the second operation configuration 12 includes the air mouse device 20 and the hand 24. The air mouse device 20 includes the shell structure 30. The hand 24 includes the thumb 241, the index fmger 242, the middle fmger 243, the ring fmger 244, the little fmger 245 and the palm 246. The hand holds the shell structure 30. As shown in the place the reference numeral K1A refers to, the fit between the shell structure 30 and the structure of the hand 24 causes that the middle fmger 243 and the ring fmger 244 even and the little fmger 245 can suit the profile surface of the air mouse device 20 and naturally hold the bottom rear portion of the air mouse device 20.

[0030] As shown in the place the reference numeral K1B refers to, the fit therebetween naturally causes that the index fmger 242 is comfortably retained in the index-finger holding indentation G42 of the bottom structure 40, and causes that the root portion of the thumb can comfortably be kept on the fitting curved surface S57 of the tail structure 50. As shown in the place the reference numeral K1C refers to, the fit therebetween further causes that the middle portion of the palm 246 fully suits the hold curved surface S56 of the tail structure 50. In this manner, the air mouse device 20 can be easily and reliably held. As shown in the place the reference numeral KID refers to, the fit therebetween further causes that the thumb 241 is completely and freely released, wherein the thumb 241 is the one having the nimblest functionality in the five fingers. Therefore, as shown in the place the reference numeral K1E refers to, the fit therebetween further causes that the thumb 241 can easily and naturally press the push lamella 6111 (or the push button 63), the push lamella 6112 (or the push button 64) and the push button 62 of the air mouse device 20. In this way, the designed profile structure of the air mouse device 20 has achieved the objects that: the profile structure may be easily held to go into a motion, and it is easy and effective to press the operating push button thereof. In an embodiment, the fmger holding indentation G40 of the air mouse device 20 is held by one of the index fmger 242 and the middle fmger 243, wherein the index fmger 242 backwardly presses the front edge FGl of the air mouse device 20 when the fmger holding indentation G40 is held by the middle fmger 243.

[0031] In addition to the motion holding means and the motion operation in the air, the air mouse device 20 also is a high-resolution motion mouse device with two degrees of freedom when it is used on the table. Please refer to Fig. 4(a) and Fig. 4(b), which are the schematic diagrams respectively showing the button pressed state and the button released state of the air mouse device 20 operated on the fixed plane S23 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4(a) and Fig. 4(b) show the third operation configuration 13 and the fourth operation configuration 14 of the air mouse device 20, respectively, wherein the air mouse device 20 is operated in the plane operation mode. Each of the third operation configuration 13 and the fourth operation configuration 14 includes the air mouse device 20, the hand 24 and the fixed plane S23.

[0032] As shown in the place the reference numeral K2A refers to, when the hand 24 holds the air mouse device 20 to make an operation motion on the fixed plane S23, the push-button curved surface S611, the fitting curved surface S57 and the hold curved surface S56 may be naturally and respectively in fit contact with a fmger, a palm area adjacent to the fmger, and the middle portion of the palm 246 in a limb. The limb includes specific portions consisting of: the fmger and the portion of the palm 246, which are in contact with the air mouse device 20, and the wrist and the arm, which drive the hand 24. Therefore, the specific portions of the limb can operate the air mouse device 20 to make the operation motion on the fixed plane S23 in the very comfortable operation feeling. Besides, as shown in Fig. 1(a), considering the human engineering, the push-button curved surface S611 is designed and is associated with the push-button reference tangent line TA61 having the slope TD61, which causes that the index fmger 242 stretches or retracts very easily. Thus, as shown in the places the reference numerals K2B and K2C refer to, the index fmger 242 and the middle fmger 243 also very easily operate the push lamella 6111 (or the push button 63) and the push lamella 6112 (or the push button 64), respectively.

[0033] Please refer to Fig. 5, which is the schematic diagram showing the mouse device 28 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment, auxiliary referring to Fig. 1(a) and Fig. 1(b), the mouse device 28 includes the shell structure 38. The shell structure 38 includes the head structure 75 and the tail structure 50. The head structure 75 includes at least one operating push button 76, e.g. the operating push button 76 may be the push button 63. The tail structure 50 includes the tapered profile P51 having the principal axis AXl, wherein when the shell structure 38 is positioned on the horizontal plane PN1, the principal axis AXl has the positive elevation angle γ with respect to the horizontal plane PN1. In an embodiment, the tapered profile P51 has the principal axis direction H51, the principal axis direction H51 is the direction of the principal axis AXl from the base center portion of the tapered profile P51 to the tip of the tapered profile P51, and the principal axis direction H51 has the positive elevation angle γ with respect to the horizontal plane PN1.

[0034] In an embodiment, the mouse device 28 is the air mouse device 29. The air mouse device 29 includes the shell structure 38. The shell structure 38 includes the upper surface structure 80 and the lower surface structure 90. The upper surface structure 80 includes at least one operating push button 81, e.g. the operating push button 81 may be the push button 63 or the push button 62. The lower surface structure 90 includes the fmger holding structure 91. In an embodiment, the fmger holding structure 91 includes the fmger holding indentation G40, the sliding contact surface S41 and the hole 92. The finger holding indentation G40 accommodates a finger to hold the shell structure 38. The hole 92 allows the detecting light LT1 to pass through. When the shell structure 38 is positioned on the horizontal plane PN1, the sliding contact surface S41 is in contact with the horizontal plane PN1. The detecting light LT1 is used for detecting the motion of the shell structure 38 with respect to the horizontal plane PN1. In an embodiment, the shell structure 38 includes the head structure 75, the tail structure 50, the upper surface structure 80 and the lower surface structure 90. For instance, the lower surface structure 90 includes the bottom structure 40, and the upper surface structure 80 includes the top structure 61.

[0035] The air mouse device 20 provided in the present application includes the features as follows:

[0036] 1. Employing the contour structure and the dimensions of the air mouse device 20, the majority of the users can use only the four fingers and the portion of the palm 246 adjacent to the four fingers except the thumb 241 to easily hold the air mouse device 20.

[0037] 2. It is unnecessary to use the thumb 241 for holding the air mouse device 20, which causes that the thumb 241 can completely and freely move. Therefore, the thumb 241 can operate and press all push buttons of the air mouse device 20 nimbly and conveniently.

[0038] 3. The air mouse device 20 includes the bottom structure 40. The bottom structure 40 includes the contour structure having the index- finger holding indentation G42. When the four fingers and the portion of the palm 246 adjacent thereto hold the air mouse device 20, the index finger 242 of the user can correctly hold the index-finger holding indentation G42, which causes that the air mouse device 20 is fit with the portion of the most comfortable hold and operation on the hand, and causes that the thumb can easily operate the push buttons. Therefore, the gesture which the hand 24 holds the air mouse device 20 is constantly kept comfortable, and the holding means of the hand 24 cannot cause the uncomfortable feeling with the different operation states of the air mouse device 20.

[0039] 4. According to the position configuration that the four fingers and the palm 246 matched thereto hold the air mouse device 20, the push lamella 611 1 (or the push button 63), the push lamella 6112 (or the push button 64) and the push button 62 of the air mouse device 20 are further arranged through the adaptive design. Therefore, the freely moved thumb 241 can easily, naturally and effectively operate the push lamella 611 1 (or the push button 63), the push lamella 6112 (or the push button 64) and the push button 62 under the condition of the comfortable angles and positions.

[0040] While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An air mouse device, comprising:

a shell structure including:

a bottom structure including a sliding contact surface and a finger holding indentation; and

a tail structure formed in succession from the bottom structure, and including a tapered profile having a principal axis directed to an upward oblique direction with respect to the sliding contact surface.

2. An air mouse device according to Claim 1, having a front edge, wherein: the finger holding indentation has a indentation surface facing a position below the sliding contact surface;

the tapered profile is a cone-shaped profile;

the principal axis and the sliding contact surface have an angle therebetween in a range from 5 to 11 degrees; and

the finger holding indentation is held by one of an index finger and a middle finger, wherein the index finger backwardly presses the front edge when the finger holding indentation is held by the middle finger.

3. An air mouse device according to Claim 1, wherein the tapered profile has a tip portion forming a smooth curved surface.

4. An air mouse device according to Claim 3, wherein:

the smooth curved surface has a top- view profile periphery curve and a side-view profile periphery curve;

the top-view and the side-view profile periphery curves have a first curvature radius and a second curvature radius, respectively; and

the first and the second curvature radii have a deviation percentage within 20%.

5. An air mouse device according to Claim 3, wherein the tail structure further comprises: a lower curved surface connected to the bottom structure;

a hold curved surface connected to the lower curved surface, and including the smooth curved surface; and

a fitting curved surface connected to the hold curved surface, and disposed on an opposite side of the lower curved surface.

6. An air mouse device according to Claim 1, comprising an operation mode being one selected from a group consisting of a plane operation mode, an air operation mode, and a combination thereof.

7. An air mouse device according to Claim 6, wherein when the air mouse device is operated in the plane operation mode and the sliding contact surface goes into a slide on a fixed plane, the slide corresponds to a movement of a cursor on a screen.

8. An air mouse device according to Claim 6, wherein when the air mouse device is operated in the air operation mode and goes into a motion driven by a hand and the finger holding indentation is held by a finger of the hand, the motion corresponds to a movement of a cursor on a screen.

9. An air mouse device according to Claim 8, further comprising:

a sensing unit disposed in the shell structure, and including:

a first unit sensing the motion, and including at least one of a gyroscope and an accelerometer.

10. An air mouse device according to Claim 6, wherein when the air mouse device is operated in the air operation mode and goes into a motion driven by a hand and the finger holding indentation is held by a finger of the hand, the motion corresponds to a trajectory on a screen.

11. An air mouse device according to Claim 1, wherein the tail structure further comprises:

a base part having a first portion connected to the bottom structure; and a tail tip part, wherein the tapered profile is gradually tapered from the base part to the tail tip part to form a smooth curved surface on the tail tip part.

12. An air mouse device according to Claim 1, wherein the shell structure further comprises:

a first structure disposed on the bottom structure, and connected to the bottom structure and the tail structure.

13. An air mouse device according to Claim 12, wherein the first structure comprises:

a top structure connected to the tail structure, and including:

a push-lamella structure; and

a first hole punched through the push-lamella structure, and disposed opposite to the finger holding indentation.

14. An air mouse device according to Claim 13, wherein:

the push-lamella structure comprises a profile having a push-button curved surface, and the push-button curved surface has a side-view profile periphery curve;

the side-view profile periphery curve comprises a front portion where a push-button reference tangent line is defined; and

the push-button reference tangent line and the principal axis have an angle therebetween in a range from 13 to 23 degrees.

15. An air mouse device according to Claim 13, further comprising:

a first push button mounted on the shell structure having a front portion through the first hole;

a second push button disposed in the front portion of the shell structure; and

a third push button disposed in the front portion of the shell structure, wherein the push-lamella structure further comprises:

a first push lamella; and a second push lamella being adjacent to the first push lamella, wherein the first and the second push lamellae are used for pressing the second and the third push buttons, respectively.

16. An air mouse device according to Claim 1, wherein the bottom structure further has a front end and a back end, and the fmger holding indentation is disposed between the front and the back ends.

17. An air mouse device comprising a shell structure including:

a lower surface structure having an indentation, wherein the indentation accommodates a fmger to hold the shell structure.

18. An air mouse device according to Claim 17, wherein:

the shell structure further include an upper surface structure having at least an operating push button; and

the lower surface structure further has a hole allowing a detecting light to pass through.

19. A mouse device comprising a shell structure including:

a tail structure including a tapered profile having a principal axis, wherein when the shell structure is positioned on a horizontal plane, the principal axis has a positive elevation angle with respect to the horizontal plane.

20. A mouse device according to Claim 19, being an air mouse device, wherein the shell structure further comprises:

a head structure having at least an operating push button; and

a lower surface structure connected to the tail structure, and having a fmger holding structure.