INNER-SENSOR BASED POINTING DEVICE

摘要

An inner-sensor based pointing device is presented. The pointing device includes a central housing having an aperture and a sleeve disposed surrounding a portion of the central housing, the sleeves rotatable about the portion of the central housing and slidable along a generally horizontal axis about the portion of the central housing. The pointing device further includes a sensor disposed in the central housing and aligned with the aperture, the sleeve positioned surrounding the sensor, wherein the sensor is capable of detecting rotational movement of the sleeve relative to the central housing and wherein the sensor is capable of detecting axial movement of the sleeve relative to the central housing. Additionally, the pointing device has a circuit in communication with the sensor, the circuit disposed within the central housing, the circuit capable of transmitting data to a computer regarding the movement of the sleeve.

主权项

1. A pointing device comprising:
a central housing; a sleeve disposed to fit over a portion of the central housing, wherein the sleeve is rotatable about the central housing and wherein the sleeve is slideable along a generally horizontal axis of the central housing; a sensor disposed within the central housing, wherein the sensor is configured to detect rotational movement of the sleeve relative to the sensor and wherein the sensor is configured to detect axial movement of the sleeve relative to the sensor; a support supporting the central housing, the support allowing downward movement of the central housing when a user pushes down on the sleeve to initiate a click operation; and at least one switch arranged to detect the downward movement of one of the sleeve and the central housing.