CAPACITIVE MOUSE

摘要

A pointing device some or all of whose elements are made from capacitive sensors. Such elements may include a rotary motion detector (310) which includes a rotating member (306) and a plurality of fixed capacitive detecting members (322 and 320); a rolling ball (602) with patterned conductive surface (604) and a plurality of fixed capacitive detecting members (608); capacitive touch sensors or capacitive switches to serve as mouse buttons (822); and a scrolling wheel (902), knob (1002), or touch surface built from capacitive sensors (1106). The pointing device further includes a capacitance measuring circuit (1704) and processor (1702) to measure variations of capacitance on the various capacitive elements and to determine the movement of and other activations of the mouse.