SE536956C2 - Pointing devices with reduced height - Google Patents

Abstract

100906 C \Users\ba\Desktop\P93850001Us_App1ication text.docx 16 ABSTRACT A pointing device has a housing (110) having a base (112). The pointing devicealso has a rollerbar assembly (120) comprising a rollerbar (122) and a rollerbar bracket(130). The rollerbar bracket supports rotation and translation of the rollerbar, and therollerbar assembly is depressible With respect to the base. Sensor means (170) isprovided for detecting movement of the rollerbar. The pointing device further has a leafspring (190) having a first end (192) mounted to the base and a second end (194)positioned below the rollerbar bracket (130) to counteract a click force required todepress the rollerbar assembly (120). Adjustment means (200) is provided for controlling the counteraction provided by the leaf spring. Elected for publication: Fig 1

Description

100906 C \Users\ba\Desktop\P93850001Us_App1ication text.docx l POINTING DEVICE WITH REDUCED HEIGHT Technical FieldThe present invention generally relates to computer accessories, and more specifically to a pointing device for controlling the user interface of a computer.

Background Personal computers are available in many different brands, sizes and types. Thefirst generations of personal computers had limited processing power and graphicdisplay capabilities. A keyboard was typically the only type of computer accessory usedas user input device for those early personal computers. The keyboard is still adominating user input device for personal computers because of its feasibility formassive input of text. In addition, with the advent of graphical user interfaces (GUI),pointing devices have become and remain a very common type of computer accessory.Within the context of the present disclosure, a pointing device is a computer accessoryadapted for allowing a computer user to control the position of a cursor in graphical userinterface, as well as to perform relation actions such as selection of an object presentedin the graphical user interface. The computer mouse is probably the most knownexample of such a pointing device. Other known examples include a trackball, ajoystick, and a touchpad.

During the many years that computer mice have been in widespread use it hasbecome apparent that the usage is associated with various drawbacks. Several of thosedrawbacks relate to user ergonomics. One example of an ergonomic drawback of heavyusage of a computer mouse is neck, shoulder or elbow pain caused by asymmetriccomputer mouse reaching with one side of the body but not the other. The root of thisproblem is that the computer mouse is designed to be located and operated laterallyeither to the right or to the left of the keyboard.

Other frequent ergonomic problems that appear among many computer mouseusers are repetitive strain injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome or tendonitis. Theseproblems are believed to be caused by the gripping of the hand and flexing of thefmgers upon the computer mouse.

Ergonomic pointing devices have therefore been developed as replacement ofconventional computer mice. The intended assignee of this patent application, ContourDesign, Inc., has taken the leadership in the development of ergonomic pointing devices which have been successfully sold for a number of years under the trademark 100906 C \Users\ba\Desktop\P93850001Us_App1ication text.docx 2 RollerMouse®. PCT publication WO 02/043046 presents some earlier versions ofRollerMouse® pointing devices.

The basic design of RollerMouse® pointing devices includes a housing whichhas a base and an upper cover. The housing is designed to be placed adj acently to thelower lateral edge of the keyboard on a desktop surface or similar. (For a commonQWERTY-type keyboard, the lower later edge is the edge just below the row of keysthat includes the elongate space bar). A rollerbar is provided in an opening of the uppercover. By rotating the rollerbar around its central axis and translating (sliding) it alongthe central axis, the user of a RollerMouse® pointing device may control the x and ycoordinates of the cursor location in a graphical user interface of a computer to whichthe RollerMouse® pointing device is connected. Thus, the rollerbar acts as a cursornavigation bar. To this end, the RollerMouse® pointing device has a built-in opticalsensor capable of detecting the rotation and translation of the rollerbar, and controllermeans in the form of electronic circuitry capable of transmitting data regarding thedetected rollerbar movement as cursor control signals to the computer. Furthermore, therollerbar is designed to be depressible by the user, thereby allowing him to performactions corresponding to conventional mouse clicks. In addition to the rollerbar, theupper cover of the RollerMouse® pointing device has a set of buttons representingcommon mouse-related actions such as left-click, right-click, double-click, etc.

As a result, the user may ergonomically operate the RollerMouse® pointingdevice to get full access to all mouse-related actions with only small hand and fingermovements, using his right or left hand, or both hands, at his discretion. At the sametime, since the RollerMouse® pointing device is located immediately below thekeyboard, the user will be able to reach the keys of the keyboard with only minimumhand movements between the RollerMouse® pointing device and the keyboard. All inall, RollerMouse® pointing devices have proven effective in reducing ergonomicproblems norrnally associated with computer cursor control.

The present inventors have realized that there is still room for certainimprovements in view of the problems referred to above. A first problem addressed bythe present inventors is the ergonomic importance of the rollerbar°s vertical position -i.e. the vertical distance between the desktop surface on which the pointing device isplaced and the upperrnost surface of the rollerbar. More specifically, the presentinventors have realized that the movement of the user”s hands back and forth betweenthe rollerbar of the pointing device and the keys of the adj acent keyboard should be allowed to be carried out with as little lifting or lowering of the hands as possible. 100906 C:\UserS\ba\Desktop\P9385000lUS_Application text.docx 3 A second problem addressed is that computer keyboards come in manydifferent sizes and types. In particular, there may be substantial differences in verticalheight between different types of keyboards.

A third problem addressed by the present inventors is the risk of accidentalcursor travel When the rollerbar is depressed. Such accidental cursor travel may becaused by unintentional rotation of translation of the rollerbar as it is being depressed,or by misinterpretation by the optical sensor of the rollerbar°s depressive movement as a rotational of translational movement, or by a combination of these factors.

Summary It is accordingly an object of the invention to eliminate or alleviate at leastsome of the problems referred to above.

As a conceptual idea behind the invention, the present inventors have realizedthat there are at least three inventive design measures that can be implemented, either inisolation or in combination, for a rollerbar-type pointing device.

A first of these inventive design measures relates to an adjustable click forcearrangement. A second of these inventive design measures involves the provision of akit of parts including adjustable keyboard risers Which serve to raise the adj acentkeyboard vertically to level With the rollerbar. A third of these inventive designmeasures involves a rollerbar assembly including a rollerbar and a rollerbar bracketcarrying both the rollerbar and the sensor, Wherein the sensor is mounted at an angle tohorizontal and in a fixed position With respect to the rollerbar bracket, such that thesensor and the rollerbar move together When the rollerbar assembly is depressed.

One aspect of the present invention therefore is a pointing device comprising: a housing, said housing having a base; a rollerbar assembly comprising a rollerbar and a rollerbar bracket, Wherein therollerbar bracket is conf1gured to support rotation and translation of said rollerbar, andWherein the rollerbar assembly is depressible With respect to said base; sensor means for detecting movement of said rollerbar; a leaf spring having a first end mounted to said base and a second endpositioned below said rollerbar bracket and configured to counteract a click forcerequired to depress said rollerbar assembly, and adjustment means for controlling the counteraction provided by said leaf spring. 100906 C \Users\ba\Desktop\P93850001Us_App1ication text.docx 4 A second aspect of the invention is a pointing device of the type having ahousing With an edge adapted to be positioned facing a computer keyboard, the pointingdevice comprising: one or more first-type keyboard risers, the or each first-type keyboard riserbeing adapted for engagement With said housing at said keyboard-facing edge, and theor each first-type keyboard riser having a support surface adapted to provide a firstvertical support height for said computer keyboard; and one or more second-type keyboard risers, the or each second-type keyboardriser being adapted for engagement With a respective one of said one or more first-typekeyboard risers, the or each second-type keyboard riser having a support surfaceadapted to provide a second vertical support height for said computer keyboard.

A third aspect of the invention is a kit of accessory parts for a pointing deviceaccording to the second aspect of the invention, the kit of accessory parts comprisingone or more first-type keyboard risers and one or more second-type keyboard risers asdefined above for the second aspect of the invention.

A fourth aspect of the invention is a pointing device comprising: a housing, said housing having a base With a horizontal extension; a rollerbar assembly comprising a rollerbar and a rollerbar bracket, Wherein therollerbar bracket is configured to support rotation and translation of said rollerbar, andWherein the rollerbar assembly is depressible With respect to said base; and sensor means for detecting movement of said rollerbar, said sensor meanscomprising an optical sensor having a light receiving surface and being capable ofdetecting rotational and translational movement of said rollerbar, Wherein the optical sensor is disposed in said housing in a fixed position Withrespect to said rollerbar bracket, such that the light receiving surface is arranged at anangle With respect to the horizontal extension of said base, and such that the opticalsensor is arranged to move together With said rollerbar bracket When the rollerbarassembly is depressed.

Even though the preferred embodiment, Which is described in detail below Withreference to the draWings, implements all of the first, second, third and fourth aspects ofthe invention, it is expressly stated that the first aspect of the invention can beimplemented in or as a pointing device that does not necessarily implement any of thesecond to fourth aspects of the invention, or it can be implemented in or as a pointing device that also implements any or all of the second to fourth aspects of the invention. 100906 C:\UserS\ba\Desktop\P9385000lUS_Åpplication text.docx 5 Correspondingly, the second and third aspects of the invention can beimplemented in or as a pointing device that does not necessarily implement any of thefirst or fourth aspects of the invention, or it can be implemented in or as a pointingdevice that also implements any or all of the first and fourth aspects of the invention.

Moreover, the fourth aspect of the invention can be implemented in or as apointing device that does not necessarily implement any of the first to third aspects ofthe invention, or it can be implemented in or as a pointing device that also implements any or all of the first to third aspects of the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings Objects, features and advantages of a preferred embodiment of the inventionwill appear from the following detailed description, reference being made to theaccompanying drawings.

Fig 1 is a perspective view of a pointing device according to preferred theembodiment of the present invention, having in this case a pair of mini keyboard risersattached to the device housing.

Fig 2 is a perspective view of the pointing device, having a pair of keyboardrisers attached to the mini keyboard risers.

Fig 3 is a side view of the pointing device in Fig 1, showing more clearly oneof the mini keyboard risers.

Fig 4 is a side view of the pointing device in Fig 2, showing more clearly oneof the keyboard risers in a folded-down position.

Fig 5 is a side view of the pointing device in Fig 2, showing more clearly oneof the keyboard risers in a first lifted-up position.

Fig 6 is a side view of the pointing device in Fig 2, showing more clearly oneof the keyboard risers in a second lifted-up position.

Fig 7 is a perspective view of the pointing device, a cover of the pointingdevice”s housing being removed to disclose intemal components of the pointing device.

Fig 8 is a perspective view of the underside of the pointing device in Fig 1.

Fig 9 is a top plan view of the pointing device shown in Fig 7.

Figs 10-13 are views which are taken along the section A-A in Fig 9 and whichillustrate the action of a click force adjustment slider in different settings for light andheavy click force required for depressing a rollerbar assembly in the pointing device.

Fig 14 is a sectional plan view of the pointing device. 100906 C:\UserS\ba\Desktop\P9385000lUS_Åpplication text.docx 6 Fig 15 is a view which is taken along the section B-B in Fig 14 and whichillustrates, inter alia, the location of a click switch for detecting depression of therollerbar assembly in the pointing device.

Fig 16 is a perspective view of the pointing device”s rollerbar assembly.

Fig 17 is a top plan view of the rollerbar assembly shown in Fig 16.

Fig 18 is a simplif1ed view, taken along the section A-A in Fig 17, of therollerbar assembly, illustrating the location of an optical sensor for detecting rotational and translational movement of the rollerbar.

Detailed Description The preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described withreference to the accompanying drawings. The invention may, however, be embodied inmany different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiment setforth herein; rather, this embodiment is provided so that this disclosure will be thoroughand complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.The terrninology used in the detailed description of the particular embodimentillustrated in the accompanying drawings is not intended to be limiting of the invention.In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements.

Fig 1 is a perspective view of a pointing device 100 according to preferred theembodiment of the present invention. The pointing device 100 is designed to act as anergonomic substitute for a conventional computer mouse and thus has an interface, suchas a serial USB interface, for connection to a computer. Only a keyboard 99 of thecomputer is shown in Fig 1. The pointing device 100 includes a housing 110 which hasa base 112 and an upper cover 114, wherein the latter mainly consists of three largerparts: a left cover part 115, a center cover part 116 and a right cover part 117. Thehousing is designed to be placed with one edge 100a or lateral side being locatedimmediately adj acently to the lower lateral edge 99a of the keyboard 99. When thekeyboard 99 is a QWERTY-type keyboard, the lower later edge 99a is just below a firstrow of keyboard keys which include an elongate space bar 98.

A rollerbar 122, or cursor navigation bar, is provided in an opening in theupper cover 114. The rollerbar 122 is part of a depressible rollerbar assembly 120,which will be described in more detail later. By rotating the rollerbar 122 around itscentral axis and translation (sliding) it along the central axis, the user of the pointingdevice 100 may control the x and y coordinates of the cursor location in a graphical user interface of the computer to which the pointing device 100 is connected. A built-in 100906 C \Users\ba\Desktop\P93850001Us_App1ication text.docx 7 optical sensor (seen at 170 in Fig 18) detects the rotation and translation of the rollerbar122, and controller means in the forrn of electronic circuitry (seen schematically at 182in Fig 18) is associated with the optical sensor and transmits data regarding the detectedrollerbar movements as cursor control signals to the computer. Correspondingly, a clicksensor (seen at 220 in Fig 15) detects depressions of the rollerbar assembly 120, and thecontroller means transmits data regarding the detected rollerbar depressions as mouseclick or select control signals to the computer.

In addition to the depressible rollerbar assembly 120, the user has access to aset of buttons 140 which are provided in the center cover part 116 of the housing 110and which represent common mouse-related actions. A first button 141 emulates amouse left-click action and therefore represents an altemative to depressing the rollerbarassembly 120. A second button 142 emulates a mouse right-click action. A third button143 triggers a mouse double-click action from a single one-touch actuation. A fourthbutton 144 is a scroll lock button. A f1fth button 145 is a drag lock button which may beused for one-touch copy & paste operations. A scroll wheel 146 may be used forscrolling text or other contents presented in the graphical user interface of the computer.

As will be clear from the description in later sections of this document, thepointing device 100 has been designed to have a reduced height. A number of designsteps have been taken to achieve this. For instance, the rollerbar assembly has beendesigned to include a rollerbar bracket which supports the rollerbar for rotation andtranslation, and acts as an angled mounting support for the optical sensor, such that theoptical sensor is arranged at a non-horizontal angle and moves together with therollerbar bracket when the rollerbar assembly is depressed. A leaf spring with adjustablespring force supports the rollerbar bracket from below and serves to establish anappropriate click force for depressing the rollerbar assembly, adjustable to the user°sindividual needs. This arrangement allows the pointing device to be implemented with areduced height compared to prior art devices, and at the same time minimizes the risk ofcursor travel.

To adapt the pointing device 100 for use with keyboards 99 of different sizesand types, in particular having substantial differences in height, a kit of accessory partsin the form of a set of keyboard risers is provided. As seen in Figs 1 and 2, the set ofkeyboard risers includes one or more first-type keyboard risers 150 and one or moresecond-type keyboard risers 160. In the disclosed embodiment, there are two first-typekeyboard risers 150, also referred to as mini keyboard risers 150, and two second-type keyboard risers 160, also referred to simply as keyboard risers 160. As seen more 100906 C \Users\ba\Desktop\P93850001Us_App1ication text.docx 8 clearly in Fig 3, the mini keyboard risers 150 are adapted for engagement With thehousing 110 at the keyboard-facing edge 100a of the pointing device 100, and they eachhave a support surface 158 Which provides a first vertical support height hl for thecomputer keyboard 99. Each mini keyboard riser 150 has feet 152 at its underside,serving to maintain the mini keyboard riser, and the keyboard supported thereon, in asteady position on the desktop surface. Each mini keyboard riser 150 also has recesses154 for securing a respective second-type keyboard riser 160, When attached.

As seen in Fig 2 and Figs 4-6, the keyboard risers 160 are adapted forengagement With respective ones of the mini keyboard risers 150 by snapping on top ofthe latter. Each keyboard riser 160 has a support surface 168 adapted to provide asecond vertical support height h; for the computer keyboard 99. The user may adapt hispointing device 100 for use With keyboard of different heights in the following manner.

If only the mini keyboard risers 150 are used, as seen in Fig 3, they Willprovide the first vertical support height hl for a front part of the computer keyboard 99,i.e. at the keyboard edge 99a proximate to the pointing device 100. This is because themini keyboard risers 150 are fairly short in length. The first vertical support height h1may for instance be 5.4 mm, or more generally in the range of 4-6 mm, but other valuesare also possible.

If on the other hand the keyboard risers 160 are used, they Will support alsoother parts of the keyboard 99, distant from the proximal edge 99a. The reason is thatthe keyboard risers 160 are substantially longer than the mini keyboard riser 150. Thekeyboard risers 160 are adjustable in height, as is illustrated in Figs 4-6.

When the keyboard risers 160 are mounted onto the mini keyboard 150 in afolded-down position as seen in Fig 4, the second vertical support height h; Will beprovided along the entire length of the keyboard risers 160. The second vertical supportheight h; may for instance be 10.9 mm, or more generally in the range of 7-12 mm, butother values are also possible.

Each keyboard riser 160 has a front end 161 positioned proximate to thekeyboard-facing edge 100a of the pointing device 100, a rear end 163, and aninterrnediate part 162 positioned between the front end 161 and rear end 163. Both thefront end 161 and the rear end 163 are adjustable in height. As seen in Fig 5, thekeyboard riser 160 has means 165, 166 in the form of a hinged leg for raising the rearend 163 to provide a third vertical support height h; for the distal part of the computerkeyboard 99. The third vertical support height h; may for instance be 17.9 mm, or more generally in the range of 13-20 mm, but other values are also possible. 100906 C \Users\ba\Desktop\P9385000iUs_App1ication text.docx 9 As seen in Fig 6, each keyboard riser 160 also has means 161, 162, 164 forraising the interrnediate part 162 to provide a fourth vertical support height h4 for thecomputer keyboard 99. This is possible since the interrnediate part 162 is hinged at 164to the front end 161. The fourth vertical support height h4 is provided when theinterrnediate part 162 is pivotally lifted up onto the upper surface of the front end 161.The fourth vertical support height h4 may for instance be 17.1 mm, or more generally inthe range of 13-20 mm, but other values are also possible.

An adjustable click force arrangement for the rollerbar assembly 120 will nowbe described with reference to Figs 7-18. As seen particularly in Fig 7 and 16-18, therollerbar assembly 120 comprises a rollerbar bracket 130, which is configured tosupport rotation and translation of the rollerbar 120. To this end, the rollerbar 122consists on an inner metal bar 128 having two ends 128a-b which are supportedbetween first and second ends 130a-b of the rollerbar bracket 130. A rollerbar sleeve ortube 124 is rotatably and slidably mounted around the inner metal bar 128 by means oftwo bearings 126. The rollerbar bracket 130 is pivotally mounted to the base 112 atpivot points 132a-b to support depression of the rollerbar assembly 120 with respect tothe base 112. The rollerbar bracket 130 is made from a formed thin steel sheet metalwhich is bent to add strength to the rollerbar assembly 120.

A leaf spring 190 (Figs 9-10) is provided which has a first end 192 mounted tothe base 112 and a second free end 194 positioned below the rollerbar bracket 130. In anunloaded state in which the rollerbar assembly 120 is not depressed, the second end 194of the leaf spring 190 is configured to engage with and lift the rollerbar bracket 130 at acentral position remote from the first and second ends 130a-b of the rollerbar bracket130. The leaf spring 190 has an inherent spring force and is thus also configured tocounteract the click force required to depress the rollerbar assembly 120. The requiredclick force is the force that the user needs to apply onto the rollerbar assembly 120 toovercome the counteraction provided by the leaf spring 190 and actuate the click sensor220 (Fig 15).

Adjustment means 200 are provided for controlling the counteraction providedby the leaf spring 190. As seen in for instance Fig 10, the leaf spring 190 has alongitudinal extension between the first and second ends 192, 194. The adjustmentmeans 200 comprises a click force adjustment slider 200 having a leaf spring supportelement 202 for supporting engagement with the leaf spring 190. The click force adjustment slider is displaceable in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the leaf 100906 C \Users\ba\Desktop\P93850001Us_App1ication text.docx spring 190 for setting the position 203 in Which the leaf spring support element 202engages the leaf spring 190.

A user desiring to set the click force of the rollerbar assembly 120 may use anactuator element 204 of the click force adjustment slider 200. The actuator element 204is accessible from an underside 113 of the base 112, as seen in Fig 8. By sliding theactuator element 204, the user may change the engagement position 203 of the leafspring support element 202 along the extension of the leaf spring 190, thereby changingthe effective spring force provided by the leaf spring 190. Figs 10 and 11 show the clickforce adjustment slider 200 in a first position for weaker click force, where only alighter depression of the rollerbar assembly 120 is required to overcome the counter-action provided by the leaf spring 190 and actuate the click switch 220. Fig 10represents the unloaded state with no depression of the rollerbar assembly 120, whereasFig 11 represents a depressed state where the rollerbar assembly 120 has been depressedand the click switch 220 is actuated.

Correspondingly, Figs 12 and 13 show the click force adjustment slider 200 ina second position for stronger click force, where a harder depression of the rollerbarassembly 120 is required to overcome the counteraction provided by the leaf spring 190and actuate the click switch 220. The click force adjustment slider 200 is displaceable toan arbitrary number of other positions to select other click force settings at the user°sdiscretion.

The design and configuration of the rollerbar assembly 120 with respect to theoptical sensor 170 in order to allow a reduced device height and minimize accidentalcursor travel will now be described with reference to Figs 16-18. As seen in Fig 18, thesensor means 170 comprises an optical sensor 170 for the purpose of detectingrotational and translational movement of the rollerbar 122. The optical sensor isdisposed in the housing 110 in a fixed position with respect to the rollerbar bracket 130and is arranged to move together with the rollerbar bracket when the rollerbar assembly120 is depressed and pivots around the pivot points 132a-b. The optical sensor 170comprises a light emitter 172, such as a laser LED, and a light receiving surface 174capable of detecting light reflected back from the rollerbar tube 124. The optical sensor170 is soldered onto a printed circuit board 180, and the printed circuit board ismounted to a bent part 139 of the rollerbar bracket 130. This means that the lightreceiving surface 174 of the optical sensor 170 is arranged at an angle ot with respect tothe horizontal extension of the base 112. The angle ot may be about 45°, or smaller or larger on other embodiments. Mounting the optical sensor 170 at an angle to horizontal 100906 C \Users\ba\Desktop\P93850001Us_App1ication text.docx ll saves Vertical distance and allows the pointing device 100 to be designed With a reducedheight. Also, the fixed mounting of the optical sensor 170 With respect to the rollerbarbracket 130 Will mean that there Will be no relative movement between these elementsWhen the rollerbar assembly 120 is depressed. In effect, the risk for accidental cursortravel is reduced.

As already mentioned the controller means in the form of electronic circuitry182 is associated With the optical sensor 170 and is conf1gured to transmit dataregarding the detected rollerbar movements as cursor control signals to the computer.The controller means 182 may also be associated With the click sensor 220 (Fig 15) andmay be configured to transmit data regarding the detected rollerbar depressions ascontrol signals to the computer. It is to be noticed that the location of the controllermeans 182 does not have to be the one Which is schematically illustrated in Fig 18.

The invention has been described above in detail With reference to thepreferred embodiment thereof HoWever, as is readily understood by those skilled in theart, other embodiments are equally possible Within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (19)

1. A pointing device comprising: a housing (110), said housing having a base (112); a rollerbar assembly (120) comprising a rollerbar (122) and a rollerbar bracket(130), the rollerbar (122) being supported between first and second ends (130a, 130b) ofsaid rollerbar bracket (130), wherein the rollerbar bracket is configured to supportrotation and translation of said rollerbar, and wherein the rollerbar assembly isdepressible with respect to said base; sensor means (170) for detecting movement of said rollerbar; characterized by a leaf spring (190) having a first end (192) mounted to said base and a secondend (194) positioned below said rollerbar bracket (130) and configured to counteract aclick force required to depress said rollerbar assembly ( 120), and adjustment means (200) for controlling the counteraction provided by said leaf spring.

2. A pointing device according to claim 1, wherein the second end (194) of saidleaf spring (190) is configured to engage with and lift the rollerbar bracket (130) in anunloaded state in which the rollerbar assembly (120) is not depressed.

3. A pointing device according to claim 1 or 2, the leaf spring (190) having alongitudinal extension between said first and second ends (192, 194), wherein theadjustment means (200) comprises a click force adjustment slider (200) having a leafspring support element (202) for supporting engagement with the leaf spring (190), andwherein the click force adjustment slider is displaceable in the direction of thelongitudinal extension of the leaf spring for setting the position in which the leaf spring support element engages the leaf spring.

4. A pointing device according to claim 3, the base (112) of the housing (110)having an underside (113), wherein the click force adjustment slider (200) has anactuator element (204) which is accessible from the underside of said base for a userdesiring to set the click force of said rollerbar assembly (120). 110901 I:\PATRAWIN\COPY\BA\P9385000l_Amended claims after 1st OA in Slàdocx 13

5. A pointing device according to any of claims 2-4, wherein the leaf spring(190) is mounted to said base (112) such that the second end (194) of the leaf springengages the rollerbar bracket (130) at a central position remote from said first andsecond ends of said rollerbar bracket.

6. A pointing device according to any of the preceding claims, said housing(110) having an edge (100a) adapted to be positioned facing a computer keyboard (99),the pointing device further comprising: one or more first-type keyboard risers (150), the or each first-type keyboardriser being adapted for engagement with said housing at said keyboard-facing edge(100a), and the or each first-type keyboard riser having a support surface (158) adaptedto provide a first vertical support height (hl) for said computer keyboard; and one or more second-type keyboard risers ( 160), the or each second-typekeyboard riser being adapted for engagement with a respective one of said one or morefirst-type keyboard risers (150), the or each second-type keyboard riser having a supportsurface (168) adapted to provide a second vertical support height (hg) for said computerkeyboard.

7. A pointing device according to claim 6, wherein the or each first-typekeyboard riser (150) has a first length adapted such that the first vertical support height(hl) is provided for a front part of said computer keyboard (99), said front part being proximate to said pointing device.

8. A pointing device according to claim 7, wherein the or each second-typekeyboard riser (160) has a second length, longer that said first length, said second lengthbeing adapted such that the second vertical support height (hg) is provided for a non-front part of said computer keyboard, distant from the front part thereof.

9. A pointing device according to claim 8, wherein the or each second-typekeyboard riser (160) has a front end (161) positioned proximate to said keyboard-facingedge (100a) and a rear end (163), the or each second-type keyboard riser having means(165, 166) for raising its rear end to provide a third vertical support height (h3) for thenon-front part of said computer keyboard (99). 110901. Iz\PATRAWIN\COPY\BA\P93850001_Amended claims after 1st OA in SE.docx 14

10. A pointing device according to claim 9, wherein the or each second-typekeyboard riser (160) has an intermediate part (162) positioned between said front end(161) and said rear end (163), and comprises means (161, 162, 164) for raising theintennediate part (162) to provide a fourth vertical support height (h4) for the computerkeyboard (99).

11. A pointing device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein thesensor means (170) comprises an optical sensor (170) capable of detecting rotationaland translational movement of said rollerbar (122), wherein the optical sensor isdisposed in said housing (110) in a fixed position with respect to said rollerbar bracket(130) and is arranged to move together with said rollerbar bracket when the rollerbar assembly is depressed.

12. A pointing device according to claim 11, said base (112) having ahorizontal extension, said optical sensor (170) having a light receiving surface (174),wherein said optical sensor is attached to said rollerbar bracket (130) such that the lightreceiving surface is arranged at an angle (a) with respect to the horizontal extension ofsaid base.

13. A pointing device according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the optical sensor(170) is soldered onto a printed circuit board (180) and wherein the printed circuit boardis mounted to said rollerbar bracket (130).

14. A pointing device according to any of the preceding claims, furthercomprising controller means (182) associated with said sensor means (170), saidcontroller means being adapted for transmitting data to a computer regarding movementof said rollerbar (122).

15. A kit of accessory parts for use with a pointing device (100) according toany of the preceding claims, the housing (110) of said pointing device having an edge(100a) adapted to be positioned facing a computer keyboard (99), the kit of accessoryparts comprising: one or more first-type keyboard risers (150), the or each first-type keyboardriser being adapted for engagement with the housing of said pointing device (100) atsaid keyboard-facing edge (100a), and the or each first-type keyboard riser having a 110901 Iz\PATRAWIN\COPY\BA\P9385000líAmended claims after 1st: OA in SE.docx support surface (158) adapted to provide a first vertical support height (hl) for saidcomputer keyboard; andone or more second-type keyboard risers (160), the or each second-type keyboard riser being adapted for engagement with a respective one of said one or morefirst-type keyboard risers (150), the or each second-type keyboard riser having a supportsurface (168) adapted to provide a second vertical support height (hg) for said computerkeyboard.

16. A kit of accessory parts according to claim 15, wherein the or each first-type keyboard riser (150) has a first length adapted such that the first vertical supportheight (hl) is provided for a front part of said computer keyboard (99), said front part being proximate to said pointing device.

17. A kit of accessory parts according to claim 16, wherein the or each second-type keyboard riser (160) has a second length, longer that said first length, said secondlength being adapted such that the second vertical support height (hg) is provided for anon-front part of said computer keyboard, distant from the front part thereof.

18. A kit of accessory parts according to claim 17, wherein the or each second-type keyboard riser (160) has a front end (161) positioned proximate to said keyboard-facing edge (100a) and a rear end (163), the or each second-type keyboard riser havingmeans (165, 166) for raising its rear end to provide a third vertical support height (hg)for the non-front part of said computer keyboard (99).

19. A kit of accessory parts according to claim 18, wherein the or each second-type keyboard riser (160) has an intermediate part (162) positioned between said frontend (161) and said rear end (163), and comprises means (161 , 162, 164) for raising theintermediate part (162) to provide a fourth vertical support height (h4) for the computerkeyboard (99).