SE1350370A1 - Pointing devices with reduced height - Google Patents

Abstract

A pointing device has a housing (110) with a base part (112). The pointing device further has a roller rod assembly (120) which includes a roller rod (122) and a roller rod holder (130). The roller rod holder supports rotation and movement of the roller rod, and the roller rod assembly can be depressed relative to the base. Sensor means (170) are provided for detecting movement of the roller bar. The pointing device further has a leaf spring (190) with a first end (192) mounted on the base member and a second end (194) located below the roller rod holder. (130) to counteract a clicking force required to depress the roller bar assembly. (120). There are adjusting means (200) for regulating the counteracting of the leaf spring. Published together with Fig. 1

Description

10 15 20 25 30 35 Ergonomic pointing devices have therefore been developed as a replacement for conventional ones computer mice. The intended applicant for this patent application, Contour Design Inc., has has taken the lead in the development of ergonomic pointing devices, which have been sold successfully together number of years under the RollerMouse® brand. PCT publication WO 02/043 046 shows some previous versions of RollerMouse® pointing devices.

The basic design of RollerMouse® pointing devices includes a housing e having a base portion and an upper cover portion. The cover is designed to placed next to the lower side edge of the keyboard on a desktop surface or similar.

(On a standard QWERTY keyboard, the lower side edge is the edge that is located just below the key row including the long space bar.) One roller rod is arranged in an opening in the upper cover part. By turning the roller bar around its center axis and move (slide) it along the center axis, the user of a pointing device of the type RollerMouse® type control the x and y coordinates of the cursor position in a graphical user interface of a computer such as the RollerMouse® pointing device connected to. The scroll bar therefore functions as a cursor navigation bar. For this For this purpose, the RollerMouse® pointing device has a built-in optical sensor that can detect the rotation and movement of the roller rod, as well as control means in the form of electronic circuitry capable of transmitting data relating to the detected roll bar movement as cursor control signals to the computer. The roller bar is also designed to be able to be pressed by the user, thereby giving him the opportunity to perform actions such as corresponds to conventional mouse clicks. In addition to the roller bar has the upper cover part of the RollerMouse® pointing device a set of buttons that represent standard mouse-related actions such as left-click, right-click, double-click, etc.

As a result, the user can operate the RollerMouse® pointing device on ergonomically to have full access to all mouse-related actions with only small hand and fi movements, using his left or right hand, or both hands, as desired. Because the RollerMouse® pointing device is located immediately below the keyboard, the user will be able to reach at the same time keyboard keys with only minimal hand gestures between the type pointing device RollerMouse® and the keyboard. RollerMouse® pointing devices have summarized proved effective in reducing ergonomic problems that are normally associated with computer cursor control.

The present inventors have realized that there is still room for some improvements in view of the problems referred to above. A first problem which the present inventors take note of is the ergonomic significance of the roller rod 10 15 20 25 30 35 vertical position - ie. the vertical distance between the desktop surface that the pointing device is placed on and the top surface of the roller bar. The present inventors have further details firmly realized that for fl the movement of the user's hands back and forth between the the device's scroll bar and the keys on the adjacent keyboard should be able to be performed with as little lifting or lowering of the hands as possible.

Another problem that is taken into account is that computer keyboards come in many different sizes and types. In particular, there may be significant differences in vertical height between different types of keyboards.

A third problem that the present inventors address is the risk of unintentional cursor movement when the roller bar is depressed. Such unintentional marker movement fl surface can be caused by unintentional twisting or fl surface of the roller bar when it depressed, or by the optical sensor misinterpreting the depressing motion the rolling bar as a rotational or superficial movement, or as a combination of these factors.

Summary It is therefore an object of the invention to eliminate or at least alleviate some of the problems referred to above.

As a conceptual idea behind the invention, the present inventors have realized that there are at least three inventive design measures that can be implemented ment, either individually or in combination, for a rolling pin type pointing device.

A first of these inventive construction measures has to do with an arrangement for adjustable click force. A second of these inventive con- instructional measures include the provision of a set of parts containing adjustable keyboard elevators, which serve to lift the adjacent keyboard vertically level with the roller bar. A third of these design constructions measures include a roller bar assembly containing a roller bar and a roller bar holder which carries both the roller bar and the sensor, where the sensor is mounted at an angle to horizontal position and in a fixed position with respect to the roller bar holder, so that the sensor and the roller bar moves together when the roller bar assembly is depressed.

An aspect of the present invention is therefore a pointing device comprising: a housing e, said housing having a base portion; a roller rod assembly comprising a roller rod and a roller rod holder, there the roller rod holder is arranged to support rotation and movement of said roller rod, and wherein the roller rod assembly is depressible with respect to said base member; 10 15 20 25 30 35 sensor means for detecting movement of said roller rod; a leaf spring having a first end mounted on said base portion and a second end placed under said roller rod holder and arranged to counteract a clicking force required to depress said roller bar assembly; and adjusting means for regulating the counteracting provided by said leaf spring.

A second aspect of the invention is a pointing device of the type having a housing e with an edge adapted for placement facing a computer keyboard, the pointing device includes: one or fl your keyboard elevators are of the first type, whereby the keyboard elevators are off the first type, or each such, is adapted for engagement with said housing at said edge facing the keyboard, and wherein the keyboard raises its the first type, or each such, has a support surface adapted to provide a first vertical support height for said computer keyboard; and one or fl your keyboard raiser of another type, the keyboard raiser of the second type, or each such, is adapted for engagement with a respective key table elevators are among the one or more keyboard elevators of the first type, wherein the keyboard lifter of the second type, or any such, has a support surface which is adapted to ad to provide a second vertical support height for said computer keyboard.

A third aspect of the invention is a set of accessories for a pointing device according to the second aspect of the invention, wherein the set of accessories comprises a or första your keyboard elevators are of the first type and one or fl your keyboard elevators are of second type as defined above for the second aspect of the invention.

A fourth aspect of the invention is a pointing device comprising: a housing e, said housing having a base portion with a horizontal extent; a roller rod assembly comprising a roller rod and a roller rod holder, there the roller rod holder is arranged to support rotation and movement of said roller rod, and wherein the roller rod assembly is depressible relative to said base member; and sensor means for detecting movement of said roller rod, said sensor means comprises an optical sensor with a light receiving surface and is capable of detecting rotational and superficial movement of said roller rod, where the optical sensor is located in said housing in a fixed position relative to to said roller rod holder, so that the light-receiving surface is arranged at an angle in relation to the horizontal extent of the base part, and so that the optical sensor is arranged to move together with said roller rod holder, when the roller rod assembly pressed. 10 15 20 25 30 Although the preferred embodiment, which is described in detail below with reference to the drawings, implements all of the first, second, third and fourth aspects of the invention, the first aspect of the invention may be expressly stated implemented in or as a pointing device that does not necessarily implement any of the second to fourth aspects of the invention, or it may be implemented in or as a pointing device which also implements any or all of the second to fourth aspects. objects of the invention.

Similarly, the second and third aspects of the invention may implemented in or as a pointing device that does not necessarily implement any of the first or fourth aspects of the invention, or it may be implemented in or as a pointing device that also implements any or all of the first and fourth aspects of the invention.

Furthermore, the fourth aspect of the invention may be implemented in or as one pointing devices that do not necessarily implement any of the first to third aspects of the invention, or it can implement in or as a pointing device which also implements mentions any or all of the first to third aspects of the invention.

Brief description of the drawings Syfien and features of and advantages of a preferred embodiment of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a pointing device according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, which in this case has a pair of mini keyboard elevators attached to the housing of the device e.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the pointing device having a pair of keyboard elevators fixed at the mini keyboard heights.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the pointing device of Fig. 1, showing in more detail one of the mini gentbordshöj arna.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the pointing device in fi g. 2, which shows in more detail one of the keyboard the rafters in a fallen position.

Fig. 5 is a side view of the pointing device of Fig. 2, showing in more detail one of the keyboard raise the ones in a first raised position.

Fig. 6 is a side view of the pointing device of Fig. 2, showing in more detail one of the keyboard raises in the second raised position. 10 15 20 25 30 35 Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the pointing device, where a cover part of the pointing device housing has removed to show internal components of the pointing device.

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

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

Figs. 10-13 are views taken along section A-A of Fig. 9 and illustrating the function of a slider for adjusting click force in different settings for easy and heavy clicking force required to push a roller bar assembly into the pointing device.

Fig. 14 is a plan view in section of the pointing device.

Fig. 15 is a view taken along section B-B of Fig. 14 and which, among others otherwise, illustrates the location of a click switch to detect scroll bar depressions. the unit in the pointing device.

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the rolling pin assembly of the pointing device.

Fig. 17 is a plan view from above of it in fi g. 16 showed the roller bar assembly.

Fig. 18 is a simplified view, taken along section A-A of Fig. 17, of the roller rod. the unit, illustrating the location of the optical sensor to detect rotation and for fl movement movement of the roller bar.

Detailed description The preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The invention may, however, be practiced many different ways and should not be construed as being limited to that set forth herein the embodiment; this embodiment is rather given for this account to be elaborated and complete, and will provide in its entirety the framework for none for those skilled in the art. The terminology used in the detailed the description of the particular embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings are not intended to be limiting of the invention. On the drawings denotes similar numbers similar elements.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a pointing device 100 according to the preferred embodiment. form of the present invention. The pointing device 100 is designed to function as one ergonomic replacement for a conventional computer nozzle and therefore has an interface, such as a serial USB interface, for connection to a computer. In Fig. 1 only one is shown keyboard 99 at the date. The pointing device 100 includes a housing 110 having a base portion 112 and an upper cover portion 114, consisting essentially of three major portions: a left cover portion 115, a center cover portion 116 and a right cover portion 117. The cover is designed to placed with an edge 100a or side located immediately adjacent the lower side edge 99a 10 15 20 25 30 35 on the keyboard 99. When the keyboard 99 is a QWERTY-type keyboard, it is lower side edge 99a just below a first row of keyboard keys including an elongate space bar 98.

A roller bar 122, or ground navigation bar, is provided in an opening therein upper cover portion 114. The roller bar 122 is part of a depressible roller bar assembly 120, which will be described in more detail later. By turning the roller bar 122 around its center axis and to surface (slide) it along the center axis, the user can the pointing device 100 controls the x and y coordinates of the cursor position in a graphical application. interface on the computer to which the pointing device 100 is connected. A built-in optical sensor (as seen at 170 in fi g. 18) detects the rotation and displacement of the roller bar 122, and control means in the form of electronic circuit arrangements (which are shown schematically at 182 in FIG. 18) are associated with the optical sensor and transmit data regarding those detected the scroll bar movements as cursor control signals to the computer. Correspondingly, one detects click sensor (seen at 220 in Fig. 15) depressions of the roller bar assembly 120, and the control means transmits data regarding the detected roller rod depressions which mouse click or selection control signals to the computer.

In addition to the depressible roller bar assembly 120, the user has access to a set of buttons 140 which are arranged in the center cover portion 116 of the housing 110 and which represent common mouse-related actions. A first button 141 emulates a left-click action and therefore represents an alternative to push down the roller bar assembly 120. A second button 142 emulates an action for the right mouse click. A third button 143 triggers a double mouse click action through a single Depression. A fourth button 144 is a scroll lock button. A fifth button 145 is a drag lock button, which can be used for copy and paste functions with one touch. A scroll wheel 146 can be used to scroll through text or other content presented in the computer's graphical user interface.

Which will be apparent from the description in later sections of this documents, the pointing device 100 has been designed to have a reduced height. A number of design steps have been taken to achieve this. The roller rod assembly has for example, designed to include a roller bar holder that supports the roller bar for rotation and displacement, and acts as an angled mounting support for the optical sensor, so that the optical sensor is arranged at a non-horizontal angle and moves together with the roller bar holder, when the roller bar unit is pressed down. A leaf eater with adjustable capercaillie force supports the roller rod holder from below and has the task of provide a suitable clicking force to depress the roller bar assembly, adjustable after 10 15 20 25 30 35 the user's individual needs. This arrangement makes it possible to implement pointing device with a reduced height compared to previously known devices, and minimizes at the same time the risk of cursor movement.

To customize the pointing device 100 for use with keyboards 99 of various sizes and types, in particular those which have significant differences in height, a set of accessories is provided in the form of a set of keyboard elevators. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the set of keyboard elevators includes one or more keyboards. table elevators are 150 of the first type and one or fl your keyboard elevators are 160 of the second type. IN In the embodiment shown, there are two keyboard elevators 150 of the first type, which are also referred to as mini keyboard elevators are 150, and two keyboard elevators are 160 of the second type, which are also simply referred to as keyboard elevators are 160. As As can be seen in more detail in Fig. 3, the mini keyboard elevators 150 are adapted for engagement with housing 110 at the edge 100a of the pointing device 100 facing the keyboard, and they have each a support surface 158 which provides a first vertical support height hl for the computer keyboard 99. Each mini keyboard lifter 150 has feet 152 on its underside, which serve to hold the mini-keyboard booster, and the keyboard supported by it, in a steady position on the desktop surface. Each mini keyboard booster 150 also has recesses 154 for anchoring one respective keyboard riser 160 to the other the type when it is applied.

As shown in Fig. 2 and Figs. 4-6, the keyboard elevators 160 are adapted for engagement with the respective mini-keyboard booster among said mini-keyboard booster 150 by snapping on top of the latter. Each keyboard height 160 is one support surface 168 adapted to provide a second vertical support height h; for computer key table 99. The user can customize his pointing device 100 for use with keyboard off different heights in the following way.

If only the mini keyboard heights 150 used, as shown in Fig. 3, will be used they provide the first vertical support height the hl for a front portion of the computer keyboard 99, i.e. at the keyboard edge 99a near the pointing device 100. The reason is that the the table heights 150 are rather short in length. The first vertical support height it hl can for example be 5.4 mm, or more generally in the range 4-6 mm, but other values are also possible.

On the other hand, if the keyboard elevators 160 are used, they will also carry up other parts of the keyboard 99, remote from the adjacent edge 99a. The reason is that the keyboard heights 160 are substantially longer than the mini keyboard heights 150.

The keyboard elevators 160 are height adjustable, as illustrated in Figures 4-6. 10 15 20 25 30 35 When the keyboard heights 160 are mounted on the mini-keyboard 150 in a lowered position position shown in f1g. 4, the second vertical support height h; to be given along the whole the length of the keyboard heights 160. The second vertical support height the h; can for example be 10.9 mm, or more generally in the range 7-12 mm, but other values are also possible. league.

Each keyboard raiser 160 has a front end 161 located near that edge 100a on the pointing device 100 facing the keyboard, a rear end 163 and a intermediate portion 162 which has been placed between the front end 161 and the rear end 163. Both the front end 161 and the rear end 163 are height adjustable.

As shown in Fig. 5, the keyboard riser 160 has members 165, 166 in the form of an articulated leg for raising the rear end 163 to provide a third vertical support height h; for it at a distance lying part of the computer keyboard 99. The third vertical support height the hg can exem- pelvis be 17.9 mm or more generally in the range 13-20 mm, but other care is also possible.

As shown in fi g. 6, each keyboard raiser 160 also has means 161, 162, 164 to raise the intermediate portion 162 to provide a fourth vertical support height h4 for computer keyboard 99. This is possible because the intermediate part 162 is articulated at 164 to the front end 161. The fourth vertical support height the h4 is given when it the intermediate portion 162 when rotated is lifted up on the upper surface of the front end 161. The fourth vertical support height h4 may, for example, be 17.1 mm, or more generally in the range 13-20 mm, but other values are also possible.

An arrangement for adjustable click force for the roller bar assembly 120 is now coming to be described with reference to Figs. 7-18. As can be seen in particular in Fig. 7 and 16-18 the roller step assembly 120 includes a roller rod holder 130, which is arranged to support rotation and displacement of the roller bar 120. The roller bar 120 therefore consists of an inner metal rod 128 with two ends 128a-b which are supported between first and second ends 130a-b of the roller bar holder 130. A roller bar sleeve or a roller bar tube 124 is rotatable. mounted and offset around the inner metal rod 128 by means of two bearings 126. The roller rod holder 130 is rotatably mounted on the base part 112 at pivot points 132a-b to support depression of the roller bar assembly 120 i relation to the base part 112. The roller rod holder 130 years made of a shaped thin sheet steel metal which has been bent to give strength to the roller bar assembly 120.

A leaf spring 190 (Figs. 9-10) is present which has a first end 192 mounted on the base portion 112 and a second free end 194 located below the roller rod holder 130. In an unloaded state when the roller rod assembly 120 is not depressed, the other is 10 15 20 25 30 35 10 end 194 of leaf spring 190 arranged to engage and lift the roll bar holder 130 at a central position remote from the first and second ends 130a-b on the roller rod holder 130. Leaf spring 190 has an inherent spring force and is thus also arranged to counteract the clicking force required to depress the roller bar assembly 120. The required clicking force is the force exerted by the user need to attach the roller bar assembly 120 to overcome the counteractivity provided by leaf spring 190 and actuate the click sensor 220 (Fig. 15).

Adjusting means 200 are provided for regulating the counter-action provided by leaf spring 190. As can be seen in Fig. 10, for example, the leaf spring 190 has a longitudinal extent between the first and second ends 192, 194. Adjustment means 200 includes a snap control 200 for click force adjustment with a leaf spring support member 202 for supportive engagement with leaf spring 190. Click slider adjustment slider can displaced in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the leaf spring 190 to adjust it position 203 in which the leaf spring support member 202 engages the leaf spring 1 90.

A user wishing to set the clicking force of the roll bar assembly 120 can use a control element 204 on the slider 200 for click force adjustment. Operating the element 204 is accessible from a underside 113 of the base part 112, which can be seen in Fig. 8.

By displacing the operating element 204, the user can change the engaging position 203 for the leaf spring support member 202 along the extent of the leaf spring 190, thereby one changes the effective fi force given by leaf spring 190. Figs. 10-11 show the click force adjustment slider 200 in a first position for weaker click force, where only a slight depressing of the roller bar assembly 120 is required to overcome it counterforce provided by leaf spring 190 and actuate the click switch 220. Fig. 10 represents the unloaded condition without any depression of the roller assembly 120, while Fig. 11 represents a depressed state in which the roller bar assembly 120 has been pressed and the click switch 220 is actuated.

Correspondingly, Figs. 12 and 13 show the slider 200 for the click force adjustment in a second position for stronger click force, where a harder depression of the roller rod assembly 120 is required to overcome the counteracting of leaf springs 190 and actuate the click switch 220. The click force adjustment slider 200 is slidable in any number of other positions to select other click force settings. according to the user's wishes.

The design and design of the roll bar assembly 120 in terms of the optical sensor 170 to allow a reduced construction height and minimize unintentional cursor 10 15 20 25 30 ll for fl surface will now be described with reference to Figs. 16-18. As seen in Fig. 18 the sensor means 170 comprises an optical sensor 170 for the purpose of detecting the rotation moderate and superficial movement of the roller bar 122. The optical sensor that is located in the housing 120 in a fixed position relative to the roller rod holder 130 and is arranged to move together with the roller rod holder when the roller rod assembly 120 pressed down and rotated about the pivot points 132a-b. The optical sensor 170 includes a light emitter 172, such as a laser light emitting diode, and a light receiving surface 174 capable of to detect light reflected back from the roller bar tube 124. The optical sensor 170 is soldered to a printed circuit board 180, and the printed circuit board is mounted on a curved portion 139 of the roller rod holder 130. This means that the light receiving surface 174 on the optical sensor 170 is arranged at an angle d relative to the horizontal one the extent of the base portion 112. The angle ot may be about 45 °, or less or larger in other embodiments. By mounting the optical sensor 170 at an angle horizontally, vertical spacing is saved and it is possible to construct the pointing device 100 with a reduced height. The fixed mounting of the optical sensor in relationship to the roll bar holder 130 will also mean that it does not occur any relative movement between these elements when the roller bar assembly 120 is depressed.

The effect is that the risk of unintentional cursor movement is reduced.

The control means in the form of electronic circuit arrangements 182 is, as already stated mentioned, associated with the optical sensor 170 and is arranged to transmit data regarding the detected roller bar movements as marker control signals to the computer.

The control means 182 may also be associated with the click sensor 220 (Fig. 15) and may be arranged to transmit data regarding the detected roller rod depressions which control signals to the computer. It should be noted that the location of the guide means 182 need not be as shown schematically in Fig. 18.

The invention has been described above in detail with reference to its preferred embodiment. As will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, however, there are others embodiments equally possible within the scope of the present invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (19)

10 15 20 25 30 35 12 PATENT REQUIREMENTS A pointing device comprising: a housing (110), said housing having a base member (11); a roller rod assembly (120) comprising a roller rod (122) and a roller rod holder (130), the roller rod holder being arranged to support rotation and displacement of said roller rod and the roller rod assembly being depressible relative to said base member; sensor means (170) for detecting movement of said roller rod; characterized by a leaf spring (190) having a first end (192) mounted on said base portion and a second end (194) located below said roller rod holder (130) and arranged to counteract a clicking force required to depress said roller member. rod assembly (120), and adjusting means (200) for regulating the counteracting provided by said leaf spring. Pointing device according to claim 1, wherein the other end (194) of said leaf spring (190) is arranged to engage and lift the roller rod holder (130) in an unloaded condition in which the roller rod assembly (120) is not depressed. Pointing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the leaf spring (190) has a longitudinal extension between said first and second ends (192, 194), the adjusting means (200) comprising a slider (200) for clicking force adjustment with a leaf spring support element (202). ) for supporting engagement with the leaf spring (190), and where the click force adjustment slider is slidable in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the leaf spring to set the position in which the leaf spring support member engages the leaf spring. Pointing device according to claim 3, wherein the base part (112) of the housing (110) has a lower side (113), wherein the snap-fit slider (200) has a control element (204) accessible from the lower side of said base part for a user who wishes to set the clicking force of said roller bar assembly (120). Pointing device according to any one of claims 2-4, wherein the roller rod (122) is supported between first and second ends (130a, 130b) of said roller rod holder (130), wherein leaf blades (190) are mounted on said base portion (112) so that the second end (194) of the leaf spring engages the roller rod holder (130) at a central position remote from said first and second ends of said roller rod holder. Pointing device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said housing (110) has an edge (100a) adapted to be placed facing a computer keyboard (99), the pointing device further comprising: one or fl your keyboard elevators (150) of first type, the keyboard raiser of the first type, or any such, being adapted to engage said height at said edge (110a) facing the keyboard, and wherein the keyboard raiser of the first type, or each such, has a support surface (158) adapted to provide a first vertical support height (hl) for said computer keyboard; and one or more keyboard enhancers (160) of the second type, the keyboard enhancer of the second type, or each such, being adapted to engage a respective keyboard enhancer among said one or more of the keyboard enhancers (150) of the first type. the type, or each of the keyboard types of the second type, has a support surface (168) adapted to provide a second vertical support height (hg) for said computer keyboard. The pointing device according to claim 6, wherein the keyboard type (150) of the first type, or each such, has a first length which is adapted so that the first vertical support height (hl) is provided for a front part of said computer keyboard (99). , said front part being adjacent said pointing device. Pointing device according to claim 7, wherein the keyboard riser (160) of the second type, or each such, has a second length, longer than said first length, said second length being adapted so that the second vertical support riser is (hg) for a non-front part of said computer keyboard, located at a distance from its front part. Pointing device according to claim 8, wherein the keyboard enhancer (160) of the second type, or each such, has a front end (161) located adjacent said edge (110a) facing the keyboard and a rear end (163), wherein the keyboard lifter of the second type, or any such, has means (165, 166) for raising its rear end to provide a third vertical support height (hg) for the non-front portion of said computer keyboard (99). 10 15 20 25 30 14 Pointing device according to claim 9, wherein the keyboard enhancer (160) of the second type, or each such, has an intermediate part (162) which is placed between said front end (161) and said rear end (163) and comprises means ( 161, 162, 164) to raise the intermediate portion (162) to provide a fourth vertical support height (h4) for the computer keyboard (199). Pointing device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor means (170) comprises an optical sensor (170) capable of detecting rotational and displacement movement of said roller rod (122), the optical sensor being located in said housing (110) in a fixed position relative to said roller rod holder (130) and is arranged to move together with said roller rod holder when the roller rod assembly is depressed. The pointing device of claim 11, wherein said base portion (112) has a horizontal extent, said optical sensor (170) having a light receiving surface (174), said optical sensor being mounted on said roller rod holder (130) so that the light receiving surface is arranged at an angle (ot) in relation to the horizontal extent of said base part. Pointing device according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the optical sensor (170) is soldered to a printed circuit board (180) and wherein the printed circuit board is mounted on said roller rod holder (130). Pointing device according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising control means (182) associated with said sensor means (170), said control means being arranged to transmit data to a computer regarding movement of said roller rod (122). A set of accessory parts for a pointing device (100) of the type having a housing (110) with an edge (100a) adapted to be positioned facing a computer keyboard (99), the set of accessories comprising: one or more of the keyboard elevators (150) of the first type, wherein the keyboard type of the first type, or any such, is adapted to engage said pointing device (100) housing at said edge (100a) facing the keyboard and wherein the keyboard height the ear of the first type, or each such, has a support surface (158) adapted to provide a first vertical support height (hl) for said computer keyboard; and one or more keyboard enhancers (160) of the second type, the keyboard enhancer of the second type, or each such, being adapted to engage a respective keyboard enhancer among the one or more keyboard enhancers (150) of the first type. , the keyboard raiser of the second type, or each such, having a support surface (168) adapted to provide a second vertical support height (hg) for said computer keyboard. A set of accessories according to claim 15, wherein the keyboard height (150) of the first type, or each such, has a first length adapted so that the first vertical support height (hl) is provided for a front part of said computer keyboard ( 99), said front part being adjacent said pointing device. A set of accessories according to claim 16, wherein the keyboard lifter (160) of the second type, or each such, has a second length, longer than said first length, said second length being adapted so that the second vertical support height (hg) ) is provided for a non-front part of said computer keyboard, located at a distance from its front part. A set of accessories according to claim 17, wherein the keyboard enhancer (160) of the second type, or each such, has a front end (161) located adjacent said edge (100a) facing the keyboard and a rear end (163), wherein the keyboard raiser of the second type, or any such, has means (165, 166) for raising its rear end to provide a third vertical support height (hg) for the non-front portion of said computer keyboard (99). A kit of accessories according to claim 18, wherein the keyboard enhancer (160) of the second type, or any such, has an intermediate portion (162) disposed between said front end (161) and said rear end (163) and comprises means (161, 162, 164) for raising the intermediate portion (162) to provide a fourth vertical support height (h4) for the computer keyboard (199).