Patent ID: 9189089
Filing Date: 2015-11-17
Classification: G06F,Y02D

Abstract:
1. A pointing device comprising: a ball having an electrically conductive material and a non-electrically conductive outer layer, physical movement of said ball translating to physical movement of a cursor; a capacitive proximity sensor operatively coupled to the ball so as to measure a value of capacitance, representative of the proximity of a sensed object to the ball, the value of capacitance comprising a capacitance between the sensed object and the electrically conductive material of the ball, and a capacitance between the electrically conductive material of the ball and the capacitive proximity sensor; an interface for communicating movement of the cursor; a switch actuable in response to the proximity of the sensed object to the ball, such that the switch is in an activated state when the sensed object is in contact with or is in close proximity to the ball and a deactivated state otherwise; and a controller, operatively coupled to the switch, for communicating physical movement of the ball to the interface when the switch is in an activated state, said controller further detecting the speed of movement of the ball and communicating physical movement of the ball to the interface after the switch is deactivated until the speed of the ball falls below a predetermined threshold.