Patent ID: 8704769

Claim:
An ambidextrous mouse configurable for left and right handed use, the mouse comprising: a touch sensitive surface divided into an array of sensing points, each sensing point configured for generating a signal when the sensing point detects that an object is touching the sensing point, the generated signal indicating a location of the sensing point on the touch sensitive surface, wherein signals generated at one or more sensing points are combined to form a current hand signal; and a handedness selection system coupled to the touch sensitive surface, the handedness selection system capable of comparing the current hand signal to a baseline hand signal and based on the comparison, automatically configuring the mouse for left-handed or right-handed use, wherein the touch sensitive surface comprises a forward portion and a rear portion, and wherein the mouse is capable of being configured for right hand use if the current hand signal indicates that a first object is touching the forward portion and a second object is touching the rear portion, and the mouse is capable of being configured for left hand use if the current hand signal indicates that the first object is touching the rear portion and the second object is touching the forward portion.