Patent ID: 7061468

Claim:
A computer input device, comprising: a housing; a pointing device coupled with said housing having a plurality of buttons; a scrolling element coupled with said housing; an optical source configured to emit radiation; a power source configured to power the optical source; an optical detector configured to detect a first rate of change of the intensity of the radiation reflected from a surface and a second rate of change of the intensity of the radiation reflected from the surface, the second rate of change being different from the first rate of change; and a module configured to change a mode of operation of the input device between a first mode and a second mode if the first rate of change of the intensity is detected by the optical detector, and maintain the mode of operation of the input device if the second rate of change of the intensity is detected by the optical detector, wherein in said first mode, said input device operates as a tabletop computer pointing device, and wherein in said second mode, said input device operates as a hand-held presentation device used to control a computer-based presentation.