Patent ID: 7656386

Claim:
A low profile pointing device for personal computers, said pointing device comprising: a thin elongate case defining a cavity therein; a frame forming one surface of said case, said frame further defining an opening therethrough; a slidable plate disposed within said cavity, said slidable plate translatably supported in a plane substantially parallel to said frame and wherein a portion of said slidable plate is accessible through said frame opening; at least one motion sensor within said case, said motion sensor coupled with said slidable plate for sensing movement of said plate and converting said sensed movements into electrical data signals; and a communication interface for transmission of data signals between said motion sensor and the computer, wherein said motion sensors include a plurality of sensor rollers in at least two non-parallel orientations, said rollers in contact with a surface of said sliding plate and responsive to translative motion of said plate, and wherein said plurality of sensor rollers include a first set of rollers contacting a first surface of said plate and a second set of rollers contacting a second opposing surface of said plate.