Patent ID: 8106885

Claim:
A handheld electronic communication device, comprising: a body; a display screen provided at the body; an optically based user input device provided at the body, said optically based user input device comprising: a light-transmissive domed member having an upper surface that receives contact from an external object; and an image sensor positioned in optical communication with the upper surface of the light-transmissive dome member; a microprocessor communicatively coupled to the image sensor and the display screen and configured to receive image signals from the image sensor and to generate signals for navigating a cursor on the display screen; and a light source provided on the body and positioned proximate to the optically based user input device, the light source being oriented to emit light into a region external to the optically based user input device, the emitted light directly illuminating the external object and a portion of the emitted light reflecting from the external object onto the upper surface of the light-transmissive domed member, the reflected emitted light being guided to the image sensor.