Patent ID: 7075526

Claim:
An input device comprising: a housing; a user-movable roller having an exposed portion exposed from the housing, the roller being rotatable in a first rotational direction to generate first rotational signals; and a first user-manipulable button exposed from the housing for contact by a user and configured to simulate rotation of the roller in the first rotational direction and to generate the first rotational signals when pressed and maintained in a pressed position; wherein the roller is rotatable in a second rotational direction opposite from the first rotational direction to generate second rotational signals, and further comprising a second user-manipulable button exposed from the housing for contact by the user and configured to simulate rotation of the roller in the second rotational direction and generate the second rotational signals when pressed and maintained in a pressed position; wherein the first and second buttons are disposed on opposite sides of the roller; wherein the first and second buttons are disposed on a pivoting member pivotable relative to the housing around an axis parallel to an axis of rotation of the roller, the pivoting member pivoting in a first direction when the first button is pressed to activate a first switch to generate the first rotational signals, the pivoting member pivoting in a second direction when the second button is pressed to activate a second switch to generate the second rotational signals.