Patent ID: 7973767

Claim:
A manual pointing device for a computer system, comprising: a first key structured to be manually actuatable by a user; and a click-event detection circuit coupled to the first key to detect actuation of the first key, the click-event detection circuit including an inertial-sensor circuit structured to detect mechanical stresses generated by actuation of the first key, the inertial-sensor circuit including a first detection axis and a second detection axis, perpendicular to one another and parallel to a surface of sliding of the manual pointing device at least in one operative configuration, and a third detection axis perpendicular to the first and second detection axes; the inertial-sensor circuit structured to supply a first detection signal, a second detection signal, and a third detection signal in response to mechanical stresses acting along the first detection axis, the second detection axis, and the third detection axis, respectively and further comprising a casing and wherein said inertial-sensor circuit is rigidly coupled to said casing for detecting mechanical stresses generated by actuation of said first key and that propagate along said casing.