Abstract: Links (5a-m), preferably intended for, but not limited to, manufacturing a flexible mat (2) for use in an electronic device such as a pointing device, arranged to control the movement of a pointer/cursor on a monitor/display at, for example, a computer or similar device, and where at least one of the links (5a-m) is substantially rigid in its longitudinal direction. The at least one link (5a-m) can be consisting of, or are made of, a substantially disc-shaped material, and having a base portion (10) extending in the longitudinal/axial direction of the link (5a-m). The at least one link (5a-m) can include at least one, preferably a plurality, of coupling means (7a,b), connected to or integrated in, the base portion (10) of the link (5a-m).

Abstract: A pointing device (1) for controlling a cursor on a computer monitor can include a control device (2) with two moving elements optionally in the form of an actuator cylinder (3) and a holder (7a,b). The actuator cylinder (3) is rotatable and translatably arranged relative to the holder (7a,b), and can be pushed down in a vertical direction by a user. A first sensor (8) is arranged to detect all movements and position changes of the actuator cylinder (3) and emit a first signal value (S1) to a signal processing unit (13a,b). At least one second sensor (11a-c) is arranged to detect the vertical position change of the actuator cylinder (3) and emit at least one second signal value (S2, S2a, S2b) which is proportional to the vertical position change of the actuator cylinder (3).

Abstract: A flexible mat (2), optionally to be used for, but not limited to, a pointing device (1) arranged to control the movement of a pointer/cursor on a monitor/display at, for example, a computer or similar electronic device, can include a plurality of links (11a-z) arranged side by side and where these links are substantially rigid in their axial direction and mutually rotatable at a limited angle. The the links (11a-z) can include, or are made of, a substantially disc-shaped material or a foil, that at least one link (11a-z) is provided with a base portion (16a) extending in the longitudinal/axial direction of the link (11a-z), that the link the base portion (16a) of the link (11a-z), and that the coupling elements (15a-z) are integrated with or in the base portion of the link (16a).