Abstract: A pointing device such as a scrolling device or trackball, including a ball formed at least partially from an electrically conductive material, and a PCB including a capacitive proximity sensor, wherein movement data representative of ball movement is communicated by a controller to an interface such as a monitor screen, and wherein an electrical switch is actuable in response to the proximity of the sensed object to the ball, such that when a user is not in contact with or in close proximity to the ball, movement data will not be communicated by the controller to the interface.

Abstract: A pointing device such as a scrolling device or trackball, including a ball formed at least partially from an electrically conductive material, and a PCB including a capacitive proximity sensor, wherein movement data representative of ball movement is communicated by a controller to an interface such as a monitor screen, and wherein an electrical switch is actuable in response to the proximity of the sensed object to the ball, such that when a user is not in contact with or in close proximity to the ball, movement data will not be communicated by the controller to the interface.

Abstract: An electronic pointing or cursor control device comprising a first chamber and a second chamber, wherein: the two chambers are adjoined and separated by a fluid-tight separating wall; the first chamber contains electronic components; the second chamber comprises an aperture; the second chamber contains a ball, the ball protruding through said aperture; the said separating wall comprises an optically permeable region; and the electronic components include optical detection means directed towards the optically permeable region and the ball, the detection means being operable in use to detect motion of the ball and to generate electronic signals representative of said motion. The device may be a trackball or a mouse.