Input device with adaptive grip orientation

Abstract

The computer input system includes a mouse including a housing having an interior surface defining an interior volume and a sensor assembly disposed within the interior volume. A processor is electrically coupled to the sensor assembly and a memory component having stored thereon electronic instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to determine an orientation of the mouse relative to the hand based on touch input from the hand detected by the sensor assembly. The mouse may also have a touch sensor or a circular array of lights that detects the position of the hand and provides orientation information to the user.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] (Cross - reference to Related Applications) This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 18 / 472,173, filed on September 21, 2023, entitled "Input Device with Adaptive Grip Orientation", U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 478,523, filed on January 5, 2023, entitled "Input Device", U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 376,767, filed on September 22, 2022, entitled "Variable Friction and Multi - Texture Mouse", U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 376,763, filed on September 22, 2022, entitled "Multi - Mode Mouse", U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 376,650, filed on September 22, 2022, entitled "Input Device for Three - Dimensional Control", and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 376,756, filed on September 22, 2022, entitled "Input Device with Adaptive Grip Orientation", the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0002] The embodiments described generally relate to input devices. More particularly, the present embodiments relate to input devices having an adaptive grip.

Background Art

[0003] Computing devices and systems, such as portable computers, tablets, and desktop computers, receive input from users via input devices, such as mice, trackpads, or other input devices. Input devices enable users to move input pointers, such as cursors, on a screen and make selections on a graphical user interface (GUI) of the computer system. Input devices generally include buttons and location tracking devices, such as mechanical or optical movement trackers or other movement trackers. Location tracking devices can track the movement of user instructions and convert the user's movements into signals readable by the computer system. For example, a user may want to select a feature displayed on the GUI. The user can instruct an input device that translates the user's movements to point to the desired feature displayed on the GUI and make the desired selection.

[0004] Conventional user input devices include mechanical buttons for data selection and command execution. These mechanical buttons are located near the upper front portion of the user input device, creating a one-way user interaction. This one-way interaction requires the user to position their hand in a potentially uncomfortable or undesirable manner. Furthermore, if the user input device is positioned opposite to the user's hand, the user must reposition the device to function properly with the GUI. For example, if the user input device is positioned on the opposite side of the user's hand (e.g., mechanical buttons located near the upper front portion facing the user's palm rather than their fingers), the input device may misinterpret the user's intended movements on the GUI, creating a confusing and frustrating user experience.

[0005] Therefore, what is needed in this field of technology is an input device that provides an improved user experience and can accurately interpret the movement intended by the user, regardless of the orientation of the input device. [Overview of the project]

[0006] In at least one example of the present disclosure, a computer input system may include a mouse comprising a housing having an inner surface defining an internal volume and a sensor assembly disposed within the internal volume. The system may also include a processor electrically coupled to the sensor assembly and a memory component, the memory component storing electronic instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to determine the orientation of the mouse relative to a hand based on touch input from the hand detected by the sensor assembly.

[0007] In one example, the sensor assembly includes a first touch sensor and a second touch sensor located on the inner surface, input from the hand includes multiple touch inputs corresponding to contact locations between the outer surface and the hand, and an electronic instruction, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to determine the hand position relative to the input device, and the orientation of the mouse is determined based on the hand position. In one example, the sensor element is the first sensor element, and the sensor assembly includes a second touch sensor located on the inner surface. In one example, the first touch sensor includes a capacitive sensor. In one example, the housing defines the outer surface of the mouse, the first touch sensor is configured to detect a first touch input at a first location on the outer surface, and the second touch sensor is configured to detect a second touch input at a second location on the outer surface of the housing. In one example, the orientation of the mouse is determined based on the relative position between the first location and the second location. In one example, the processor is configured to transmit a first function signal based on a first input gesture detected by a first touch sensor, and the processor is configured to transmit a second function signal based on a second input gesture detected by a second touch sensor. In one example, orientation includes a user-facing direction that changes depending on the relative position between a first location and a second location. In one example, the mouse further comprises a bottom surface configured to face a support surface, and the housing includes a circular cross-section in a plane parallel to the bottom surface. In one example, the mouse further comprises an optical array disposed within an internal volume and coupled to the processor, and the processor is configured to display orientation or direction via the optical array.

[0008] In at least one example of the present disclosure, the electronic input device includes a housing having at least a partially upward-facing surface including an inner surface defining an internal volume, the housing being at least translucent; a touch sensor array disposed within the internal volume; a motion sensor configured to sense movement of the input device on a support surface; and a light disposed within the internal volume and capable of illuminating through at least the partially upward-facing surface of the housing in response to a touch input detected by the touch sensor array.

[0009] In one example, the sensor array is configured to detect multiple touch inputs that come into contact with the housing. In one example, light is configured to direct light through the housing in accordance with determining the orientation of an electronic input device based on at least two of the multiple touch points. In one example, the touch sensor array includes multiple capacitive sensors arranged in a circle. In one example, the multiple capacitive sensors are arranged in contact with the inner surface. In one example, the light includes multiple LED lights arranged concentrically with the circular sensor array. In one example, the light includes multiple LED lights arranged concentrically with the sensor array. In one example, the light is the first light of a circular light array arranged concentrically with the touch sensor array.

[0010] In at least one example, a circular user input device includes a housing having a circular cross-section in a principal plane defining a principal plane and centered on an axis perpendicular to the principal plane, the housing having an inner surface defining an internal volume; a capacitive sensor array disposed within the internal volume and including a set of sensing elements arranged in a circular pattern and concentric with the axis; and an optical array disposed within the internal volume, the optical array including a set of light arranged in a circular pattern and concentric with the axis.

[0011] In one example, a set of sensing elements is arranged in contact with the inner surface. In one example, the housing includes an upper curved surface and a lower surface that is parallel to the main plane and configured to rest on a support surface. In one example, the input device further includes a motion sensor configured to detect movement of the housing on the support surface. In one example, the circular input device includes a communication interface for connecting to an external computing device. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] The disclosure will be easily understood by the following detailed description, along with the attached drawings in which similar reference numbers specify similar structural elements.

[0013] [Figure 1] A perspective view of the mouse and display is shown.

[0014] [Figure 2A] A perspective view of a mouse is shown.

[0015] [Figure 2B] This shows a bottom perspective view of a mouse.

[0016] [Figure 2C] This shows a top view of a mouse.

[0017] [Figure 3] A lateral cross-sectional view of a mouse is shown.

[0018] [Figure 4] This shows a cross-sectional view of the bottom of a mouse.

[0019] [Figure 5] A perspective view of the mouse and / or indicator(s) is shown.

[0020] [Figure 6] A lateral cross-sectional view of a mouse is shown.

[0021] [Figure 7A]Shows a mouse and a user's hand.

[0022] [Figure 7B] Shows a display having a display screen.

[0023] [Figure 7C] Shows a top view of the mouse.

[0024] [Figure 8] Shows a top view of the mouse.

[0025] [Figure 9] Shows a top view of the mouse.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0026] Here, representative embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings will be described in detail. It should be understood that the following description is not intended to limit these embodiments to one preferred embodiment. On the contrary, the following description is intended to include alternative forms, modifications, and equivalents that can be included within the spirit and scope of the described embodiments as defined by the appended claims.

[0027] This disclosure relates to an input device. More specifically, this disclosure relates to an input device for a computer system, such as a mouse, having an adaptive grip configuration and orientation sensing that enables the user to operate the input device regardless of orientation. An input device such as a mouse enables the user to interact with a digital environment by interacting with a computing device (e.g., a portable computer, desktop computer, tablet, etc.) and a display through the input device. The input device enables the user to move a cursor and make selections on a GUI on the display screen of the computing device. An input device such as a computer mouse generally includes buttons and a location tracking device (e.g., a mechanical or optical movement tracker). When the mouse is moved in parallel (e.g., moved across a surface), the input device tracks the movement via the location tracking device and converts the user's mouse movements into signals that can be read by the computing device, presenting the user's movements on the display. Similarly, the user can make selections on the GUI of the display by pressing buttons on the mouse (e.g., activated by finger pressure).

[0028] Traditional mice have buttons or touch sensors in fixed locations, requiring users to interact with the mouse in a specific way. The location of buttons or sensors on the mouse can create an irritating experience, forcing users to grip the mouse in ways that may be uncomfortable or undesirable. In addition, mouse buttons may be non-replaceable, and since mouse buttons do not dynamically change to accommodate left-handed or right-handed users, it creates a difficult experience for left-handed and right-handed users sharing the same mouse.

[0029] Furthermore, conventional mice have a coordinate system fixed to the mouse buttons and are directionally biased. For example, upward movement of the cursor relative to the display is determined by forward movement of the mouse relative to the button. Regardless of the user's hand positioning or mouse orientation, moving the mouse in the opposite direction to the button will move the cursor downward.

[0030] As mentioned above, using a mouse is advantageous for interacting with computing devices, but the location of mouse buttons and the position of the mouse cursor relative to the user are crucial for providing a satisfying user experience. This is especially true when multiple users with different dominant hands (e.g., left-handed or right-handed) occupy the same mouse. The following examples detail mice with features and functions for button layouts and cursor positions that create a more satisfying user experience.

[0031] In at least one example, the computer input system includes a mouse having a sensor assembly located within a housing and internal volume, and a processor electrically coupled to the sensor assembly. The processor can execute instructions stored on memory components to determine the orientation of the mouse relative to the user's hand based on user touch input detected by the sensor assembly.

[0032] In another example, the electronic input device includes a housing, a sensor array, and an optical array. The housing is at least translucent and may include an inner surface that defines the internal volume. The optical array is located within the internal volume of the housing and can direct light through the housing based on input from the sensor array. In one example, the sensor array may be configured to detect multiple positions of multi-touch inputs that come into contact with the housing.

[0033] In yet another example, a circular user input device includes defining a principal plane and having a circular cross-section in the principal plane centered on an axis perpendicular to the principal plane, and the housing has an inner surface that defines an internal volume. The input device may also include a capacitive sensor array, which includes sensing elements arranged against the inner surface and arranged in a circular and concentric manner around an axis, and an optical array, which is arranged within the internal volume, and the optical array includes light arranged in a circular and concentric manner around an axis.

[0034] In each of the aforementioned examples, as shown in the figures and described below, the input device can detect touch input from the user via a sensor array. The sensor array may be configured to detect touch input, which is interpreted by the processing or computing device, in order to determine the position of the user's hand relative to the outer surface of the input device. The hand orientation can infer or imply the intended action by the user while the input device is being used. For example, the user's hand position may indicate the orientation of the input device that the user intended. If the user grasps the device with a particular finger or palm in a first position on the outer surface, the computing device can anticipate that movement of the input device in a first direction (e.g., the direction in which the index finger is likely pointing) will trigger an action via the user interface (e.g., the mouse cursor moves upward on the display). If the user releases the initial grasp and grasps the device with the input device rotated from its initial position relative to the support surface (e.g., after lifting and rotating the device), the finger or palm may be detected as stationary in a second position relative to the outer surface of the input device. In that configuration, movement of the input device in a second direction (e.g., the direction the index finger is currently pointing after the input device is reoriented) can produce the same action through the user interface despite the change in the input device's position (e.g., the cursor still moves upward). Thus, in some embodiments, the device can detect a user grip and use that grip to infer the user's intent when the user moves the input device or otherwise interacts with the input device. In some embodiments, this inferred intent may include assigning the direction of movement of the input device as a “forward” direction or a “user-facing” direction relative to the user. This “forward” or “user-facing” direction may be a direction assumed to be facing away from the user’s front (i.e., the direction the user is facing), such as the direction in which the user’s arm or hand moves when reaching forward to grasp or move the input device away from the user’s torso.Therefore, movement of the input device in that direction can be associated with a predetermined action (e.g., a cursor moving upward across a display screen), regardless of the physical orientation of the input device's internal (or external) components relative to the Earth (e.g., relative to gravity or geographical location).

[0035] In this way, a circular input device can be used, and its orientation can be newly determined each time the user grasps or touches the surface of the input device with their hand. In this way, the user does not need to physically reorient the input device each time they use it. The user can grasp the input device in a way that they deem appropriate for comfort and convenience, and the controller or computing device for the input device automatically determines the orientation based on how the user touches the device.

[0036] In addition, the input devices described herein may include feedback to the user, for example in the form of visual feedback, via a light array projected through the housing of the device to indicate the detected forward or user-facing direction for the input device when the device is grasped.

[0037] Therefore, the electronic input devices described herein can create a more satisfying, intuitive, and natural user experience.

[0038] These and other embodiments will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 9. However, those skilled in the art will readily understand that the embodiments for carrying out the inventions given herein with respect to these figures are for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting. Furthermore, as used herein, a system, method, article, component, feature, or sub-feature including at least one of the first, second, or third selections should be understood to mean a system, method, article, component, feature, or sub-feature that may include one of each enumerated selection (e.g., only one of the first selections, only one of the second selections, or only one of the third selections), multiple of a single enumerated selection (e.g., two or more of the first selections), two selections simultaneously (e.g., one of the first selections and one of the second selections), or a combination thereof (e.g., two of the first selections and one of the second selections).

[0039] Figure 1 shows an input device 100 positioned on a support surface 106 connected to a computing device 102 via a connector 110. The input device 100 may also be referred to herein as a mouse 100. The connector 110 is shown with a dashed line to indicate that the connector 110 is optional. In one example, the mouse 100 can be connected wirelessly to the computing device 102. The computing device 102 may include a display screen 104 and an input pointer (e.g., a cursor) 108 displayed on the display screen 104. The mouse 100 is positioned on the support surface 106 and can be operated by a user interacting with the computing device 102 (e.g., a computer system). The mouse 100 or a processor within the computing device 102 can transmit user-induced movements of the mouse 100 to the cursor 108 on the display screen 104 of the computing device 102, and thus control the cursor 108 on the display screen 104.

[0040] As used herein, the term “mouse” refers to an electronic input device or circular user input device described as mouse 100. In one or more examples, the electronic input device or circular user input device described herein, including mouse 100, may be a remote control, volume control, pointer, or other electronic input device capable of providing control signals to an electronic device such as the computing device 102 shown in Figure 1.

[0041] Mouse 100 can interact with various electronic devices (e.g., laptops, tablets, televisions, virtual reality headsets, etc.) that offer users a diverse set of functions. The mode of Mouse 100 can be changed depending on the connection between Mouse 100 and the electronic device. For example, Mouse 100 can operate as a computer mouse and can be switched (dynamically or manually) between devices to interact with a television set or other electronic device or computing system.

[0042] The mouse 100 can be connected to the computing device 102 via a connector 110. In one example, the connector 110 may be a cable (e.g., multiple wires for transmitting energy, signals, or other interface data) that creates a wired connection between the mouse 100 and another electronic device (e.g., a computer, display, television, etc.). In one example, the connector 110 between the mouse 100 and the computing device 102 or the other electronic device may be wireless (BLE, RF, WLAN, LAN, WPAN, etc.) and electronically communicate the movement of the mouse 100 to the computing device 102 or the other electronic device.

[0043] The user can grasp the mouse 100 in various grip configurations and hand positions. For example, the user may, in some cases, grasp the electronic device 100 with their left hand, and in other cases must grasp the mouse 100 with their right hand. In another example, the user can grasp the mouse 100 with all five fingers and part of their palm. In yet another example, the user can grasp the mouse 100 with only two or three fingers. The mouse 100 can actively and automatically reorient itself based on the user's hand position so that which direction corresponds to the direction of the cursor 108 on the display screen 104. In addition, as will be described in more detail below with reference to other figures, the circular design of the mouse 100 allows the user to grasp the electronic input device in different orientations without having to physically reorient the mouse for use or interrupt its function.

[0044] The features, components, and / or parts shown in Figure 1, including their arrangement and configuration, may be included individually or in any combination in any other example of the apparatus, features, components, and parts shown in other figures described herein. Similarly, the features, components, and / or parts shown and described with reference to other figures, including their arrangement and configuration, may be included individually or in any combination in the examples of the apparatus, features, components, and parts shown in Figure 1.

[0045] Figures 2A and 2B show top and bottom perspective views of the mouse 200, including a grip surface 214, a lower part defining a bottom surface (e.g., a contact surface) 216, and a housing 212, respectively. The mouse 200 may be an exemplary embodiment of the mouse 100 of Figure 1. The bottom surface 216 is configured to rest on a support surface 106, thereby allowing the mouse 200 to be slidably translated by the user from one position to another. The mouse 200 further includes a motion sensor 220 (e.g., an optical location sensor, position sensor, or displacement sensor (e.g., an infrared sensor), a mechanical location sensor (e.g., a mouse ball), a laser location sensor, position sensor, or displacement sensor, similar devices, or a combination thereof) aligned with an opening 218 defined in the bottom surface 216. The motion sensor 220, which is aligned with the opening 218, can detect the movement (change in location) of the mouse 200 on the support surface 106 through the opening 218, as well as the support surface 106.

[0046] Figure 2C shows a top view of the mouse 200, where the housing 212 defines a circular shape or circular perimeter around a main cross-sectional plane 222, also called the main plane 222. In at least one example, the main plane 222 may be parallel to the bottom surface 216. The circular cross-sectional shape of the mouse 200 in the main plane 222 can be centered on a central axis 223 extending perpendicular to the main plane 222. The bottom surface 216 can be fixed to the grip surface 214 of the housing 212, and the main plane 222 and the bottom surface 216 can be parallel to each other.

[0047] In at least one example, the grip surface 214 may be made of a material (e.g., plastic, metal, rubber, etc.) that is permeable to or through radio signals, waves, or fields detectable by a capacitive sensor or other sensor type. Thus, in at least one example of the mouse 200, one or more sensors, such as touch sensors, may be placed inside the mouse 200 and configured to detect user contact (e.g., from fingers, palm, wrist, etc.) with the grip surface 214 through the housing 212. The sensors may also be configured to detect movement of user contact on or across the grip surface 214, for example, when the user wants to perform a scrolling function or swipe gesture. In addition, at least one embodiment of the mouse 200 may include transparent or translucent materials so that light can be projected through the housing 212 to display feedback or other information to the user.

[0048] The features, components, and / or parts shown in Figures 2A to 2C, including their arrangement and configuration, may be included individually or in any combination in any other example of the devices, features, components, and parts shown in other figures described herein. Similarly, the features, components, and / or parts shown and described with reference to other figures, including their arrangement and configuration, may be included individually or in any combination in the examples of the devices, features, components, and parts shown in Figures 2A to 2C.

[0049] Figure 3 shows a side section view of an example of a mouse 300, including a housing 312 defining a bottom surface 316 and a grip surface or grip portion 314. The housing 312 may also define an inner surface 326 defining an internal volume 328. In at least one example, a sensor assembly 330 and a processor 334 communicatively coupled to the sensor assembly 330 via an electrical connection 336 may be located within the internal volume 328. Similarly, as described above with reference to the example in Figure 1, the mouse 300 of Figure 3 may include a wireless connection and one or more emitter / receiver components for wireless communication with a computing device. Although the processor 334 is shown within the internal volume 328 in Figure 3, one or more other embodiments may include an interface (e.g., emitter and receiver) for electrical communication (e.g., wirelessly via Wi-Fi®, Bluetooth®, and similar protocols) with a computing device having a processor. In such an example, the mouse 300 may not include the processor 334 shown, and instead may include a wireless communication component that electrically couples the processor of the computing device with the sensor assembly 330 and other components of the mouse 300. However, the mouse 300 shown in Figure 3 includes the processor 334 within its internal volume 328 for the purposes of explanation and illustration in this disclosure.

[0050] In one example, the housing defines an outer surface 324 (e.g., an outer surface) and an inner surface 326 (e.g., an inner surface). The inner surface 326 defines an internal volume 328. The sensor assembly 330 can be placed within the internal volume 328, for example, with its elements evenly spaced around the inner circumference of the inner surface 326. In another example, the sensor assembly 330 can be placed within the thickness of the grip portion 314 of the housing 312, which is inside the outer surface 324 but outside the inner surface 326. In yet another example, the sensor assembly 330 can be placed on the grip portion 314 outside the outer surface 324. As shown in Figure 3, the upper part of the housing 312 (e.g., the upper half / upper connection portion 336 in the figure) can have a convex dome shape when viewed from above the mouse 300. This dome shape can have a radius of curvature below the top surface 324 or below the bottom of the upper part of the housing 312. The housing 312 may also have a concave lower section (for example, the lower half of the side wall of the housing 312 between the connector 336 and the bottom surface 316) when viewed from above the mouse 300. In other words, the lower section may include side walls with a cross-section having a different center of curvature than the upper section. The housing 312, with the upper and lower sections assembled, can define the grippable side walls of the mouse 300, with the upper section overhanging and having a larger diameter than the lower wall and bottom surface 316, so that the user's fingers can lift the mouse by placing their fingertips against the lower side wall and pulling the housing 312 upward.

[0051] The processor 334 can perform actions by executing executable instructions stored or encoded on memory components. There may be any type and / or number of processors 334, including one or more central processing units (CPUs), digital signal processors (DSPs), microprocessors, computer chips, and / or processing units configured to execute machine language instructions, process data such as executable instructions, transmit sensor data, or transmit location data acquired from sensors. The processor 334 can be coupled to a sensor assembly 330 and configured to determine the orientation of the mouse 300 based on touch input (e.g., finger, thumb, palm, etc.) detected by the sensor assembly 330.

[0052] The sensor assembly 334 includes a plurality of sensor elements 332. The sensor elements 332 may include a first capacitive sensor and a second capacitive sensor, or three, four, or five or more capacitive sensors. The capacitive sensor elements 332 can measure / detect changes in capacitance when a user interfaces with the mouse 300, for example, when the user touches the outer surface 324 with their fingers or hand. The user can use one, two, three, or more fingers to operate the mouse 300. One or more sensor elements 332 can transmit signals to a processor 334 coupled to the sensor assembly 330, thereby allowing the processor 334 to process the signals and determine the user's hand engagement with the mouse 300. For example, the user can engage with the mouse 300 using all their fingers and place their palm on the mouse 300. The sensor elements (e.g., capacitive sensors) 332 can transmit changes in signals to the processor 334. The processor 334 can then interpret or infer the user's hand position (for example, by detecting the number of fingers or contact points, or the size of the contact points), react, and execute commands in response to the user's hand position.

[0053] In at least one example, the mouse 300 may also include at least one force sensor 331. The force sensor 331 may be part of a sensor array 330 as shown, or the force sensor 331 may be located elsewhere on the mouse 300 or within its internal volume 328. The force sensor 331 may be configured to measure / detect the force applied to the grip portion 314 of the housing 312. In one example, the mouse 300 may include multiple force sensors. A mouse 300 having one or more force sensors 331 may be configured to detect the gripping force or magnitude of force applied when a user operates the mouse 300 during use, pushing the grip portion 314 or other parts of the housing 312 downward or in any direction. The force sensor 331 can be used to distinguish between touch input from fingers that loosely grip the housing 312 and touch input from fingers that press more firmly against the housing 312. Thus, the force sensor 331 can be used to detect the force applied to the grip portion 314 when a user taps the outer surface, compared to when the user intends to apply a "click" input to the mouse 300. In some embodiments, the amount of force detected by the force sensor 331 can provide information used to determine whether the detected touch is more likely to be from the user's fingertip or from the user's palm, as fingertips apply a higher or more concentrated force than the palm.

[0054] The features, components, and / or parts shown in Figure 3, including their arrangement and configuration, may be included individually or in any combination in any other example of the apparatus, features, components, and parts shown in other figures described herein. Similarly, the features, components, and / or parts shown and described with reference to other figures, including their arrangement and configuration, may be included individually or in any combination in the examples of the apparatus, features, components, and parts shown in Figure 3.

[0055] Figure 4 shows a bottom cross-sectional view of a mouse 400, which includes a housing 412, a sensor assembly 430, an optical array 440, and a processor 434 communicatively coupled to the sensor assembly 430 and the optical array 440 via an electrical connection 436. Specific electrical connections (e.g., 336) are omitted. The housing 412 may include an outer surface (e.g., 324 in Figure 3) and an inner surface 426. The inner surface 426 may define an internal volume 428. The sensor assembly 430 and the optical array 440 may be arranged within the internal volume 428. In one example, the optical array 440 may be arranged concentrically within the internal volume 428 and positioned on the inner surface 426. The optical array 440 may be arranged in a circle having a first diameter. The sensor assembly 430 may be arranged in a circle, concentrically within the housing, positioned on the inner surface 426, and may include a second diameter. In some embodiments, the first diameter is smaller than the second diameter (as shown in Figure 4), and in some embodiments, the second diameter is smaller, and the optical array 440 surrounds the sensor assembly 430. In addition, in some embodiments, the optical array 440 and the sensor assembly 430 have substantially equal concentric diameters, and the individual light 442 is spaced apart between or overlaps with the capacitive sensor element 432.

[0056] In one example, the mouse 400 (e.g., an electronic input device) includes a housing 412, a circular sensor array 430 including a plurality of capacitive sensor elements 432 arranged in contact with or embedded in the inner surface 428 of the housing 412, and a circular optical array 430 arranged in contact with the inner surface 428 of the housing 412. In at least one example, the circular optical array 430 includes a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) 442 (e.g., DIP LEDs, SMD LEDs, COB LEDs, similar light sources, and combinations thereof) oriented concentrically with the circular sensor array 430. In at least one example, the sensor array 430 may include a plurality of sensor elements 432. In one example, the sensor elements 432 may include capacitive touch sensor elements.

[0057] The housing 412 can be made of a transparent or translucent material so that when the LEDs 442 on the circular light array 440 are energized and emit visible spectrum light, the light is visible to the user through the housing 412 outside the mouse 400. The LEDs 442 can change light intensity and color. For example, the light array 440 can provide notifications corresponding to hue, brightness, saturation, blinking or color patterns, or similar light indicator characteristics (e.g., text message notifications, calendar notifications, time notifications, etc., for connected computing devices). In another example, the LEDs 442 can provide indicators such as device battery life, device orientation, or other indicators. In at least one example, the LEDs 442 of the light array 440 can be synchronized over time to produce animated light that appears to move in one direction or the other (e.g., in a pattern moving around the circumference of a circle) to communicate with the user.

[0058] In one example, the processor 434 is configured to display the orientation of the mouse 400. For example, when the mouse 400 is rotated around the normal / vertical axis 223 with its bottom surface 216 parallel to the support surface 106, the LEDs 442 located on the circular light array 440 can be illuminated, and the light can shift from the first energized LED 442 to the second energized LED 442, and when the second LED 442 is energized, the first LED 442 is de-energized. In this way, as the mouse 400 rotates, the energized LEDs 442 can appear to remain in one location relative to the user's field of view.

[0059] The features, components, and / or parts shown in Figure 4, including their arrangement and configuration, may be included individually or in any combination in any other example of the apparatus, features, components, and parts shown in other figures described herein. Similarly, the features, components, and / or parts shown and described with reference to other figures, including their arrangement and configuration, may be included individually or in any combination in the examples of the apparatus, features, components, and parts shown in Figure 4.

[0060] Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the mouse 500, including the housing 512, the grip portion 514, and the light array 540. The light array 540 may include several individual lights 542. In at least one example, the lights 542 may include LEDs. At least a portion of the housing 512 may include a translucent material defining the outer surface 524. As previously mentioned, the translucent material allows the lights 542 to transmit light through the housing 512, and as a result, the light is visible to the user on the outer surface 524. In one example, the mouse 500 includes a “north relative to user,” “forward,” “user forward,” or “user facing” direction configured (by the processor 334) to be displayed on the outer surface 524 of the mouse 500 via at least one illumination 546 of the light array 540. For example, the illumination 546 may indicate a determined forward direction or orientation of the mouse relative to the user's grip, based on where the user grasps the housing 512. The “north relative to user” direction may also be called the “forward” direction of the mouse 500 relative to the support surface. The forward direction can correspond to the upward movement of the cursor on the display screen when the cursor is controlled by the mouse 500. The "north relative to the user" or "forward" direction of the mouse 500 can correspond to the upward direction on the display screen when the mouse 500 is controlling the movable cursor.

[0061] The mouse 500 shown in Figure 5 may include any and all of the mouse features shown in other figures, including a sensor array within its internal volume for detecting the user's grip. In at least one example, when a user grasps the mouse 500 to control a cursor on a display screen, the mouse 500 can detect the grip of the user's hand and fingers in contact with the outer surface 524 of the grip portion 514 and orient itself north relative to the user accordingly. In one example, once reoriented based on the user's grip, the mouse 500 can communicate or confirm the new “north relative to user” or “forward” direction of the mouse 500 to the user via the optical array 540.

[0062] In one example, the optical array 540 can respond to user movement or mouse presses. For example, the light 542 on the optical array 540 can emit a specific color and / or LED pattern in response to a first movement, and a different color and / or pattern in response to a second movement. In some examples, the light 542 of the optical array 540 can generate an optical sequence that selectively emits light in a specific pattern similar to circular movement. Circular movement can indicate to the user that a specific function has been performed. In another example, the optical array 540 can provide different information by pulsing, blinking, or selectively activating light, thereby indicating to the user that a different function has been performed or that the mouse or connected computing device has a specific status.

[0063] The features, components, and / or parts shown in Figure 5, including their arrangement and configuration, may be included individually or in any combination in any other example of the apparatus, features, components, and parts shown in other figures described herein. Similarly, the features, components, and / or parts shown and described with reference to other figures, including their arrangement and configuration, may be included individually or in any combination in the examples of the apparatus, features, components, and parts shown in Figure 5.

[0064] Figure 6 shows a side cross-sectional view of a mouse 600 including a housing 612 defining an inner surface 626 that defines an internal volume 628. The mouse 600 may further include an optical array 640 having individual lights or LEDs 642 positioned relative to the inner surface 626 or elsewhere on the outer surface of the housing 612 or below the outer surface. A sensor array 630 may include sensors (e.g., 632). The mouse 600 may also include a processor 634 located within the internal volume. In addition, in at least one example, the mouse includes a haptic component 648, an antenna 650, and another electrical component 652.

[0065] The haptic component 648 may include an electromechanical component or device that vibrates to provide tactile feedback to the user. The haptic component 648 may include a linear resonant actuator (LRA) or a combination of LRAs that can generate motion or tactile feedback on one or more axes of the mouse 600. Similarly, the haptic component 648 may include one or more eccentric rotating mass (ERM) motors to generate motion or tactile feedback on one or more axes of the mouse 600. These haptic components may be driven by different waveforms to generate distinct haptic effects representing different functions. For example, when the mouse 600 is rotated about its central axis 623, it may generate audible sounds or vibrations as it rotates or in increments of angular displacement of the housing 612. This may include providing haptic feedback in a manner similar to a mechanical knob or dial that "clicks" when rotated about axis 623, or providing taps or vibrations that indicate different stages or speeds of angular movement. In another example, the user may tap a feature or icon on the external surface of the mouse 600 with their finger. Accordingly, the haptic component 648 of the mouse 600 can generate different types of sounds or tactile effects corresponding to user taps or clicks, compared to rotation of the mouse 600, by outputting different sounds or vibrating in different ways. In some examples, the haptics may have a resolution (e.g., detent resolution) that can be modified by the user according to specific user needs or specifications. In another example, an audio signal generated by music, games, movies, or other digital media can be converted into a haptic effect and relayed to the user via the haptic component 648. It should be understood that other embodiments are contemplated herein and that the above description provides examples illustrating the haptic component 648.

[0066] The antenna 650 or other wireless interface of the mouse 600 may include a printed circuit board (PCB) antenna, a wire antenna, a chip antenna, or any other suitable antenna configuration of any other type. The antenna 650 may include monopole, dipole, patch, slot, plate-shaped inverted F (PIFA), or any other type of antenna suitable for omnidirectional antenna radiation and reception, which is advantageous for short-range connectivity and unpredictable access points where the location changes for the user, or for large-sector directional radiation and reception such as hemispherical patterns. In addition, the antenna array may be implemented to manipulate the radiation / reception pattern to affect connectivity. The antenna 650 may operate in or be optimized for a specific frequency (e.g., 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz) and / or radio frequency (RF) band. The antenna may be a BLUETOOTH® device transmitting at a similar frequency (e.g., 2.4 GHz). The antenna may be part of, or include, a communication interface configured to wirelessly connect to an external computing device, e.g., computing device 102 shown in Figure 1.

[0067] The electrical components 652 may include accelerometers (e.g., piezoelectric accelerometers, piezoresistive accelerometers, capacitive accelerometers, etc.), proximity sensors (e.g., conductive proximity sensors, optical proximity sensors, capacitive proximity sensors, magnetic proximity sensors, ultrasonic proximity sensors, etc.), pressure sensors or force sensors (e.g., strain gauge pressure sensors, piezoelectric pressure sensors, capacitive pressure sensors, solid pressure sensors, etc.), and other electrical components.

[0068] In at least one example, the sensor 632 is a sensing element of a sensor array 630 positioned in contact with the inner surface 626 and arranged in a circular and concentric manner around the central axis 623 of the mouse 600. In addition, in at least one example, the light array 640 may include light 642 (e.g., LEDs) positioned within the internal volume 628, and the light 642 is arranged in a circular and concentric manner around the central axis 623. In at least one example, the housing 612 is symmetrical with respect to the central axis 623. For example, the housing 612 may be circular, and the central axis 623 may be the rotational axis and / or axis of rotational symmetry of the mouse 600. In at least one example, the user first grasps the mouse 600, including its housing 612, in any orientation, and, as described herein, regardless of the actual orientation of the mouse 600, the user can orient the mouse 600 as intended by the user based on the user's grip or hand position.

[0069] The features, components, and / or parts shown in Figure 6, including their arrangement and configuration, may be included individually or in any combination in any other example of the apparatus, features, components, and parts shown in other figures described herein. Similarly, the features, components, and / or parts shown and described with reference to other figures, including their arrangement and configuration, may be included individually or in any combination in the examples of the apparatus, features, components, and parts shown in Figure 6.

[0070] Figure 7A shows the mouse 700 in contact with the user's hand 754, with the user's hand 754 grasping the grip portion 714 of the housing 712. Due to the circular profile of the mouse 700, the user can grasp the mouse 700 from any direction, regardless of how the mouse 700 has rotated on the support surface before the user's hand 754 arrives. While the mouse 700 is in use, the computing device can detect touch points from the hand 754 and fingers 756 to the housing 712 via sensors in the sensor array, such as sensor 632 of the sensor array 630 shown in the mouse 600 of Figure 6. Thus, the placement and positioning of the hand 754 and fingers 756 on the mouse 700 can be determined using sensor 630, and then the orientation of the mouse 700 relative to the user's hand 754 positioned on the grip portion 714 of the mouse 700 can be dynamically determined. The user's hand 754 may be the left hand or the right hand, depending on the user's preference. The Mouse 700 can detect whether the user is using their left or right hand, thereby dynamically providing convenience and efficiency to users who use both hands or to multiple users of the same Mouse 700.

[0071] As shown in Figure 7B, the mouse 700 can transmit user-initiated movements to the display 702, and the cursor 708 can move around on the display screen 704 in accordance with the parallel movement of the mouse across the support surface. The cursor 708 can move around the display screen 704 in the direction of upward, i.e., "north" (N), downward, i.e., "south" (S), right, i.e., "east" (E), or left, i.e., "west" (W), relative to the axis presented on the display screen 704. Moving the mouse 700 north relative to the user, i.e., the user pushing the mouse away from the torso, as determined by the contact between the finger and the housing 712, can move the cursor upward / north (N) on the display screen 704. For example, the user can move the mouse 700 in the direction representing upward (e.g., north) on the display screen. The mouse 700 interprets the position of the user's hand 754 and the user's fingers(s) 756, determines north relative to the user with respect to the placement of the user's hand 754 and fingers(s) 756, as shown in Figure 7C, and moves the icon 708 northward on the display screen 704 of the display 702. Furthermore, the cursor movement may be in any direction of north, south, east, west, or any combination thereof, e.g., north-west, south-east, or any other combination, depending on the corresponding amount of horizontal movement of the mouse to the left, right, or backward. Other embodiments of the movement of the cursor 708 on the display screen 702 caused by the mouse 700 are contemplated herein, and it will be understood that the above examples are for illustrative purposes only.

[0072] Figure 7C is a top view of the mouse 700 and the housing 712 including the grip portion 714. The contact areas 758a to 758f, which represent the detected contact area between the user's hand 754 and fingers 756 and the mouse 700, are indicated by dotted line boundaries. In the illustrated example, the detected touch areas 758a to 758f may include a first finger sensor contact area 758a, a second finger sensor contact area 758b, a third finger sensor contact area 758c, a fourth finger contact area 758d, a fifth finger contact area 758e, and a palm sensor contact area 758f. As described above with reference to other examples, the mouse 700 shown in Figures 7A to 7C may be equipped with sensors and sensor arrays for detecting the touch areas of the user's hand 754 and fingers 756. The contact areas 758a to 758f may be collectively referred to as the contact profile 758.

[0073] The contact profile 758 includes sensor readings from the portion of the hand 754 in contact with the mouse 700. For example, a user can grasp the mouse 700 with all of their fingers 756 and part of their palm to create the sensor profile shown in Figure 7C. A first contact area 758a, representing the contact of a first finger 756 with the mouse 700, may differ from a second contact area 758b, resulting in a unique sensor profile for each finger and / or palm in contact with the outer surface 712 of the mouse 700. For example, the sensor profile 758 may be real-time capacitive readings of the fingers based on the unique contact characteristics of the user's hand, such as finger contact length, finger contact width, finger contact cross-sectional area, etc. These hand contact characteristics are utilized by at least a first touch sensor configured to detect a first contact at a first location on the grip portion 714 (e.g., to identify / detect a first contact area 758a), and a second touch sensor configured to detect a second contact at a second location on the grip portion 714 (e.g., a second finger contact area 758b). In this way, the orientation of the mouse 700 is determined based on the relative position of the first location, for example, the first finger contact area 758a and the second finger contact area 758b.

[0074] In one example, the first touch sensor of the mouse 700 can be configured to detect a first contact area 758a at a first location on the grip portion 714 of the housing 712, and the second touch sensor can be configured to detect a second contact area 758b at a second location on the grip portion 714. In this way, the orientation of the mouse 700 can be determined based on the relative position of the first location in the contact area 758a and the second location in the second contact area 758b. The first and second locations can include any locations on the grip portion 714 of the mouse 700. For example, the first location may be a first finger profile and the second location may be a second finger profile. In another example, the first location may be a first finger profile in the contact area 758e and the second location may be a palm profile in the contact area 758f. In yet another example, the first location may be a fourth finger profile in the contact area 758d, and the second location may be a third finger profile in the contact area 758c. In at least one example, the mouse 700 requires at least two locations (e.g., touch points, positions, etc.) somewhere on the grip portion 714 of the mouse 700 for the mouse 700 to determine orientation or north relative to the user, as described above.

[0075] The orientation of the mouse 700 can include a north direction relative to the user, which changes depending on the relative positions of various contact areas 758a to 758f. In the illustrated example in Figure 7C, the north direction relative to the user is communicated to or confirmed to the user via an illuminated LED 746 indicating the orientation of the mouse. The light array 640 is configured to direct light through the housing 712 to indicate the orientation of the mouse 700 (i.e., the "forward" orientation) determined based on at least two of the multiple contact areas 758a to 758f detected by the sensor array of the mouse 700.

[0076] The features, components, and / or parts shown in Figures 7A to 7C, including their arrangement and configuration, may be included individually or in any combination in any other example of the devices, features, components, and parts shown in other figures described herein. Similarly, the features, components, and / or parts shown and described with reference to other figures, including their arrangement and configuration, may be included individually or in any combination in the examples of the devices, features, components, and parts shown in Figures 7A to 7C.

[0077] Figure 8 shows another example of a contact profile including multiple contact areas 858a to 858f on the grip portion 814 of the housing 812. In Figure 8, the internal components of the mouse 800 can be positioned in the same locations as those of the mouse 700. However, the position of the user's hand and fingers on the mouse 800 may change as the user interacts with the mouse 800. Therefore, the mouse 800 can be configured to detect the placement of the user's hand on the grip portion 814 of the mouse housing 812 (e.g., hand position) and to intuitively determine north for the user based on the positioning of the user's hand, including the user's fingers (e.g., by detecting the capacitive locations of different finger contact areas 858a to 858f). Thus, Figure 8 shows a different user hand position than that shown in Figure 7C. In Figure 8, the hand is angled differently from the position in Figure 7C. As shown in Figures 7C and 8, even if the mouse 800 is not physically rotated relative to the position of the mouse 700 in Figure 7C, the north direction relative to the user can be dynamically shifted based on real-time changes in the position of the user's hand on the outer surface of the mouse, as indicated by the illuminated LED 746. For example, the first contact area 858a, the second contact area 858b, the third contact area 858c, the fourth contact area 858d, the fifth contact area 858e, and the sixth contact area 858f are used to determine the location of the user's hand and to position the north direction relative to the user in response to changes in the hand position.

[0078] The features, components, and / or parts shown in Figure 8, including their arrangement and configuration, may be included individually or in any combination in any other example of the apparatus, features, components, and parts shown in other figures described herein. Similarly, the features, components, and / or parts shown and described with reference to other figures, including their arrangement and configuration, may be included individually or in any combination in the examples of the apparatus, features, components, and parts shown in Figure 8.

[0079] Figure 9 shows another example of a mouse 900 including a housing 912 having a grip portion 914. The mouse 900 may include a sensor array similar to those described with reference to other examples shown in other figures to detect contact areas 958a-958c representing the contact locations between the user's fingers or other parts of the user's hand and the grip portion 914. The mouse 900 determines the locations of the first contact area 958a, the second contact area 958b, and the third contact area 958c when operated by the user via the touch sensors. In the illustrated example, the user only needs to touch the mouse 900 with three fingers corresponding to the locations of the illustrated contact areas 958a-958c. In such an example, the mouse 900 may include a processor and a memory component that stores instructions executable by the processor to determine the north direction relative to the user with respect to the mouse 900. This direction and orientation can be confirmed by an illuminated LED 946 and communicated to the user.

[0080] This unique combination and positioning of user contact areas 958a-958c is shown in Figure 9, demonstrating that the mouse 900 can be grasped and manipulated using various contact areas and hand positions. The grip profile and contact areas may differ from user to user or from session to session for a single user. In at least one example, the memory components and processor of the mouse 900 may be configured to store and execute commands, respectively, to identify contact area locations and corresponding locations or specific combinations of north direction for the user. In at least one example, these combinations of touch areas are pre-configured in the mouse 900. In at least one example, these combinations of touch areas are learned via an artificial intelligence algorithm configured to learn where north is for the user in relation to the user's unique hand position on the mouse 900, which is used repeatedly over time. Using such an algorithm, the input device of the present disclosure can learn to identify the user based on unique hand position, contact area size, various degrees of force applied to the mouse 900, and / or the weight of the user's hand and fingers.

[0081] Therefore, in the example of a computer mouse input device described herein, a circular configuration can be used such that the user can grasp the input device in any orientation or direction, and that when the user grasps the input device, it automatically reorients to face north. This can be done without the user needing to physically orient the input device in a specific direction before knowing which direction to move the input device to manipulate the cursor on the screen. Since the input device described herein can be circular, the orientation of the feature indication is not visually apparent. Rather, the user simply grasps the circular input device and begins to move it such that, regardless of the physical orientation of the input device, forward movement always corresponds to upward movement of the cursor.

[0082] The features, components, and / or parts shown in Figure 9, including their arrangement and configuration, may be included individually or in any combination in any other example of the apparatus, features, components, and parts shown in other figures described herein. Similarly, the features, components, and / or parts shown and described with reference to other figures, including their arrangement and configuration, may be included individually or in any combination in the examples of the apparatus, features, components, and parts shown in Figure 9.

[0083] In at least one example, the determination or sensing of the hand position on a mouse, including the mouse described herein, can be achieved by one or more sensors in a computing device communicating with the mouse, in addition to or instead of the mouse's sensors. In such an example, the mouse may include a “dumb” electrical, magnetic, or ultrasonic element that communicates wirelessly or wired with sensors and / or processors in the computing device, and the computing device can determine the hand position on the mouse based on how signals from such “dumb” components in the mouse are modified. In addition, while a round mouse is shown in the figure and described herein, other examples of mice may include other shapes, including oval, oval, ergonomic wedge, or other regular or irregular shapes, which may be grasped differently by different users. In each of these cases, the mouse may include components described herein to reorient and determine an upward / forward direction based on the detected hand position of the user.

[0084] It is well understood that the use of personally identifiable information should be governed by privacy policies and practices that are generally recognized as meeting or exceeding industry or government requirements for maintaining user privacy. In particular, personally identifiable information data should be managed and handled in a manner that minimizes the risk of unintended or unauthorized access or use, and the nature of authorized use should be clearly indicated to the user.

[0085] In the preceding description, certain technical terms have been used for illustrative purposes to provide a complete understanding of the described embodiments. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details are not required to practice the described embodiments. Therefore, the preceding descriptions of the specific embodiments described herein are presented for illustrative and explanatory purposes only. These descriptions are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the exact form disclosed. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings.

Claims

1. A computer input system, It is a mouse, A housing including an outer surface and an inner surface that defines the internal volume, A mouse comprising a sensor assembly disposed within the internal volume, A processor electrically coupled to the sensor assembly and memory components, The system comprises an optical array disposed within the internal volume and electrically coupled to the processor, When executed by the processor, the memory component stores an electronic instruction that causes the processor to determine the orientation of the mouse relative to the hand based on the input from the hand detected by the sensor assembly. A computer input system in which, when the electronic instruction is executed by the processor, causes the processor to display the forward direction of the determined orientation of the mouse via the optical array.

2. The sensor assembly comprises a first touch sensor disposed on the inner surface and a second touch sensor disposed on the inner surface. The input from the hand includes a plurality of touch inputs corresponding to contact locations between the outer surface and the hand, When the aforementioned electronic instruction is executed by the processor, it causes the processor to determine the position of the hand relative to the mouse. The orientation of the mouse is determined based on the position of the hand. The computer input system according to claim 1.

3. The computer input system according to claim 2, wherein the first touch sensor comprises a capacitive sensor element.

4. The housing defines the outer surface of the mouse, The input from the hand includes a first touch input and a second touch input. The first touch sensor is configured to detect the first touch input at the first location on the outer surface, The second touch sensor is configured to detect the second touch input at a second location on the outer surface. The computer input system according to claim 2.

5. The computer input system according to claim 4, wherein the orientation of the mouse is determined based on the relative position between the first location and the second location.

6. The processor is configured to transmit a first function signal based on a first input gesture detected by the first touch sensor. The processor is configured to transmit a second function signal based on a second input gesture detected by the second touch sensor. The computer input system according to claim 4.

7. The computer input system according to claim 4, wherein the orientation includes the direction the user is facing, which changes depending on the relative position of the first location and the second location.

8. The computer input system according to claim 1, further comprising a lower surface configured to face a support surface, wherein the housing includes a circular cross-sectional shape in a plane parallel to the lower surface.

9. An electronic input device, A housing including an inner surface defining an internal volume, wherein the housing has at least a partially upward-facing surface that is at least translucent, A touch sensor array arranged within the aforementioned internal volume, A motion sensor configured to detect the movement of the electronic input device on the support surface, A light array disposed within the internal volume and capable of illuminating the housing so as to direct light through at least the partially upward-facing surface of the housing in response to an input detected by the touch sensor array, Equipped with, The optical array is configured to direct light through the at least partially upward-facing surface of the housing to indicate the forward orientation of the electronic input device, the orientation of which is determined based on the input detected by the touch sensor array of the electronic input device.

10. The touch sensor array is configured to detect multiple touch inputs that come into contact with the housing. The electronic input device according to claim 9.

11. The electronic input device according to claim 10, wherein the optical array is configured to direct light through the housing in accordance with determining the orientation of the electronic input device based on at least two of the plurality of touch inputs.

12. The electronic input device according to claim 9, wherein the touch sensor array comprises a plurality of capacitive sensors arranged in a circular pattern.

13. The electronic input device according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of capacitive sensors are arranged in contact with the inner surface.

14. The electronic input device according to claim 12, wherein the optical array comprises a circular optical array arranged concentrically with the touch sensor array.

15. A circular user input device, A housing having a circular cross-section in the main plane, with a main plane defined and centered on an axis perpendicular to the main plane, wherein the housing has an inner surface that defines the internal volume, A capacitive sensor array comprising a set of sensing elements arranged within the internal volume, arranged in a circular pattern, and concentric with the axis, An optical array disposed within the internal volume, wherein the optical array includes a set of light arranged in a circle and concentric with the axis, Equipped with, The optical array is configured to indicate the forward orientation of the circular user input device, and the orientation is determined based on the input detected by the capacitive sensor array, wherein the circular user input device is configured such that the optical array indicates the forward orientation of the circular user input device.

16. The circular user input device according to claim 15, wherein the set of sensing elements is arranged in contact with the inner surface.

17. The aforementioned housing is The upper curved surface, The circular user input device according to claim 15, comprising: a lower surface that is parallel to the main plane and configured to be placed on a support surface.

18. The circular user input device according to claim 15, further comprising a motion sensor configured to detect movement of the housing on a support surface.

19. The circular user input device according to claim 15, further comprising a communication interface for connecting to an external computing device.

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