User input element and method

Abstract

A user input element 10 for a user input mechanism (Fig.2, 1) capable of providing a signal indicative of a user input includes a coupling component 140, a user moveable component 130 coupled to the c

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the field of user input mechanisms and in particular to moveable user input mechanism that utilise a user input element, including movable components such as a dial, to communicate a user input to a coupled system. Many systems employ some form of user input mechanism that allows for a user to interact with the system, e.g., to provide an input for controlling or affecting some function controlled by the system. Many solutions have been proposed over the years, from mechanical-based solutions such as buttons, switches and dials, to more electronic-based solutions such as capacitive touch-sensors or touch-screens. For example, in the automotive industry, touch-screens are becoming increasingly commonplace for vehicle control or infotainment systems, in part due to their versatility and adaptability. However, some users may prefer more mechanical-based solutions, particularly in an automobile such as a car where the user I driver’s attention is directed to the road and easily recognisable / familiar user input mechanisms may be more desired. Such user input mechanisms may be more familiar with certain users or groups of users, which may in part be due to offering a more mechanical or tactile interaction with the user input mechanism which may provide a level or reassurance or confirmation of the user’s input. Mechanical user input mechanisms have a tendency to experience wear and tear through use owing to the moving components involved with their operation. This may particularly be the case where the mechanical user input mechanism is provided with mechanisms that provide feedback to user interactions to help indicate the extent to which the user input mechanism has been actuated, such as for example, a slider or a dial that provides a notched movement to indicate switching between different user inputs (e.g., such as switching between different volume levels for an audio speaker or the like). In addition, while some users may prefer mechanical-based inputs as described above, the flexibility and adaptability afforded by electronic-based user input mechanisms may be attractive to manufactures and / or other users. Hence, there is a desire to provide user input mechanisms which offer the advantages described above in the context of an electronic-based user input mechanism, but which also enable a more mechanical interaction with the user. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a user input element for a user input mechanism capable of providing a signal indicative of a user input, wherein the user input element comprises: a coupling component configured to be fixedly mounted relative to a surface of a capacitive sensing element, the coupling component comprising a shaft defining an axis; a moveable component coupled to the coupling component and configured to be moveable by a user of the user input element, multiple electrically conductive regions capable of capacitively coupling to the capacitive sensing element; a first electrically conductive region of the multiple electrically conductive regions, wherein the first electrically conductive region is capable of being rotated about the axis by a user via the moveable component; and a second electrically conductive region of the multiple electrically conductive regions, wherein the second electrically conductive region is capable of being moved or deformed along the axis by a user via the moveable component. According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a user input mechanism for providing a signal indicative of a user input, wherein the user input mechanism comprises: a capacitive sensing element configured to sense changes in capacitance at one or more locations of the capacitive sensing element; the user input element of the first aspect, wherein the coupling component is fixedly mounted relative to the surface of the capacitive sensing element; and control circuitry configured to: receive signals from the capacitive sensing element, determine a rotation state of the moveable component relative to the surface of the capacitive sensing element based on signals relating to the first electrically conductive region, and determine a displacement state of the moveable component relative to the surface of the capacitive sensing element based on signals relating to the second electrically conductive region. According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a system comprising the user input mechanism of the second aspect, wherein the system is configured to perform a function responsive to the determined rotation state of the moveable component and I or the determined displacement state of the moveable component. According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a for using a user input mechanism configured to provide a signal indicative of a user input for performing a function on the basis of the user input, wherein the user input mechanism comprises a capacitive sensing element to sense changes in capacitance at one or more locations of the capacitive sensing element, a coupling component configured to be fixedly mounted relative to a surface of the capacitive sensing element, the coupling component comprising a shaft defining an axis, a moveable component coupled to the coupling component and configured to be moveable by a user of the user input element, and multiple electrically conductive regions capable of capacitively coupling to the capacitive sensing element, wherein the method comprises: determining a displacement state of the moveable component based on a signal relating to a second electrically conductive region of the multiple electrically conductive regions, wherein the second electrically conductive region is capable of being displaced parallel to the axis by a user via the movable component; and determining a rotation state of the moveable component based on a signal relating to a first electrically conductive region of the multiple electrically conductive regions, wherein the first electrically conductive region is capable of being rotated about the axis by a user via the movable component; and performing a function responsive to determining the displacement state and I or the rotation state of the moveable component. According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided a user input mechanism for providing a signal indicative of a user input to a system communicatively coupled to the user input mechanism, wherein the user input mechanism comprises: a capacitive sensing element configured to sense changes in capacitance at one or more locations of the capacitive sensing element; a moveable component moveably mounted with respect to a surface of the capacitive sensing element and configured to be moveable by a user of the user input mechanism; multiple electrically conductive regions capable of capacitively coupling to the capacitive sensing element; a first electrically conductive region of the multiple electrically conductive regions, wherein the moveable component is configured to cause the first electrically conductive region to move in a plane parallel to the surface of the capacitive sensing element; a second electrically conductive region of the multiple electrically conductive regions, wherein the moveable component is configured to cause the second electrically conductive region to move or deform in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the capacitive sensing element; control circuitry configured to receive signals from the capacitive sensing element and to determine a rotation of the moveable component relative to the surface of the capacitive sensing element based on signals relating to the first electrically conductive region and to determine a depression of the moveable component relative to the surface of the capacitive sensing element based on signals relating to the second electrically conductive region. It will be appreciated that features and aspects of the invention described above in relation to the first and other aspects of the invention are equally applicable to, and may be combined with, embodiments of the invention according to other aspects of the invention as appropriate, and not just in the specific combinations described above. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is now described by way of example only with reference to the following drawings in which: Figure 1 schematically illustrates a user input mechanism including a user input element in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention; Figure 2 schematically illustrates the user input mechanism of Figure 1 viewed from above, and further schematically shows the positions of the a plurality of electrodes forming a capacitive sensing element; Figures 3a and 3b schematically illustrate an example user input element of a user input mechanism in more detail where Figure 3a shows the user input element in crosssection through the height of the user input element, while Figure 3b show the user input element in cross-section through a width of the user input element; Figures 4a and 4b schematically illustrates, in plan view, two different positions of a movable component of the user input element of Figure 3a and 3b and the corresponding electrically conductive regions of the moveable component relative to the plurality of electrodes, where Figure 4a shows the moveable component in a first position and Figure 4b shows the moveable component in a second position that is rotated by 45° compared to the first position of the moveable component; Figure 5 schematically illustrates a graph depicting sets of mutual capacitive measurements corresponding to sensor nodes of the user input mechanism of Figures 4a and 4b for two different scenarios for the moveable component; Figure 6 schematically illustrates a further example user input element of a user input mechanism, with the user input element shown in cross-section through the height of the user input element; and Figure 7 is a flow chart illustrating a method for performing a function for a user of a user input mechanism configured to provide a signal indicative of a user input. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present disclosure relates broadly to a user input element for use as part of a user input mechanism. More specifically, the user input element includes a moveable component, such as a depressible, rotatable dial, which can be used with a user input mechanism comprising a capacitive sensing element (comprising an array of electrodes) in addition to the user input element. Processing circuitry (sometimes called control circuitry) is provided to determine the position or state of the moveable component (such as the rotated position of a rotatable dial and whether the rotatable dial has been depressed or displaced towards the capacitive sensing element or not, e.g. as a button) relative to the capacitive sensing element. Depending on the determined position of the moveable component, the processing circuitry is capable of causing the execution of a function or action (e.g. provide feedback to the user, initiate a process, and / or transmit a signal). In this way, the user input element of the present disclosure is capable of providing a user input mechanism having a more “physical” feel to a user in comparison to a capacitive sensing element I touchscreen in isolation (for instance, by allowing a user to grip I rotate I move a component, in a similar manner to more mechanical conventional mechanisms), but which utilises capacitive sensing technology to actually determine the input. In particular the present disclosure describes a user input element which is capable of being used to accurately and independently identify both rotational movements (e.g. to allow a user to select an option) and a pressing I depressing action (e.g. to cause the execution of a function associated with the selected option), thereby providing a user with an intuitive physical mechanism for interacting with electronic circuitry (e.g. forming part of a computer system which may be implemented in a car and / or display). In addition, using capacitive sensing elements can allow for improved flexibility, both in terms of locating the moveable component as well as in respect of the provision of the inputs and of the feedback provided. That is, for example, the user input mechanism may be adapted to provide more or fewer positions corresponding to user inputs without changing any structural features of the moveable component. Additionally, the haptic feedback may be adapted depending on the user inputs and / or user preference. Thus, greater flexibility may be afforded to manufactures of the user input mechanisms. Figure 1 schematically shows, in perspective view, a user input mechanism 1 in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The user input mechanism 1 comprises a capacitive sensing element 100, measurement circuitry 105, processing circuitry 106, (optional) cover 108, and a user input element 10. In some examples, the user input element 10 comprises a moveable rotatable dial which may be termed a moveable component 130. The sensor element 100, cover 108 and user input element 10 may, more generally, be referred to as a user facing part of the user input mechanism 1 arranged such that the user is able to interact with the user input element 10 of the user input mechanism 1, while the measurement circuitry 105 and processing circuitry 106 may, more generally, be referred to as the controller (or control circuitry) of the user input mechanism 1. While not shown, the user input element 10 is connected to the sensor element 100 and I or cover 108 via a coupling component 140 configured to be fixedly mounted relative to a surface of a capacitive sensing element. The user input element 10 formed by at least the coupling component 140 and the moveable component 130 together (e.g. combining them). The user input mechanism 1 is intended for use with an associated system (not shown in Figure 1) whereby the user input mechanism 1, and particularly the user facing part of the user input mechanism 1, is arranged such that the user is able to actuate, e.g., grip and rotate, the user input element 10. For example, the user can actuate the user input element 10 to signify a desired input by a rotation action of the user input element 10 (e.g. rotating the moveable component 130 portion of the user input element 10 like a dial), and initiate an action or function corresponding to the desired input by a pressing action of the user input element 10 (e.g. depressing the moveable component 130 portion of the user input element 10 like a button). The control circuitry, and in particular the processing circuitry 106, is arranged to determine actuation of the user input element 10 and provide a signal to the associated system indicative of the desired user input, whereby the signal output from the processing circuitry 106 may be used by the associated system to control an associated function. For example, if the associated system performs the function of playing a sound I piece of music, e.g., through a speaker, rotation of the rotatable dial (i.e. the moveable component 130) in one direction (e.g., clockwise) may signify a user input associated with scrolling in a first direction (e.g. relative to the order of the list) through a list of pieces of music I sounds accessible by the associated system, while rotation of the rotatable dial in the other direction (e.g., anticlockwise) may signify a user input associated with scrolling in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, (e.g. relative to the order of the list) through a list of pieces of music / sounds accessible by the associated system. When a user scrolls to a desired piece of music I sound in the list which they wish to play, the user can push the rotatable dial towards the capacitive sensing element 100 (e.g. using the user input element 10 as a button) to cause associated system to perform the function of playing the desired music I sound. It will be appreciated that said scrolling can be linked to a visual display showing the progression of the user through a list when scrolling using such a rotatable dial. While in the above example, a user depresses the rotatable dial to cause the desired piece of music or sound to be played once they have found it by rotating the dial, in other examples, the user may depress the dial first and subsequently rotate the rotatable dial before ceasing to depress the rotatable dial (i.e. releasing) to cause associated system to perform the function of playing the desired music I sound. It should also be appreciated that the function of playing a sound I piece of music is just an example of a function that an associated system performs. The present disclosure is not limited to any particular function nor any particular associated system. In some implementations, the user input mechanism 1 may be integrally provided with the associated system. That is, for example, the cover 108 may form a part of the outer surface of any housing of the associated system (e.g., such as the housing of a stereo system or the console of a car). The control circuitry of the user input mechanism 1 may be integrally provided with the control circuitry of the associated system or, alternatively, the control circuitry of the user input mechanism 1 may be communicatively coupled to the control circuitry of the associated system. In other implementations, the user input mechanism 1 may be suitably adapted to be retrofit to the associated system; for example, to replace a mechanical rotatable dial or the like. Figure 2 schematically shows the user input mechanism 1, and specifically the capacitive sensing element 100, in more detail. Figure 2 shows the user input mechanism 1 in plan view; however, elements of the capacitive sensor element 100 are emphasised for clarity. The capacitive sensing element 100 is constructed from a substrate 103 that could be glass, plastic or another insulating material and upon which is arranged an array of electrically conductive electrodes comprising multiple laterally extending parallel electrodes, X-electrodes 101 (row electrodes), and multiple vertically extending parallel electrodes, Y-electrodes 102 (column electrodes). As will be explained in more detail below, the X-electrodes 101 and Y-electrodes 102 (which together may be referred to as an electrode array) define a sensing surface of the capacitive sensing element 100 and are configured to sense an electrically conductive object capacitively coupled to the electrode array 101, 102, and subsequently to permit a location of the electrically conductive object on the sensing surface of the capacitive sensing element 100 to be determined. To clarify the terminology, and as will be seen from Figure 2, the X-electrodes 101 (row electrodes) are aligned parallel to the X-direction and the Y-electrodes 102 (column electrodes) are aligned parallel to the Y-direction. Thus, the different X-electrodes allow the position of an electrically conductive object to be determined at different positions along the Y-direction while the different Y-electrodes allow the position of a conductive object to be determined at different positions along the X-direction. That is to say in accordance with the terminology used herein, the electrodes are named (in terms of X- and Y-) after their direction of extent rather than the direction along which they resolve position. It will however be appreciated these terms are simply used as a convenient way of distinguishing the groups of electrodes extending in the different directions. In particular, the terms are not intended to indicate any specific electrode orientation. In general the term "row" will be used to refer to electrodes extending in a horizontal direction for the orientations represented in the figures while the terms "column" will be used to refer to electrodes extending in a vertical direction in the orientations represented in the figures. In the described implementation, the electrodes 101, 102 are arranged on an orthogonal grid, generally with a first set of electrodes on one side of the substrate 103 and the other set of electrodes on the opposite side of the substrate 103 and oriented at substantially 90° to the first set. In other implementations, the electrodes may be oriented at a different angle (e.g., 30°) relative to one another. In addition, it should also be appreciated that it is also possible to provide structures where the grid of electrodes is formed on a single side of the substrate 103 and small conductive bridges are used to allow the two orthogonal sets of electrodes to cross each other without short circuiting. Regardless of the arrangement of the electrodes, broadly speaking, one set of electrodes is used to sense the position of conductive objects in a first axis that we shall call “X” and the second set to sense the position of conductive objects in the second orthogonal axis that we shall call “Y”. In some cases, each electrode may have a more detailed structure than the simple "bar" structures represented in Figure 2, but the operating principles are broadly the same. The electrodes 101, 102 are made of an electrically conductive material such as copper or Indium Tin Oxide (ITO). The nature of the various materials used depends on the desired characteristics of the user input mechanism 1. For example, the capacitive sensing element 100 may need to be transparent for use with an underlying display screen or source of illumination (such as one or more LEDs), in which case ITO electrodes and a plastic substrate may be employed. Alternatively, the capacitive sensing element 100 may be opaque, and hence can use lower cost copper electrodes and an epoxy-glass-fibre substrate (e.g. FR4). In the example, the cover (also referred to as a lens or panel) 108 is positioned in front of the substrate 103. The cover 108 acts to protect the substrate 103 and electrodes 101, 102. In this implementation, it is the surface of the cover 108 that forms the sensing surface. In other implementations, the cover 108 may be omitted, for example, in implementations where the electrodes 101, 102 are embedded in the substrate 103. Note that it is not necessary for any electrically conductive object to make direct galvanic connection to the electrodes 101, 102 in order to be sensed by the capacitive sensing element 100. Rather, an electrically conductive object in the vicinity of the capacitive sensing element 100 is capable of influencing the electric fields that the measurement circuitry 105 generates by driving the electrodes 101, 102. Referring back to Figure 2, the electrodes 101, 102 are electrically connected via circuit conductors 104 to measurement circuitry 105, which is in turn connected to processing circuitry 106 by means of a circuit conductor 107. The measurement circuitry 105 and I or the processing circuitry 106 may each be provided by a (micro)controller, processor, ASIC or similar form of control chip. Although shown separately in Figures 1 and 2, in some implementations, the measurement circuitry 105 and the processing circuitry 106 may be provided by the same (micro)controller, processor, ASIC or similar form of control chip. The measurement circuitry 105 and I or the processing circuitry 106 may be comprised of a printed circuit board (PCB), which may further include the various circuit conductors 104, 107. The measurement circuitry 105 and the processing circuitry 106 may be formed on the same PCB, or separate PCBs. Note also that the functionality provided by either of the measurement circuitry 105 and the processing circuitry 106 may be split across multiple circuit boards and / or across components which are not mounted to a PCB. The measurement circuitry 105 is configured to perform capacitance measurements associated with the electrodes 101, 102 (described in more detail below). The measurement circuitry 105 comprises drive circuitry 112 for generating electrical signals to be applied to the electrodes 101, 102 to allow the capacitance measurements to be made. The measurement circuitry 105 outputs the obtained capacitance measurements to the processing circuitry 106, which is arranged to perform processing on the capacitance measurements. In accordance with the present disclosure, the processing circuitry 106 is configured to determine a position of one or more electrically conductive objects relative to the capacitive sensing element 100 (or more specifically, the sensing surface thereof). More particularly, as will be described below, the one or more conductive objects correspond to multiple electrically conductive regions of the moveable component 130, and thus the processing circuitry 106 is configured not only to determine the relative locations of the one or more conductive objects of the moveable component 130 relative to the capacitive sensing element 100 but also to determine the position of the moveable component 130 relative to the capacitive sensing element 100 / sensing surface based on the fixed relationship between the (e.g. rotation and displacement perpendicular to the surface). Figures 3a and 3b schematically show an example configuration of the user input element 10 comprising a moveable component 130 as shown in Figure 2 and a coupling component 140. Figure 3a shows the user input element 10 in cross-section in a plane defined by a diameter and height of the user input element 10 while Figure 3b shows a cross-sectional view in a plane perpendicular to the height. According to the described example, the moveable component 130 comprises a main body 131 that has an approximately cylindrical shape with a top surface inward of the periphery of the cylindrical shape, where the diameter of the cylindrical shape is greater than the height (or thickness) of the moveable component 130, as seen in Figure 3a. The main body 131 is generally formed of a non-conductive material, for example a plastic material, and forms an outer surface that is intended to be touched / gripped by a user of the user input mechanism 1. However, in some examples, the main body 131 can be formed of a conductive material (e.g. metal or conductive plastic material). At least the cylindrical portion of the main body 131 may be provided by a tube or annular wall. In some examples (as shown) the top surface may be angled with respect to the outer cylindrical surface (e.g. at an angle of between 15 and 75 degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical shape). Furthermore, in some examples (not shown), the main body 131 of the moveable component 130 (e.g. an outer surface of the main body defining a cover) is provided with knurling (for example on the outer cylindrical surface of the main body 131) or indentations (for example on the top surface) to help facilitate user interaction with the moveable component 130. The moveable component 130 further comprises one or more first electrically conductive regions 132 and one or more second electrically conductive regions 133 (sometimes collectively called multiple electrically conductive regions). In some examples, first electrically conductive region(s) 132 is provided by a first resilient portion of the moveable component 130 and I or the second electrically conductive region (s) 133 is provided by a second resilient portion of the moveable component 130. Each of the first and second electrically conductive regions is provided by a mass of electrically conductive material. In some examples, the first resilient portion and I or the second resilient portion (providing the first and I or second electrically conductive regions) each comprise electrically conductive mass. For example, the first and I or second electrically conductive regions may be provided by a resilient material such as a metal or a (electrically) conductive plastic. Each of the multiple electrically conductive regions may be a respective portion of such a mass. For example, an electrically conductive region may be a smaller portion (sometimes called a wiper) of a mass which is provided to be closer to a capacitive sensing element 100 when the user input element 10 is couple to the capacitive sensing element 100, with the mass also including a larger portion 136 provided further from the capacitive sensing element 100 (sometimes called a ground mass or GND mass 136). Without being bound by theory, the smaller size of the smaller portion close to the capacitive sensing element 100 allows for more precise coupling whilst the connection with the mass of the larger portion allows for a stronger capacitive coupling thereby leading to more accurate detection. In view of the above, the term electrically conductive region is used to describe a portion, volume or section of an electrically conductive material which is provided or positioned in the moveable component 130 so as to be able to interact or couple with the capacitive sensing element 100 in use. Additionally, as seen in Figure 3b in particular, there are two of the first electrically conductive regions 132 offset from the central axis of the moveable component 130 (around which the moveable component 130 is arranged to rotate) and positioned on opposite sides of the moveable component 130. The first electrically conductive regions 132 may be a wiper portion of a conductive mass which projects a surface (e.g., the circular surface as seen in Figure 3b) onto I adjacent to I proximal to the surface of the cover 108 / substrate 103 when the moveable component 130 is coupled to the cover 108 / substrate 103. In some examples, a mass of electrically conductive material within the moveable component 130 comprises a first electrically conductive region 132 (e.g. a wiper) and a GND mass 136. In some examples, the two first electrically conducive regions 132 are portions of a continuous conductive mass 136 (e.g. the GND mass). For example, the wiper portions defining the first electrically conductive regions 132 may be a projection or protrusion from an annular shape providing the larger GND mass of the each electrically conductive region 132. In other examples, the electrically conducive regions 132 are discrete electrically conductive regions 132. In some examples, the electrically conductive regions 132 are separated from each other by the electrically non-conductive material of the main body 131 (for example, the GND mass 136 may be absent in these implementations). In this manner, as discussed in greater detail below, the (connected or disconnected) two first electrically conductive regions 132 are capable of providing discrete, detectable signals at the capacitive sensing element 100. In the example described above, the two electrically conductive regions 132 are provided by wipers that are cylindrical in shape and are located in the main body 131 of the moveable component 130. However, in other implementations, the electrically conductive regions 132 may take other shapes (e.g. L-shaped, T-shaped or with an arc shape). The wiper passes across the surface of the cover 108 / substrate 103 as the moveable component 130 is rotated. Furthermore, while the two electrically conductive regions 13 are depicted on radially opposite sides of the movable component 130 with respect to an axis of the movable component 130, in other examples the two electrically conductive regions 13 may be radially spaced at an angle other than 180° (e.g. an angle between 150° and 30°, such as preferably 90°). In the present example, two first electrically conductive regions 132 are provided but it will be appreciated that in other implementations only one first electrically conductive region 132 may be provided or more than two first electrically conductive regions 132 may be provided. When two or more first electrically conductive regions 132 are provided, the plurality of electrically conductive regions 132 are arranged such that at least two of the first electrically conductive regions 132 form discrete electrically conductive regions, e.g., discrete masses or discrete projections from a single mass, Regardless of the number of first electrically conductive regions 132 provided, the surface projected from each first electrically conductive region 132 onto the surface of the cover 108 / substrate 103 (for example, such as the circular surfaces of the electrically conductive regions 132 seen in Figure 3b) does not occupy the entire projected surface of the moveable component 130. In some examples, a mass of electrically conductive material within the moveable component 130 comprises the second electrically conductive region 133 (e.g. a wiper or protrusion) and a GND mass 138 (sometimes called the second GND mass 138 in comparison to the first GND mass 136). In other words, the second electrically conductive regions 133 may be a smaller portion of a conductive mass (e.g. a rod or protrusion) which projects or extends from a larger mass 138, sometimes called a ground I GND mass 138, towards the surface of the cover 108 / substrate 103 when the moveable component 130 is coupled to the cover 108 / substrate 103. Together the smaller projecting portion defining the second electrically conductive region and the larger GND portion 138 may be termed a piston or plunger, with the larger GND portion 138 providing a head or cap, and the second electrically conductive region 133 providing a rod attached to the head or cap. In the example, the second electrically conductive region 133 (e.g. a rod) is cylindrical in shape; however, in other implementations, the second electrically conductive region 133 may take other shapes (e.g. L-shaped, T-shaped or with an arc shape). In some other examples, the second electrically conductive region 133 comprises a conductive coating on the end of a plunger (e.g. rod) formed from an insulating material. In some further examples, the second electrically conductive region 133 comprises a component which is separate from but in contact with a plunger, such that movement of the plunger (e.g. the rod of the plunger) creates a force on the component providing the second electrically conductive region 133 (see for example, the embodiment of Figure 6). As will be explained in more detail below, the second electrically conductive region 133 does not move across the surface of the cover 108 / substrate 103 as the moveable component 130 is rotated, but is instead maintained in a substantially constant position with respect to the surface. However, the second electrically conductive region 133 can be pushed or pressed I depressed I compressed (e.g. towards the cover 108 / substrate 103 in use (this may be termed a displacement or deformation of the second electrically conductive region 133 relative to the cover 108 / substrate 103). The second electrically conductive region 133 may be moved or deformed by the action of the user. In some examples, where the second electrically conductive region 133 comprises a component which is separate from but in contact with a plunger or rod of the movable component, movement of the plunger or rod creates a force on the component providing the second electrically conductive region 133 which manipulates the configuration of the second electrically conductive region 133 in a direction parallel to the axis along which the plunger or rod were pushed, thereby leading to a translation of at least a part of the second electrically conductive region 133 or a compression (e.g. depression caused by a pressing action)_of at least a part of the second electrically conductive region 133 towards the cover 108 I substrate 103. In use, the first electrically conductive regions 132 and the second electrically conductive region 133 are able to capacitively couple to the electrodes 101, 102. That is to say, when the moveable component 130 is provided, the electrodes 101, 102 are capable of detecting the electrically conductive regions 132,133 and positions thereof. The first electrically conductive region(s) 132 and second electrically conductive region 133 are separate from one another (e.g. formed or provided by distinct and disconnected masses or components) such that the second electrically conductive region 133 is able to move or be compressed relative to the capacitive sensing element 100 without substantially moving the first electrically conductive region(s) 132. In some examples, the first electrically conductive region(s) 132 is provided radially outward of the second electrically conductive region 133 relative to an axis of the moveable component 130. As a result, the position of the first electrically conductive region(s) 132 is moved radially about the axis (e.g. in an arc) when the moveable component 130 is rotated about the axis. In some examples, the second electrically conductive region 133 coincides with the axis. For example, as shown in Figure 3a and 3b, there is a single second electrically conductive region 133 which is aligned with a central axis of the moveable component 130 (around which the moveable component 130 is arranged to rotate). As a result, the second electrically conductive region 133 is substantially fixed in position irrespective of the rotation state of the moveable component 130 (e.g. while the second electrically conductive region 133 may spin when the moveable component 130 rotates, the second electrically conductive region 133 remains centred on the axis (e.g. its bulk or centre of gravity does not substantially move from the axis)). As explained in more detail below, this enables the first electrically conductive region(s) 132 to be used to determine a radial movement of the moveable component 130, and the second electrically conductive region(s) 132 to be used to determine a non-radial movement such as a depression of the moveable component 130 towards the conductive sensing element 100. In the example of Figure 3a and 3b, the electrically conductive regions 132,133 are exposed at a lower surface to the cover 1081 substrate 103, but it should be appreciated that the first electrically conductive regions 132 and / or the second electrically conductive regions 133 may be encased in or covered by (a portion of) the main body 131 of the moveable component 130 such that there exists a region of the main body 131 between the lower surface of the first electrically conductive regions 132 and / or the second electrically conductive region 133 and the upper surface of the cover 108 / substrate 103. In some examples, the user input element 10 comprises a cover (e.g. provided by the main body 131 of the moveable component 130). In these examples, the first electrically conductive region(s) 132 and the second electrically conductive region(s) 133 are connected by the cover. The main body 131 can be considered or termed a cover in that it defines at least a portion of the outer surface of the user input element 10 and I or moveable component 130. In the present example, the first electrically conductive regions 132 are positioned such that they are close to the outer perimeter of the main body 131 but are covered on a radially outer side by the outer surface of the main body 131. As such in some examples, a first portion of the outer surface of the moveable component 130 comprises a peripheral surface surrounding the axis. This peripheral surface at least partially encloses the first electrically conductive regions 132. In this way, the mass (or masses) proving the first electrically conductive regions 132 are protected from direct contact with the user’s hand (e.g., to help avoid degradation or corrosion of the conductive region 132). In other implementations, the surface of the first electrically conductive regions 132 may be exposed and be capable of direct contact with the user’s hand. As such, in some examples, a second resilient portion providing a first electrically conductive region 132 (or multiple first electrically conductive regions 132) provides at least a second portion of the outer surface of the user input element 10 (e.g. in addition to a first portion of the outer surface provided by the cover defined by the main body 131). In some examples, a third portion of the outer surface of the user input element 10 comprises a top surface perpendicular to the axis. For example, as shown in Figure 3a, the upper surface of the mass 138 connected to the second electrically conductive region 133 is exposed and capable of direct contact with the user’s hand. Without being bound by theory, this can enhance or strengthen the coupling of the second electrically conductive region 133 to the sensor units of the sensing element 100 due to galvanic effect from the user. In some examples, the main body 131 is formed of an electrically conductive material coupled with the mass 138 such that the signals associated with the second electrically conductive region 133 will be strong even if the user presses the moveable component 130 down when gripping only the sides of the moveable component 130 (e.g. the sides radially outward of the first electrically conductive regions 132). As such, in some examples, the cover provided by the main body 131 comprises an electrically conductive material having an electrically conductive connection with the second electrically conductive region 133. In other implementations, the upper surface of the mass 138 is not exposed and at least an outer surface of the main body 131 is not formed of a conductive material. Instead the mass 138 is protected from direct contact with the user’s hand (e.g., to help avoid degradation or corrosion). The user input element 10 of Figures 3a and 3b includes a coupling component 140 which comprises a shaft 144 (e.g. a spindle, rod or tube) around which the moveable component 130 is able to rotate. In other words, the shaft 144 defines an axis constraining the rotation of the moveable component. In most examples, the axis is orientated perpendicular or normal to a surface of the capacitive sensing element 100 (e.g. normal to the outer surface of the cover 108 or substrate 103), such that rotation of the moveable component 130 is in the plane of the surface of the capacitive sensing element 100. In some examples, the axis may be angled away from perpendicular normal to the surface (e.g. by up to 15 degrees), however generally the user element 10 is configured to provide the first electrically conductive regions 132 such that they are able to interact with the capacitive sensing element 100 at all rotations of the first electrically conductive regions 132 (e.g. the axis is substantially normal to the surface, and no more than 5 degrees). In some examples, the shaft 144 is a hollow shaft and comprises a hollow or tubular component which is sized to receive the second electrically conductive region 133 within the hollow or tube cavity (e.g. a cylinder providing the second electrically conductive region 133 is able to fit within a tube providing shaft 144). In some examples, the shaft 144 comprises an annular or cylindrical tube, the axis extending through a centre of the annular tube, wherein the second electrically conductive region is configured to be moved parallel to the axis within an inner volume of the annular tube by a user of the user input element. For example as shown in Figure 3b, the shaft 144 is provided by a cylindrical tube. In some examples, the moveable component 130 comprises a rod having the second electrically conductive region 133 at or towards a first end of the rod, wherein the rod is operable to be moved within the inner volume of the annular configuration (e.g. annular tube) when a force is applied to a second end of the rod (e.g. by a user pressing or pushing an exposed surface of the rod or a surface of the main body 131). For example, as described above the second electrically conductive region 133 can be described as a rod of a piston or plunger (e.g. in combination with the GND mass 138). The rod of the second electrically conductive region 133 is inserted into the hollow tube, and configured to move within the tube when a force is applied by a user (e.g. moved towards the cover 108 I substrate 103). The combination of the shaft 144 and the inserted second electrically conductive region 133 allows for the moveable component 130 to be coupled to the coupling component 140 and configured to be moveable by a user of the user input element 10 relative to the coupling component 140. In some examples, both the shaft 144 and the rod of the second electrically conductive region 133 have circular cross-sections (e.g. a circular tube and a cylinder respectively). In some other examples, the shaft 144 may be provided by a tube having a non-circular cross-section (e.g. elliptical or polygonal). In some examples, the shaft 144 and the second electrically conductive region 133 may have relatively similar sizes and shapes to create an interference fit (at least at one or more adjacent portions of the inner surface of shaft 144 and second electrically conductive region 133). Such an interference fit acts to retain the moveable component 130 in contact with the coupling component 140, whilst also allowing motion of the moveable component 130 with respect to the coupling component (without excessive resistance). In other examples, the shaft 144 and second electrically conductive region 133 may be constrained relative to each other by means other than an interference fit (e.g. a clip or similar); in these examples the shaft 144 acts to guide or restrict the rotation of the moveable component 130 relative to the axis. For example, the movable component 130 may be retained by a lip or step of the coupling component (e.g. a lip or step protruding radially outwards from the axial tube of the coupling component) and / or the movable component 130 may be retained by a spring connecting the movable component 130 and the coupling component 133. The spring may be a foam or helical spring formed of a non-conductive (e.g. insulating) material. The spring may be positioned, connected or otherwise provided at the first end of the rod (e.g. the end having the second electrically conductive region 133 and such that the spring touches or contacts the substrate 103 or the cover 108 (or an intervening surface of the coupling component 140). In some other examples, an elastically deformable separator 150 (or multiple separators), as discussed below, may provide a spring, as well as connecting the first electrically conductive region (or regions) 132 to the rest of the movable component 130. In some examples, the moveable component 130 comprises a ring (e.g. defining the GND mass 136 and wipers 132), wherein the shaft 144 extends through a centre of the ring. The ring comprises a wiper extending out of a plane of the ring, the first electrically conductive region 132 provided by the wiper. In some examples the ring is formed of an electrically conductive material (e.g. a single monolithic component shaped of formed to provide the ring with wiper(s)), whereas in other examples the moveable component 130 is configured such that a plurality of first electrically conductive region 132 are arranged with a non-conductive material disposed there between (e.g. each wiper providing a first electrically conductive region 132 is formed of a conductive material, but the ring component from which they extend is a substantially electrically insulating material). In some other examples, the shaft 144 may comprise a rod and the second electrically conductive region 133 may comprise an annular tube which is configured to accommodate the rod within the cavity of the annular tube. In these examples, the second electrically conductive region 133 defined by the annular tube is coaxial with the axis of the moveable component 130 such that the second electrically conductive region 133 (which may be considered an end portion of the annular tube) is substantially radially constant when the moveable component 130 is moved (e.g. its average position or bulk remains centred on the axis). In some examples, both the rod and the annular tube have a small outer diameter (e.g. relative to the radial position of the one or more first electrically conductive regions 132) such that the electrically conductive region 133 defined by the annular tube interacts with only a limited portion of the conductive sensing element 100 (e.g. one or only a limited number (e.g. 2,3, or 4) of nodes as described below). In line with some examples, the coupling component 140 of Figures 3a and 3b further includes an adhesive surface 142 which is configured to adhere the coupling component 140 to the substrate 103 or the cover 108 if present. In particular, the coupling component 140 is configured to be fixedly mounted relative to the surface of the capacitive sensing element 100 (e.g. substrate 103 or cover 108) by the adhesive surface 142. In some examples, the adhesive surface 142 comprises a planar surface which is positioned or provided parallel to a surface defined by the substrate 103 or cover 108 when adhering the adhesive surface 142 to the substrate 103 or cover 108. In these examples, the shaft 144 of the coupling element 140 may extend perpendicular or normal to the planar surface such that the axis defined by the shaft 144 is perpendicular or normal to the surface of the substrate 103 or cover 108. The adhesive surface 142 may be a flat or textured surface onto which a suitable adhesive has been applied. For example, the adhesive may be a compound suitable for temporarily or permanently attaching the adhesive surface 142 to the substrate 103 or cover 108 based on the materials of the adhesive surface 142 and the substrate 103 or cover 108 (e.g. an epoxy or glue based adhesive). In some examples, the coupling element 140 may be adhered to the substrate 103 or cover by a double-sided sticky tape (e.g. positioned between the adhesive surface 142 and the substrate 103 or cover 108). Suitable examples of the doublesided sticky tapes include 3M 9472LE tape and 3M VHB tape, although it will be appreciated that many other double-sided sticky tapes could be used instead. In some examples, the shaft 144 and the adhesive surface 142 are joined at a junction of the shaft 144 and the adhesive surface 142. For example, the shaft 144 may be attached or joined to a centre or inner edge of the adhesive surface 142 (e.g. an adhesive surface 142 having defining a circular planar surface). In some examples, the shaft 144 and adhesive surface 142 may be formed from a single continuous material (e.g. by 3D printing or injection moulding) having a shape defining both the shaft 144 and adhesive surface 142. As noted above, the moveable component 130 is coupled to the coupling component 140 such that it is configured to be moveable by a user of the user input element 10 relative to the coupling component 140 (e.g. a rotational motion relative to the shaft 144 as an axis, or a translational movement along the axis of the shaft 144). Due to the fixed attachment of the coupling component 140 to the capacitive sensing element 100, the moveable component 130 is also moved relative to capacitive sensing element 100, as constrained by the configuration of the shaft 144 and adhesive surface 142 of the coupling component 140. In some other examples (not shown), the coupling component 140 may not include an adhesive surface 142, and instead the coupling component 140 (including the shaft 144) may be fixedly mounted relative to the capacitive sensing element 100 by a different method (e.g. clips or other suitable fixing mechanisms). In some example, such as the examples depicted in Figures 3a and 3b, the moveable component 150 comprises an elastically deformable separator 150 (sometimes called an elastic portion or component). The elastically deformable separator 150 is a component which is elastically deformed when compressed such that a restorative force acts upon the component to return it to its original state, without any (or substantially any) physical deformation of the material forming the component as a result of the compression. The elastically deformable separator 150 is provided directly or indirectly between a first electrically conductive region 132. The elastically deformable separator 150 separates the first electrically conductive region 132 from the second electrically conductive region 133, and is intended to be compressed when the second electrically conductive region 133 is moved towards the first electrically conductive region 132 which are provided closer to the capacitive sensing element 100 when the movable component 130 is in an un-pressed position (i.e. the user is not pressing the movable component 130 towards the capacitive sensing element 100). For example, the first electrically conductive region 132 is generally provided adjacent to the surface of the capacitive sensing element 100 (or separated by a physical layer such as covers) at all times, whereas the second electrically conductive region 133 is displaced further from the surface when a user is not actively pushing or pressing the movable component 130 towards the capacitive sensing element 100. As a result the movement of the first electrically conductive region 132 towards the capacitive sensing element 100 is constrained by the presence of the capacitive sensing element 100 itself, and as a result a force which moves the second electrically conductive region 133 towards the capacitive sensing element 100 acts on the elastically deformable separator 150 to compress it. In this way, the elastically deformable separator 150 allows for the axial displacement of the first electrically conductive regions 132 and the second electrically conductive region 133 to be reversibly changed during a pressing event as a result of the elastically compressible nature of the elastically deformable separator 150. Therefore, when the second electrically conductive region 133 and main body 131 are moved towards the capacitive sensing element 100 (as shown by the arrows depicted in Figure 3a) the elastically deformable separator 150 is compressed. When a user ceases to press the second electrically conductive region 133 and main body 131 towards the capacitive sensing element 100, the restoring force generated by the elastic nature of the elastically deformable separator 150 causes the second electrically conductive region 133 and main body 131 to return to their original position, prior to the user’s pressing action. In this way the second electrically conductive region 133 can be brought close to the capacitive sensing element 100 (thereby inducing a signal) when a user presses the moveable component 130 (e.g. a button press, or depressing action), without any change to the position of the first electrically conductive region 132 (i.e. because the position of the first electrically conductive region 132 relative to the remainder of the moveable component 130 is maintained by the elastically deformable separator 150). In other words, the presence of the elastically deformable separator 150 allows for the second electrically conductive region 133 to be moved towards or away from the capacitive sensing element 100 without requiring a corresponding movement of the first electrically conductive region 132 towards or away from the capacitive sensing element 100. As a result the elastically deformable separator 150 allows for the first electrically conductive region(s) 132 and second electrically conductive region 133 to be separate from one another (i.e. the elastically deformable separator 150 separates them) such that the second electrically conductive region 133 is able to move or be compressed (e.g. be deformed or manipulated) relative to the capacitive sensing element 100 without substantially moving the first electrically conductive region(s) 132. In some examples, the elastically deformable separator 150 comprises a rubber element, a compressible foam element and / or a spring. In some examples, the elastically deformable separator 150 is provided indirectly between a first electrically conductive region 132 and a second electrically conductive region 133. For example, the first electrically conductive region 132 and the second electrically conductive region 133 can be connected by a cover provided by the main body 131 (e.g. the cover being a portion of the main body 131 that defines at least a first portion of an outer surface of the user input element 10), with the cover being provided between the elastically deformable separator 150 and the second electrically conductive region 133. Hence in these examples, the first electrically conductive region 132 is connected to the elastically deformable separator 150, the elastically deformable separator 150 is connected to the cover / main body 131, and the cover / main body 131 is connected to the second electrically conductive region 133. In some other examples (not shown), the elastically deformable separator 150 is provided directly between a first electrically conductive region 132 and a second electrically conductive region 133, in that the elastically deformable separator 150 is in contact with the first electrically conductive region 132 and the second electrically conductive region 133. The elastically deformable separator 150 can be attached to components of the moveable component 130 by any suitable means (e.g. adhesive, fixings, etc.). In some examples, the shaft 144 of the coupling component 140 includes an abutting portion 146 which is configured to impede or prevent the continued movement of the moveable component 130 towards the capacitive sensing element 100 when a user presses or pushes the moveable component 130 from its non-pressed state. For example, the abutting portion 146 acts as a physical blocker with is incident with the movement path of a part of the moveable component 130 and which prevents further movement of the part of the moveable component 130 beyond an initial range, said initial range being enough to bring the second electrically conductive region 133 into proximity with the capacitive sensing element 100 to trigger a response (e.g. a change in capacitance). In some examples, such as the example of Figure 3a, the abutting portion 146 is configured to impede the movement of the GND mass 138 (e.g. the head of the plunger) towards the capacitive sensing element 100 (see the two arrows between the GND mass 138 and the abutting portion 146). In other examples, abutting portion 146 may instead impede the movement of a portion of the main body 131 (which indirectly causes the second electrically conductive region 133 to stop moving towards the capacitive sensing element 100). This may allow for a more controlled movement of the second electrically conductive region 133 and prevent damage of the capacitive sensing element 100 (e.g. the substrate 103 or cover 108) by the second electrically conductive region 133 (e.g. if the second electrically conductive region 133 were to impact the substrate 103 or cover 108 repeatedly). Therefore, as described above in relation to Figures 3a and 3b for example, the present invention relates to a user input element 10 for use as part of a user input mechanism 1 for providing a signal indicative of a user input to a system communicatively coupled to the user input mechanism 10. The user input mechanism 10 comprises a coupling component 140, a moveable component 130. The coupling component 140 is configured to be fixedly mounted relative to a surface of a capacitive sensing element 100 and comprises a shaft 144 defining an axis. The moveable component 130 is coupled to the coupling component 140 and configured to be moveable by a user of the user input element 10 (relative to the coupling component 140 and the capacitive sensing element 100 to which it is attached). The moveable component 130 provides multiple electrically conductive regions capable of capacitive coupling to the capacitive sensing element 100. There is a first electrically conductive region 132 and a second electrically conductive region 133 of the multiple electrically conductive regions. The first electrically conductive region 132 is capable of being rotated about the axis by a user of the user input element 10. The second electrically conductive region 133 is capable of being moved parallel to the axis (e.g. a translational movement along the axial direction of the axis) by a user of the user input element (without a corresponding movement of the first electrically conductive region parallel to the axis). As explained in more detail below, this enables the system to distinguish rotational movements associated with the first electrically conductive region 132 from pressing actions associated with the second electrically conductive region 133. Referring back to Figure 2, in terms of how the measurement circuitry 105 uses the electrodes 101, 102 of the capacitive sensing element 100 to make its measurements, any suitable technique may be used. A first technique is based on measuring what is frequently referred to as “mutualcapacitance”. With such a technique, the measurement circuitry 105 will sequentially or in parallel stimulate each of an array of transmitter (driven / drive) electrodes, for example the X electrodes 101, that are capacitively coupled by virtue of their proximity to an array of receiver electrodes, for example the Y electrodes 102. (It should be appreciated that, in other implementations, the Y electrodes 102 may instead be the transmitting electrodes and the X electrodes 101 may instead be the receiving electrodes). The area local to and centred on the intersection of a transmitter and a receiver electrode is typically referred to as a “node” or “intersection point”. With this technique, the resulting electric field is now directly coupled from the transmitter electrode(s) 101 to each of the nearby receiver electrodes 102. Electrically conductive objects, such as the first and second electrically conductive regions 132, 133 and / or a user’s hand gripping the moveable component 130, partly divert the generated electric field. An extra return path to the measurement circuitry 105 is now established via an electrically conductive region 132,133 and / or user and “free-space”. However, because this extra return path acts to couple the diverted field directly to the measurement circuitry 105, the amount of field coupled to the nearby receiver electrode 102 decreases. This is measured by the measurement circuitry 105 as a decrease in the “mutualcapacitance” between that particular transmitter electrode and receiver electrodes in the vicinity of an electrically conductive region 132, 133. The measurement circuitry 105 senses this change in mutual capacitance of one or more nodes. For example, if a reduction in capacitive coupling to a given Y-electrode is observed while a given X-electrode is being driven, it may be determined an electrically conductive region 132, 133 is present in the vicinity of where the given X-electrode and given Y-electrode cross, or intersect. The decrease in the mutual capacitance at a given node is strongly dependent on the overlapping area (or projected surface) of an electrically conductive region 132,133 with the node. In other words, the mutual capacitance at a particular node decreases when an electrically conductive region 132,133 is positioned above (or overlapping with) the node, as compared to the scenario when an electrically conductive region 132,133 does not overlap the node or overlaps but is displaced away from the node. A second technique is based on measuring what is frequently referred to as “selfcapacitance”. The measurement circuitry 105 is configured to generate and apply an electrical stimulus (drive signal) to each electrode 101, 102 which will cause an electric field 110 to form around it. This field 110 couples through the space around the electrode back to the measurement circuitry 105 via numerous conductive return paths that are part of the nearby circuitry of the sensor element 100 and the product housing (shown schematically by reference numeral 114), or physical elements from the nearby surroundings 115 etc., so completing a capacitive circuit 116. The overall sum of return paths is typically referred to as the “free space return path” in an attempt to simplify an otherwise hard-to-visualize electric field distribution. The important point to realise is that the measurement circuitry 105 is only driving each electrode from a single explicit electrical terminal; the other terminal is the capacitive connection via this “free space return path”. The capacitance measured by the measurement circuitry 105 is the “self-capacitance” of the sensor electrode (and connected tracks) that is being driven relative to free space (or Earth as it is sometimes called) i.e. the “self-capacitance” of the relevant sensor electrode. Touching or approaching the electrode with a conductive element, such as a human finger, causes some of the field to couple via the finger through the connected body, through free space and back to the measurement circuitry 105. This extra return path can be relatively strong for large objects (such as the human body), and so can give a stronger coupling of the electrode’s field back to the measurement circuitry 105; touching or approaching the electrode hence increases the selfcapacitance of the electrode. The measurement circuitry 105 is configured to sense this increase in capacitance. The increase is strongly proportional to the area of the applied touch 109 and is normally weakly proportional to the touching body’s size (the latter typically offering quite a strong coupling and therefore not being the dominant term in the sum of series connected capacitances). It should be appreciated that the above techniques are capable of allowing a position on, and I or a proximity to, the sensing surface of the capacitive sensing element 100 of the one or more electrically conductive regions 132,133 of the moveable component 130 to be determined. For example, using the mutual capacitance measurement technique, individual mutual capacitance measurements are able to be made for each of the nodes formed by the X-electrodes 101 and Y-electrodes 102 and hence those nodes that exhibit a decrease in mutual capacitance indicate a position (such as a Cartesian X-Y position) on the sensing surface of the capacitive sensing element 100. Figures 4a and 4b schematically show the moveable component 130 in a first position (Figure 4a) and a second position (Figure 4b) relative to the capacitive sensing element 100. Figures 4a and 4b show the user input mechanism 1 when viewed from above, i.e., looking at the X-Y plane in which the electrodes 101, 102 sit. Figures 4a and 4b will be understood from Figure 2; however, certain features have been omitted for clarity, such as the measurement circuitry 105 and processing circuitry 106, for example. Figures 4a and 4b show the substrate 103 of the capacitive sensing element 100 along with the X-electrodes 101 and Y-electrodes 102 arranged in an orthogonal grid (as described in relation to Figure 2), along with the cover 108. Figures 4a and 4b further show the moveable component 130 overlying the cover layer 108. For ease of understanding, parts of the electrodes 101, 102 that lie under the moveable component 130 are shown by dashed lines. In addition, the first and second electrically conductive regions 132, 133 of the moveable component 130 are also schematically shown by shaded circles in Figures 4a and 4b. Figure 4a shows the moveable component 130 arranged in a first position. In this example, the first position is one in which a line connecting the centres of the electrically conductive regions 132,133 is aligned with (i.e., parallel to) the X-axis of the sensing surface of the capacitive sensing element 100. As detailed above, the moveable component 130 is configured to rotate about the shaft 144 (not shown in Figure 4a) to allow the moveable component 130 to be placed into different (rotational) positions relative to the capacitive sensing element 100. The first position described in Figure 4a may be referred to as the 0° position indicating the alignment with the X-axis of the capacitive sensing element 100. Figure 4b shows the moveable component 130 arranged in a second position. In this example, the second position is one in which the moveable component 130 is rotated clockwise (with respect to Figures 4a and 4b) by approximate 45° from the first position of Figure 4a. Accordingly, the line connecting the centres of the electrically conductive regions 132,133 is now provided at a 45° angle to the X-axis of the sensing surface of the capacitive sensing element 100 (note that the position of the second electrically conductive region 133 is substantially constant whilst the positions of two first electrically conductive regions 132 have shifted radially). The second position described in Figure 4b may be referred to as the 45° position indicating the displacement relative to the X-axis of the capacitive sensing element 100. It should be appreciated that Figures 4a and 4b represent only two positions that the moveable component 130 may be placed in by a user and many more positions may be available. Accordingly, the present disclosure should not be considered limited to providing only two positions of the moveable component 130 relative to the capacitive sensing element 100. Furthermore, it is noted that in each of the two positions, the moveable component 130 can be considered to be in at least a depressed sub-position (e.g. when the elastically deformable separator is in a compressed state) or a relaxed sub-position (e.g. when the elastically deformable separator is in a non-compressed state) dependent on translational position parallel to the axis (e.g. normal to a surface of the capacitive sensing element 100 to which the coupling component 140 is joined)) which can be considered to correspond to a separation distance of the second electrically conductive region 133 relative to the capacitive sensing element 100. The depressed sub-position and the relaxed sub-position may be termed displacement states. For example, the depressed sub-position may be a first displacement state corresponding to a pressed state caused by a pressing action of a user, while the relaxed sub-position may be a second displacement state corresponding to a nonpressed state (e.g. when a user is not pressing the moveable component 130 towards the capacitive sensing element 100). In some examples, there may be further displacement states in addition to the first and second displacement states (e.g. the first and second displacement states may be extremes of the movement range of the moveable dial relative to a surface of the capacitive sensing element 100, and further displacement states may be intermediate displacement states between the first and second displacement states). As noted above, the processing circuitry 106 is configured to receive capacitive measurements, such as mutual-capacitance measurements, of the relevant capacitances of the electrode array 101, 102 from the measurement circuitry 105. On the basis of the obtained measurements from the measurement circuitry 105, the processing circuitry 106 is configured to determine the position of the moveable component 130 including both a rotation state and a depressed / non-pressed state (e.g. the displacement state). For the purposes of the following example, we consider a user input mechanism configured to operate using the mutual capacitance measurement technique. That is, the measurement circuitry 105 is configured to apply a drive signal to one or more transmitter electrodes (e.g., X-electrodes 101) and measure the mutual capacitance between a given transmitter electrode and a given receiver electrode (e.g., Y-electrodes 102). Accordingly, the measurement circuitry 105 is capable of outputting mutual capacitance measurements corresponding to each of the nodes (that is, the locations where the X-electrodes 101 cross or intersect the Y-electrodes 102) of the electrode array. Some of the nodes in Figures 4a and 4b are labelled (1 to 9) to help explain the principles of the present disclosure, and these nodes are chose in particular because these are the nodes (1 to 8) that most closely correspond to the circular pathway that the first electrically conductive regions 132 may be moved along during rotation of the moveable component 130, and the node (9) that the second electrically conductive regions 133 that remains substantially overlapping irrespective of the rotation of the moveable component 130. Only these nodes 1 to 9 are considered in the following description for ease of explanation. Figure 5 is a graph depicting the mutual capacitance, C, shown on the Y-axis, for each of the nodes 1 to 9 (shown on the X-axis). Three sets of measurements are shown in Figure 5, with each set of measurements corresponding to a different scenario. For ease of explanation, each set of measurements is labelled Mi, M2 or M3 corresponding to one of three different scenarios. For each set of measurements, there is shown an indication of the mutual capacitive coupling for each of the nodes 1 to 9 relative to a reference or baseline capacitance value (the dashed line labelled Cb). The precise value of the baseline here is not significant for the present discussion, but the baseline is considered to represent an expected mutual capacitance for each node in the absence of any external conductive objects (such as the electrically conductive regions 132,133). Note that while Figure 5 shows these values as being the same for each node, this may not necessarily be the case and each node may have an individual baseline mutual capacitance. The first set of measurements, Mi, represents the mutual capacitances of each of the sensor nodes 1 to 9 obtained when the moveable component 130 is in the first position (i.e., the position as shown in Figure 4a) and when the moveable component is not in a depressed state (i.e. has not been pressed or pushed towards the capacitive sensing element 100). As can be seen from the set of measurements, Mi, the mutual capacitances of each of the nodes 2 to 4, 6 to 8 and 9 are at a value above a detection threshold (shown by the dashed line labelled Ct). The detection threshold, Ct, is set such that mutual capacitance measurements below the detection threshold signify the presence of a conductive object in the vicinity of that node, noting that in accordance with the mutual capacitance measurement technique the presence of a conductive object decreases the mutual capacitance between a driven electrode 101 and a receiver electrode 102 from an initial (baseline) value. The detection threshold, Ct, may be set having regard for the typical mutual capacitance values that one may expect to observe for the moveable component 130 where the first and second electrically conductive regions 132,133 are capacitively coupled to the electrodes 101, 102. Thus, the processing circuitry 106 determines that no first electrically conductive region 132 is present at each of the nodes 2 to 4 and 6 to 8, and that the second electrically conductive region 133 has not moved towards the capacitive sensing element 100 (i.e. pressed / depressed), because the mutual capacitance measurement for these nodes is above the detection threshold, Ct. However, the mutual capacitance measurements for nodes 1 and 5 are below the detection threshold, Ct. As seen in Figure 4a, when the moveable component 130 is in the first position, the electrically conductive regions 132 overlap node 1 and node 5. When the moveable component 130 is in the first position, the first electrically conductive regions 132 are respectively located broadly above node 1 and node 5 and therefore the mutual capacitances at these nodes is relatively decreased owing to the presence of these first electrically conductive regions 132. The processing circuitry 106 is capable of determining the position of the moveable component 130 from the obtained set of capacitance measurements, Mi. For example, the processing circuitry 106 may be provided with a mapping that maps associated patterns or criteria in a set of obtained measurements to positions of the moveable component 130. For instance, a look-up table or the like may be provided which relates the first position of the moveable component 130 to mutual capacitance measurements of nodes 1 and 5 below the detection threshold Ct and of nodes 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 above the detection threshold Ct to the first position. In other words, when the processing circuitry 106 determines that the set of mutual capacitance measurements from the measurement circuitry 105 satisfies the criteria relating to the moveable component 130 being in the first position (i.e., mutual capacitance measurements of nodes 1 and 5 below the detection threshold Ct and mutual capacitance measurements of nodes 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 above the detection threshold Ct), the processing circuitry 106 is able to determine that the moveable component 130 is in the first position. Furthermore, the look-up table or the like may further relate a depression state / position of the moveable component 130 to a mutual capacitance measurement of node 9 below the detection threshold Ct and a non-pressed / relaxed state / position to a mutual capacitance measurement of node 9 above the detection threshold Ct. As such, the processing circuitry 106 is also able to determine the displacement state of the moveable component 130 (e.g. is it in a pressed state or non-pressed (e.g. relaxed) state) based on capacitance measurements. This may be thought of as the processing circuitry 106 identifying ‘signatures’, patterns or characteristics of the obtained measurements Mi to M3 that are associated, in advance, with certain positions of the moveable component 130 relative to the capacitive sensing element 100. Accordingly, the processing circuitry 106 is capable of determining the moveable component 130 is in a particular position and / or state corresponding to the given signature or criteria. The second set of measurements, M2, represents the mutual capacitances of each of the sensor nodes 1 to 9 obtained when the moveable component 130 is in the second position (i.e., the position as shown in Figure 4b) and when the moveable component is not in a depressed state (i.e. has not been pressed or pushed towards the capacitive sensing element 100 in accordance with the second displacement state above in accordance with the second displacement state above). As can be seen from the set of measurements, M2, the mutual capacitances of each of the nodes 1, 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 are at a value above a detection threshold (shown by the dashed line labelled Ct). Thus, as with the scenario described with the first set of measurements, Mi, the processing circuitry 106 determines that no electrically conductive region 132 is present at each of the nodes 1, 3 to 5 and 7 to 8 and that the second electrically conductive region 133 has not be moved towards the capacitive sensing element 100 (i.e. pressed / depressed) because the mutual capacitance measurement is above the threshold Ct. However, the mutual capacitance measurements for nodes 2 and 6 are below the detection threshold, Ct. As seen in Figure 4b, when the moveable component 130 is in the second position, the electrically conductive regions 132 overlap the node 2 and node 6. When the moveable component 130 is in the second position, the first electrically conductive regions 132 are located above node 2 and node 6 and therefore the mutual capacitances at these nodes is relatively decreased owing to the presence of the first electrically conductive regions 132. When the moveable component 130 is the second position of Figure 4b it can be seen that the first electrically conductive regions 132 overlap nodes 2 and 6 to a slightly lesser extent than the corresponding overlap of the electrically conductive regions 132 with nodes 1 and 5 when the moveable component 130 is in the first position of Figure 4a. Accordingly, the mutual capacitance values as measured at nodes 2 and 6 when the moveable component is in the second position may be greater than the mutual capacitance values as measured at nodes 1 and 5 when the moveable component 130 is in the first position. That is, there may be less of a decrease in the mutual capacitance value at nodes 2 and 6 when the moveable component 130 is in the second position owing to a lesser degree of spatial overlap of the first electrically conductive regions 132 with nodes 2 and 6 as compared to the mutual capacitance value at nodes 1 and 5 when the moveable component 130 is in the first position. This is reflected in Figure 5 where it can be seen that the values of the mutual capacitances of nodes 2 and 6 in the second set of measurements M2 are generally greater than the values of the mutual capacitances of nodes 1 and 5 in the first set of measurements Mi. In addition, it should also be appreciated that the first electrically conductive regions 132 when the moveable component 130 is in the second position are relatively closer to the adjacent nodes 1, 3, 5 and 7 than to the corresponding adjacent nodes 2, 4, 6 and 8 when the moveable component 130 is in the first position. Thus, when the moveable component 130 is in the second position, the mutual capacitance measurements of the adjacent nodes may also be influenced by the presence of the first electrically conductive regions 132. This is reflected in Figure 5 where it can be seen that the values of the mutual capacitances of nodes 1, 3, 5 and 7 in the second set of measurements M2 are generally greater than the values of the mutual capacitances of nodes 2, 4, 6 and 8 in the first set of measurements Mi. In the example of Figure 5, the mutual capacitance values of nodes 1, 3, 5 and 7 are not small enough to fall below the detection threshold, Ct, but the mutual capacitance values are shown as being closer to the detection threshold, Ct. It should also be appreciated that the mutual capacitance measurement associated with node 9 is substantially unchanged. This is because the second electrically conductive region 133 is centred on the axis of rotation and therefore its average position does not move with respect to the capacitive sensing element 100 when the moveable component 130 is rotated (i.e. its outer surface may rotate but the bulk of the material providing the second electrically conductive region 133 remains in the same place). The processing circuitry 106 is capable of determining the position of the moveable component 130 from the obtained capacitance measurements, M2. As above, the processing circuitry 106 may be provide with a mapping that maps associated patterns in the sets of obtained measurements to positions of the moveable component 130. For example, a lookup table or the like may be provided which relates the second position of the moveable component 130 to mutual capacitance measurements of nodes 2 and 6 below the detection threshold Ct and of nodes 1, 3 to 5 and 7 to 8 above the detection threshold Ct to the second position. In other words, when the processing circuitry 106 determines that the set of mutual capacitance measurements from the measurement circuitry 105 satisfies the criteria relating to the moveable component 130 being in the second position (i.e., mutual capacitance measurements of nodes 2 and 6 below the detection threshold Ct and mutual capacitance measurements of nodes 1, 3 to 5 and 7 to 8 above the detection threshold Ct), the processing circuitry 106 determines that the moveable component 130 is in the second position. In combination or separately, the processing circuitry 106 can determine the displacement state of the moveable component 130 (e.g. whether it is in a depressed position / state or a non-pressed position / state). For example the mapping also including sets of obtained measurements relating to node 9, and / or a second look-up table or the like detailing the correspondence of measurements of node 9 to a (de)pressed or non-pressed state). The third set of measurements, M3, represents the mutual capacitances of each of the sensor nodes 1 to 9 obtained when the moveable component 130 is in the second position (i.e., the position as shown in Figure 4b with nodes 1 to 8 in the same position as for the second set of measurements), whilst also having the moveable component in a depressed state (e.g. a user is pushing or pressing the moveable component 130 towards the capacitive sensing element 100 (e.g. a button press) in accordance with the first displacement state). As can be seen from the set of measurements, M3, the mutual capacitances of each of nodes 1 to 8 are substantially identical to the second set of measurements. Thus, as with the scenario described with the second set of measurements, M2, the processing circuitry 106 determines that no electrically conductive region 132 is present at each of the nodes 1, 3 to 5 and 7 to 8. However in contrast to the scenario described with the second set of measurements, M2; the processing circuitry 106 determines that the second electrically conductive region 133 has been moved towards the capacitive sensing element 100 (i.e. pressed / depressed) because the mutual capacitance measurement of node 9 is below the threshold Ct. The determination of the processing circuitry 106 can cause a function or action to be enacted associated with the depression of the moveable component 130 towards the capacitive sensing element 100 (i.e. a button press of the moveable component 130). As noted above the mutual capacitances of each of nodes 1 to 8 in the third set of measurements are substantially identical to the second set of measurements. In some examples, the presence of the elastically deformable separator 150 in the moveable component 130 allows for a changeable (and reversible) separation distance between the first electrically conductive regions 132 and the second electrically conductive regions 133 which further allows for the second electrically conductive region 133 to be moved towards or away from the surface of the capacitive sensing element 100 without a corresponding movement of (any of) the first electrically conductive region(s) 132. In other words, the moveable component 130 is provided in a configuration which allows depression without a change in the position of wipers providing the first electrically conductive region(s) 132. In other examples, there may be a shift in the mutual capacitances of nodes 1 to 8, if the second electrically conductive region 133 also interacts with these nodes. However, the shift will be less that the shift associated with node 9 due to the relative distance between the second electrically conductive region 133 and nodes 1 to 8, compared to node 9 which it overlaps. In particular, the shift will not cause the mutual capacitances of nodes 1 to 8 to go below the threshold Ct. It is further noted that, the mutual capacitance value as measured by node 9 (corresponding to the second electrically conductive region 133) is less than that at nodes 2 and 6 (corresponding to the first electrically conductive regions 132 when the moveable component is in the second position) because the second electrically conductive region 133 overlaps node 9 more closely than either of the first electrically conductive regions 132 overlaps nodes 2 or 6 (see discussion above regarding the first and second sets of measurements). It will be appreciated that if moveable component 130 were pressed when the first electrically conductive regions 132 were in the first position then the mutual capacitance values associated with each of nodes 1 and 5 will be substantially similar to that of mutual capacitance value associated with node 9 because the overlap is similar for each respective pair of node and electrically conductive region. Hence, more generally, the measurement circuitry 105 is configured to obtain measurement signals from the capacitive sensing element 100 indicative of the mutual capacitances of the electrode array 101, 102, and the processing circuitry 106 is configured to determine the position of the moveable component 130 relative to the capacitive sensing element 100 on the basis of the measurement signals received from the measurement circuitry 105. More specifically, the processing circuitry 106 is capable of determining the positions of one or more electrically conductive regions 132,133 of the moveable component 130 relative to the capacitive sensing element 100 and from this determine the relative position (rotation and displacement) of the moveable component 130. It should also be appreciated that the mutual capacitance measurements in the first or second set of measurements Mi, M2 and M3 are not necessarily the same as the baseline capacitance, Cb. While the baseline capacitance, Cb, represents a mutual capacitance value in the absence of any external conductive objects (such as the electrically conductive regions 132,133), the baseline capacitance, Cb is typically obtained in advance (e.g., as mutual capacitance measurements performed during calibration of the user input mechanism or provided as theoretical values programmed into the processing circuitry 106 in advance). However, for an instantaneous measurement of the mutual capacitance at a given node 1 to 8, even in the absence of the electrically conductive regions 132, certain factors (e.g., such as sources of noise or the like) may cause any instantaneous mutual capacitance measurement to vary from the baseline capacitance value obtained in advance. In addition, it should also be appreciated that in some implementations, when the user interacts with the moveable component 130, the mutual capacitances of the nodes adjacent the moveable component 130 may be weakly affected by the presence of the user’s hand and thus exhibit a slight change in the instantaneous mutual capacitance values. While Figures 4a and 4b show two positions of the moveable component 130, it should be understood that the present disclosure may be extended to more than two positions of the moveable component 130. That is, the processing circuitry 106 may be capable of distinguishing between three, four, five etc., positions of the moveable component 130 based on the detected positions of the first electrically conductive regions 132 of the moveable component 130. That is, for example, the processing circuitry 106 may be provided with a plurality of criteria (or signatures) that relate the characteristics of certain sets of measurements to one of a plurality of positions of the moveable component 130. For example, the first position of Figure 4a has been described as the 0° position, while the second position of Figure 4b has been described as the 45°, but there may exist a 90° position (which may display mutual capacitance measurements of nodes 3 and 7 below the detection threshold Ct and mutual capacitance measurements of nodes 1, 2, 4 to 6 and 8 above the detection threshold Ct), a 135° position (which may display mutual capacitance measurements of nodes 4 and 8 below the detection threshold Ct and mutual capacitance measurements of nodes 1 to 3 and 5 to 7 above the detection threshold Ct), etc. The processing circuitry 106 may be configured to identify a plurality of positions of the moveable component 130. Similarly, it should be understood that in addition to a (de)pressed and non-pressed position I state, the present disclosure may be extended to multiple displacement positions I states of the second electrically conductive region 133 of the moveable component 130 relative to the capacitive sensing element 100. That is, the processing circuitry 106 may be capable of distinguishing between three, four, five etc., displacement states or positions of the moveable component 130 based on the detected positions of the second electrically conductive regions 133 of the moveable component 130 (e.g. relative to node 9). That is, for example, the processing circuitry 106 may be provided with a plurality of criteria (or signatures) that relate the characteristics of certain sets of measurements to one of a plurality of positions of the moveable component 130. For example, whilst Figure 5 depicts a single detection threshold Ct, in other examples (not shown) there may be a first detection threshold Cn and a second detection threshold Ct2. In some examples, the first detection threshold Cn may correspond to a soft press (i.e. an intermediate position corresponding to a third displacement state) and the second detection threshold Ct2 may correspond to a hard press (i.e. a fully or near to fully depressed state), with the first detection threshold Cn being higher than the second detection threshold Ct2 (and hence triggered / passed first when a user presses the moveable component 130). In addition, it should be appreciated that the principles of the present disclosure are not limited to the positions of the moveable component 130 in which the electrically conductive regions 132,133 directly overlap a node of the electrode array 101, 102. For example, one may consider a position of the moveable component 130 that is between the first and second positions of Figures 4a and 4b, e.g., a 22.5° position signifying a rotation of the moveable component 130 of 22.5° from the first position. In such an example, the surface projected by the first electrically conductive regions 132 on the capacitive sensing element 100 may lie approximately between nodes 1 and 2 and nodes 5 and 6. Although the surface projected by the first electrically conductive regions 132 may not overlap a node in this position of the moveable component 130, by virtue of the proximity of the surface projected by the electrically conductive regions 132 to the abovementioned nodes, the mutual capacitances at the nodes 1, 2, 5 and 6 may be influenced (e.g., decreased) by the proximity of the first electrically conductive regions 132. In such a case, the mutual capacitance measurements of nodes 1, 2, 5 and 6 may fall below the detection threshold Ct (although not to quite the same extent as for the first position and second position of the moveable component 130) while the mutual capacitance measurements of nodes 3, 4, 7 and 8 may remain above the detection threshold Ct. Similarly, in other examples (not shown), the second electrically conductive region 133 may be positioned between multiple nodes (e.g. all of the nodes may be shifted relative to the electrically conductive regions 132,133 and / or the gird of nodes may be more dense than that shown in Figures 4a and 4b) and instead of relying on measurements of a single node, the (de)pressed or non-pressed state of the moveable component 130 can be determined based on mutual capacitance measurements of all or a subset plurality of the adjacent nodes. While the processing circuitry 106 described above utilises a detection threshold, Ct, to determine whether a particular mutual capacitance measurement is indicative of an electrically conductive region 132,133 present at, or in the vicinity of, a given node 1 to 9, the processing circuitry 106 may use any suitable technique to determine the positions of the electrically conductive regions 132 from sets of capacitance measurements from the measurement circuitry 105 and, subsequently, the position of the moveable component 130. In some implementations, the processing circuitry 106 may compare each of the mutual capacitance measurements of the set of measurements Mi, M2, M3 and identify whether any of the capacitance measurements corresponding to nodes 1 to 9 are greater than an average value for the set of measurements (or greater by a certain amount), and determine that an electrically conductive region 132,133 is detected at the corresponding nodes. Moreover, the processing circuitry 106 in some implementations may make use of the magnitude of the mutual capacitance values of a given set of measurements to distinguish between different positions. For example, if one considers the first position of Figure 4a, and a position of the moveable component 130 that is rotated say 10° from the first position, it may be expected that in both positions, the mutual capacitance values at nodes 1 and 5 may fall below the detection threshold Ct. However, because the extent of overlap of the surface projected by the electrically conductive regions 132 with the nodes 1 and 5 is slightly less in the 10° position of the moveable component 130, the mutual capacitance values for nodes 1 and 5 may be slightly greater (i.e., have less of a decrease from the baseline value) when the moveable component 130 is in the 10° position. Accordingly, in such implementations, the criteria (or signature) for establishing the position of the moveable component 130 may be based not only on whether or not certain nodes exhibit a mutual capacitance below a detection threshold Ct, but additionally or alternatively, based on the magnitude of the mutual capacitances at each of the nodes. While Figures 4a and 4b show an electrode array 101, 102 comprising seven X-electrodes 101 and five Y-electrodes 102, it should be appreciated that the number of electrodes 101, 102 may be different from that shown in other implementations. In practical applications, the number of electrodes 101, 102 may be significantly greater than that shown. Consequently, the number of electrodes 101, 102 (and the number of nodes) adjacent to the moveable component 130 (include those that lie under the moveable component 130 as well as those that are proximate to the edge of the moveable component 130) may also be significantly greater. The ability of the processing circuitry 106 to accurately resolve positions of the moveable component 130 may be dependent in part on the density of electrodes 101, 102 the lie under or adjacent the moveable component 130. A greater number of electrodes 101, 102 (and hence also a greater number nodes) may increase the accuracy of the processing circuitry 106 to resolve the position of the moveable component 130, thereby allowing finer differences in the position of the moveable component 130 to be distinguished between. Further, it should be appreciated that the measurement circuitry 105 may be arranged to perform capacitance measurements for all of the electrodes of the electrode array 101, 102 or only a sub-set of the electrodes of the electrode array 101, 102. For instance, as described above in relation to Figures 4a and 4b, capacitance measurements from only a sub-set of the possible nodes may be used in order to determine the position of the moveable component 130. For instance, the mutual capacitances for those nodes not labelled 1 to 9 may either be measured by the measurement circuitry 105 and disregarded, or may not be measured by the measurement circuitry 105 at all (that is, in the latter case, the measurement circuitry 105 may be programmed or controlled by the processing circuitry 106 to only perform mutual capacitance measurements for nodes 1 to 9). It should be appreciated that the responsiveness of the user input mechanism 1 may be improved when measuring capacitances of only a sub-set of the electrode array 101, 102. While Figure 5 discusses “mutual-capacitance” measurements, in other examples, different techniques such as the “self-capacitance” technique may be used for measurements. In some examples, a multi-technique approach may be used with the “mutual-capacitance” technique being used to determine a rotational position of the first electrically conductive regions 132, and the “self-capacitance” technique being used to determine a proximity of the second electrically conductive region 133 (e.g. determining whether the second electrically conductive region 133 is proximal to the sensing surface or displaced from the sensing surface). In other words, a “self-capacitance” measurement may be used for detecting the plunger position containing the second electrically conductive region 133. This can be particularly, advantageous when the second electrically conductive region 133 is conductive connection with the portion of the user input element 10 that the user touches (e.g. a conductive main body), at least because as noted above the extra return path for “self-capacitance” measurements can be relatively strong for large objects (such as the human body), and so can give a stronger coupling of the electrode’s field back to the measurement circuitry 105. In some examples, the processing circuitry 106 may be configured to sequentially perform mutual-capacitance measurements (e.g. relating to nodes 1 to 8) and a self-capacitance measurement (e.g. relating to node 9). For example, the processing circuitry 106 may first use mutual-capacitance measurements to determine the rotational position of the moveable component 130, and subsequently use a self-capacitance measurement to determine a displacement position of the movable component 130, or vice versa. In some examples, one of a mutual-capacitance measurement (or measurements) and a self-capacitance measurement is only triggered (e.g. performed) when the other of the mutual-capacitance measurement (or measurements) and a self-capacitance measurement exceeds a threshold (e.g. a detection is made that the plunger has been depressed using self-capacitance, and then a series of mutual-capacitance measurements are performed to determine the rotational position of the movable component 130). Figure 6 schematically shows an example configuration of a user input element 10 comprising a moveable component 130 as shown in Figure 2 and a coupling component 140. Similarly to Figure 3a, Figure 6 shows a user input element 10 in cross-section in a plane defined by a diameter and height of the user input element 10. The user input element 10 of Figure 6 differs from that of the user input element 10 of Figure 3a, in that the movable component 130 comprises an insulating rod 139 which is in contact with a second electrically conductive region 133 which is formed by a separate component in the form of a conductive spring. The disclosure below will focus on the interaction of the insulating rod 139 with the spring providing the second electrically conductive region 133. Various of the components of the user input element 10 are substantially as described in relation to Figure 3a, and will not be discussed again in detail. In some examples, the user input element 10 comprises a conductive resilient element (referred to herein as a conductive spring) providing the second electrically conductive region 133, wherein the conductive spring is configured to be deformed by the movement of the rod along the axis. In some examples, the conductive spring providing the second electrically conductive region 133 is a metal spring. In some examples, the conductive spring is preferably a metal dome-shaped spring (e.g. a depressible dome as shown in cross-section in Figure 6). In some examples, said metal dome-shaped spring is a circular metal dome-shaped spring (e.g. the dome has a circular outer profile). Providing the conductive spring as a metal dome-shaped spring may be advantageous in that the metal dome-shaped spring provides a mechanical click when it is compressed which may be audible to a user and therefore provides feedback to the user (e.g. indicating that the movable component 130 has been successfully pressed). In some examples, a dome-shaped spring is defined by a rim (e.g. a circular rim for a circular dome) and a top portion of surface radially inward of the rim. Preferably, the domeshaped spring is orientated such that the rim is in contact with (or intended to contact) the substrate 103 or the cover 108 (or an intervening surface of the coupling component 140) and the top portion is in contact with the insulating rod 139, however in other examples, the dome-shaped spring is orientated such that the rim is in contact with the insulating rod 139 and the top portion is in contact with or intended to contact) the substrate 103 or the cover 108 (or an intervening surface of the coupling component 140). In some examples, where the rim is in contact with the substrate 103 or the cover 108 (or an intervening surface of the coupling component 140), the rim is secured or adhered to the substrate 103 or the cover 108. In some other examples, the metal spring is a coil or helical spring. In some examples, a first end of a coil or helical spring may be fixedly connected to the insulating rod 139 while a second end of the coil or helical spring may (or may not) be fixed to the substrate 103 or the cover 108 (or an intervening surface of the coupling component 140). The conductive spring may be positioned, connected or otherwise provided at the first end of the insulating rod 139, such that the conductive spring is substantially between the insulating rod 139 and the substrate 103 or the cover 108 (or an intervening surface of the coupling component 140). As a result, when the insulating rod 139 is pushed towards the substrate 103 by the user, the insulating rod 139 provides a force which acts on the conductive spring to manipulate it into a configuration which is compressed relative to the configuration prior to the action by the user. For example, where the conductive spring is a metal dome-shaped spring, the dome-shaped spring may be compressed by bending the top surface towards the rim of the dome-shaped spring. Similarly, where the conductive spring is a helical or coil spring, the number of turns per unit length is reduced when the insulating rod 139 pushes the coil or helix towards the substrate 103 or the cover 108. It will be appreciated that the act of compressing the conductive spring reduces the distance between the centre of mass of the conductive spring and the substrate 103 or the cover 108, thereby leading to a change in measured signal associated with the second electrically conductive region 133. In other words, the conductive spring is manipulated by the action on the insulating rod 139 such that they are compressed towards the substrate 103, thereby shifting the centre of mass of the second electrically conductive region 133 towards the substrate 103 which changes the capacitance measurement obtained by the measurement circuitry 105. In some examples, the conductive spring (e.g. metal dome-shaped spring) may be adhered by tape (e.g. a sticky tape such as 3M 9472LE tape and 3M VHB tape) to the substrate 103 or the cover 108, with the tape extending between the insulating rod 139 and the top surface of the dome-shaped spring. In these examples, the conductive spring may be attached to the substrate 103 or the cover 108, before the rest of the movable component 130, including the insulating rod 139, is attached around and over the conductive spring, thereby providing the second electrically conductive region 133 between the insulating rod 139 and the substrate 103. In other examples, the conductive spring may be adhered to the surface of the touch sensitive element (e.g., cover 108) or may be integrally formed with the touch sensitive element (e.g., cover 108). In these examples, the conductive spring providing the second electrically conductive region 133 is considered to be a part of the movable component 130 because it is configured to be manipulated (i.e. it moves via a compression of the top surface of the dome towards the rim) by a user of the user input element when the user performs a pressing action of the user input element. As noted above, in some examples, the insulating rod 139 is made of insulating material. As a result, there insulating rod 139 prevents a galvanic connection from the user to the sensor for press detection purposes. This may be advantageous in that the capacitance measurement is dependent primarily on the size and nature of the second electrically conductive region 133 because the second electrically conductive region 133 is electrically isolated from other components of the movable component 130 by the insulating rod 139. In this way, the change in the capacitance measurement resulting from a button press of the movable component 130 depends substantially only on the second electrically conductive region 133. For example, the mutual capacitance of an effected node in proximity to the conductive spring increases by an easily measurable amount. In contrast for example, although a galvanic connection (e.g. coupling) formed between the user and the second electrically conductive region 133 via a conductive shaft (e.g. via GND mass 138) may produces a stronger signal, the mutual capacitance may first decreases substantially as the user touches the movable component 130 (creating the coupling) and then subsequently decreases by a relatively smaller amount more as the movable component 130 is pressed towards the substrate 103. As such, providing an insulated rod 139, isolating the user from the second electrically conductive region 133 may provide a more easily identifiable signal. Furthermore, in contrast to the capacitance measurements shown in Figure 5, for a user input element where the second electrically conducting region 133 is isolated from the rest of the movable component 130 by a insulating material (e.g. an insulating rod 139 as disclosed in Figure 6), there may be an increase in capacitance of an adjacent node during a button press, i.e. when the second electrically conducting region is compressed closer to the substrate 103. It will be appreciated that for such systems, an appropriate detection or trigger threshold can be defined having a value that is greater than a baseline or resting capacitance value (i.e. rather that a threshold which is less that the baseline or resting capacitance value). While Figure 6 depicts an insulating rod 139, in other examples, a conductive spring such as a metal dome-shaped spring, may be used with a conducting rod 139. Said systems may in some examples, provide a capacitance measurement as discussed above in relation to Figure 3a and 3b (e.g. where there is a galvanic connection with a user). Figure 7 is a flow diagram representing an example method of performing a function for a user of a user input mechanism configured to provide a signal indicative of a user input. The method can be implemented using a user input mechanism 1 comprising user input element 10 in accordance with any of the examples described above in relation to Figures 1 to 5. For example, the method can be performed using a user input mechanism 1 which comprises a capacitive sensing element 100 to sense changes in capacitance at one or more locations of the capacitive sensing element 100, a coupling component 140 configured to be fixedly mounted relative to a surface of the capacitive sensing element 100, the coupling component comprising a shaft 144 defining an axis, a moveable component 130 coupled to the coupling component 140 and configured to be moveable by a user of the user input element 10. As shown in Figures 3a, 3b, 4a, and 4b, the moveable component 130 provides multiple electrically conductive regions capable of capacitively coupling to the capacitive sensing element 100. Figure 7 begins at step S1, where the processing circuitry 106 is controlled to determine (e.g. identify, calculate or look up) a displacement state of the moveable component. The displacement state of the moveable component 130 is determined based on a signal, or multiple signals, relating to a second electrically conductive region 133 of the multiple electrically conductive regions (e.g. one or more signals created or processed by the measurement circuitry 105). As explained above, the second electrically conductive region 133 is capable of being displaced parallel to the axis by a user of the user input element 10 (e / .g. by a user pressing of pushing the moveable component towards the capacitive sensing element 100 or by the user releasing the moveable component after having pressed it, with the elastically deformable separator 150 providing a restoring force). Step S1 implements any of the described approaches above for determining the displacement position of the moveable component 130. In some examples, the processing circuitry 106 is provided with (e.g., programmed with) one or more predetermined displacement states I positions of the moveable component 130. For example, the manufacturer of the user input mechanism 1 or of an associated system may determine that the moveable component 130 is moveable parallel to the axis (e.g. normal to the surface) between a closest displacement state and a further displacement state with correspond to predetermined positions of the moveable component 130. The predetermined positions may be selected to correspond to certain user inputs. For example, the closest displacement state may be chosen to correspond to an “active” input for a given function (e.g. it causes the function to be performed similar and may be interpreted equivalently to a “on” button being pressed to start a process), while the a further displacement state may be chosen correspond to an “inactive” input (e.g. it is a standby position prior to or in between button presses by the user), and thus in this example, when the user moves the moveable component 130 to the closest displacement state (e.g. a button press of the moveable component 130), this signifies a turning on or starting of the function. It will be appreciated that the actual states may cover a range or continuum of positions which correspond to those in which a threshold is exceeded (e.g. as shown in Figure 5), rather than the strict or literal closest or furthest possible extreme of the movement range of the moveable component 130. In some examples, predetermined displacement states of the moveable component 130 are set in advance by the manufacturer of the user input mechanism 1 or the associated system. However, in other examples, the predetermined states may be customised by a user of the user input mechanism (e.g. to set the sensitivity of the button press, or to implement one or more intermediate steps). The method then continues with step S2, where the processing circuitry 106 is controlled to determine (e.g. identify, calculate or look up) a displacement state of the moveable component 130. The rotation state of the moveable component 130 is determined based on a signal, or multiple signals, relating to a first electrically conductive region 132 of the multiple electrically conductive regions (e.g. one or more signals created or processed by the measurement circuitry 105). As explained above, the first electrically conductive region 132 is capable of being rotated about the axis by a user of the user input element 10 (e.g. by a user rotating the movement component 130 around the axis by gripping and turning the main body 131). Step S2 implements any of the described approaches above for determining the rotation position of the moveable component 130. In some examples, the processing circuitry 106 is provided with (e.g., programmed with) one or more predetermined rotational states I positions of the moveable component 130. For example, the manufacturer of the user input mechanism 1 or of the associated system may determine that, e.g., the 0° and 90° positions of the moveable component 130 correspond to predetermined positions of the moveable component 130. The predetermined positions may be selected to correspond to certain user inputs. For example, the 0° position may be chosen to correspond to an “off’ input for a given function implemented by the associated system, while the 90° position may be chosen to correspond to an “on” input for a given function implemented by the associated system, and thus in this example, when the user rotates the dial 130 from the 0° position to the 90° position, this signifies a turning on of the function implemented by the associated system. Alternatively, the 0° position may be chosen to correspond to a minimum value for a particular setting of the given function implemented by the associated system, while the 90° position may be chosen to correspond to a maximum value for a particular setting of the given function implemented by the associated system, and thus in this example, when the user rotates the dial 130 from the 0° position to the 90° position, this signifies a change in the setting of the function implemented by the associated system from a minimum to a maximum value. In some examples, predetermined rotational states of the moveable component 130 are set in advance by the manufacturer of the user input mechanism 1 or the associated system. However, in other examples, the predetermined states may be customised by a user of the user input mechanism. With regard to steps S1 and S2, the measurement circuitry 105 may be controlled, e.g., via the processing circuitry 106 or other circuitry, to obtain the capacitance measurements periodically (e.g., when the user input mechanism 1 is provided with power) or in relation to certain triggers (e.g., such as triggers from the associated system). The measurement circuitry 105 may obtain the set of capacitance measurements (which may capacitance measurements corresponding to the entire electrode array 101, 102 or nodes thereof, or to a subset of the electrode array 101, 102 or nodes thereof) before outputting the capacitance measurements to the processing circuitry 106, or alternatively the measurement circuitry 105 may output the capacitance measurements as they are measured. Additionally, in some implementations, the measurement circuitry 105 may be configured to obtain a plurality of capacitance measurements for a given electrode I node and determine and output an average of the capacitance measurement. The processing circuitry 106 can assess or process measurements (e.g. signals) obtained from the measurement circuitry 105 to determine the displacement and / or rotational state of the moveable component 130. For example, the processing circuitry 106 may compare measurements to look up tables, or compare measurements to one or more thresholds to determine the displacement and I or rotational state, as explained above. As noted above, the measurements may use a mutual-capacitance technique or a self-capacitance technique (for example, the displacement state may be obtained using a mutual-capacitance technique or a self-capacitance technique while a mutual-capacitance technique is used for the rotational state). As such, in some examples, the method further comprises obtaining the signal relating to the second electrically conductive region 133 of the multiple electrically conductive regions using a self-capacitance measurement. In some examples, the method further comprises obtaining the signal relating to the second electrically conductive region 133 of the multiple electrically conductive regions using a mutual-capacitance measurement. In some examples, the method further comprises obtaining the signal relating to the first electrically conductive region(s) 132 of the multiple electrically conductive regions using a mutual-capacitance measurement. Furthermore, Figure 5 defines an example of sets of capacitance measurements wherein the signal associated with a node decreases when an electrically conductive region of the electrically conductive regions 132,133 moves closer to the node (e.g. a decrease in capacitance is measured during a button press). In other examples, an increase in capacitance measured at a node may be indicative of an electrically conductive region of the electrically conductive regions 132,133 moving closer to the node. For example, there may be an increase in capacitance with a user input element such as that in accordance with Figure 6, and related embodiments, where the second electrically conductive region 133 is separated from the remainder of the movable component 130 by an insulating material (e.g. an insulating rod 139). It will be appreciated that for such systems, an appropriate detection or trigger threshold can be defined having a value that is greater than a baseline or resting capacitance value (i.e. rather than a threshold which is less that the baseline or resting capacitance value). In some examples, the steps S1 and S2 can be performed simultaneously. For example, the processing circuitry 106 can obtain measurements or signals from the measurements circuitry 105 relating to the first electrically conductive region 132 and the second electrically conductive region 133 of the multiple electrically conductive regions in a single packet of signals, and I or can delay processing until signals relating to both the first electrically conductive region 132 and the second electrically conductive region 133 have been received. In some examples, a look-up table defines information related to both the rotational and displacement state such that steps S1 and S2 can be performed using the same look-up table. In some other examples, step S2 may be performed prior to step S1. Furthermore, either step S1 or step S2 may be performed multiple times (e.g. in sequence) prior to the performance of the other of S1 or S2. The method continues with step S3, where the processing circuitry 106 or an associated system communicatively coupled to the processing circuitry 105 performs a function responsive to determining the displacement state (S1) and I or the rotation state (S2) of the moveable component 130. In some examples, the processing circuitry 106 is communicatively linked with the associated system by wired or wireless communication means. In some examples, the performed function may be stored in software in memory associated with the processing circuitry 106 or the associated system. In some examples, the performed function may be selected based on one or both of the displacement state and I or the rotation state of the moveable component 130. In some examples, performing the function comprises the processing circuitry 106 sending a signal to the associated system (or the associated system sending a signal to a separate system) indicating the displacement state determined in step S1 and I or the rotation state determined in step S2. In some examples, the performed function comprises sending a signal (or multiple signals) selected based on one or both of the displacement state and I or the rotation state of the moveable component 130. For example the signal may indicate the displacement state and I or the rotation state. In some examples, performing the function comprises providing feedback to the user (e.g. an audible, visual or haptic feedback). For example, the feedback may be in response to a change in one or both of the displacement state and / or the rotation state of the moveable component 130. The processing circuitry 106 may be communicatively linked to a feedback component (e.g. a haptic device, a speaker, an LED or display) for providing feedback to the user. For example, the user input mechanism 1 may further comprise the feedback component. In some examples, the performed function may be one of a plurality of potential functions which the processing circuitry 106 or the associated system is configured (e.g. operable) to perform. For example, the processing circuitry 106 or the associated system may select a function from the plurality of functions based on the determined the displacement state and I or the rotation state. As an example, the rotation state may be used to select a function from a plurality of functions (which may be displayed to a user visually as feedback) and the displacement state may be used to implement the selected function. In some examples, the method comprises determining the displacement state corresponds to a pressed state of the moveable component 130 (e.g. when a user has pressed the moveable component 130 towards the capacitive sensing element 100 such that a capacitance measurement is below a threshold). In response to the determination determining the displacement state corresponds to the pressed state, the method can then performing a function wherein the function is selected based on the rotation state of the moveable component. For example, the method could involve performing step S1, determining that moveable component 130 is in the pressed state, and subsequently performing step S2, with the output of step S2 determining which function is selected to be performed. In further examples, the rotation state may be used to control a first parameter associated with a system (a function performed based on the rotation state changing the first parameter) and the displacement state may be used to control a second parameter associated with a system (a function performed based on the displacement state changing the second parameter). For example, the first parameter may relate to a volume of a speaker system, or a brightness of a display, and the second parameter may relate to an “on” (e.g. “active”) state or “off’ (e.g. “inactive) state of said speaker system or display. As described above, the user input mechanism 1 comprises a capacitive sensing element 100 that comprises a plurality of electrodes 101, 102, at least a part of which are positioned below or adjacent the user input element. In some implementations, such as those described above, the capacitive sensing element 100 may be provided exclusively for sensing the state of the user input element. However, in other implementations, the capacitive sensing element 100 may extend around the user input element and additionally be configured to detect other objects in regions surrounding the user input element. For example, the capacitive sensing element 100 may comprise a touch-sensitive region in which the user input mechanism 1 is configured to detect one or more user touches (e.g., a user’s finger(s) and / or a stylus held by the user). The user input element may thus be provided in a region adjacent the touch-sensitive region. In this case, the measurement circuity 105 may be configured to obtain capacitance measurements relating to the electrodes 101, 102 around the user input element in addition to the electrodes 101, 102 forming the touch-sensitive region. The processing circuitry 106 may be configured to determine both the state of the user input element (e.g., from analysing a sub-set of capacitance measurements and / or identifying characteristic signatures in the set of measurements) and the one or more touches (e.g., from signals surpassing a threshold at locations in the touch-sensitive region). Similarly, when the processing circuitry 106 detects a touch in the touch-sensitive region, the processing circuitry 106 can output a signal to the associated system indicating the corresponding user input. In such implementations, combining the touch-sensitive region and the user input element may simplify manufacture (in particular of the associated system) and reduce the overall user input mechanism footprint compared to separately providing a capacitive sensing element 100 forming the touch-sensitive region and a capacitive sensing element for detecting the state of the user input element. It should also be appreciated that in a similar manner, multiple user input elements may be provided on the same capacitive sensing element 100 and the processing circuitry 106 may be adapted to sense the states of each of the user input elements. Thus there has been described a user input element for use as part of a user input mechanism for providing a signal indicative of a user input. The user input element comprises: a coupling component, a moveable component and multiple electrically conductive regions. The coupling component is configured to be fixedly mounted relative to a surface of a capacitive sensing element, and comprises a shaft defining an axis. The moveable component is coupled to the coupling component and is configured to be moveable by a user of the user input element. The multiple electrically conductive regions are capable of capacitively coupling to the capacitive sensing element There is a first electrically conductive region of the multiple electrically conductive regions. The first electrically conductive region is capable of being rotated about the axis by a user via the moveable component. There is also a second electrically conductive region of the multiple electrically conductive regions, wherein the second electrically conductive region is capable of being moved or deformed along the axis by a user via the moveable component. Also described is user input mechanism comprising the user input element, a system and a method. Further, there has been described a method for performing a function to a user of a user input mechanism for providing a signal indicative of a user input, wherein the user input mechanism comprises a capacitive sensing element to sense changes in capacitance at one or more locations of the capacitive sensing element, a coupling component configured to be fixedly mounted relative to a surface of the capacitive sensing element, the coupling component comprising a shaft defining an axis, a moveable component coupled to the coupling component and configured to be moveable by a user of the user input element, wherein the moveable component interacts with multiple electrically conductive regions capable of capacitively coupling to the capacitive sensing element, wherein the method comprises: determining a depression of the moveable component relative to a surface of the capacitive sensing element based on signals relating to a second electrically conductive region of the multiple electrically conductive regions, wherein the second electrically conductive region is capable of being moved parallel to the axis by a user via the moveable component; and performing a function responsive to a received determined depression on the basis of the determined rotation of the moveable component relative to the surface of the capacitive sensing element based on signals relating to a first electrically conductive region of the multiple electrically conductive regions, wherein the first electrically conductive region is capable of being rotated about the axis by a user via the moveable component. Further particular and preferred aspects of the present invention are set out in the accompanying independent and dependent claims. It will be appreciated that features of the dependent claims may be combined with features of the independent claims in combinations other than those explicitly set out in the claims.

Claims

1. A user input element for a user input mechanism capable of providing a signal indicative of a user input, wherein the user input element comprises:a coupling component configured to be fixedly mounted relative to a surface of a capacitive sensing element, the coupling component comprising a shaft defining an axis;a moveable component coupled to the coupling component and configured to be moveable by a user of the user input element;a plurality of electrically conductive regions capable of capacitively coupling to the capacitive sensing element;a first electrically conductive region of the plurality of electrically conductive regions, wherein the first electrically conductive region is capable of being rotated about the axis by a user via the moveable component; anda second electrically conductive region of the plurality of electrically conductive regions, wherein the second electrically conductive region is capable of being moved or deformed along the axis by a user via the moveable component.

2. The user input element of claim 1, wherein the first electrically conductive region and the second electrically conductive region are connected by an elastically deformable separator.

3. The user input element of claim 2, wherein the elastically deformable separator comprises a compressible foam portion and / or a spring.

4. The user input element of claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the user input element comprises a main body, wherein the first electrically conductive region and the second electrically conductive region are connected by the main body, the main body provided between the elastically deformable separator and the second electrically conductive region, the main body defining at least a first portion of an outer surface of the user input element.

5. The user input element of claim 4, wherein the first portion of the outer surface comprises a peripheral surface surrounding the axis.

6. The user input element of claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the main body comprises an electrically conductive material having an electrically conductive connection with the second electrically conductive region.

7. The user input element of any preceding claim, wherein the first electrically conductive region extends from a first electrically conductive mass of the moveable component and / or the second electrically conductive region extends from a second electrically conductive mass of the moveable component.

8. The user input element of claim 7, wherein the second electrically conductive mass provides at least a second portion of the outer surface of the user input element.

9. The user input element of claim 8, wherein second portion of the outer surface of the user input element comprises a top surface perpendicular to the axis.

10. The user input element of any preceding claim, wherein the first electrically conductive region is provided radially outward of the second electrically conductive region relative to the axis.

11. The user input element of claim 10, wherein the second electrically conductive region coincides with the axis.

12. The user input element of any preceding claim, wherein the shaft comprises an annular tube, the axis extending through a centre of the annular tube, wherein the second electrically conductive region is configured to be moved parallel to the axis within an inner volume of the annular tube by a user of the user input element.

13. The user input element of claim 12, wherein the moveable component comprises a rod , wherein the rod is operable to be moved within the inner volume of the annular configuration when a force is applied to a second end of the rod.

14. The user input element of claim 13, wherein the rod has the second electrically conductive region at or towards a first end of the rod; and optionally wherein the second electrically conductive region comprises a conductive coating provided at the first end of the rod.

15. The user input element of claim 13, wherein the user input element comprises a conductive resilient element providing the second electrically conductive region, wherein theconductive resilient element is configured to be deformed by the movement of the rod along the axis.

16. The user input element of claim 15, wherein the conductive resilient element comprises a conductive spring, such as a metal dome-shaped spring.

17. The user input element of any of claims 13 to 16, wherein the rod comprises an insulating rod.

18. The user input element of any preceding claim, wherein the moveable component comprises a ring, wherein the shaft extends through a centre of the ring, and wherein the ring comprises a wiper extending out of a plane of the ring, the first electrically conductive region provided by the wiper.

19. A user input mechanism for providing a signal indicative of a user input, wherein the user input mechanism comprises:a capacitive sensing element configured to sense changes in capacitance at one or more locations of the capacitive sensing element;the user input element of any preceding claim, wherein the coupling component is fixedly mounted relative to the surface of the capacitive sensing element; andcontrol circuitry configured to:receive signals from the capacitive sensing element,determine a rotation state of the moveable component relative to the surface of the capacitive sensing element based on signals relating to the first electrically conductive region, anddetermine a displacement state of the moveable component relative to the surface of the capacitive sensing element based on signals relating to the second electrically conductive region.

20. The user input mechanism of claim 19, wherein the capacitive sensing element comprises a plurality of electrodes arranged in a grid.

21. A system comprising the user input mechanism of claim 19 or claim 20, wherein the system is configured to perform a function responsive to the determined rotation state of the moveable component and I or the determined displacement state of the moveable component.

22. A method for using a user input mechanism configured to provide a signal indicative of a user input for performing a function on the basis of the user input, wherein the user input mechanism comprises a capacitive sensing element to sense changes in capacitance at one or more locations of the capacitive sensing element, a coupling component configured to be fixedly mounted relative to a surface of the capacitive sensing element, the coupling component comprising a shaft defining an axis, a moveable component coupled to the coupling component and configured to be moveable by a user of the user input element, and multiple electrically conductive regions capable of capacitively coupling to the capacitive sensing element, wherein the method comprises:determining a displacement state of the moveable component based on a signal relating to a second electrically conductive region of the multiple electrically conductive regions, wherein the second electrically conductive region is capable of being displaced parallel to the axis by a user via the moveable component; anddetermining a rotation state of the moveable component based on a signal relating to a first electrically conductive region of the multiple electrically conductive regions, wherein the first electrically conductive region is capable of being rotated about the axis by a user via the moveable component; andperforming a function responsive to determining the displacement state and / or the rotation state of the moveable component.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the method comprises:determining the displacement state corresponds to a pressed state of the moveable component; andperforming a function responsive to determining the displacement state corresponds to the pressed state, wherein the function is selected based on the rotation state of the moveable component.

24. The method of claim 22 or 23, wherein the method comprises:obtaining the signal relating to the second electrically conductive region of the multiple electrically conductive regions using a self-capacitance measurement.

25. A user input mechanism for providing a signal indicative of a user input to a system communicatively coupled to the user input mechanism, wherein the user input mechanism comprises:a capacitive sensing element configured to sense changes in capacitance at one or more locations of the capacitive sensing element;a moveable component moveably mounted with respect to a surface of the capacitive sensing element and configured to be moveable by a user of the user input mechanism;5 multiple electrically conductive regions capable of capacitively coupling to thecapacitive sensing element;a first electrically conductive region of the multiple electrically conductive regions, wherein the moveable component is configured to cause the first electrically conductive region to move in a plane parallel to the surface of the capacitive sensing element;10 a second electrically conductive region of the multiple electrically conductive regions,wherein the moveable component is configured to cause the second electrically conductive region to move or deform in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the capacitive sensing element;control circuitry configured to receive signals from the capacitive sensing element and15 to determine a rotation of the moveable component relative to the surface of the capacitive sensing element based on signals relating to the first electrically conductive region and to determine a depression of the moveable component relative to the surface of the capacitive sensing element based on signals relating to the second electrically conductive region.49

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