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Abstract

A portable computer is provided with a rotary display screen cursor position control device that includes a rotatably supported disc member that has a radially extending depression formed in an exposed outer side surface thereof. To reposition the display screen cursor, the computer user places a finger in the depression and rotates the disc until the radially outer end of the depression points in a direction corresponding to the desired cursor repositioning movement direction, with the finger being placed at a radial position in the depression corresponding to the cursor repositioning velocity--a radially outer end portion of the depression corresponding to the highest selectable cursor velocity, and a radially inner end portion thereof corresponding to the lowest selectable cursor velocity. Position sensing circuitry underlying the rotatable disc senses the rotational orientation of the disc, and the radial position of the user's finger in its depression, and responsively generates an output signal useable to reposition the display screen cursor in the selected direction and at the selected velocity.

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First Claim