Pointing and/or directional control device for controlling the movement and positioning of an object

A pointing and/or directional control device having a housing and comprising:

• a substantially cylindrical roller rotatably supported within a recess formed in the housing of the control device and being rotatably and translationally manipulable as a whole about and back and forth along the longitudinal axis of the roller;
• a first translational decoder rod passing through the roller coincident with the longitudinal axis of the roller;
• a first rotational sensor coupled to the first rod via one of a mechanical coupling and an optical coupling for detecting translational movement of the roller;
• a second rotational sensor coupled to the first decoder rod via one of a mechanical coupling and an optical coupling for detecting rotational movement of the roller;
• and
• the first translational decoder rod being supported by first and second vertical stems disposed at opposite ends of the roller, with at least one of the first and second stems biased above a contact switch and being movable up and down to cause activation of the switch by depressing the roller.

A pointing and/or directional control device having a housing and comprising:

• a substantially cylindrical roller rotatably supported within a recess formed in the housing of the control device and being rotatably and translationally manipulable as a whole about and back and forth along the longitudinal axis of the roller;
• a first translational decoder rod passing through the roller coincident with the longitudinal axis of the roller, the first rod having a first section with gearing comprising one of circumferential threading and circumferential ridges disposed about the longitudinal axis of the roller;
• a first rotational sensor coupled to the gearing of first rod for detecting translational movement of the roller;
• a second rotational decoder rod having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to and mechanically engaged with the first rod;
• a second rotational sensor coupled to the second decoder rod for detecting rotational movement of the roller;
• and
• one of the first and second decoder rods having a toothed wheel affixed thereto about the longitudinal axis of the one decoder rod, and the other of the decoder rods having a circumferential surface adapted with longitudinal ridges for receiving the teeth of the toothed wheel, the longitudinal ridges being of sufficient length along the other decoder rod to enable the toothed wheel and the roller to move back and forth within a selected distance.