Computer input device with encoders having flexible shafts and conical rollers

A computer input device comprising:

• a housing;
• a movable ball placed in a cavity in said housing;
• first and second rotating encoder assemblies in contact with said ball, wherein each of said encoder assemblies comprises a bent flexible shaft rigidly connecting a roller on said shaft's proximal end to an encoder disk on said shaft's distal end;
• first and second photo emitters located to direct light at said first and second encoder disks;
• first and second photo detectors located to receive light from said first and second encoder disks;
• and
• a stop roller.

A computer input device comprising:

• a housing;
• a movable ball located within a cavity of said housing;
• first and second encoder assemblies, each of said encoder assemblies comprising, a shaft and a conical roller, wherein each of said encoder assemblies comprises a bent flexible shaft rigidly connected to an encoder disk;
• first and second photo emitters placed to direct light at said encoder disks
• first and second photo detectors placed to receive light from said encoder disks;
• and
• a stop roller.