Pointing devices for controlling movement of a cursor in a computer system and associated systems

A pointing device for a computer system, the pointing device comprising:

• a housing having an opening therein;
• a scroll wheel rotatably mounted to a shaft carried by the housing, and wherein the scroll wheel comprises:
• a rotatable deformable member extending circumferentially around the shaft;
• means for sensing a change in shape of a portion of the deformable member positioned outside the housing;
• and
• means for sensing rotation of the scroll wheel,
• wherein all parts of the pointing device disposed between the shaft and the deformable member rotate together.

A system, comprising:

• an electronic apparatus including a display screen;
• and
• a pointing device operably coupled to the electronic apparatus, wherein the pointing device comprises:
• a housing having an opening therein;
• a shaft within the housing;
• and
• a scroll wheel assembly positioned within the opening of the housing and carried by the shaft, wherein a portion of the scroll wheel assembly protrudes away from an outer surface of the housing, and wherein the scroll wheel assembly comprises:
• a rotatable member;
• a soft member covering the rotatable member, and
• a sensing member between the rotatable member and the soft member, wherein the sensing member is configured to detect a change in shape of the soft member responsive to an external force,
• wherein all parts of the pointing device disposed between the shaft and the soft member rotate together.