TRACKBALL MODULE

A trackball module (10) is provided for connecting a trackball (12) to an electrical device (32), comprising a trackball (12) for being manipulated by hand, a sensor device (14) for detecting a turning of the trackball (12), a support device (34) for positioning the trackball (12) in a use position, where the trackball (12) is exposed for being manipulated, and a rest position, where the trackball (12) is adapted for being received by the electrical device (32), and an operating direction (28), which is defined roughly by a line through the center (26) of the trackball and the center (24) of a manipulating surface (22) of the trackball (12) exposed for turning the trackball (12) by hand in the use position, wherein the support device (34) is adapted to change the position of the sensor device (14) with respect to the trackball (12) so that the sensor device (14) is arranged mainly along the operating direction (28) for detecting the turning of the trackball (12) in the use position and that the sensor device (14) is arranged offset in a direction perpendicular to the operating direction (28) in the rest position with respect to the position of the sensor device (14) in the use position. Owing to the design of the support device (34) the trackball (12) and the sensor device (14) can be arranged side by side in the rest position. Since in the rest position the trackball (12) and the sensor device (14) may be arranged in a mainly horizontal plane the height of a portable computer or other electrical device (32) is not defined by a mainly vertical arrangement of the trackball (12) and the sensor device (14), but only by the maximum height of the trackball (12) or the sensor device (14), so that the trackball module (10) enables a thinner design of electrical devices (32), particularly portable computers. Module (10) de trackball destiné à relier un trackball (12) à un dispositif électrique (32), comportant un trackball (12) destiné à être manipulé à la main, un dispositif (14) de capteur destiné à détecter une rotation du trackball (12), un dispositif (34) de support destiné à positionner le trackball (12) dans une position d'utilisation où le trackball (12) est exposé afin d'être manipulé et dans une position de repos où le trackball (12) est prévu pour être reçu par le dispositif électrique (32), ainsi qu'une direction (28) de fonctionnement définie approximativement par une ligne traversant le centre (26) du trackball et le centre (24) d'une surface (22) de