Optical mouse knows its place

MIZONKUCHI—Agilent Technologies has developed an optical-mouse position sensor with twice the resolution and 1.5 times the frame rate of conventional devices. The device enables smooth, high-sensitivity control of the cursor. The sensor is composed of an image acquisition system (IAS), a digital signal processor (DSP), a two-channel quadrature output (x-y coordinate data), and a two-wire serial port. Lenses, light-emitting diodes, and other parts are added to create the optical mouse.

When the user moves the mouse, the IAS quickly captures images of the irradiated surface via a lens and sends the data to the DSP. The DSP compares several images to determine the distance and direction of the mouse, and converts the data to two-channel x-y coordinates. The cursor position is determined by this two-channel signal, as well as by the signal from the serial port. This new sensor has a resolution of 800 counts per inch, while its frame rate reaches to 2300/s. The device also includes a shutdown mechanism so that expended power can be reduced.

Courtesy O plus E magazine, Tokyo