Optical mouse sensors - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: b_force
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2020, 01:34:56 am
content: So for a project I am looking for a way to measure distance, an optical mouse sensors basically seem to tick all the boxes.I have been looking around at all the known distributors, like Digikey, Farnell, Mouser, LCSC etc but no-one seems to sell them or they are obsolete.Does anyone know why this is and are there ways to get them otherwise?Obviously I can try do directly contact manufactures directly, but in this case it's only for a small project.Second to this, does anyone has experience with these things?I am basically only interested in one axis, something around 5000-6000 dpi would give me more than adequate resolution.I guess I can also get a cheap mouse for now, but in the end the budget is no more than $2-$4This gave me basically the idea;

author: ledtester
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2020, 02:31:28 am
content: You can find the chips on ebay / aliexpress... just gotta know what part number to look for:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/source-for-an-optical-mouse-sensor-like-the-adns2620/msg3110516/#msg3110516I got 5 chips from an ebay vendor, and I'm looking to play with them Real Soon Now, but unfortunately it's been that way for the last two months due to more important things that keep popping up.Locally I was able to get a couple optical mice for $1-$2 at a used computer store and at some thrift stores (i.e. like Goodwill / Salvation Army in the US).

author: Renate
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2020, 02:33:35 am
content: Why not use a 6" digital calipers for $10?If you need a slow readout some (most? many?) have serial outputs internally in some random protocol.For faster, you'd have to decode the phase components yourself.

author: TheMG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2020, 02:38:17 am
content: Be aware that most computer mice these days, especially the less expensive models, use a single-chip solution. In other words, the sensor itself along with the microcontroller and USB controller is all built into a single device.You might want to look for older mice with PS/2 interface, such as the ones used in the videos you linked to. This would be much easier to interface than a USB mouse.More expensive mice (such as higher end gaming models),maystill have separate sensors and controller ICs, but there's no guarantee of that either.

author: b_force
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2020, 02:47:18 am
content: Quote from: Renate on August 29, 2020, 02:33:35 amCan't use calipers, but the second best option is to use capacitive sensing.Unfortunately it's a lot more involved to get that right, noise free and accurate.Mean lots of prototyping.Quote from: TheMG on August 29, 2020, 02:38:17 amNo problem, as long as I can read it out somehow (ideally I2S or SPI)Ideally I would like to get it from a proper source/wholesaler. instead of relying on some seller on Aliexpress.

author: EverydayMuffin
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 08, 2020, 05:19:58 pm
content: Quote from: b_force on August 29, 2020, 02:47:18 amAre you based in Europe? Pixart mouse sensors are available from Pixart's European distributor, EPS Global. Pixart acquired the Avago Navigation Division in 2011 so the older ADNS parts by Avago are also available from Pixart distributors.

author: TurboTom
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 08, 2020, 09:35:24 pm
content: I've been in a similar situation bare of a decade ago -- been involved in a "technical arts installation" where a modified Avago ADNS-2610 optical mouse sensor proved to be a formidable choice for a sensor configuration to suit our application. Since we only needed low two-digit quantities, I figured out the least expensive mice containing this sensor and, well, they got thier tails cut off...If this approach suits your application / required quantities, is soemthing you've got to figure out. Moreover, mice containing a separate optical sensor are probably only available seond hand nowadays. Anyway, I wish you all the best with your project!

author: b_force
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 08, 2020, 10:08:45 pm
content: Quote from: EverydayMuffin on September 08, 2020, 05:19:58 pmI have tried that in the past, but the first thing they were talking about was quantaties.In this case it's going to be used for a tast lab devices, so numbers are going to be low to begin with.

author: b_force
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 08, 2020, 10:23:45 pm
content: Quote from: TurboTom on September 08, 2020, 09:35:24 pmThanks,Well I just have to measure distance ideally contactless with a resolution of roughly 0.1mm or so.So around 3000-4000 dpi is more than enough with 500-1000Hz, which is a piece of cake for most mouse sensors these days.Besides I don't need any fancy things, just read it out with a ucontroller and that's it.Worst case I can always get some 2nd hand/3rd party for now and extend it later.