How Do Optic Motion Sensors Work?
Optic Technology and the New Mouse
Nowhere has optic technology made its presence felt like it has in the world of computers -- particularly in the world of computer mice. The old mouse, the one with the wheel on the bottom, tracking up dirt and grime and causing the cursor to bounce erratically across the screen -- that mouse is on the way out. It has been replaced by a sleeker model, some wired, some wireless, but all having done away with the analog wheel in favor of optics. This bad boy doesn't need cleaning, and it doesn't need a mouse pad. Put it on a surface and watch it do its thing better and more efficiently than the old model. But the question remains, how do these optic motion sensors really work?
How Optic Motion Sensors Work
Optical sensor technology has been around since the late nineties, and was put to work in computer mice in 1999 by a company called Aglient Technologies. When speaking of optic technology, you're actually talking about a minuscule camera placed inside a device which takes 1500 pictures every second. It also comes equipped with a red LED light. All the mouse (or other optic motion sensor device) needs to function is a flat surface from which to bounce this light. Once it does, the light traces back to a sensor. The sensor itself sends the images back to a digital signal processor, which then analyzes the information it receives. Sound like too much happening at one time, compared to how quickly a mouse works? Well, this digital signal processor is capable of handling 18 million instructions per second! The processor compares each new image with the image before it and uses these comparisons to determine how far the cursor on the computer screen should move.
The Benefits of Optic Technology
The benefits of optic motion sensor technology compared to old analog technology are vast. One of the greatest benefits is the lack of moving parts. Any piece of equipment that is made up of several moving parts is subject to wear and tear and eventual breakdown. That's not to say that optic mice will last forever, but they are far more durable and long lasting than their analog grandfathers. We already discussed the issue of dirt and grime, and there is also the benefit of being able to go mouse pad-free (though many choose to still use a pad for aesthetics and a smoother surface). The greatest benefit, however, is simply the fact that they work better. They process information faster, and they are far more accurate, thus making mouse usage that much more precise.
Tags: Motion Sensors, Motion Sensors Work, Sensors Work, computer mice, digital signal, digital signal processor, dirt grime
