My mouse doesn't like the dark!

[halfwit]

I had no idea how a mouse worked, regardless I thought I would try and fix my broken rodent. It couldn't move the pointer vertically anymore but had no problems with horizontal movement. Suspecting some fluff contamination I opened her up only to find she was now working fine.

Thinking the case is interfering with the ball so to speak or perhaps the roller and I start filing and cutting away at various parts of the casing.

Still no joy. Everytime I replace the case it stops working. Finally after an indecently long period of time I notice an associaion between light levels and mouse performance. After a quick experiment involving the light switch I discover the cause of the fault.

My mouse won't work in the dark.

Think I'll drill a hole in the case and let some light in.

Given that it uses light to operate how did it ever work in the dark? [sig][/sig]

 

[edfair]

Suspect that you lost your internal source of light. Probably a led/detector pair on opposite sides of a slotted wheel. [sig]<p>Ed Fair<br><a href=mailto: efair@atlnet.com> efair@atlnet.com</a><br><a href= > </a><br>Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply. <br>
Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.<br>
[/sig]

 

[Karl Blessing]

are we talking about a laser mouse? like my Microsoft Intelimouse explorer, but you mentioned ball, and mice like that are mechanical, so kinda curious why you'd need light. [sig]<p>Karl<br><a href=mailto:kb244@kb244.com>kb244@kb244.com</a><br><a href=

http://kb244.com>

</a><br>Experienced in : C++(both VC++ and Borland),VB1(dos) thru VB6, Delphi 3 pro, HTML, Visual InterDev 6(ASP(WebProgramming/Vbscript)<br>

http://www.brainbench.com/transcript.jsp?pid=629151

[/sig]

 

[edfair]

Some of them have electronics to get movement. Use slot detectors. [sig]<p>Ed Fair<br><a href=mailto: efair@atlnet.com> efair@atlnet.com</a><br><a href= > </a><br>Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply. <br>
Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.<br>
[/sig]

 

[Eelad]

The mouse ball moves two perforated wheels by friction. Light from leds shines through holes in the wheels as the mouse moves. The light pulses are detected by a photoconductive device, which converts them into digital voltage pulses. [sig][/sig]

 

[halfwit]

Thanks for info. Guess I need a new LED although I think it might work with a hole drilled in the casing.It's only a mouse - and not even my favourite mouse! [sig][/sig]

 

[edfair]

With replacements selling under $10.00 is it worth the effort? And how sensitive is the detector and what happens as dust fills the hole? Or where will you find a replacement slot detector? And if you can find one, can you replace it?
Find a mouse you like. Buy it. [sig]<p>Ed Fair<br><a href=mailto: efair@atlnet.com> efair@atlnet.com</a><br><a href= > </a><br>Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply. <br>
Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.<br>
[/sig]

 

[ray436]

With all the handling your mouse has had, either one of the IR emitter LEDs has died ( not too likely ) or it is out of alignment with the receiver LED ( more likely )

Check the alignment, and all should be well.

I see this alot. Some of my customers have gotten a little wild with a Q-tip when cleaning their rodents. [sig][/sig]