DIY Optical Sensor to Mouse Hack

[TheManuel]

Andy Warne of Ultimarc:
http://www.ultimarc.com/optipac4.html#top
Has instructions for a DIY optical sensor to mount into his IPac.

If I make this sensor, can I also mount it to a mouse board?

Would the x1 and x2 output leads connect to the parallel legs of the phototransistor in the mouse?

What is good way of making my own encoder wheel?

Thanks

[BobA]

Encoder Wheel Thread and Link

The DIY sensor you are planning on building is probably too big to mount on a mouse board.  It would have to be attached via cable just like the cable to the OPTIPAC.

The X1 X2 would probably connect to the outside points where the IR receiver is removed on your mouse board.  I say probably because the config should be checked.  The IR receivers are very small (see pic) and that is why the DIY sensor does not have room to mount.

Some mouse hacks just relocate the IR LED and IR receiver from the mouse and thus you would not have to build the DIY sensor board.

Perhaps you could give more details as to what you are trying to interface so we can give you more direct info on your hack.

BobA

[SirPoonga]

The problems I ran into using mouse IRs is they were designed for those small mouse encoder discs.

I did a mouse hack to the wiring harness for the tr

[TheManuel]

Encoder Wheel Thread and Link
The DIY sensor you are planning on building is probably too big to mount on a mouse board.  It would have to be attached via cable just like the cable to the OPTIPAC.
BobA

Oops!  I meant to say wire to a mouse board, not mount.

I will explain what I have in mind:
I'll use the CompUSA Crystal trackball (regular PC trackball) as, of course, a trackball.  I'll use it in PS/2 mode since it sucks in serial mode.

Now, I also want a spinner which I'll make myself based on the hard disk spindle idea that many people have used.  I happen to have a spare PS/2 mouse that I would like to use as interface.  Problem is, the trackball is using up the PS/2 port.

To solve this problem, the alternative I consider ideal is what _Iz- did (http://members.shaw.ca/avanti-technical/mame/index.htm).  He connected both a spinner and a trackball to the same mouse board.  I'm trying to reach him to find out if this works well wihtout any conflict between the signals hampering the performance of either the trackball or the spinner.

To implement _Iz-'s techinique, I have to alternatives:
1. Make my own sensor and encoder wheel and wire this to the trackball in parallel with one of its own sensors.
2. Try and use the sensor, emitter and wheel from the mouse and connect in parallel to the trackball.

The second option would be best since I already have the hardware.  Problem is I don't even know where to start.  I figure I would have to isolate the emitter and detector from the rest of the mouse board to prevent a mixup of the signals.  But then, I would not know how to properly wire this compoenent to the tracball's PCB.

Would something like this work?
Would I just need to wire the pin of each component to the corresponding one in the tracball?
Am I better off trying the DIY sensor?

Any help will be appreciated.

[SirPoonga]

Here's what I did for my happs trackball.  I got a mouse hack (the mouse hack from oscarcontrols).  I wired the corresponding pins from the trackball wiring harness to the pins on the mouse hack.  It works great.

[TheManuel]

Here's what I did for my happs trackball.  I got a mouse hack (the mouse hack from oscarcontrols).  I wired the corresponding pins from the trackball wiring harness to the pins on the mouse hack.  It works great.

That would be the sure and proven way to go but it's also expensive.
I guess I'm trying to figure out a way of making work what I have already.

[Tiger-Heli]

Here's what I did for my happs trackball.  I got a mouse hack (the mouse hack from oscarcontrols).  I wired the corresponding pins from the trackball wiring harness to the pins on the mouse hack.  It works great.

That would be the sure and proven way to go but it's also expensive.
I guess I'm trying to figure out a way of making work what I have already.

$9 or $12.5 for OSCAR's mouse hack is probably less expensive than the time you'll spend figuring out how to solder together your existing components, but that's up to you.

[TheManuel]

$9 or $12.5 for OSCAR's mouse hack is probably less expensive than the time you'll spend figuring out how to solder together your existing components, but that's up to you.

Yes but I would then have to buy a USB hub and extension cable and encoder wheel and either Oscar's Optical sensor or do it myself.
So you see, there is also work and money involved in that one.

[Tiger-Heli]

$9 or $12.5 for OSCAR's mouse hack is probably less expensive than the time you'll spend figuring out how to solder together your existing components, but that's up to you.

Yes but I would then have to buy a USB hub and extension cable and encoder wheel and either Oscar's Optical sensor or do it myself.
So you see, there is also work and money involved in that one.

If there's a MicroCenter near you www.microcenter.com, I got a 4-port USB hub there for about $5 on sale and USB extension cables for $1-2 on sale, but I see your point.

[TheManuel]

If there's a MicroCenter near you www.microcenter.com, I got a 4-port USB hub there for about $5 on sale and USB extension cables for $1-2 on sale, but I see your point.

At those prices I see YOUR point!
I'll check into that because I could then interface my spinner directly trough a USB mouse which a lot of people have done.
Thanks.

[SirPoonga]

Here's what I did for my happs trackball.  I got a mouse hack (the mouse hack from oscarcontrols).  I wired the corresponding pins from the trackball wiring harness to the pins on the mouse hack.  It works great.

That would be the sure and proven way to go but it's also expensive.
I guess I'm trying to figure out a way of making work what I have already.

$10 for a mouse hack and some solder time is expensive?

Doing a mouse hack isn't hard if you already have the mouse.  It depends on the type of IR you have.  there are 3 pin and 4 pin receivers.  it just takes some trial and error to get it correct.   Witha  USB mouse it isn;t hard.  You put the power and ground to the USB power and ground.  Then it;s just determining where the X+/- and y+/- go.

[TheManuel]

$10 for a mouse hack and some solder time is expensive?

I though you were talking the whole thing, Happ trackball and everything.
And like I said on post after that, I would need a USB hub and extension cable.
But, I'll be on the lookout, because those show up at a good price every once in a while.
In fact, I'm buying a USB mouse today in Office Max that will cost me $0 after mail-in rebate.
I'll keep it as a plan B if the other thing doesn't work.

Being able to connect both to the same mouse is still attractive, though because I would only have a PS/2 cable coming out of the CP for both devices.

[TheTick]

You can also get a PS/2 keyboard/mouse to USB converter for $15 from MicroCenter, and have only one USB cable out (including the keyboard interface).

[TheManuel]

You can also get a PS/2 keyboard/mouse to USB converter for $15 from MicroCenter, and have only one USB cable out (including the keyboard interface).

That could be sleek.
I'll check it out.
Thanks.

[TheManuel]

In fact, I'm buying a USB mouse today in Office Max that will cost me $0 after mail-in rebate.
I'll keep it as a plan B if the other thing doesn't work.

Update:
I bought the USB mouse from Office Max that will be free after rebate.
I already disassembled it and it look super simple and easy to hack so it will be a great plan B for me.

So if anyone needs a USB mouse to hack, now is teh time.


I even got more than I bargained for.  I bought a CD-RW for $10 after rebate and it is 52X-24X-52X.  It is a cheap brand but, for the price, it beats the heck out of my old 4X-4X-32X (also cheapo).
Just a heads up.

[Tiger-Heli]

$10 for a mouse hack and some solder time is expensive?

I though you were talking the whole thing, Happ trackball and everything.

Took me a while to figure out what you meant here.  If you are looking to use a genuine arcade trackball, the WICO 2-1/4 trackball is $25 at www.wicothesource.com.

Another option, which doesn't require any hacking is the I-ball USB trackball.  http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2733254155&category=25445

Fry's had these for $2.99 but they sold out, E-bay still has a few.  It's a fairly solid 2" USB trackball that wouldn't need any hacking.

FWIW

[TheManuel]

Another option, which doesn't require any hacking is the I-ball USB trackball.  http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2733254155&category=25445
Fry's had these for $2.99 but they sold out, E-bay still has a few.  It's a fairly solid 2" USB trackball that wouldn't need any hacking.

That's fairly similar to the $20 Crystal trackball I have.  But, damn it, if I knew I could have bought that one for $2.99...

The Wico one has a good price tag on it.  I'm not so big into trackball games but if I start playing them for a while I will consider getting one of those.

Thanks for the heads up.  I did not know about the Wico one.

[Tiger-Heli]

That's fairly similar to the $20 Crystal trackball I have.  But, damn it, if I knew I could have bought that one for $2.99...

People who've used both say the I-ball is a little smoother than the Crystal.  And I know exactly what you mean, I tried to order the $2.99 ones and they went back-ordered and discontinued before I got mine, so I'm scrounging around for them as well.

Thanks for the heads up.  I did not know about the Wico one.

No problem!  (And like all 2-1/4 trackballs, you can use billiard balls in the Wico as well)