# optical mouse

> computer mouse that uses an optical sensor to detect movement

**Wikidata**: [Q364747](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q364747)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_mouse)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/optical-mouse

## Summary
An optical mouse is a type of computer mouse that uses an optical sensor to detect movement relative to a surface. Unlike older mechanical mice that use a rolling ball, an optical mouse tracks movement by using a light-emitting diode (LED) to illuminate the surface and a photodetector to analyze the reflected light. This design eliminates moving parts for tracking, resulting in greater precision and reliability.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** It is a subclass of the computer mouse.
- **Core Components:** It uses a light-emitting diode (LED) and a photodetector to track movement.
- **Distinguishing Feature:** It does not have a physical ball for tracking, which was characteristic of earlier mechanical mice.
- **Online Presence:** The entity has a Wikipedia page titled "Optical mouse" with 18 sitelinks and a Wikimedia Commons category named "Optical computer mice".
- **Examples:** Logitech has produced numerous optical mouse models, including the MX510 (2004), M100 (2010), M330 (2016), and M240 (2023).
- **Aliases:** It is also known as "optical computer mouse," "IntelliEye," and "光学マウス" (Japanese).
- **Identifier:** Its Freebase ID is `/m/0c01t70`.

## FAQs
### Q: How does an optical mouse work?
A: An optical mouse works by shining a light-emitting diode (LED) onto the surface beneath it. A photodetector, acting like a tiny camera, rapidly captures images of the surface to detect patterns and track how they move, translating this data into cursor movement on the screen.

### Q: What is the main difference between an optical mouse and a mechanical mouse?
A: The primary difference is the tracking mechanism. An optical mouse uses a light-based optical sensor and has no moving parts for tracking, whereas a mechanical mouse relies on a physical rolling ball to detect movement. This makes optical mice less susceptible to dust and debris.

### Q: Is an optical mouse a type of computer mouse?
A: Yes, an optical mouse is a specific type, or subclass, of a computer mouse. The general class of computer mouse is a hand-held device used to move a pointer on a computer display.

## Why It Matters
The optical mouse represents a significant advancement in computer peripheral technology by solving the primary drawbacks of its predecessor, the mechanical ball mouse. Mechanical mice were prone to failure as dust and debris would accumulate on the internal rollers, requiring frequent cleaning and causing inconsistent tracking. By replacing the rolling ball with a solid-state optical sensor, the optical mouse eliminated these moving parts.

This innovation led to a dramatic increase in reliability, accuracy, and durability. Users no longer needed a special mousepad for optimal performance, and the devices required far less maintenance. The superior performance and lower cost of manufacturing eventually allowed the optical mouse to become the standard for desktop and laptop navigation, making computer interaction smoother and more accessible for millions of users.

## Notable For
- **Solid-State Tracking:** It uses a light-emitting diode and a photodetector for movement detection, containing no moving tracking parts like the ball found in mechanical mice.
- **Improved Reliability:** The absence of a rolling ball eliminates the common problem of dust and debris interfering with the tracking mechanism, leading to less maintenance and more consistent performance.
- **Widespread Adoption:** It became the dominant type of computer mouse, as evidenced by the numerous models produced by manufacturers like Logitech from the early 2000s to the present day.
- **Key Technology:** Its design is fundamentally defined by the integration of an optical sensor, a light-emitting diode (LED), and a photodetector to translate physical movement into digital signals.

## Body
### Definition and Classification
An optical mouse is a computer pointing device that utilizes an optical sensor to track its movement across a surface. It is formally classified as a subclass of the `computer mouse`, a hand-held device for controlling a graphical user interface pointer that was first developed in 1963.

### Core Technology
The tracking system of an optical mouse is entirely solid-state, distinguishing it from earlier mechanical designs. Its primary components for detecting motion are:
- **Light-Emitting Diode (LED):** Illuminates the surface directly beneath the mouse.
- **Photodetector:** A sensor that captures thousands of images per second of the illuminated surface.
By comparing consecutive images, an internal processor calculates the direction and speed of movement. This system notably lacks the rubber or metal ball that was the central component of mechanical mice.

### Market Examples
The optical mouse design has been widely adopted by peripheral manufacturers. The provided data shows a consistent release of optical mouse models by Logitech over two decades, demonstrating the technology's longevity and market dominance.
- **2004:** Logitech MX510, Logitech Football Mouse
- **2005:** Logitech Cordless Mini Optical Mouse
- **2010:** Logitech M100, Logitech B100, Logitech M215
- **2015:** Logitech M170, Logitech M535
- **2016:** Logitech M221, Logitech M330
- **2023:** Logitech M240

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "optical mouse",
  "description": "A computer mouse that uses an optical sensor to detect movement.",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_mouse"
  ],
  "image": [
    "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Microsoft-wireless-mouse.jpg",
    "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Microsoft_computer_mice_disassembled.JPG"
  ],
  "alternateName": [
    "optical computer mouse",
    "Optomaus",
    "IntelliEye",
    "optische Computermaus",
    "オプティカルマウス",
    "光学マウス",
    "الماوس الضوئي",
    "ماوس ضوئي"
  ]
}

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013