Milestone for optical mouse sensors

Agilent Technologies has shipped its 75 millionth optical mouse sensor since releasing the industry's first such device late in 1999.

Agilent Technologies has shipped its 75 millionth optical mouse sensor since releasing the industry's first such device late in 1999.

Agilent pioneered optical sensing for mouse technology and supplies these sensors to all mouse manufacturers worldwide.

Today, optical mice range from inexpensive basic units to high-precision versions with scroll wheels and up to five programmable function buttons.

There also are miniature mice that are perfect for use with laptop computers and cordless optical mice that use power-saving technology for long battery life.

Optical mice are even making inroads with the precision-demanding gaming enthusiast crowd.

For example, Logitech's popular MouseMan Dual Optical mouse uses two Agilent sensors to achieve greater accuracy and precision across a wider variety of surfaces, especially during rapid mouse movements.

Agilent offers sensors ranging from very-low-cost 400 count/in for entry-level mice to sensors providing up to 800 count/in resolution, and speeds up to 14in/s with automatic power conservation - perfect for maximum-precision corded or cordless mice.

In conjunction with Cypress Semiconductor, Agilent offers a combination universal serial bus and PS/2 reference design based on the Cypress CY7C63723 enCoRe (enhanced component reduction) USB microcontroller.

"Consumers and OEMs are switching to optical mice at a rapid rate as demonstrated by Agilent's accelerated shipments of sensors", said Michael Huether, Director of Marketing Europe, Middle East and Africa, Semiconductor Products Europe.

"Agilent's family of low-cost and high-performance optical mouse sensors is satisfying a wide range of computer navigation applications, and we have the manufacturing capacity to support the industry's growing appetite for these sensors".

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