Palo Alto, Calif. — Agilent Technologies Inc. says it now offers the industry's first laser navigation sensor technology for mouse manufacturers. Available in three versions, the laser-based mouse sensors have been specifically designed for high-end cordless mice, high-end corded mice, and the high-performance gaming mice.
Based on the company's LaserStream technology that is said to uncover microscopic detail that enables mice to track with exceptional accuracy on more surfaces including painted metal, polished wood-grain, translucent plastic, frosted glass and glossy white paper, and with greater responsiveness, it was initially designed exclusively for Logitech's MX 1000 laser cordless mouse.
Now available to the general marketplace, the company believes that the laser-based technology will ultimately replace LED-based optical mouse sensors in nearly all applications due to its greater tracking capability and reduced power consumption.
However, until the time that laser-based technology becomes the dominant technology for optical mice, the company will continue to develop and introduce both LED-based and laser-based products, said Christine Liu, U.S. marketing manager for the Navigation Products Division in Agilent's Semiconductor Products Group.
Liu said the new laser illumination technology is superior to LED-based illumination because it reveals trackable surface structures that the LED light source can't uncover.
The laser technology is able to track 20 times finer surface texture than an LED-based optical sensor, said Liu. "The bottom line is that because of the coherent light that the laser provides it can pick up a lot more features even on very smooth surfaces compared with the LED sensors," she added.
Laser mouse cross section
(Click on Image to Enlarge) 
A key component of the LaserStream technology is the company's ADNV-6330 842 nm wavelength vertical-cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL), which was engineered to provide a laser diode with a single longitudinal and a single transverse mode, which is in contrast to most oxide-based, single-mode VCSELs that remain in single-mode operation over a wide range of output power. The low operating current of the ADNV-6330 allows lower power consumption in optical mice.
Another benefit of the new laser mouse sensors is that it incorporates technology that enables the new devices to meet IEC-60825-1 eye safety Class 1 requirements as defined by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
Laser mice built around the LaserStream technology provide positioning accuracy with resolutions up to 2,000 counts per inch (cpi), and can keep up with rapid movements with maximum velocities up to 45 inches per second (ips) and acceleration of up to 20g. These higher performance features are typically required for gaming and demanding graphics applications. Another key feature includes adjustable frame rates (the number of "snapshots" the sensor takes per second) in excess of 7,000 frames per second (fps).
Liu explained that a key feature that users tend to be more interested in is better tracking performance over more surfaces. "They want a smoother, more responsive feel from the mouse, and they want to be able to use their mouse on a much wider variety of surfaces."
Agilent offers its LaserStream technology as separate components or in bundles that include the sensor, VCSEL, round or rectangular lens, and a VCSEL assembly clip. The new devices include the ADNS-6000 laser navigation sensor, also available as the ADNB-600X bundle, for high-end corded mice. This sensor features 800 cpi resolution, 20 ips maximum velocity and 6,400 fps frame rate. The resolution is selectable at 400 or 800 cpi.
Click here for the ADNS-6000 product overview.
The ADNS-6030 low-power laser navigation sensor, also available as the ADNB-603X bundle, for high-end cordless mice, offers up to 800 cpi resolution (selectable at 400 or 800 cpi), 20 ips maximum velocity, and enhanced self-adjusting frame rate. It features self-adjusting power-saving modes for long battery life up to six months, and offers a wide operating voltage of 2.7 V to 3.6 V. Click here for the ADNS-6030 product overview.
The high-performance ADNS-6010 laser navigation sensor, also available as the ADNB-601X bundle, is optimized for the gaming environment and other high-performance applications. It touts a 2,000 cpi resolution, 45 ips maximum velocity and 7,080 fps frame rate. The resolution is selectable in firmware at 400, 800, 1600 or 2000 counts per inch (cpi).
Click here for the ADNS-6010 product overview.
"What makes it specific for gaming is that it has a very high performance level in terms of velocity and acceleration — how fast the user can move the mouse — and also the resolution — how small a movement the user can move the mouse and have the sensor still pick it up," Liu said.
Here's how the laser-based mouse stacks up against the company's LED-based optical mouse sensor. The new ADNS-6010 laser sensor for gaming mice offers a resolution as high as 2000 cpi as compared with the company's most recent LED-based optical mouse sensor, the ADNS-3080, which offers a resolution as high as 1600 cpi for gaming mice. In addition, the ADNS6010 touts a velocity of 45 ips and acceleration of 20 g compared with 40 ips and 15 g, respectively, for the ADNS-3080.
Click here for more information on Agilent's navigation sensor products.
The ADNS-6030-based bundle (ADNB-603X) is priced at less than $5 in high volumes, the ADNB-600X bundle at less than $6, and the ADNB-601X bundle at less than $7. The sensors, bundles and individual ADNV-6330 VCSELs, optics and clips are available now. The company plans to develop entry-level sensors and bundles at a lower cost some time next year.
Agilent Semiconductor Products Group, 1-800-235-0312, www.agilent.com
