Society of Robots - Robot Forum

Electronics => Electronics => Topic started by: Redcap on November 18, 2010, 05:21:02 AM

Title: Mouse sensor as Robot motion/proximity sensor?
Post by: Redcap on November 18, 2010, 05:21:02 AM

I was wondering if it was possible to use the sensor from a mouse as a crude motion/proximity sensor to tell when the robot is close to, but not touching an object?
_{(sensor I'm thinking of using pictured below)}

(http://i735.photobucket.com/albums/ww359/okcoolcool/electronics/chip.png)
_{edit: better picture added}

If this is possible, great  ;D


But...

that brings up another problem.

It's a PAN3512DK-TJZA. I've tried looking for information on this chip, found out from the only site mentioning it (http://www.angcore.com/AITG/getProductList.action?searchType=MPN&PageNum=534) that the manufacturer is PixArt Imaging (http://www.pixart.com.tw/index.asp), but the PixArt website no longer lists anything about it.

Its a 12 pinned chip, but have no clue of the pin layout.

Any feedback (help/suggestions/flames) is greatly appreciated.


_{If it cannot be used/isn't possible, that's 100% ok, just trying to find out info before starting with it.}

Title: Re: Mouse sensor as Robot motion/proximity sensor?
Post by: Razor Concepts on November 18, 2010, 08:55:13 AM

If its a PS/2 mouse, you can easily interface it using the connector.

All mice work on velocity, and not position, however.

Title: Re: Mouse sensor as Robot motion/proximity sensor?
Post by: Redcap on November 18, 2010, 07:52:46 PM

Unfortunately this one's from a USB mouse.

The way I'm thinking about using it is to have the chip mounted vertically so when it gets within a few inches of an object, or an object moves within a few inches of it, the robot can sense an object is "too close" and acts accordingly.

Due to the lack of info on this chip, I'm beginning to think it'd be a better idea just to go with IR style Sensors, but was hoping to try something a little different.

Title: Re: Mouse sensor as Robot motion/proximity sensor?
Post by: Soeren on November 18, 2010, 08:16:53 PM

Hi,

An optical mouse sensor is a low resolution camera 16x16 pixels or slightly larger (some up to 32x32 AFAIK) and as such doesn't give any distance info unless you do some math on the frames in real time.
It would not be the best way to make an obstacle/bump detector.

Title: Re: Mouse sensor as Robot motion/proximity sensor?
Post by: Metal Slug 2 on November 18, 2010, 08:49:06 PM

This (http://www.martijnthe.nl/2009/07/interfacing-an-optical-mouse-sensor-to-your-arduino/) guy was able to get meaningful data back from an optical mouse using an arduino.  Although his mouse used a different sensor, yours may function similarly...

Title: Re: Mouse sensor as Robot motion/proximity sensor?
Post by: Redcap on November 18, 2010, 09:53:05 PM

Thanks for the link Metal Slug.
After reading through it, I'd have to agree with Soeren that it won't be the best way to go about creating an obstacle sensor, mainly due to where I'm at at the moment in regards to robotics.

Much thanks for your replies/time :)