IntelliMouse Modding

[m2c4u]

I have a Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer and i think its time for change. I was thinking about changing the LED to i blue one because i am now totally obsessed with blue LED's. I want to know what voltage will be right for the LED and will it make the performance of the mouse worse like the mouse not being as sensitive and finally how damn hard will it be. Ive looked about on the mouse and there seems to be no screws. Damn! I rely on screws!! I think there was an thread on this before but i couldnt find it.:D

[Oni]

aparantly the light in there uses the same voltage as the Radioshack bright blue LED's.

[Packersmap]

the screws should be under the pads on the bottom of the mouse

[m2c4u]

there they are :)

[Christoph]

I'm going to try that mod too sometime soon. Don't forget to post back about how it works.

BTW, does your mouse have a red transparent bottom? I know that there's a clear spot for the LED to shine through, but I'd like to know how a blue light looks through a red filter.

[Dissolved]

Originally posted by IdeaMagnate
I'm going to try that mod too sometime soon. Don't forget to post back about how it works.

BTW, does your mouse have a red transparent bottom? I know that there's a clear spot for the LED to shine through, but I'd like to know how a blue light looks through a red filter.

i was gonna mod mine blue.. but if you notice, the bottom of the ms explorer mouse is made of red plastic.. so if you but a blue led in there, it'll probly make the mouse look purple.. and boy do i hate purple :(
logtec makes blue mouses, altho there too small.. my friend had one, and i hated it.. the buttons were the size of like 1980's mouses.. too small.. the ms mouse has nice and big ones.. easier for me to controll. :)

[m2c4u]

I started dissassemling the mouse and didnt get very far. I unscrewed the screws but the bottom wouldnt lift off it seems the side buttons are getting stuck. So what do i do to get it off without damaging the mouse.:o :(

[Christoph]

Have you taken many things apart? I found that after a couple minutes of fiddling around with a screwdriver, that the bottom comes off quite readily. Good luck. Sorry I can't be more specific right now. I'll tell you when i get my hands on a mouse I can take apart, if nobody else has chimed in by then.

[Packersmap]

the bottons are held on by a litttle piece of plastic just put the screw driver there and pry a little not mush or you will snap it then the buttons should come out easily

[m2c4u]

thx m8, all im waiting for now is the blue led. Anyone know where i can get a suitable LED in the UK?

[m2c4u]

i can get this led will it be ok? :

Diffuse Clear
Part No.: L-53MBD L-53MBC
Light output: 40mcd 90mcd
Viewing angle: 60° 20°

Peak wavelength: 430nm
Forward current: 30mA max.
Forward voltage: 5.5V max.
Operating temp: -20°C to +80°C
Reverse voltage: 5V

P.S. if now what resistor will i need?

[Dissolved]

Originally posted by m2c4u
thx m8, all im waiting for now is the blue led. Anyone know where i can get a suitable LED in the UK?

you took your mouse apart, and you dont even have the led? lol

[m2c4u]

Yep :) They are two 5mm led's i dont know the voltage of them tho. If sumone could tell me...:D

[Christoph]

I'm going to get some blue LEDs at a local Radio Shack (cheap electronics store). I've heard that they're fine. When I get them I'll post back here, if you havent' found that out by then.

[mcrites]

I dont think 90 mcd is very bright, the ultra bright i got from rs is 2600 mcd...

[Draxin]

ok iv taken a robotics class and used the same components the intelimouse uses for movement tracking and as far as i can remember it MUST use a red led. it has something to do with the color sensitivity of the "camara"

but if you want to give it a shot go for it but id keep the red on and label which side of the led goes where so if you have to put it back in you dont put the anode in the cathodes place and fry the thing.

but thats just my thought on the matter

[Cooper]

I changed the LED in my Intellimouse w/intellieye to green, didn't really notice any difference (no extensive testing). I then changed it to an IR led :) No problems with it. AFAIK the IM explorer uses the same optics. I haven't changed the LED in my IM Explorer, but I have REMOVED the ass-light from it (pointless annoying light).
I recal a graph somewhere on the net for the optics, the peak sensitivity was somewhere close the red portion of the spectrum (IR was slightly more sensitive than blue). I think blue would be starting to push the limits (if you used the same luminance)

[Christoph]

I'm not sure which would be better, an optical mouse with an invisible light or a very bright blue blue light. Thanks for the info.
Where did you find those specs?

[Dissolved]

isn't there 2 red led's in the ms explorer neways?

[m2c4u]

yes think i will put a ultra bright blue one for the optics and a low out put blue one at the back.

[Dissolved]

Originally posted by m2c4u
yes think i will put a ultra bright blue one for the optics and a low out put blue one at the back.

aight, could u get us some pics of this mod?

[m2c4u]

mmmm not at the moment cs I aint got a didital camera:( but I will let you know how it goes. If i can get hold of a digital camera i will put up some pics.

[BrianCapps]

Remember that you are limited by the voltage on the headers you are soldering to. There is only something like 2.5 volts inside that mouse, and the 2600 mcd LED is designed for 3.7. I have had a radio shack blue LED in my iFeel for about 3 months now, with nary a problem. It is not noticably brighter than the red LED that used to be in there, but it looks a helluva lot cooler:cool:

As long as you have decent soldering skills, youe red-to-blue transformation will not be a problem. :D

[m2c4u]

ok I changed the LEDs and works perfectly Ive been playing cs for a few hours and i cant deffinetly see an increase in sensitivty. One problem was the LED at the back was no where near powerfull enough I can barely see it so I think i will replace it for a more powerfull one later. Cya.:D :D

[UnaClocker]

I did the blue bulb mod on mine, but that wasn't enough.. So I buested out some vinyl die.. hehe
http://una.procooling.com/mouse_after.jpg
http://una.procooling.com/blackmouse_1.jpg
Pretty cool, huh? :)

[Christoph]

Looks good. Where do you get vinyl dye?

[Boomerang]

I'm wondering if anyone's tried the LED mod on the wireless optical mouse from logitech? I have access to one, and have been pondering ways to make it more "interesting" for a while now.

[UnaClocker]

Originally posted by IdeaMagnate
Looks good. Where do you get vinyl dye?
Any auto parts store.. People use it on dashboards, consoles and seats.. :) Lots of colors to choose from, and it's highly difficult to scratch the stuff. :)

[AntmanMike]

Wouldn't a blue light through a red filter make no light at all? I mean, its a BLUE LIGHT, and the red filter only lets red through.... optics are different then paint, so it shouldnt make purple.....

[Christoph]

That's right. Blue light through a red filter makes nothing, but in the botton of my mouse, there's a clear lens to focus the light. I'm trying to go for and infared mod anyway.

[stompah]

hmm.. I didnt see this thread. I even searched back a ways... oh well.