Buzz
The market demands are ever-changing, affecting computer mice in terms of design, color, features, and functionality. Gone are the days of disassembling mice for cleaning, the advent of optical and laser mice marks a significant advancement in computer mice technology. However, not everyone knows how optical mice differ from laser mice. This article aims to provide objective comparisons, as well as suggest the most suitable options based on individual needs.
Operation methods of optical and laser mice
Optical mice utilize a specialized light emitter (typically red) and an ultra-small camera. As you move the mouse on a surface like a desk or mousepad, light from the internal emitter illuminates this surface. The ultra-small camera system then captures dozens of images per second. Following this, the optical mouse compares these images to determine its direction.
Subsequently, the mouse transmits data, including movement parameters, to the CPU, and the mouse cursor on the screen adjusts according to the mouse's movement.
Laser mice operate on a principle similar to optical mice but use infrared light, which is invisible to the human eye, instead of visible light like optical mice. Because of this, although laser mice do not emit a clearly visible light like optical mice, it's still advisable to avoid directly looking into the mouse sensor while it's connected to the computer. Doing so could cause serious harm to your eyes.
Feature
When using laser and optical mice, you need to pay attention to two factors: DPI (dots per inch) and Polling Rate (sampling frequency) of the mouse.
Furthermore, we can compare the general mechanism of optical and laser mice, which involves continuously capturing images of the mouse pad surface and analyzing them to calculate cursor coordinates. Therefore, the clearer the imaging sensor, the more accurate the calculated coordinates. While optical mice use LED lights for illumination, laser mice use laser beams for scanning, enabling detailed detection of surface contours. In addition to lens quality, the sensor also needs to be fast and responsive for accurate coordinate results.
Above are some minor comparisons between optical and laser mice. We hope you'll make the most suitable choices for yourself and your usage needs. Additionally, we provide some computer mouse tricks. If interested, feel free to check them out.
When studying computers, you'll encounter many new concepts you've never heard of before, and optical XFP and SFP modules are just two of the many concepts. If you want to delve deeper into these two modules, refer to our article comparing the difference between optical XFP and SFP modules to further enhance your knowledge.
