Thanks Joe. I thought of a piezo element, they do produce several volts with light=20 impacts, enough to make an LED flash. But, I didn't realize sub micro=20 amp comparators were available. I looked for one 5 or 6 years ago and=20 found 10 micro amp units only. I'll look at the latest generation of low=20 power comparators again. If the piezo element was mounted on the bottom surface of the mouse, so=20 it made physical contact with the desk surface, I bet they'd put out=20 lots of voltage.....something for me to ponder:) Your mention of a piezo element made me think of a piezotransformer=20 though. They put out hundreds of volts, when stressed (into high=20 impedances). They also have piezo film too. I did look at mems accelerometers (mouser parametric table), the lowest=20 power unit I could find was one that drew 2.5 milliamps, which totally=20 blows my power budget. And, they're a little pricey:). They're massive=20 overkill for my needs, I don't need anywhere near the bandwidth they=20 offer, but lower power/lower bandwidth units aren't available. They=20 would have the necessary sensitivity. Art AT 8/29/2015 11:53 PM, Joe Wronski wrote: > A piezo buzzer element fed int i DID LOOK AT o a sub-microamp comparator,= which drove a > PIC interrupt pin is what woke up early versions of an activity monitor > that a previous employer made. The comparator threshold was really > small, milli-volts, IIRC. Clamp the piezo voltage with diodes. It > would be fairly sensitive, but more movement than just moving a mouse. > > I think the newer technology uses a 3 axis Kionix accelerometer, with > programmable wake thresholds. > > Joe W > > On 8/29/2015 8:54 PM, Dwayne Reid wrote: >> My Microsoft Bluetooth wireless Intellimouse doesn't have a power >> switch and the batteries (2x "AA") seems to last a couple of years. >> >> My Logitech Laser V470 mice *do* have power switches but the >> batteries also seem to last a really long time. >> >> With both mice, I have to shake the mouse if it has been sitting idle >> before the mouse pointer starts to move. I'm used to it and it >> doesn't bother me. >> >> dwayne >> >> >> At 05:01 PM 8/29/2015, Art wrote: >>> Hi everyone, >>> >>> I am trying to find a low power wireless optical mouse without a power >>> switch. While the microprocessor can be throttled back and the wireless >>> transceiver can sleep when no movement is detected, the LED must still >>> be powered as long as there might be movement. So, there is always need >>> for a power switch. >>> >>> I'd like to eliminate the power switch by using a vibration sensor to >>> turn the LED on when vibration is detected. I notice there are vibratio= n >>> sensors that claim to be sensitive on ebay: >>> >>> http://www.ebay.com/itm/Reflection-NEW-801S-Vibration-Sensor-Sensitive-= for-Arduino-Highly-/291542737641?hash=3Ditem43e14d22e9 >>> >>> OR >>> >>> I am trying to find a low power wireless optical mouse without a power >>> switch. While the microprocessor can be throttled back and the wireless >>> transceiver can sleep when no movement is detected, the LED must still >>> be powered as long as there might be movement. So, there is always need >>> for a power switch. >>> >>> I'd like to eliminate the power switch by using a vibration sensor to >>> turn the LED on when vibration is detected. I notice there are vibratio= n >>> sensors that claim to be sensitive on ebay: >>> >>> http://www.ebay.com/itm/Reflection-NEW-801S-Vibration-Sensor-Sensitive-= for-Arduino-Highly-/291542737641?hash=3Ditem43e14d22e9 >>> >>> OR >>> >>> http://www.ebay.com/itm/10X-SW-520D-Vibration-Sensor-Metal-Ball-Tilt-Sh= aking-Switch-NEW-Arrival-/271677896162?hash=3Ditem3f4143b5e2 >>> >>> And, I can get a low power Schmitt trigger cmos gate that draws around >>> one microamp at 3 volts, and hook that up to disable the onboard LED >>> when the mouse isn't moving (vibration isn't detected). >>> >>> I also have an idea about changing the geometry of the optical sensor t= o >>> a reflective mode and narrowing the field of view for the sensor, so >>> that the LED can be run at a significantly lower but that's a topic for >>> another discussion): >>> >>> So, I have 2 questions........ >>> >>> Does anyone have experience with these small vibration sensors, are the= y >>> sensitive to detect when a mouse is moved across a relatively smooth >>> surface? >>> >>> AND >>> >>> Does anyone know which model wireless optical mouse has the lowest powe= r >>> consumption (best power management)? If so, what chip does it use?? >>> >>> Thanks, >>> >>> Art >>> >>> >>> -- >>> http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive >>> View/change your membership options at >>> http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist > --=20 http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .