Logitech Goes Into Technical Detail About Mouse Sensors

By Marcus Yam
published

Every wanted to know what goes on in that mouse under your palm?

We recently took a trip to Logitech's headquarters in Switzerland to learn more about how the company designs its products. Senior engineer François Morier took the time to explain the considerations that designers must make when creating mouse products.

Morier goes in depth technically how sensors work, DPI count and calculations, why higher DPI isn't necessarily better, angle error, resolution vs. speed error (acceleration), ripple (jitter), dropouts, pixel walk, and circle drift.

If you've ever wondered why your mouse behaves (or misbehaves) the way it does, then you'll want to pay attention to this video below:

Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam served as Tom's Hardware News Director during 2008-2014. He entered tech media in the late 90s and fondly remembers the days when an overclocked Celeron 300A and Voodoo2 SLI comprised a gaming rig with the ultimate street cred.
19 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Parrdacc
    Very informative video. I lost count how many times I got into arguments over DPI and how it relates to jitter. So many people just assume higher DPI is better and thats that, and then wonder why their mouse is acting funny. I always wonder about pixel walk, I knew what it was, but did not know precisely why it happened. Good video.
    Reply
  • digiex
    The noise from the still camera is annoying.
    Reply
  • uruquiora
    very informative... the clicking sounds of the cameras is VERY annoying though... why do you guys had to take that many pictures ???
    I bet they were too busy taking pics and they didnt even listen to what the guy was saying...
    Reply
  • SlitWeaver
    Woah...it's cool to understand WHY and HOW some mice are horrid or a mouse might be dying on you. Super awesome video! :D
    Reply
  • juanc
    1) This is why TOMS exists. Wonder why they have to fill the rest of the site with crap
    2) The guy does not have tits. I'm also trying to understand why so many pictures... it was more like a video made out of stills...
    Reply
  • Achoo22
    Although the lecturer doesn't discuss anything surprising or difficult to grasp, it was interesting by being a topic I haven't given a great deal of thought. It would've been nice, however, if he gave some information about selecting or comparing mice such that one could identify superior devices or more readily identify flaws in inferior ones.
    Reply
  • thundervore
    Very informative indeed on tracking. I would like this same guy to do a piece on their mouse buttons an explain why the leftclick is always the first to die in THEIR mouse.
    Im on my 3rd Performance MX in a 4 year span. Thank you for the 3 year warranty!
    Reply
  • PrvtChurch
    This is why I love Logitech Mice. They put so much time and effort into the science behind it all to make the best products possible.
    Reply
  • Tuishimi
    Cool vid! Like this kind of thing. I have been happy with my AnywhereMX mouse for several years now... I am impressed it has lasted as (sort of like achoo22) long as it has because I usually go through peripheral hardware very quickly.
    Reply
  • shahrooz
    Every wanted to know what goes on in that mouse under your palm?
    lol?
    Reply