i
October
10, 2020
Reverse Engineering Report
Wireless Optical Mouse
Stellar Labs Computer Plus
EDD Section #A61
Project 5
Jenna Leonardi, Farrah Leto, Kate
O’Neill, Lindsay Phillips
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................ ii
Overview ......................................................................................................................................... 1
Detailed Description ....................................................................................................................... 3
Main Circuit ................................................................................................................................ 3
Top Rim of Mouse ...................................................................................................................... 4
USB Connector ........................................................................................................................... 4
Mouse Wheel .............................................................................................................................. 5
Bottom Half of Mouse ................................................................................................................ 6
Review ............................................................................................................................................ 8
Methods....................................................................................................................................... 8
Pros and Cons ............................................................................................................................. 9
Pros. ...................................................................................................................................... 11
Cons. ..................................................................................................................................... 13
Possible Modifications. ......................................................................................................... 14
Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 16
References ..................................................................................................................................... 17
Appendix A: CAD Drawings ................................................................................................ 18
Appendix B: Functional Bill of Materials ............................................................................ 27
Appendix C: Detailed Functional Schematic ........................................................................ 29
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Appendix D: Functional Flowchart ...................................................................................... 30
1
Overview
This is the Wireless Optical Mouse by Stellar Labs Computer Plus, Model 83-16250 is a
standard, everyday Bluetooth connection computer mouse.
(insert rendering here)
This majority of the parts which make up the mouse are made out of acrylonitrile
butadiene styrene (ABS). There are some smaller parts which are made of different materials.
These include the mini phillips head screw, which is made of zinc-plated steel, the mouse wheel
which is made of rubber as well as ABS, the light sensor cover is made of polycarbonate and
ABS, the Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector which is made up of ABS, copper, and tin, and
the main circuit which is made of PVC with nickel coated points. The positive and negative
battery conductors are also coated in nickel. The outermost visible parts of the mouse are all
black, with the mouse cover being a dark gray matte plastic. On the bottom of the mouse there is
a compartment for the USB connector. The connector is separate from the mouse itself.
The purpose of this device is to be able to follow user commands and control the mouse
pointer on a computer/laptop screen. This mouse is also able to send electromagnetic signals,
connect to a laptop via Bluetooth, promote safety of user by containing circuits, be selfcontained, and provide a compact design. It was designed to allow the user to have a wireless,
Bluetooth connection from laptop to the mouse for ease of use.
Going about using this device is rather simple. First, make sure your computer is
connected to the internet. Then, plug the USB connector into the port of the laptop/computer you
want to connect the mouse to. Then, you wait for the mouse to connect to your device. The
easiest way to test that the device and mouse are connected is by wiggling the mouse around a bit
and seeing if the on-screen pointer is reacting to the mouse’s movements. After the mouse is
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connected, go about using it like any wired mouse. To highlight any item, drag the wireless
mouse over it. To select or open an item, press anywhere on the left half of the mouse, as the left
mouse button is the default main button. Clicking anywhere on the right half of a mouse often
opens any pop-up menu options a particular item could have. Clicking the mouse wheel acts as a
third mouse button. You can use this option to open a new tab or zoom in/out on a screen.
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Detailed Description
Includes a CAD exploded assembly rendering with all the MAIN parts/subassemblies
labeled.
Don’t forget your captions!
Main Circuit
This is part 12 of the functional bill of materials, the main circuit (breadboard). There is
one of these items in the mouse. It is custom made, as the size and purpose are specific to the
Stellar Labs Computer Plus Wireless Optical Mouse. It is made out of PVC with nickel plated
points and can be found in the bottom half of the mouse. Being that it is a printed circuit board, it
is used to support and connect electrical components using certain pathways, and also to allow
for fully automated assembly processes. The breadboard allows the mouse to perform its basic
functions.
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Top Rim of Mouse
This is part 4 of the functional bill of materials, the top rim of the mouse. There is one of
these items in the mouse. It is custom made, as the mouse requires a specific structure to hold it
together to properly perform its tasks, which is what this part is mainly for. This item is made of
ABS. The main purpose of this part is holding the mouse cover and connecting the cover to the
bottom half of the mouse, holding the mouse together. It also has a hole cut out for the mouse
wheel.
USB Connector
This is part 9 of the functional bill of materials, the USB connector. There is one of these
parts, it is not technically a part of the mouse, however it is necessary for the mouse to perform
its functions successfully. It is a standard USB connector, and it fits into any typical USB port
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you could find on a laptop/computer. It is made of copper and tin, and ABS on the end of the
connector. The function of it is to connect the mouse to your device via Bluetooth. This is
important because without this part or if it gets modified in any way, the mouse will not be able
to connect to your computer and will be useless.
Mouse Wheel
This is part 6 on the functional bill of materials, the mouse wheel. There is one mouse
wheel in the mouse itself, and it is custom for this mouse. This is because this specific wheel has
certain dimensions for its pegs and has a certain rubber tread that not all other mouse wheels
have. This part is made of predominantly ABS and some rubber, as it has rubber treads to make
the use of the mouse wheel easier and more comfortable. The function of the mouse is to scroll
with the mouse, and it serves as another button which adds to the functionality of the mouse.
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Bottom Half of Mouse
This is part 7 of the functional bill of materials, the bottom half of the mouse. There is
one of these parts, and it was made custom for the mouse. It’s custom because there is a unique
shape that was designed specifically to have spaces for the USB connector, the battery, the
breadboard, and mouse wheel. This part is made out of ABS. The main function of this part is to
hold the breadboard, power source, and light sensor of the mouse, to allow it to perform
necessary functions. It holds the internal parts in their place and connects to the top rim of the
mouse to prevent it from breaking or malfunctioning.
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Review
Methods
There were various methods that our group used to research reviews of the Stellar Labs
Computer Plus Wireless Optical Mouse. There were a few online reviews of this specific mouse,
which we have included in the report, but due to the fact that there were only a few of them, we
also used reviews of the Logitech – M170 Mouse – Black, which is similar in almost every
aspect. Their differences are that the Logitech mouse is mor expensive and the mouse wheels are
designed slightly differently. Because of this, there is a graphic included about the reviews, pros,
and cons of this Logitech mouse, however the majority of the information in this section is about
the Stellar Labs Computer Plus product. The pros and cons of the product that are included were
concluded based off of the group’s experience with the product, and the few online reviews we
found.
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Pros and Cons
Pros and Cons – Stellar Labs Computer Plus Wireless Optical Mouse
Pros
Cons
• Easy to Use
• Inexpensive
• Portable
• Sturdy
• Must Have Standard
USB Port
• Batteries Not Included
• Slow Bluetooth
Connection
Online Reviews – Stellar Labs Computer Plus Wireless Optical Mouse
Reviews of the Stellar Labs Computer Plus Wireless
Optical Mouse
1-Star
2-Star
3-Star
4-Star
5-Star
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Pros and Cons – Logitech M170 Mouse – Black
Pros
Cons
• Price
• Difficulty
• Ease of Use
• Scrolling
• Wireless Capabilities • Clicking
• Use with Laptop &
Setup
Online Reviews – Logitech M170 Mouse – Black
Reviews of the Logitech M170 Mouse - Black
1-Star
2-Star
3-Star
4-Star
5-Star
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Pros.
Easy to use- The mouse itself is very user friendly, as it is a basic computer mouse with not
many complicated features. Using it is as simple as plugging the USB Bluetooth connector into
your computer, then the mouse can run smoothly. There also isn’t any real input lag from the
Bluetooth connection, which adds to the ease of use of this mouse.
Inexpensive- This mouse retails for $4.45 for the USB and the mouse itself, which is very
inexpensive.
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Easily portable- The mouse comes with a built-in place to store the USB connector when it is
not being in use, which makes it ideal for travel. Although this socket does not allow the USB to
be flush with the bottom of the mouse, it is still efficient and does not take up much space.
Sturdy- The mouse itself is very well built, with many of the larger parts of the mouse having
structures built into it to hold the mouse together. There are many pegs on parts of the mouse like
the Top Rim of Mouse (Part 5) and the Bottom Half of the Mouse (Part 7) that hold it together.
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Cons.
Must have a standard USB port- If you do not have a standard USB on the computer or device
you are trying to use this mouse with, you will have to find alternative methods to be able to use
this mouse. There are adapters that allow the mouse to be usable with computers that do not have
standard USB ports, however these sorts of adapters must be bought separately.
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Does not come with batteries- Unlike a wired mouse, which uses power from the device it is
connected to, this wireless mouse needs batteries to be usable. The mouse does not come with
the batteries it needs to perform its tasks.
Bluetooth connection is slow- One problem that our group ran into was that connecting the
computer to the mouse itself was rather slow. Though the initial connection was slow, this did
not create any sort of lag when using the mouse.
Possible Modifications.
Increasing usability for those that are left-handed- The wireless optical mouse is designed for
people that are right-hand dominant, meaning it’s uncomfortable to use for those that are lefthanded. Therefore, making it versatile would improve the usability of the product. This could be
accomplished by adding some sorts of settings to change button functionality depending on
handedness, or possibly engineering a left-handed mouse specifically, although the latter would
be less efficient.
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Making the USB flush to the bottom of the mouse- Although the mouse does include a slot for
the USB connector, the connector sticks out of the bottom of the mouse. Making the end of the
connector flush with the bottom of the mouse would add to its portability. This could be
accomplished by manipulating the length of the plastic end of the connector or changing the
depth of the connector’s slot in the mouse.
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Summary
The Stellar Labs Computer Plus Wireless Optical Mouse is a Bluetooth wireless mouse designed
to be easy to use with a simple design and features that are easy to understand.
The Wireless Optical Mouse connects to laptops and computers via a USB connector that plugs
into your device, and in a short amount of time the mouse is connected and can be used like any
wired mouse.
To get a thorough understanding of how the device works, each group member spent time testing
the device and taking note of the pros and cons of using it. We also did online research into
reviews of experiences with this exact mouse, and we looked up reviews of similar products to
understand how this one worked in comparison to others.
The pros of this device are especially important in a product like this. The Wireless Optical
Mouse is simple and easy to use, very inexpensive, easily portable, and sturdy. The setup is very
straightforward, making it beginner friendly. The mouse and USB connector are sold together for
under five dollars, which is very inexpensive especially when compared to other wireless
computer mouses, which can be more than double the price. It is portable as there is a slot to
hold the USB connector within the mouse and the device itself is small and compact, and it is
sturdy as it was built to be able to hold itself together.
To make this device even better, it could be more adaptable for those who are left hand
dominant, because this mouse was designed for those who are right hand dominant. This could
mean anywhere from including the possibility of changing key binds via some sort of settings
program or having to re-engineer a left-handed mouse based off of this one. Another
modification to improve it could include making the bottom of the USB connector flush to the
bottom of the mouse. This could be done by increasing the depth of the socket the connector is
held in, or making the actual end of the USB connector shorter and slimmer, meaning it would
better fit into a shorter, more narrow socket.
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References
Customer Ratings & Reviews. (n.d.). Retrieved October 13, 2020, from
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/reviews/logitech-m170-mouse-black/5355300?variant=A
BD-9588 - 1600DPI Wireless Mouse. (n.d.). Retrieved October 13, 2020, from
https://www.newark.com/stellar-labs-computer-plus/bd-9588/1600dpi-wirelessmouse/dp/40Y3306
What is a PCB or Printed Circuit Board? - Technical Terms by Eurocircuits. (n.d.). Retrieved
October 13, 2020, from https://www.eurocircuits.com/pcb-printed-circuit-board/
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Appendix A: CAD Drawings
Part 1- Battery Cover
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Part 3- DPI Button
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Part 4- Top Rim of Mouse
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Part 5- Mouse Cover
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Part 6- Mouse Wheel
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Part 7- Bottom Half of Mouse
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Part 8- Light Sensor Cover
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Part 9- USB Connector
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Part 12- Main Circuit (Breadboard)
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Appendix B: Functional Bill of Materials
Classification
Part
Part Name
Quantity
(Custom or
Material
Function of Part
Number
Standard)
1
Battery Cover
1
Custom
ABS
To cover the battery
that powers the mouse
and hold it in place
2
Mini Phillips-
1
Standard
head Screw
3
DPI Button
1
Custom
Zinc
Holds the top and
Plated
bottom of mouse
Steel
together
ABS
Adds to functionality
and gives possibility
of key binding
4
Top Rim of
1
Custom
ABS
Mouse
5
Mouse Cover
Connect to the bottom
part of the mouse
1
Custom
ABS
For the comfort of the
user
6
Mouse Wheel
1
Custom
ABS and
To make scrolling
Rubber
easier for the user,
ease of use for the
mouse
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7
Bottom Half of
1
Custom
ABS
Mouse
To hold the
motherboard of the
mouse
8
Light/Sensor
1
Custom
Cover
Polycarbo
To reduce the
nate and
brightness of the light
ABS
on the bottom of the
mouse
9
10
USB Connector
Positive Battery
1
1
Standard
Standard
Conductor
ABS,
To connect the mouse
Copper,
to the computer for
Tin
use
Nickel
To conduct the energy
Plated
from the positive side
of the battery
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Negative
1
Standard
Battery
Nickel
To conduct the energy
Plated
into the negative side
Conductor
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Main Circuit
(Breadboard)
of the battery
1
Custom
PVC and
To conduct the
Nickel
electricity throughout
Coated
the mouse so it can
Points
perform its functions
properly
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Appendix C: Detailed Functional Schematic
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Appendix D: Functional Flowchart