Learn how a Rolee
Polee trackball was designed and functions. It is really amazing
that they could pack so much electronics inside such a tiny package.
How does a trackball work?
This is the top side of the Rolee Polee trackball assembly. Here you
can see the trackball rollers and stabilizers. The rollers in these
photos look like little marshmallows. However, the color of the
rollers varies from batch to batch of Rolee Polee trackball mice.
Here's a nice close up shot of the trackball rollers. Color of
rollers varies from batch to batch of Rolee Polee trackball mice.
When I say "Chopper Wheel" I'm not talking about an
exotic
motorcycle. No, I'm talking about a slotted chopper wheel
which is positioned right in between an optical sensor. The chopper
wheel "chops up" the light in optical sensor.
Above is a photo of an old style "chopper wheel". I guess you could
call it "old school".
Here is a close up of the new
slotted chopper wheel. This gives
the new Rolee Polee more resolution. Color of trackball rollers
varies.
Here is a photo of the optical sensor. See that notch in the sensor?
That's where the chopper wheel is positioned right in that notch.
Here you can see the chopper wheel sitting inside the optical
sensor. This how it sits when the Rolee Polee is put back together,
but the chopper wheel never touches the sensor.
Here's the bottom side of the trackball assembly. Color of trackball
rollers varies. It is actually more common for them to come in color
black than in color white.
You are looking head on at the back of the Trigger Switch. You can
also see the micro switch in the background. This micro switch sits
directly behind the trigger button. It clicks every time you click.
What is it? It's a trigger button assembly without a Rolee Polee.
Here's another shot of that micro-switch for the trigger button.
Here's a photo of the top side of the Rolee Polee circuit board.
Here you can see the 2 optical sensors. There is one sensor for
horizontal movement and one sensor for vertical movement. There are
2 micro-switches at the top. These are for the 2 mouse buttons on
the top of the Rolee Polee next to the trackball.
Here's a photo of the bottom side of the Rolee Polee circuit board.
Here you can see the IC chip that controls the Rolee Polee.
Here is a side by side comparison between the old Rolee Polee
circuit board and the new 2009 circuit board.
The Rolee Polee is powered by a USB cable. Here you can see the 4
wires that make up a standard USB (universal serial bus) cable.
