Crazy Mouse

Crazy Mouse is a computer mouse that runs away when you are going to catch it!



Making this mouse is very easy: a light sensor detects the shadow of hand on the mouse and activates a timer that turns on a motor for about a second and the motor makes mouse running.
If you want to make your own mouse read the rest of this instructable.

Step 1 Things You Need

To make the circuit board you need the followings:
  -Copper Boards
  -Printed Circuit (Find files on next step)
  -Photocell
  -22k Resistor
  -47uF Electrolyte Capacitor
  -TIP122 Transistor
  -555 IC
  -10k Potentiometer
  -Some Wire
  -Iron
  -Soldering Iron
  -Soldering Wire
  -Circuit Boards Acid
  -Paper Tape
  -Sandpaper
  -Wire Cutter
  -1mm Drill
 
To make the mouse you need the followings:
  -Old Computer Mouse
  -Small Motor
  -4 AA Batteries
  -A piece of Rubber Tube
  -Glue
  -1N4148 Diode
  -0.1uF Ceramic Capacitor (104)
  -Soldering Iron
  -Soldering Wire
  -Some Wire
  -Some Tools

Comments

[thecheatscalc]

Definitely try USB power! I'd reccomend using perhaps a few USB plugs, such as in the attached picture (USB powered grill)

[thecheatscalc]

sorry, forgot to click "upload" ;)

[TechDante]

how long does it take to cook something on that

[louwhopley]

 Hahaha, a normal grill would cost cheaper/look better? Fun stuff

[thecheatscalc]

I should have mentioned, this isn't my picture, I'm not exactly sure whose it is, (I've seen it multiple places)

[Houdinipeter]

 lol did you get the extra usb cards just for this? sweeet

[Redgerr]

E P I C

[thecheatscalc]

It's not mine, it's just something I remember from a while back. should've mentioned that...

anyways, if you want to power it with just the computer, it CAN be done ;)

[jakebaldwin]

If you have a USB port on your computer, you could power the mouse thinger off USB power. USB supplies 5 Volts, but you could make the right adjustments easily I think.

I have a USB REAL mouse, so it would make sense for me to make the mouse that way I think.

[maclakey]

Yay! I completed this as my first "from scratch" board... it works, but only if you keep the circuit board near your body... take it away from your body, and it doesn't work... very strange. I did have to switch the tip122 with a tip120 as that was all I could find, and I used a 470uf cap instead of a 47... did I go too big on the cap?

[vahid_you2004]

Check your board carefully there may be some short circuits or loss of connections.......

[w477s]

you used IR LED + IR photodetector or ir detector only?

[vahid_you2004]

None of them.
I used one simple photocell, it is not IR.

[ak49er]

Only way it would get any better is with a loud "squeak" recording and if it acclerated faster, so it just LEAPS away from the person's hand. Hmmmm my engineering prof. always leaves his door wide open when he is away.....

[sgchr]

That's the craziest idea I've seen so far for a mouse. Good one! ;)

[TinkerJim]

You've come up with a great project!!

If you want longer battery life, try the new CSS555 micropower timer.   It is pin compatible with the venerable 555's, but uses far less power.

 

[directcurrent13]

i have a 9 volt motor as far as i can tell i should be able to run the board of a 9 volt batery. is this ok?

[vahid_you2004]

You can use a 9V battery.
555 IC works correctly with 9V battery.
But you may need to optimize potentiometer value. (see the last step)

[directcurrent13]

thanks for the help

[darkbain]

This is a sweet project with huge potential.  I love it and if I get the chance to clean up my personal shop ( little space wifey allows me to have).   I wil make this to mess with my nephews who love to play games on my puter lol.  Thanks a ton for this, plus it's a koo 555 ic timer project that could be used for tons of stuff.

[pedla]

Sounds cool but is way beyond my level of computer parts and stuff

[M.C. Langer]

I LOVE IT!!! It would be a good prank for April's Fool!!!!!

[framistan]

You COULD use USB power simply by adding a SERIES resistor to the USB voltage to LIMIT the amperage going to the mouse.  That voltage would slowly charge a capacitor inside the mouse.  Because the motor only runs a couple seconds, the capacitor could supply that. Then when the mouse stops,  the capacitor would start charging again.  Even if you held the mouse down and stopped mouse from "running"... the motor amperage would increase but could not exceed what the current-limiting resistor is supplying.  so your USB port will be safe in all instances.

[knektek]

put a speaker in there and an amp circuit to scare the living shi* out of them.

[Fujitsa]

haha, brilliant idea, you should definitely have video responses of when people try to use it, maybe also make like a mouse that screeches when someone goes to near to it lol. Good job

[Javin007]

LMMFAO!  I love the screeching idea.

"EEK!" *scurry away*

[Jur]

I forwarded this to a friend who is in uni right now, so in the near future there might be a classroom with a couple of haunted mice... =P

[hg341]

nice you need to make it usb powered

[vahid_you2004]

You can do it but if the motor gets more than 0.5A electric current from your USB port your main board will be damaged. Because of this I recommend batteries or a fuse.

[codongolev]

yay resistors!

you should find a faster motor... it only works on absent-minded people.

[sjoobbani]

 Very nice.

[Ahmedqatar]

This is really funny .. it's a gopd way to bug my boss!
Thanks for sharing!!!