Orbit x-y Ball Tracker Xerox Star Mystery mouse - wheels instead of a ball Hawley Mark II X063X Lisa mouse Gibson light pen Logitech P7 Mouse Systems Optical M1 Mac M0100 serial Tablet with stylus Microsoft 'Dove bar' Internet scroll mouse Kensington Trackball notebook Trackball joystick 2-button mouse scrolling 2-button mouse NeXT mouse Kidz mouse Macintosh mouse

oldmouse.com

oldmouse.com

oldmouse.com

Steven Kirsch of Mouse Systems

Steven Kirsch invented an optical mouse before he was out of MIT. But he had to start his own business to get it off the ground. His patent, the earliest patent for an optical mouse, explains his intention to make a pointing device with few precision moving parts for more reliable tracking. He intended to use ready made components for ease of manufacture, mass production and affordability.

Page of Patent 4,390,873 Page of Patent 4,390,873 Page of Patent 4,390,873
Patent 4,390,873 filed 18 May 1981 




Kirsch founded Mouse Systems in 1982 and shipped the first mice in October, selling a few hundred a month after that for $300 each. The Mouse Systems optical mouse progressed from the Model M-1 through M-4, with design refinements on the inside. The mouse body kept its sleek rectangular shape.



By 1986 Kirsch was ready to focus his creative itch on other ventures. Mouse Systems sold to Kye a few years after he left the main operations behind.