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Blackberry Trackball

This is a tiny trackball akin to those found on a number of Blackberry models (8100, 8300, 8320, 8800, 8830, etc). Each of the four spindles have a tiny circular magnet on each end. Great when paired with very small SMD Hall effect sensors.

Ball is clear to allow for LEDs placed underneath to light up the ball.

  • Center select button
  • 360° direction
  • 9x11mm

Blackberry Trackball Product Help and Resources

Core Skill: Soldering

This skill defines how difficult the soldering is on a particular product. It might be a couple simple solder joints, or require special reflow tools.

3 Soldering

Skill Level: Competent - You will encounter surface mount components and basic SMD soldering techniques are required.
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Core Skill: Electrical Prototyping

If it requires power, you need to know how much, what all the pins do, and how to hook it up. You may need to reference datasheets, schematics, and know the ins and outs of electronics.

3 Electrical Prototyping

Skill Level: Competent - You will be required to reference a datasheet or schematic to know how to use a component. Your knowledge of a datasheet will only require basic features like power requirements, pinouts, or communications type. Also, you may need a power supply that?s greater than 12V or more than 1A worth of current.
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Comments

Looking for answers to technical questions?

We welcome your comments and suggestions below. However, if you are looking for solutions to technical questions please see our Technical Assistance page.

  • Member #1605256 / about 5 years ago / 1

    can some one give me a data sheet for 3d model

    • santaimpersonator / about 4 years ago / 1

      Unfortunately, we don't have one. We also don't carry this product anymore and aren't able to get more information from the supplier.

  • ddegn / about 9 years ago / 1

    The new breakout board (BOB) doesn't list the Hall effect sensors used but the previous version of the BOB included a link to the datasheet of the Hall effect sensors it used. Here's a link to the Mouser part.

  • MisterFuzzy / about 15 years ago / 2

    Wouldn't it only need 2 hall effect sensors, one for each axis (X and Y)?

  • Member #421789 / about 12 years ago / 1

    Can i use this to detect diagonal directions? can it engage two orthogonal rollers?

  • Member #223728 / about 14 years ago / 1

    I saw the comment that "when rolling the ball R, the L roller does not turn". I need to detect the direction and speed of a shaft on which is mounted a magnet. The speed is easy, but the direction has me stumped, any ideas anyone?

  • MisterFuzzy / about 14 years ago / 1

    I can't tell from the picture - how is this thing mounted? Is there a datasheet on it somewhere? I use a different circuitboard creation software that doesn't support Eagle libraries, so I kinda want to know how to mount it without actually buying it first.

    • It's reflowed directly to a board. Your best (and only option really) is to look at the footprint in the eagle library. It's free and I'm sure you could export it, or at least translate it.

  • Im about to order this in a couple days... why dont you sell the hall effect sensors?
    They would be nice, even for other projects.
    Is this the sensor:(?)
    http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=AN48841B-NLDKR-ND
    It says not recommended for new designs... does that mean it will soon be phased out? if so what do you recommend as a replacement...

    • Nakor / about 14 years ago / 1

      Well...there is a hall effect sensor listed in the related products. Not the greatest ever but I'm sure it would work for this purpose.

      • Kind of late but i should note i have tried the Through hole version of the SS461C and works well... so i assume the SOT version should as well...
        http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Honeywell-Microswitch/SS461C/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMvf33FveHAO1PBM8tp%2f9ADc
        So as a TIP use a BiPolar Latching Hall effect sensor and you should be fine!

  • jeffmcc / about 14 years ago / 1

    i would pay extra for it to be presoldered

    • MikeGrusin / about 14 years ago / 2

      You're in luck, the trackball is included with and presoldered to the breakout board.

  • Rampagesmr / about 15 years ago / 1

    Does anyone have a mechanical drawing of this trackball so I can use this in my project? Kinda difficult to make a case for something without one.

  • Squirrel / about 15 years ago / 1

    Are you sure that this is in the SFE library because I just downloaded the most recent version and could not find it in there.

  • Reuben / about 15 years ago / 1

    Does this actually include the hall effect switches? If it did, this would make an extremely interesting part!

    • tetsujin / about 15 years ago / 1

      It does not. Basically, this is just the mechanical portion of the trackball with the magnets. To actually use it you need to add hall effect sensors and (for "center select") a button to sit underneath it. Check out the breakout board and its schematic for more info.
      As I understand it - the reason you need four hall effect sensors and not just two is that the trackball actually has four magnets - when you roll the ball right, it turns just one of the two magnets associated with the X axis...

  • Member #539738 / about 10 years ago / 0

    Just build a analog Trackball http://i.imgur.com/V3S8baL.jpg It seems that it can't push too hard or the same axis will both moving Still coding to move inside Attiny24, but it works! I've build a USB mouse with Leonardo.

    • Member #908546 / about 8 years ago / 1

      Any chance you could direct towards more information on how to do this, or at least more technical details of what you did?

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