Snugon MO1 Chapter 4: Explaining technical features and innovations
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In this blog, we will tell you about the features and development story of Snugon MO1 to get you interested in it.
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[Complete operation with just one mouse] More than 60 types of key input can be registered | Snugon MO1
In Chapters 1 to 3, we talked about the features of Snugon MO1, the idea that triggered its development, and the path to its realization after much trial and error. In particular, in Chapter 3, we introduced the difficulties we faced from the clay model to the 3D printed prototype and then to the mass production sample.
This time, we will take a closer look at the technical features and ingenuity that went into the Snugon MO1 to achieve its unique shape and multifunctionality. We hope you will be able to feel the attention to detail that went into both the hardware and software aspects.
Hardware: Minimize plastic parts
As mentioned in Chapter 3, it was a very difficult challenge to design the Snugon MO1 concept of "putting buttons on all five fingers" into a mass-produced product. In particular, the biggest hurdle was to minimize the number of plastic parts used while distributing many buttons three-dimensionally and in positions that were easy to press .
After much trial and error, the plastic parts that make up the body of the Snugon MO1 were finally consolidated into a total of four .
- Bottom Part
- Thumb and palm parts
- Fingertip parts
- Wheel Parts
This time, we will take a closer look at the "base" and "fingertip" parts, which feature particularly ingenious structural design.
1. Bottom part: The base that supports the three-dimensional arrangement
The bottom part is the base of the mouse. Like a typical mouse, it has a space for placing and fixing the main electronic board.
A distinctive feature of the bottom of the Snugon MO1 is the number of "pillars" arranged inside . These pillars have the following important functions:
- Fixing the upper parts: The palm and fingertip parts are fixed to this pillar.
- Achieving a three-dimensional board layout: Since the buttons on the Snugon MO1 are arranged three-dimensionally, not only is there a main board, but there is also another small board on the top inside . This upper board is also fixed to the top surface of the bottom pillar, creating a complex three-dimensional structure.
2. Fingertip parts: One-piece molding and use of resin elasticity
Next is the "fingertip part" which is responsible for the buttons from the index finger to the pinky finger . From the outside, it looks like there are four separate buttons for the index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and pinky finger, but in fact, these are all connected internally and made up of just one resin part . By the way, the button in front of the wheel is also integrated into this fingertip part.
Thanks to the moderate flexibility and elasticity of the resin, each button is designed to bend independently, so that pressing a specific button does not move other buttons together, allowing you to press only the intended switch precisely . This allows for a complex button layout while reducing the number of parts.
Software: QMK customizability and applications
The firmware that acts as the brain of Snugon MO1 is "QMK Firmware" .
QMK Firmware is an open source firmware that is widely used mainly in the keyboard world. Some of you may have heard of it. It is used in products by major keyboard manufacturers and is a standard in the DIY keyboard community.
The greatest feature of QMK Firmware is its high level of customizability .
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Free key assignment: You can assign any key or function to any button.
- Layer function: Allows you to switch the assignment of other buttons only while a specific button is pressed (this is the key to registering over 60 functions mentioned in Chapter 1).
- Macro function: Record a series of keystrokes and execute them with a single button press.
- Tap/hold function: A short press (tap) and a long press (hold) of the button perform different functions.
- On-board memory: The settings are stored in the mouse body. Even if you connect it to another PC, you can use the usual settings without any drivers or special software.
QMK is usually used for keyboard development, but it also supports the development of pointing devices such as mice and trackballs. Snugon MO1 realizes advanced functionality as a multi-button mouse by maximizing the potential of QMK.
The source code for the QMK firmware used in Snugon MO1 is available on GitHub . If you are interested, please take a look. We hope it will be useful for customization and for developing other devices.
Unique and convenient features of Snugon MO1
In addition to the standard features of QMK, we have also implemented some unique features to further enhance the convenience of Snugon MO1.
Type Out Config (Automatic typing output of configuration contents)
When you want to check the mouse settings (CPI, report rate, scroll sensitivity, etc.), press the button assigned to this function and the current settings will be automatically typed out to a text editor, etc. The output contents will be automatically deleted after about 2 seconds, so they will not get in the way of your work.
The settings that are output are as follows :
- CPI: CPI (100-12,000)
- Report Rate: Report Rate (250 to 1,000Hz)
- Scroll Divider: Sensitivity in scroll mode (1 to 7)
- Scroll Invert: Scroll mode up/down/left/right inversion status (Yes / No)
- Scroll Horizontal Threshold: Horizontal scroll threshold in scroll mode (0 to 50)
Scroll Mode (Mo / To)
This function switches to a mode where you scroll up, down, left, and right by moving the mouse instead of moving the mouse cursor. This is useful when scrolling web pages or landscape Excel sheets.
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Scroll Mode Mo will be in scroll mode only while you hold down the button. -
Scroll Mode To will enable scroll mode when you press the button once and will remain in that mode until you press it again.
Stop Cursor
This function temporarily stops the movement of the mouse cursor while you press the assigned button. It is useful when it is a bit troublesome to lift the mouse and adjust its position.
This time, we have explained the internal structure, firmware, and unique features of the Snugon MO1, which are somewhat technical, but are important elements that support the usability of this mouse. We hope that we have conveyed at least a little of our commitment.
This blog is about the appeal of Snugon MO1, and I would like to complete the summary with this article in Chapter 4. I will continue to post articles to convey the appeal of MO1, so please look forward to it!