Physical trigger
A modified mouse feeds the left-click signal directly into the measurement unit while also acting as the normal computer mouse.
Physical click-to-photon measurement
Measure real VDI latency from mouse click to screen update.
Click2Photon is a compact measurement unit for quantifying the end-to-end delay between a physical mouse action and the visible display response on the client screen.
Designed for latency paths you cannot estimate from software alone.
VDI responsiveness depends on input handling, network transit, server processing, display encoding, client rendering and monitor refresh. Click2Photon measures the resulting physical outcome.
Optical detection
An onboard optical sensor detects when the test window changes from black to white, stopping the timer at the actual display response.
Repeatable statistics
The OLED display shows the current reading, minimum, average, maximum and measurement count for practical test runs.
Product brief
Small hardware fixture, direct measurement method.
The unit is a small microcomputer with a display, optical sensor and a custom 3D printed enclosure. It is supplied with an adapted mouse and the Windows test application.
Form factor
Approximately 6 x 4 x 2 cm in a custom 3D printed enclosure.
Measurement target
Round trip latency from mouse click to visible display change, typically used in VDI environments.
Reporting
Displays current, minimum, average and maximum readings, plus the number of captured measurements.
Hardware views
The device is built to sit directly against the display while the modified mouse supplies both normal input and the measurement trigger.
Measurement workflow
The supplied Windows application turns a test window from black to white while the hardware times the physical interval between click and detected light change.
Connect
Plug the mouse USB lead into the computer and connect the micro-USB lead to the Click2Photon unit.
Launch
Run the Click2Photon Windows application inside the VDI session or directly on the standalone computer under test.
Place
Hold the back of the unit against the display where the black application window is visible.
Measure
Click the modified mouse. The unit records the delay until the optical sensor detects the white screen response.
OLED readout with last, minimum, average and maximum latency values.
Use multiple samples for a meaningful result.
Individual values can vary because the measurement includes mouse handling, software processing, network effects, display composition and frame timing. In normal use, at least ten measurements are taken so the average and maximum values are useful.
Test application before the click.
Test application while the mouse button is down.
The unit is held against the active test window while measuring.
Troubleshooting notes
Most measurement problems come from startup power glitches, low screen brightness or display power-saving modes that affect the optical sensor.
Incorrect startup display
If the OLED shows speckles instead of the splash screen, disconnect power, wait a few seconds and reconnect the USB lead to restart the device.
No reading on click
If the window turns white but no reading is captured, increase display brightness or connect the laptop to mains power.
False triggering
Disable Eco or Power Save monitor modes that modulate the backlight, as this can be detected by the optical sensor.