Updated: September 01, 2006

PICAXE  Projects:  Aiptek R/C Switch

History

Parts

Building

Firmware/Code

Testing & Operation

Notes

Note: All pictures that follow are "clickable".  Clicking on them will show you an enlargement!

PURCHASE AN "AIPAXE" R/C SWITCH  NOW!!
See how to install this in an Aiptek 1.3 SD Camera !

IMPORTANT NOTE:

The PICAXE Aiptek switch design needs to add a 10K resistor from Pin#2 (the programming input pin on the Picaxe) to ground, as to not let it "float".   I will be making these webpage updates shortly... (see updated schematic below)

A lil' history ...
    As if we haven't seen enough Aiptek R/C switches, here is yet another, this time designed around a revolutionary, easy-to-program microcontroller called the "PICAXE".  Rather than having to program a bare PIC in a special programmer and writing PIC code, this design allows you to program it in a rather powerful Basic-like language and as for download, you use two resistors and a 9-pin serial port on your computer.  Since the design is based upon a Flash PIC (PIC12F683), you can continually download new code, allowing for experimentation and prototyping. 

I designed this nifty circuit using a preprogrammed PICAXE controller, a piezo element, two 10K ohm resistors, a .1uF capacitor and a 1N4148 signal diode.  This neat device allows you to program switch-on points and switch/stick direction.  The unit even stores the settings in internal memory.  If the circuit senses that there exists no servo signal, a piezo beeper is sounded.  This can be used as a model-finder.  Next time your plane gets lost in the high grass, you can simply turn off your transmitter and a second later, the beeper continually emits beeps, allowing you to locate the downed plane.  The circuit also has a built in trigger delay that does not allow the Aiptek camera to attempt to take pictures faster than it can store them to memory.  These user-programmable functions are very easy to use.  The firmware code on the other hand can be challenging but not all that difficult to understand, especially if you have messed around with Basic Stamp coding in the past.   

Newer pictures coming soon !! (new circuit/PCB design as shown below)

..more coming soon

 

 

Latest pictures are shown below (Version 12):

 
 

Below are a few pictures that show you how this AipAxe switch installs in an Aiptek 1.3M digital camera...

 
 

See how to install this in an Aiptek 1.3 SD Camera !
 

Design Criteria Summary:

1) ...more coming soon

Parts & Tools List ...

1) ...more coming soon

Building Instructions...

...more coming soon

 

Firmware/Code...

Click here to View Code (Sorry, firmware is no longer freeware)

Click here to Download Code (Sorry, firmware is no longer freeware)

CHECK BACK LATER.... I WILL BE ADDING FREE CODE "SNIPPETS" !!

 

Testing and Operation Instructions...

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE MANUAL (MS WORD)

(THIS IS FOR THE NEWER FIRMWARE)

1. With both the transmitter and receiver powered off, plug the camera's servo plug into the receiver channel # to which you want to use as your shutter control.  This can either be a switch or joystick.

2. Power up the transmitter first and position the switch or stick (corresponding to channel on receiver which switch is connected) in the direction to which you would want to be the OFF position (the position where no picture is taken). 

3. Now power up the receiver and you will hear the switch and Aiptek camera eventually power up (beeps).  About a second or two after that (as the circuit analyzes the receiver servo signal), you will hear a "Ready" beep (2 low beeps then a longer high beep) indicating that the circuit is ready for operation (no others beeps should be heard until you take a picture).

IS THAT SIMPLE ?

4. To take a picture, move the joystick/switch to the On position and then return it to the opposite (OFF) position.  You should hear the switch circuit output a low to high chirp, and then quickly hear the Aiptek camera take a picture (also visible on the Aiptek display).  If the transmitter's switch/joystick if left in the ON position, the switch circuit will make the Aiptek camera take a picture approximately every 7 seconds, until the switch/joystick is returned to the OFF position.

5.  If you were to turn off the transmitter while the receiver and camera are powered up, the switch circuit will eventually continually beep, indicating that there exists no servo signal.  This is the built-in "Model-Finder" alarm that will hopefully help you locate a downed aircraft.  Just power off the transmitter and the circuit will begin to beep.

6. Upon powering up the transmitter, you will eventually hear a "Ready" beep (2 low beeps then a longer high beep) indicating that the circuit is ready for operation once again.

 

(THIS IS FOR THE OLDER FIRMWARE)

1. With both the transmitter and receiver powered off, plug the camera's servo plug into the receiver channel # to which you want to use as your shutter control.  This can either be a switch or joystick.

2. Power up the receiver and you will hear the Aiptek camera eventually power up (beeps).  A few seconds later, you will hear the camera switch circuit power up (beeps).  The circuit will then continually beep, indicating that there exists no servo signal, since the transmitter is off.  This is the built-in "Model-Finder" alarm that will hopefully help you locate a downed aircraft.  Just power off the transmitter and the circuit will begin to beep.

3.  After the camera and switch has powered up, (with transmitter still powered OFF) position the transmitter's switch or joystick (the control corresponding to the channel # you have the camera plugged into) such that it is in the ON position, that is, the position you want in order to take a picture. 

4. After this trigger position is set on the transmitter, power on the transmitter and you should hear 2 high beeps from switch circuit.  Following these beeps, you should then hear a low beep every 2 second or so.  This is indicating that it is waiting for you to arm the camera switch.  You do this by positioning the switch/joystick to the OFF position (the position for which the camera will cease taking pictures).  Upon repositioning the switch/joystick, you will hear a "Ready" beep (2 low beeps then a longer high beep) indicating that the circuit is ready for operation (no others beeps should be heard until you take a picture).

5. To take a picture, move the joystick/switch to the On position and then return it to the opposite (OFF) position.  You should hear the switch circuit output a low to high chirp, and then quickly hear the Aiptek camera take a picture (also visible on the Aiptek display).  If the transmitter's switch/joystick if left in the ON position, the switch circuit will make the Aiptek camera take a picture approximately every 7 seconds, until the switch/joystick is returned to the OFF position.

 

Additional Notes...


   
**** VERY LIMITED QUANTITIES ARE AVAILABLE ****
Please email me regarding product availability before sending money....

Click Here to visit the

 

"PICAXE is a trademark of Revolution Education Ltd (www.picaxe.co.uk)"


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