A lil' history ...
As if we haven't seen enough Aiptek R/C switches, here is yet another, this time designed
around a PIC microcontroller.
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 PIC microcontroller, 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.
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.
10/31/2007
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