Re: Camera module as back case (was Re: Slashdotted)
On Mon, Apr 06, 2009 at 11:41:57AM +0200, Lothar Behrens wrote: About the camera issue: I have read something about a small computer base case that has a jack or bus system ontop of it's case. That way it is extendable with cameras or what ever. I don't know where it was but it was cool. Why not think about a back case that includes a cam and using contacts in the inner housing to connect the cam to, say an I2C bus or even an USB hub (USB2)? But how will you get the image pixels across to the Neo? There has been some discussion about this on the hardware list, starting with the message Weird hardware mod ??? back in January. To sum it up: 1) USB. There are many USB webcams available, but the difficulty is finding one that works well on a USB 1.1 bus, because USB 2.0 is fast enough that the cameras can simply dump the image across the cable with little or no buffering in the camera. So most cameras won't have enough buffer space to hold a good still image, and for the same reason also don't have the buffer space needed for any of the good video compression codecs. 2) A generic image sensor interface with I2C for control and 8-bit parallel port for data transfer. Example camera chip: https://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=8668 The options: 2a) The Glamo has an unused camera interface, even with all the important pins connected to a resistor network, but the documentation is under NDA. 2b) Roll your own somehow. The SC32442B has lots of unused GPIO - e.g. most of the LCD interface - but the ones that appear to be connected to somewhere accessible are scattered all over the place in register space. rant index=1 It would have been a lot easier if the SC32442B camera interface pins hadn't been frittered away for GPIO assignments that could just as well have been served by the pins of the unused LCD interface instead. Even if you don't want to use them for a camera, the 13 of them are nicely lumped together in GPIO port J. They would have been fine for many projects. /rant rant index=2 Of the only two external DMA request pins, one is a dead end and the other one is connected to the GPS as a simple output. Again lots of other less valuable GPIO pins are available for such purposes. /rant -- Rask Ingemann Lambertsen Danish law requires addresses in e-mail to be logged and stored for a year ___ Openmoko community mailing list community@lists.openmoko.org http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community
Re: Camera module as back case (was Re: Slashdotted)
2009/4/6 Lothar Behrens lothar.behr...@lollisoft.de: About the camera issue: I have read something about a small computer base case that has a jack or bus system ontop of it's case. That way it is extendable with cameras or what ever. I don't know where it was but it was cool. Why not think about a back case that includes a cam and using contacts in the inner housing to connect the cam to, say an I2C bus or even an USB hub (USB2)? excellent - i'd thought of the idea myself, via an internal usb hub (from a disassembled, tiny 4-way usb hub i bought), as had a few others i think. there were a few tentative steps on the wiki some months back concerning alternate cases, and this was one suggested idea i just got back from a talk on reprap, so i'm itching to find something i can make, and this would be a good start ___ Openmoko community mailing list community@lists.openmoko.org http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community
Re: Camera module as back case (was Re: Slashdotted)
2009/4/6 Robin Paulson robin.paul...@gmail.com: there were a few tentative steps on the wiki some months back concerning alternate cases, and this was one suggested idea lots around here: http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Category:Hardware_ideas expansion back looks like it covers your camera module ___ Openmoko community mailing list community@lists.openmoko.org http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community
Re: Camera module as back case (was Re: Slashdotted)
The expansion spacer is exactly what could be done for a hands on hobby electronics playground :-) (http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Wishlist/ExpansionSpacer) What I mean with the replacement back case, is that you don't need to screw up the torx and add the spacer. The end user don't like to fiddle with that. He simply wants to change the front and back covers by ones with other color. Adding a cam inside there would be doable without the risk of less stability of the back cover to keep the howsing closed. The issue is with the bigger or second battery. Does it still keep closed or could it easyly fall out due to the wight. Modifying the battery housing to be more likely a snap in for the bettery would solve this issue. With the higher cover also a different battery could be used and with the snap in mechanics it will hopefully no problem for the stability. The contacts for the signals, whatever is used, should be similar to the battery contacts. Using any jack like the USB on the outside is fiddling. I know it by fiddling my car holder for the neo to connect the usb power cable. For sample, we could use the connector aparatus like that from the SD card. Using a one side mounted plate with a spring behind the other side the 'SD card' would propably savely 'connect' to the SD card connector used as the jack. (If the usual spring based connector pins like the battery aren't enough) I don't know how stable the hinge would be as also the moving wires that goes to the cover's electronic, but it's worth a try. The snap in mechanism of the cover will help adjusting the place where the jack must be. Lothar Am 06.04.2009 um 12:49 schrieb Robin Paulson: 2009/4/6 Robin Paulson robin.paul...@gmail.com: there were a few tentative steps on the wiki some months back concerning alternate cases, and this was one suggested idea lots around here: http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Category:Hardware_ideas expansion back looks like it covers your camera module ___ Openmoko community mailing list community@lists.openmoko.org http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community -- | Rapid Prototyping | XSLT Codegeneration | http://www.lollisoft.de Lothar Behrens Heinrich-Scheufelen-Platz 2 73252 Lenningen ___ Openmoko community mailing list community@lists.openmoko.org http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community
Re: Camera module as back case (was Re: Slashdotted)
I read the issue with removing the hole. The space in that 'hole' could be used as the docking bay for extensions. Ok, the mic should somehow moved, or a 'voicepipe' could be used to direct the acustics. A good starting point to use the space somehow useful. Lothar Am 06.04.2009 um 12:49 schrieb Robin Paulson: 2009/4/6 Robin Paulson robin.paul...@gmail.com: there were a few tentative steps on the wiki some months back concerning alternate cases, and this was one suggested idea lots around here: http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Category:Hardware_ideas expansion back looks like it covers your camera module ___ Openmoko community mailing list community@lists.openmoko.org http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community -- | Rapid Prototyping | XSLT Codegeneration | http://www.lollisoft.de Lothar Behrens Heinrich-Scheufelen-Platz 2 73252 Lenningen ___ Openmoko community mailing list community@lists.openmoko.org http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community
Re: Camera module as back case (was Re: Slashdotted)
I'll ask Tully OMs resident ME genius to have a look. A long while back when Joerg and I were doing the GTA04 we had decided to use the GTA02 case (with mods) for the project and were playing with several camera Ideas. Tully is looking at that for me now ( I had some new ideas) so I'll ask him to have a look see at this stuff as well. Steve Lothar Behrens wrote: About the camera issue: I have read something about a small computer base case that has a jack or bus system ontop of it's case. That way it is extendable with cameras or what ever. I don't know where it was but it was cool. Why not think about a back case that includes a cam and using contacts in the inner housing to connect the cam to, say an I2C bus or even an USB hub (USB2)? If an USB jack is mounted that way, such a 'pimp my neo with a cam module' would propably a gatget one could buy. (Expected he want's a camera :-) The usual neo looks as before when this replacement back case isn't used and when used, there may also the possibility to add an extra battery. I asked some time ago, if it would be practical to have a database application on the neo (Database applications practical on mobile device ?). There was an interest, that may also involved to have a camera option: http://www.thehumanjourney.net/ Joseph Reeves argued that it would be very interesting to contribute or evaluate. As he is a member at the above link, the 'archaeology service' would propably benefit from such a cam gatget with extra battery, because they seem to make much pictures in the archaeology work, thus they need also long live usability. If the gatget didn't really be implementable with the USB connector in mind, it would be an option to connect with bluetooth and only connect the extra battery. Advantages: One gatget to track GPS locations, correlate directly the pictures with the GPS positions (I am struggling with my extra cam and the GPS traces), propably add voice notes that are GPS correlated. Development: The standard back case, could be used to mod it as a first prototype. I have seen a post with pictures that show something with an extra battery. (The second last picture from here: http://freeyourphone.de/portal_v1/gallery/views.php?start=20) That could be done colleraborately. The bluetooth camera: http://digitalcameras.engadget.com/2006/04/02/kodaks-bluetooth-camera-module/ Design: As thicker than one battery, As thicker than a cam module, As thicker than the supporting electronics. Using BRLCAD could be an option to create a preview, when possible components with their sizes are choosen. The database that may be the backend should be discussed separately. I am practicing the idea of model driven development and fast prototyping. I have seen wxWidgtes on my neo, but not yet found the time to start porting my code to it :-( But prototyping from a desktop would be possible for creating python CRUD applications at the end (code generation). Lothar Am 06.04.2009 um 10:29 schrieb David Reyes Samblas Martinez: I finally see your face :), I also add great voice Great excerpt of what's going on there in OM thanks steve. As Risto sais way to go :) 2009/4/6 Steve Mosher st...@openmoko.com: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_d8Tsvj2TdQ Hair straightener required. Risto H. Kurppa wrote: I'm just amazed to see this discussion, that actually someone from Openmoko (=Steve) is responding to the ideas, sharing their/his thoughts. As someone pointed already out earlier in this thread - this is what an open company is supposed to be doing. Way to go, keep up the good work, we're looking forward to see the freeopen hair-straightener with WLAN :) r ___ Openmoko community mailing list community@lists.openmoko.org http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community -- David Reyes Samblas Martinez http://www.tuxbrain.com Open ultraportable embedded solutions Openmoko, Openpandora, GP2X the Wiz, Letux 400, Arduino Hey, watch out!!! There's a linux in your pocket!!! ___ Openmoko community mailing list community@lists.openmoko.org http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community -- | Rapid Prototyping | XSLT Codegeneration | http://www.lollisoft.de Lothar Behrens Heinrich-Scheufelen-Platz 2 73252 Lenningen ___ Openmoko community mailing list community@lists.openmoko.org http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community ___ Openmoko community mailing list community@lists.openmoko.org http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community
Re: Camera module as back case (was Re: Slashdotted)
Am Mo 6. April 2009 schrieb Lothar Behrens: I read the issue with removing the hole. The space in that 'hole' could be used as the docking bay for extensions. Ok, the mic should somehow moved, or a 'voicepipe' could be used to direct the acustics. A good starting point to use the space somehow useful. This unused space is part of GSM-ant design and it isn't that easy to simply build some electronics to fit in there without detuning whole RF-design and/or having nasty EMI-problems in the newly created addon. /j signature.asc Description: This is a digitally signed message part. ___ Openmoko community mailing list community@lists.openmoko.org http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community
Re: Camera module as back case (was Re: Slashdotted)
Am 06.04.2009 um 21:03 schrieb Joerg Reisenweber: Am Mo 6. April 2009 schrieb Lothar Behrens: I read the issue with removing the hole. The space in that 'hole' could be used as the docking bay for extensions. Ok, the mic should somehow moved, or a 'voicepipe' could be used to direct the acustics. A good starting point to use the space somehow useful. This unused space is part of GSM-ant design and it isn't that easy to simply build some electronics to fit in there without detuning whole RF- design and/or having nasty EMI-problems in the newly created addon. Ahh ok. So beside this, a small sketch where addons could be placed would be helpfull to not fall in that traps. Are there save regions, say bottom layer to ground (HF shield) and SMD only on top of the board added? Lothar /j -- | Rapid Prototyping | XSLT Codegeneration | http://www.lollisoft.de Lothar Behrens Heinrich-Scheufelen-Platz 2 73252 Lenningen ___ Openmoko community mailing list community@lists.openmoko.org http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community
