[DeTomaso] Optical turn signal control

Sat Jan 26 16:29:11 EST 2013

You both know that Windows ME was best!

:-)

Michael
On Jan 26, 2013 4:24 PM, "Jerry Knotts" <knottsj at galstar.com> wrote:

>
> I thought XP was the cats meow.  It was the first Windows that could
> emulate the 1984 Apple operating system and not have "the blue screen of
> death" occur periodically.
>
> Started in computers in 1965 on a RAMAC,
> jerry
>
> On 1/26/2013 2:53 PM, Charles McCall wrote:
> > That's awesome!
> >
> > I remember Windows 3.1... and 3.11... and how 95 would be so great....
> >
> > Charles McCall
> > Raising Pantera Awareness Across Europe
> > 1985 DeTomaso Pantera #9375
> > http://www.poca.com/index.php/gallery/?g2_itemId=2323
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: detomaso-bounces at poca.com [mailto:detomaso-bounces at poca.com] On
> Behalf
> > Of gow2 at rc-tech.net
> > Sent: sábado, 26 de enero de 2013 21:41
> > To: David Fisher
> > Cc: POCA list
> > Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Optical turn signal control
> >
> > Had a guy her servicing our Laser a couple weeks ago. I talked about
> doing
> > things in Windows 3.1. He gave me a blank stare. I said, "you know before
> > Windows95?"......."What's Windows95?".....
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >> It looks like you are having a lot of fun.   I'll date myself, but I
> >> recall
> >> making a x y milling controller off a Z80 eval board.   Pretty
> satisfying
> >> to get all the things to work together.
> >>
> >> Keep all the creativity coming... love to see it.
> >>
> >> David
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> On Sat, Jan 26, 2013 at 8:13 AM, <gow2 at rc-tech.net> wrote:
> >>
> >>>> Cool stuff... do tell more...
> >>>>
> >>>> David
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> The control for the turn signal encoder is called the Arduino. The
> >>> Arduino
> >>> is what I call "a micro controller for dummies". These type of
> platforms
> >>> are becoming very popular. Arduino is one of the most popular platforms
> >>> with an enormous wealth of information.
> >>>
> >>> I call it a micro controller for dummies because yu don't have to
> >>> understand much about the micro controller. Configuring and programing
> >>> is
> >>> basic. If you have done ANY basic level introductory program you can
> >>> follow the examples which are plentiful through Google and books. It is
> >>> just about getting the syntax right.
> >>>
> >>> The Arduino has a compiler (free download). The Arduino plugs into a
> USB
> >>> on the computer. If you want to control say a servo, in a Micro
> >>> Controller
> >>> you may have to create a signal at a specific pulse width to operate
> the
> >>> servo. In the Arduino, you make a note in the beginning to add a servo,
> >>> name an item a servo then tell the item to move to a position. It's
> that
> >>> simple. The rest is how you nest your program to do what you want.
> >>>
> >>> There is an explosion of these sort of boards right now. I would say
> the
> >>> Arduino is one of the most popular for this sort of application. Radio
> >>> Shack is even carrying these now; along with the LCD I use, and intro
> >>> boook, etc.
> >>>
> >>> Someone directed me to a new board this week which...is not really what
> >>> I
> >>> need here, but is unbelievable. It is basically a computer which runs
> >>> linux in the same configuration with massive inputs and outputs. It is
> >>> called the Raspberry and is ....$35. !!!!!
> >>>
> >>> http://www.alliedelec.com/lp/120626raso/
> >>>
> >>> Back to the Arduino. I start with the "Uno" which is a prototyping
> >>> board:
> >>>
> >>> http://arduino.cc/en/Main/arduinoBoardUno
> >>>
> >>> It has 14 digital input/output pins and 6 analog input output pins. I
> >>> work
> >>> out the logistics with the prototyping board then move to a more solid
> >>> solution.
> >>>
> >>> I have circuit boards made for the NANO which is pretty much the same
> >>> thing except it is designed to be soldered on a board:
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> http://arduino.cc/en/Main/arduinoBoardNano
> >>>
> >>> The circuit boards I have made are designed to hook up the things I
> need
> >>> such as a voltage converter to take the voltage from 12v to 5,  sockets
> >>> for thermocouple chips, encoder counters, pull up/down resisters, mods
> >>> etc. It is a flexible circuit in which I am on my 3rd rendition.
> >>>
> >>> The encoder itself is not hard but the timing can be tricky. The
> encoder
> >>> has 2 LED emitters/detectors. They are staggered 1/2 wave. The logic is
> >>> to
> >>> read the separate waves. If both are high and one goes low, you know
> >>> which
> >>> direction it is moving. Each move provides a count.
> >>>
> >>> The tricky spot is timing. If you are doing things in the program when
> >>> the
> >>> count comes across, you will miss it. A separate chip is used to take
> >>> care
> >>> of the logic. It is a very simple chip which works well for this
> >>> application. It tags the Arduino on 2 pins. One pin is an interrupt. It
> >>> gives direction and count +/- 1. The interrupt is the key because at
> >>> every
> >>> count it interrupts the program and updates the count so nothing is
> >>> missed. Works very well for this application.
> >>>
> >>> The arduino will also manage 8 servos on the heaterbox in a constant
> >>> loop.
> >>> If an input condition has changed it will turn on the servo, move it,
> >>> and
> >>> turn it off.
> >>>
> >>> There is a whole group of conditions going on in the turn signal
> >>> process.
> >>> It will control each of the 4 turn signals and flashers via a power
> >>> mosfet. It has a few things to consider; position of the wheel, are the
> >>> flashers and turn signals on at the same time, are the lights on (the
> >>> front marker is both marker and turn signal), manual cancel, etc.
> >>>
> >>> I can do creative things like make the front marker both a turn signal
> >>> and
> >>> a marker. If flashers and turn signals are on, I will flash 2x, turn
> >>> signal 2x, flash 2x, etc. If I leave the turn signal on for 5 min, turn
> >>> them off. Things like that.
> >>>
> >>> he left is the prototype. The right is the actual column. You are
> seeing
> >>> the bottom of the column:
> >>>
> >>> http://www.rc-tech.net/cars2/panttransam/turn/turn3.jpg
> >>>
> >>> I have been working through the learning curve on the prototype. This
> >>> involves making a lot of mistakes, figuring out what I have done and
> >>> getting it right. A soldered board is so much better when done right
> the
> >>> first time. As I get parts nailed down, I hope to begin putting it
> >>> together in the car Sunday with some finish wiring. So much still to
> do.
> >>>
> >>> The mile stone for me was getting the encoder to read reliably without
> >>> error which I have done. That above all was the hardest part. The rest
> >>> is
> >>> just logistics.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Gary
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>> On Fri, Jan 11, 2013 at 2:51 PM, <gow2 at rc-tech.net> wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>> Here are some parts being used to build the encoder based turn
> >>> signal:
> >>>>> http://www.rc-tech.net/cars2/panttransam/turn/turn.jpg
> >>>>>
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