[DeTomaso] Optical turn signal control

[gow2 at rc-tech.net]

I am still running XP and 2000!

>
> 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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