Modifying webCamera

Mar 17, 2006 4 Replies
G

Hi group... I have a good challenge 4 U all ( and myself !) I have a Camera that connects to computer by a USB cable. It can take video MP4 up to 30 minutes then download it 2 a computer thru a USB. also it can be turned on and off by the computer at preprogrammed times .



Is there a way we can emulate the cable to make the camera turns on and off by a another systems like a motion detector ? or a photo switch.....



If we manage 2 to that, then this camera can be used to shoot and record like a full security system.



Spin it in Ur heads, it is just a USB cable, what signals can go thru it ??



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D

Literally anything you want to send. USB is nothing more or less than a serial cable. Depending on the device "at the other end" and how it's programmed, it might be as simple as sending a "1" to say "start recording", and a "0" to say "stop recording and send me what you saw", or it might be a continuous stream of "Grab a frame and pass it back to me" commands happening 24 times per second, or anything in between.

In other words, doing what you're talking about could range from "no big deal" to "You're kidding, right?" with the degree of dificulty being

*HIGHLY* dependent on exactly what the camera's firmware expects. Without that information, you can pretty much forget it. Even with that info, trying to get data to and from it without a computer attached (which sounds like what you're wanting to do) is just plain nuts.
Don Bruder - dakidd@sonic.net - If your "From:" address isn't on my whitelist, or the subject of the message doesn't contain the exact text "PopperAndShadow" somewhere, any message sent to this address will go in the garbage without my ever knowing it arrived. Sorry... for more info
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I

formatting link

For example.

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G

well u try 2 make it funny, but out of it, u did put some good ideas,,,,i will build some variable pulse generator...make perhaps CMOS signal level...hope 2 work...thanks 4 idea, really interesting

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D

I think your first thing to do would be to hook the camera to a computer that has the correct driver for the camera installed. Then, connect a scope to the data lines on the USB cable. Using the computer, start the camera and watch what happens on the scope. I'll bet that what you see is far from a simple pulse to start it; usually, there is a string of commands that the camera accepts to turn on, initialize, set mode, resolution, intensity, frame rate, etc., before it starts sending video.

Best of luck with your pulse generator.

Dave M MasonDG44 at comcast dot net (Just substitute the appropriate characters in the address) Never take a laxative and a sleeping pill at the same time!!
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