One of my current projects is an Arduino powered camera trigger. I made one using my Arduino a laser pointer, and my digital camera. At first I thought it would be no big deal, but it took a little more effort because of the camera I was using. My Canon Powershot does not allow for remote shutter controll by default, but after a little inernet-vestigation I stumbled on the CHDK (Canon Hack Development Kit). After some firmware hacking and a couple components; I was up and running…
The Key is the CHDK firmware that allows the remote shutter trigger. The laser reflects off of a mirror onto the photoresistor. The photoresistor is being measured by Analog 0. When the beam is broken the Arduino runs through a series of high and low on digital 12 (with varying delay to account for the auto focus feature of the camera). This then triggers the camera to focus and take a picture.
Connecting the camera to the Arduino is done by modifying a mini USB cable. There is a USB remote cable page on the CHDK wiki with instructions/diagrams for making a Homebrew remote. So I just used that but left out the switch and battery because the Arduino would act as the switch power source. We’ll be using the +5V (red wire) and Ground (black wire) – (see below for picture of cable, code, and more pics)
Adafruit publishes a wide range of writing and video content, including interviews and reporting on the maker market and the wider technology world. Our standards page is intended as a guide to best practices that Adafruit uses, as well as an outline of the ethical standards Adafruit aspires to. While Adafruit is not an independent journalistic institution, Adafruit strives to be a fair, informative, and positive voice within the community – check it out here: adafruit.com/editorialstandards
Adafruit is on Mastodon, join in! adafruit.com/mastodon
Stop breadboarding and soldering – start making immediately! Adafruit’s Circuit Playground is jam-packed with LEDs, sensors, buttons, alligator clip pads and more. Build projects with Circuit Playground in a few minutes with the drag-and-drop MakeCode programming site, learn computer science using the CS Discoveries class on code.org, jump into CircuitPython to learn Python and hardware together, TinyGO, or even use the Arduino IDE. Circuit Playground Express is the newest and best Circuit Playground board, with support for CircuitPython, MakeCode, and Arduino. It has a powerful processor, 10 NeoPixels, mini speaker, InfraRed receive and transmit, two buttons, a switch, 14 alligator clip pads, and lots of sensors: capacitive touch, IR proximity, temperature, light, motion and sound. A whole wide world of electronics and coding is waiting for you, and it fits in the palm of your hand.
Have an amazing project to share? The Electronics Show and Tell is every Wednesday at 7pm ET! To join, head over to YouTube and check out the show’s live chat – we’ll post the link there.
Join us every Wednesday night at 8pm ET for Ask an Engineer!
Join over 36,000+ makers on Adafruit’s Discord channels and be part of the community! http://adafru.it/discord
CircuitPython – The easiest way to program microcontrollers – CircuitPython.org
Maker Business — Making sure the CHIPS act isn’t just crumbs
Wearables — And now a word on laser ettiquette
Electronics — Capacitor ESR
Python for Microcontrollers — Python on Microcontrollers Newsletter: CircuitPython 8.1.0 and 8.2.0-beta0 out and so much more! #CircuitPython #Python #micropython @ThePSF @Raspberry_Pi
Adafruit IoT Monthly — Guardian Robot, Weather-wise Umbrella Stand, and more!
Microsoft MakeCode — MakeCode Thank You!
EYE on NPI — Maxim’s Himalaya uSLIC Step-Down Power Module #EyeOnNPI @maximintegrated @digikey
New Products – Adafruit Industries – Makers, hackers, artists, designers and engineers! — JP’s Product Pick of the Week 5/30/23 USB Host Feather RP2040 @adafruit @johnedgarpark #adafruit #newproductpick
2 Comments
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Have you considered modulating the laser @ 38kHz, then using a remote control receiver as detector? Should increase the signal to noise ratio & extend range.
Would it be worth adding a resistor between pin 12 and the camera to ensure you don