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rotating monitor methods
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koz319:


I built a rotating monitor in my cab (21 in. crt) - controlled through the parallel port.   The parallel port controls an h-bridge which controls the direction of motor rotation. (if one pin is high, rotate clockwise - if the other pin is high, rotate counter clockwise.) 
There are two limit switches - each switch is set up to interrupt the signal to the h-bridge to stop rotation, as well as set another pin on the parallel port so the pc can read when the limit is reached.  Another paralled port pin is attached to the monitors degauss circuit. 
I wrote a quick command line prg that you pass a few arguments to - which way to rotate, degauss at end of rotation or not, and a timeout in seconds, so the montitor will stop turning if there is a limit switch malfuntion.   You can use this from you desktop or call it from whatever to change the monitors orientation.

I also re-compiled mame to do this automatically based on the orientation of the game that's launched.

If any of this sounds like it might be helpful, let me know, and I'll pass on any info you may want.

Good luck!- I think the rotating monitor is awesome.

Koz

Buddabing:
That's interesting. Can the monitor be rotated to all four directions, or just two directions and you use a setting to flip the video?

koz319:

Good point - I just have it set up so there are two orientations - vertical and horizontal.  If the monitors normal orientation is horizontal, it rotates 90 deg clockwise for veritcal, then 90 deg counterclockwise for horizontal again.  Any other variations need to be set individually thru the emulator.

I suppose it wouldn't be too hard to set it up for 4 orientations insetad of two.      You'd need a different limit switch setup,   and make sure your rotation logic was set up to return to a home position so you dont get your cables all twisted in a bunch doing multiple 360s.  Definitely doable if you think its worth the extra complexity.





freckleface:
What would you want it for? :dunno
(+_+):

--- Quote from: edge on February 15, 2007, 03:52:30 pm ---(+_+) - Did you go with a 26" widescreen or 4:3 format?

--- End quote ---

I went with an LG 26" wide. The screen is now almost as high as my 20" would be rotated to portrait mode. It will be great now for my 2 outer players since the viewing area is huge now. I tried my favorite games such as Robotron, Mutant Storm, RIP and many others and was very satisfied with the stretched image. I can also opt to not stretch and play the game as it should be with 2 narrow bars on each side, but so far I don't see the real need to. What's also good about this screen is I'll be able to take advantage of newer widescreen games.
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