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Main => Monitor/Video Forum => Topic started by: Jess-- on December 26, 2006, 07:48:53 pm

Title: Vector Monitor / game questions
Post by: Jess-- on December 26, 2006, 07:48:53 pm
this may sound like a silly idea (couldnt sleep last night)

If i were to obtain a Vector game board set how many positions per second would a monitor be able to position.

the reason I am asking is that I have Laser projection systems capable of 30,000 positions per second (with blanking also running at 30khz)

would these be fast enough to render a full vector screen.

if they would I cant help thinking it would be really nice to be able to play some of these vector games projected on clouds (1000ft screen anyone)
Title: Re: Vector Monitor / game questions
Post by: SirPeale on December 27, 2006, 07:56:22 am
It'd work.  I remember someone made something similar some time back.  Looked really cool.
Title: Re: Vector Monitor / game questions
Post by: Jess-- on December 27, 2006, 10:14:12 am
Hmm I smell a crazy project coming up.

just gotta get it all together.
Title: Re: Vector Monitor / game questions
Post by: ChadTower on December 27, 2006, 10:31:18 am

Could you post some details on the projection systems?  It has been done before but usually with ridiculously high end university owned hardware.

So long as the projectors use an XY coordinate system it could be done.  I'd love to contribute to such an effort.
Title: Re: Vector Monitor / game questions
Post by: Jess-- on December 27, 2006, 12:53:28 pm
heres an ebay auction of the kit I am using for the scanning, http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250046646818 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250046646818) with the addition of a third galvo and driver board for blanking

inputs are pretty simple
+5v to -5v for x scan
+5v to -5v for x scan
>0.2v for beam blanking 0v for beam on

currently using overdriven 30mw green laser (estimating 50+mw) pulled from one of these http://www.fleetsound.com/catalogue.asp?ID=3014&task=full (http://www.fleetsound.com/catalogue.asp?ID=3014&task=full) although I feel that this would be in need of an upgrade
Title: Re: Vector Monitor / game questions
Post by: ChadTower on December 28, 2006, 09:12:07 pm

I'll take a look at that tomorrow when I have more time... I Can tell you, though, that the intensity range of a vector monitor is not binary.  It's a range just like the vector grid (but probably not  -12 to 12, I can't remember off the top of my head)
Title: Re: Vector Monitor / game questions
Post by: Jess-- on December 29, 2006, 07:05:40 am
ok so it sounds like I will need to invert my beam blanking signal, not a problem.
also if the game board is putting out -12 to +12 for the scan then it is also not a problem
Title: Re: Vector Monitor / game questions
Post by: FrizzleFried on December 29, 2006, 01:53:57 pm
Star Wars on a cloudy day....

Title: Re: Vector Monitor / game questions
Post by: Jess-- on December 30, 2006, 09:21:43 am
Star Wars on a cloudy day....

Or star wars on the side of a house:)
Title: Re: Vector Monitor / game questions
Post by: Level42 on December 31, 2006, 08:19:13 pm
this may sound like a silly idea (couldnt sleep last night)

If i were to obtain a Vector game board set how many positions per second would a monitor be able to position.

I think a real CRT is capable of an unliminted amount of positions per second in theory. But of course the controlling PCB's were not, especialy in that age.
I wonder if the mirrors of a laser can move that fast, but it may very well be.

It is a very cool idea !
Title: Re: Vector Monitor / game questions
Post by: Jess-- on January 01, 2007, 11:35:57 am
I can reliably hit 30,000 points per second, but can push up to 40,000 with a little overshoot.
Title: Re: Vector Monitor / game questions
Post by: Level42 on January 01, 2007, 04:08:03 pm
I can reliably hit 30,000 points per second, but can push up to 40,000 with a little overshoot.

And I guess it doesn't matter if the laser is on or off between the points right ?
Than that should be enough I think, but I'm no vector expert.

Could a small laser take the place of a X-Y monitor and hit the phospor on a CRT ?
Title: Re: Vector Monitor / game questions
Post by: Jess-- on January 01, 2007, 07:49:48 pm
laser on / off can be driven by the original game circuit (again can cut the beam up to 30,000 times per second)

you couldnt use this to hit the phospher on a monitor as it would have to hit it from within the vacuum of the tube, far too dangerous to attempt it from the front of the tube due to reflection of the laser going into players eyes,

in my case 40mw of laser is enough to cut / burn if the beam is held static for a short period, (as an example of what a laser of even this low power is capable of I can light a ciggie off the beam at over 100 feet away)

note to people thinking hang on 40mw shouldnt be able to do that, I have no infra red filtering in place and due to the nature of DPSS lasers there is far more infra red in the beam than visible light (which is what the figure of 40mw is based on)
Title: Re: Vector Monitor / game questions
Post by: richms on January 01, 2007, 07:54:50 pm
This is too cool not to try and document well with photos.
Title: Re: Vector Monitor / game questions
Post by: Jess-- on January 01, 2007, 07:58:06 pm
gotta get myself a vector game board first :)
Title: Re: Vector Monitor / game questions
Post by: Jess-- on January 03, 2007, 07:28:14 am
10 points to the first person that says do a search noob.

this has been done before, search google for lasermame
Title: Re: Vector Monitor / game questions
Post by: ChadTower on January 04, 2007, 01:35:53 pm

If you can light a cigarette from 100feet away, what is going to happen when you project that onto a house?  Sounds like you'd burn the game patterns into the siding.
Title: Re: Vector Monitor / game questions
Post by: Jess-- on January 05, 2007, 06:27:10 am
they make houses out of bricks here, not some thin rubbish that could burst into flames by me firing a laser at it
Title: Re: Vector Monitor / game questions
Post by: Ed_McCarron on January 05, 2007, 07:14:38 am
Sounds like you'd burn the game patterns into the siding.

Like theres ever been an arcade game with no burn-in on the monitor after a while?  It'd just add to the authenticity.