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Mouse Hack interface with Opti-Pac Question

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vizzinni:
Thanks, I bookmarked that page a quite a while ago; it's been a great help.

I think "nagging doubt" was a poor choice of words on my part.  I've read enough of Kremmit's and Tiger Heli's stuff over the past few months to accept their expertise!  I accept that the mouse PCB doesn't connect to the Opti-Pac.  I guess it was more that I'm confused over a couple minor points. 

Kremmit:

--- Quote from: vizzinni on January 22, 2006, 05:23:02 pm ---On p. 211 of saint's book theres a pic showing a Happ Optical PCB and a mouse PCB, with the caption "a close-up look at a couple of different optical encoders..." 

--- End quote ---

I can see how that might lead you to think they both serve the same function.  And it's partially true.  The portion of the mouse circuit that holds the optics serves the same function as the Happ optical board- but the portion of the mouse PCB that holds the microchip serves the same function as the Opti-Pac.

As the the difference in complexity between the Happ optical board and the DIY board- Yup, the Happ has a lot more going on there.  A 2006 Lexus has more going on than a '65 VW Bug, too.  I don't pretend to know what any of that extra stuff on the Happ board actually does, but I imagine it probably works a little better than the el-cheapo version.

krick:

--- Quote from: vizzinni on January 18, 2006, 09:42:52 pm ---
I recently acquired an older serial Opti-Pac and I'm trying to figure out how I'll connect the spinner/mouse hack to the Opti-Pac.


--- End quote ---

I just wanted to comment on this.  As far as I know, there is only one type of Opti-PAC.  The one that I have does have two 9-pin serial ports, however one of the ports is "special" and can be hooked up with either a serial cable, or a special cable that is serial on one end, and USB on the other.  So basically, even a "new" Opti-PAC is serial too.

Kremmit:
I think some of the older ones didn't support USB, just serial.  IIRC, Andy offered a chip upgrade that would add USB support.  But it's been a while, and I could be dead wrong.

u_rebelscum:

--- Quote from: Kremmit on January 22, 2006, 10:39:16 pm ---As the the difference in complexity between the Happ optical board and the DIY board- Yup, the Happ has a lot more going on there.  A 2006 Lexus has more going on than a '65 VW Bug, too.  I don't pretend to know what any of that extra stuff on the Happ board actually does, but I imagine it probably works a little better than the el-cheapo version.

--- End quote ---

Output debouncing, spike reduction, wave squaring (transisting the photosistors), and volt/current adjusting. 
Internally Volt regulating, volt smothing, current blah blah blah.

Helps this " much, AFAIK. ;)

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