Some theory on Optical guns which I have presumed..

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Posted by Andy Geez on November 12, 1999 at 19:59:37:

In Reply to: Trying something in HTML (same content as above ^nt^ posted by Tom61 on November 12, 1999 at 19:17:50:

Andy's Lightgun theory..

Tom about you serial comment, that was a bit strange, its not that we are going to shove loads of information down the line, at most 1200bps..

This is pure speculation, this is what I presume is required to interface a lightgun to a PC.

Most lightguns (all I researched) need +5V serial is +12V (that is why we need the +5 power source for the Happs control trackball interface, PS/2 is 5v) so we need to use external power sources (off course if you have a Arcade Power supply or PC supply you'd get your +5V/0V from that).

Another thing is the way lightguns work is to flood the screen on 60/50hz (60fps) refresh (I believe that Monitors work differently, so it will only work on Arcade Monitors/TVs I might be wrong). The gun driver needs to be polled 60/50 times per second..

Light guns will not work on any TV that scan coverts the video signal. (hence them not working on PC monitors, the lightguns that work on PC monitors use a different sensor type).

Theory connecting the wires..

Here is the wiring from Lethal Enforces light gun (Arcade version)

4 | +5v
3 | Trigger
2 | GND
1 | Optic sensor

Hooking these wires to what comes from a 9pin serial port.. Well we can't use the 12v voltage, so we will use the Ground and +5v from the power supply unit..

As for the Optical Sensor wire, I believe we connect that to the RxD Recieve Data line (Pin number 2)

I believe mouse use the TxD Data line Send Data Line.. (infact I am not sure on the Serial port stuff).

Voltage (not sure on the Pin) nor the Ground (need to get a multimeter on the job).

The trigger will need to be interfaced differently (via existing input device keyboard or joystick), Personally I'd just a joystick button hack (real simple just get the 15pin cable and plug common gnd and button1) to the trigger.

The big question is what packet information is the optical sensor going to send (this is where I need help) I think its going to send the screen scanline (where the sensor detected the white flood) and then the xoffset. (could be mistaken), maybe in 3byte format.

Also lightgun is different to the mouse in the fact it screen position can change radically (top left to bottom right)..

Well thats my view at the moment..

Sorry if I made any mistakes, kinda of tired..

Please feel free to input.

Follow Ups:

Re: Some theory on Optical guns which I have presumed.. Tom61 11/12/99 (0)
Re: Some theory on Optical guns which I have presumed.. Jerky 11/12/99 (7)
- Re: Some theory on Optical guns which I have presumed.. Jerky 11/12/99 (6)
  - here's your 5v Jerky 11/13/99 (0)
  - 50k, sorry saint Jerky 11/12/99 (4)
    - the rest could be found here Jerky 11/12/99 (3)
      - One more...I'm done...good-night Jerky 11/12/99 (2)
        
        Re: One more...I'm done...good-night Tom61 11/12/99 (1)
        
        history of the parallel port Jerky 11/13/99 (0)

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Comments:
: Andy's Lightgun theory.. : Tom about you serial comment, that was a bit strange, its not that we are going to shove loads of information down the line, at most 1200bps.. : This is pure speculation, this is what I presume is required to interface a lightgun to a PC. : Most lightguns (all I researched) need +5V serial is +12V (that is why we need the +5 power source for the Happs control trackball interface, PS/2 is 5v) so we need to use external power sources (off course if you have a Arcade Power supply or PC supply you'd get your +5V/0V from that). : Another thing is the way lightguns work is to flood the screen on 60/50hz (60fps) refresh (I believe that Monitors work differently, so it will only work on Arcade Monitors/TVs I might be wrong). The gun driver needs to be polled 60/50 times per second.. : Light guns will not work on any TV that scan coverts the video signal. (hence them not working on PC monitors, the lightguns that work on PC monitors use a different sensor type). : Theory connecting the wires.. : Here is the wiring from Lethal Enforces light gun (Arcade version) : 4 | +5v : 3 | Trigger : 2 | GND : 1 | Optic sensor : Hooking these wires to what comes from a 9pin serial port.. Well we can't use the 12v voltage, so we will use the Ground and +5v from the power supply unit.. : As for the Optical Sensor wire, I believe we connect that to the RxD Recieve Data line (Pin number 2) : I believe mouse use the TxD Data line Send Data Line.. (infact I am not sure on the Serial port stuff). : Voltage (not sure on the Pin) nor the Ground (need to get a multimeter on the job). : The trigger will need to be interfaced differently (via existing input device keyboard or joystick), Personally I'd just a joystick button hack (real simple just get the 15pin cable and plug common gnd and button1) to the trigger. : The big question is what packet information is the optical sensor going to send (this is where I need help) I think its going to send the screen scanline (where the sensor detected the white flood) and then the xoffset. (could be mistaken), maybe in 3byte format. : Also lightgun is different to the mouse in the fact it screen position can change radically (top left to bottom right).. : Well thats my view at the moment.. : Sorry if I made any mistakes, kinda of tired.. : Please feel free to input.

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