RE: Ultrasonic range finder - BULK BUY?

[ian.bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

> Onlist!
Appreciated ;-)

Yes. It would mean setting up a simple micro to read in the serial=20
distance from the unit ever X part of a second and switch one or more=20
LED's as an indication to the driver to stop. Too close could be a loud=20
Klaxon or something depending on you sense of humour.

Program logic would look something like this:

Read distance:
Case >=3D 100: Turn off all LED's
Case >=3D 50 and <99: Turn on LED 1, turn off all other LED's
Case >=3D 20 and <49: Turn on LED 2, turn off all other LED's
Case >=3D 6 and <19: Turn on LED 3, turn off all other LED's
Case >=3D 1 and <5: Turn on LED 4, sound the alarm, brace for impact
-=20
Stop!!, turn off all other LED's

etc. etc.

Some refinement obviously and a power supply and you are set. The turn
on=20
LED bit is just  an output changing so these could go direct into HV
etc.=20
digital input ports.

I could take on this as a little project for a few beers without too
much=20
trouble. Obviously plus parts etc.

There are other options not using micros but using the analogue 0 - 5 volt=
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output but I would not be able to do those - not enough electronic=20
wizardry in me. It is also possible you could attach the analogue
voltage=20
direct to HV or Comfort and do away with the micro side all together but I=
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simply don't know if that is possible. The voltages are correct, just
can=20
the controllers do it?

HV Pro

Analog inputs (4)
0 to 5 VDC, 8-bit resolution

Doesn't look like HV standard support analogue inputs.

Again, I don't know if this could be supported but you could get a=20
controller to ask the unit for a distance reading using serial and analyse=
=20
it. I have not played with the serial side of HV etc. so cannot comment.

No idea about Comfort.

Finally, if you are planning on more than one of these ultrasonic units=20
than a piece of middleware (hardware) would make life a lot simpler for=20
you.

Lots of options

Ian







"Paul Gale" <groups@xxxxxxx>
Sent by: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
17/07/2006 11:04
Please respond to ukha_d

=20
To:     <ukha_d@xxxxxxx>
cc:     (bcc: Ian Bird/CV/Novartis)
Subject:        RE: [ukha_d] Ultrasonic range finder - BULK BUY?


Onlist!

I'd be interested in these for a garage parking sensor. I'd envisage
them=20
being used to tell how far in the car is and prevent the garage door=20
closing if it's not in the right spot. The thing is, it'd need to=20
interface directly with either Comfort or HomeVision to provide=20
resilience.

Do you think this would work?

Paul.



> -----Original Message-----
> From: ukha_d@xxxxxxx [mailto:ukha_d@xxxxxxx] On Behalf=20
Of
> ian.bird@xxxxxxx
> Sent: 17 July 2006 10:50
> To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
> Subject: [ukha_d] Ultrasonic range finder - BULK BUY?
>=20
> Hi all
>=20
> Is there any interest in a bulk buy for these ultrasonic range finders
> that Frank pointed out a week ago?
>=20
> http://www.maxbotix.com/
>=20
> From reading the specs it seems very easy to interface to: It needs 5
> volts and a max232 on a bit of copper breadboard if going to a PC.
If=20
not
> and a micro is being used then the 5 volt serial signals can be=20
connected
> directly. There are other options open to the more adventurous
amongst=20
us
> but I will leave those out of this mail. If you need a more expansive
> interfacing explanation then just ask after reading the docs on the
web
> site.
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> I would expect that once shipping, Vat and customs etc. has been
paid=20
the
> unit price would be around 20 quid or possibly a little less.=20
Individually
> they are listed at 30 dollars which is around =A316.50 before shipping
or
> anything so a very competitive price.
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> Any takers? I would need to get at least 10 to realise this price
> including any for myself.
>=20
> Replies off list please (use the forward button not the reply button
-(
> foolproof even for me ;-)). If you remember please remove the UKHA_D
bit
> from the subject to stop it being filtered at my end.
>=20
> > Gerry Duprey is currently developing a pic micro interface which
will
> > handle up to 12 of these and will do an xPL Plugin for it
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> Gerry is famous (with some anyway) for his RGB controller board. I
don't
> know but I would expect the interface would be serial for xPL. A
similar
> specified xAP board would not be difficult to put together but there
are
> no plans for one as yet.
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> Thanks
>=20
> Ian
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> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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> Yahoo! Groups Links
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