E46 - CarPC Work Log

**Crinos** · 11-20-2009, 09:20 AM

Originally Posted by bes51659

Great Crinos!
Is this old school VisualBasic? If it was C# I should know since I have written C# application, so I hope the question does not imbarres me :-)
Do you use Visual Studio?
If so maybe you can make a small project and zip it?

Yes, it's kindoff VB.
It's BASIC actually

Just copy/past into a <opencd.cmd> file or what ever name (as long as it has *.cmd) will do the trick

I only have Visual C# Express at home, but could make a project for C# for you if you want to? (nb .NET application).

**bes51659** · 11-20-2009, 12:31 PM

If it is not too much work I would apreciate a project in C#! Then the source can easily be copied into any other app. Like the app I have on my PC that autostarts and then sends a "hello world" message to the pcb so that it can enable the LCD panel without showing all the tedious startup screens!

Here is the hardware solution:

**kraimer21** · 11-20-2009, 01:09 PM

Can you guys fill me in what was the conversation about in the last few posts (a little confused)
B-O: I will take my dvd drive apart tomorrow. If mine looks similar, soldering that shouldn't be a problem, but how will I know exactly where do I solder two wires?

**bes51659** · 11-20-2009, 02:08 PM

Sorry. A CD can be ejected by software on your PC. Since the pcb will send a message on IBus when it wants the CD to be ejected the PC can fish that message up and perform the task. That is if you do not want to solder in your DVD.

Crinos has been kind enough to supply software that does just that.

The application I mentioned is available from here. It is called BootDone. If you install it and put it under "startup" it will send a message onto IBus when the PC has frinished booting. That will force the pcb sw statemachine from "booting" into "on" and thus enabling the LCD panel. (output from pcb). I was thinking that the two could be integrated.

(In fact I've started, on pause now, to make a "FE" that depending on app in focus will translate IBus messages into key and mouse events. Very much like IBusComm, but that application has no application awareness. To be able to use the same IBus interface for all this purposes, I want to make one single app that handle all these task)

I used an ohm meter to check what connection the button made when I pressed it. I did that without connecting power to the DVD.

**Crinos** · 11-22-2009, 05:43 PM

I have sent you a new E-Mail with URL to download the project from, B-O.

I have not written any IBUS "sniffer" yet, to to so. I need to learn a bit more about the IBUS first.
Allso, as I wrote in the e-mail, the program do not work on my computer that run Windows 7 RC. Just checked on a laptop running Vista, an there it works fine.

I use MCI commands to open and close the tray. Not sure if MCI is back in the official release or not, but it's absent here.

**bes51659** · 11-22-2009, 06:05 PM

Thanks for the email Crinos
I will download and integrate into my deadstupid bootdone app as a demo. I will share any source off-cause.

This weekend I have building my new sub to replace the one that got stolen (#&%¤!)
I have also been working on dash sw to have the same powercontrol sw as my original GPS and power control module.

The final thing will be rather nice, where the two modules can be installed without the other, or both configuring one as slave. Then (for non ibus owners) it does not matter what module outputs and inputs are connected. The single wire ibus link between the modules will transfer any event to the other. Saves a lot of wires.

In short; been working, nothing to show for it :-)

**Crinos** · 11-23-2009, 05:00 AM

Originally Posted by bes51659

Thanks for the email Crinos
I will download and integrate into my deadstupid bootdone app as a demo. I will share any source off-cause.

This weekend I have building my new sub to replace the one that got stolen (#&%¤!)
I have also been working on dash sw to have the same powercontrol sw as my original GPS and power control module.

The final thing will be rather nice, where the two modules can be installed without the other, or both configuring one as slave. Then (for non ibus owners) it does not matter what module outputs and inputs are connected. The single wire ibus link between the modules will transfer any event to the other. Saves a lot of wires.

In short; been working, nothing to show for it :-)

I'm still in awe from just one of the modules

As this has progressed, I have been thinking more and more about getting a original BC and axe it up to fit a custom screen myself.

Regarding the project/app I wrote.. I will find a better way to open and close. I am not sure if it will work on USB devices, I think it does, but I'm not 100% sure.

**bes51659** · 11-23-2009, 07:16 AM

Sounds great!

It is good to be able to control DVD from PC if you do not want to solder in your DVD. But there is a small dissadvantage. PC has to be running :-) If DVD eject button is connected to dash pcb it will eject the CD even during PC boot.

There is also a small logical problem that applies to both solutions. You cannot eject a second time without closing door first.
- open, CD is ejected
- you remove the CD and insert wrong CD
- pressing eject again will close the door. Maybe you really wanted to change CD again...

Just realize that this could be solved by holding the eject button for more than one second... Would that be ok?

**Crinos** · 11-23-2009, 08:06 AM

Best option is to control the DVD from both the PCB and the PC, this way you have all options available. That would require to solder an eject button to the PCB, and an eject program on the PC.

I'm not that familiar with the MK III and IV BCs, but I understand that there is one button that do the opening and closing?
Is it space for the soldered on eject button behind the panel, on the side of the loading slot? (a flat button of sorts).
Then you can (as I see it) open the CD tray multiple times, before closing the BC panel.

Though, I do not know if this is even possible?

Does the IBUS send a different signal if you press and hold the eject button for more than one second?

**kraimer21** · 11-23-2009, 10:13 AM

First, thank you Crinos for the program!! even though I am completely clueless as to how to implement it, but as long as B-O says its great, it must be great

I don't mind soldering eject button, I'm sure that task is simple enough - I just need a little clarification. What are you looking for with an ohm meter so I can distinguish the buttons?

Crinos, if you are serious about getting a BoardMonitor and doing a custom screen, email me and I'm sure I can help you out somehow.

Some progress photos over the weekend:

It looks a little cleaner in real life - not sure why it looks like a mess in the pic:

I will actually route the wires to the right side, even though I will need to cut new openings. The spring mechanism works like a charm. I tried doing it without the spring and its almost impossible to continuously open - close without wires jamming behind the front plate.

And another shot of the final product WITH the top cover on so alignment is much better!