E46 - CarPC Work Log

**bes51659** · 11-23-2009, 12:21 PM

Originally Posted by Crinos

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.

agreed!

Originally Posted by Crinos

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?

Correct. And this button will generate an ibus message. This message is detected by my pcb to run motor. As alternative any momentary close button can be connected to my pcb. This a good for Kraimer, who misplaced his buttons :-)

Originally Posted by Crinos

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.

Yes, but that does not give the right look-and-feel, does it? But it would work.

Originally Posted by Crinos

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

Yes it does! Almost all buttons in your BMW does.
F0 04 68 48 24 F0 <Eject> Press
F0 04 68 48 64 B0 <Eject> Hold
F0 04 68 48 A4 70 <Eject> Release

Originally Posted by kraimer21

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?

You want to find what terminals on the button that gives zero ohm when pressing the button

From the pics, it seems to me that if you make a slot in the low end of the BM to house the cable and make the cable slightly longer you can fix it and do not need the spring. But if it works as a charm... Don't mend it if it isn't broken :-)

**Crinos** · 11-23-2009, 01:30 PM

Just a thought here... What if a program, similar to mine, poped up when the BC door is open, and for instance have an "eject/open" button, and a "close" button? No need to make things more complicated than necsesary? When one press close. The BM door closes and so does the program. (No need to keep it in memory when not needed).

Unless one need to fully use the monitor space given, even when the BM door is open?

**bes51659** · 11-23-2009, 02:03 PM

Great idee. Or so I first thought. When door is open, the LCD panel is tilted...
Well, I will implement the 'hold' feature and, as you said Crinos, the PC option will also be there. Only choises that has to be made has to be made :-)

**Crinos** · 11-23-2009, 02:36 PM

I am aware of that the panel is tilted, but lets say the program takes up all the screen size, and you only need two buttons. They can't be that hard to find while driving, even when the panel is tilted up, ie door is open?

Lets say that left part of screen is "open tray" button, and the right part is "close bm". Don't even need to see them to opperate.

BTW: B-O, Just sent you another e-mail. My domain is finaly up, so now the zip file is there.

**bes51659** · 11-24-2009, 03:38 AM

Come to think of it, my eject button is tilted too :-)

Thanks for the files!

**Crinos** · 11-24-2009, 04:35 AM

Originally Posted by bes51659

Come to think of it, my eject button is tilted too :-)

Thanks for the files!

That's why I thought a flat button behind the panel

I think I might have some spare time tonight (kids, wife and stuff). I'll try to see if I can make the same program use the IBUS interface connected to the computer and sniff for "Eject button pressed/relesed/hold", but will be hard for me to verify if it will work.
1. Win7 RC and MCI is no good friends
2. I don't have a CarPC running in my car at the moment. Even the laptop with my Reslers IBUS device is a bummer.

(Running Win7 RC at the laptop as well).

BTW: Bes... If I make changes to the project. Would you like the whole project or just the exe file? (I intend to buy your PowerController later on, so I can garantee that it's free for trojans/viruses and such)

(I could ofcourse post both, don't know if you Kraimer have a C# compiler or not, or if just Bes sends them over to you).

**bes51659** · 11-24-2009, 06:23 AM

Crinos
You do not want to fish the eject button message itself. You want to fish the propriatory message my pcb sends when it wants to eject CD. Then you spare yourself of logic keeping track of door open etc. The pc app will be a dumb slave that just translates my specific message into eject.

If you do changes to code, code is enough. I will insert it into your project, and also into my project and FE eventually.

One more thing. I will make you what I think is a tempting offer since you have no carpc yet. I have a second system. I am willing to part from it.

The PC is a MII12000 with 120GB of music and winXP. Just sitting on a book shelf at the moment, so I could send you the PC now. As MII12000 does not work with 480x800 I have converted it with another graphics pcb. Have a look here

The Bordmonitor has DVD, converted LCD panel and a pcb, but I want to update it before selling it. It will be identical to mine, apart from the LCD control board. Panel is the same Sharp unit. Interested of any of this?

**Crinos** · 11-24-2009, 06:49 AM

Originally Posted by Bes51659

Crinos
You do not want to fish the eject button message itself. You want to fish the propriatory message my pcb sends when it wants to eject CD. Then you spare yourself of logic keeping track of door open etc. The pc app will be a dumb slave that just translates my specific message into eject.

Will look into this.

Originally Posted by Bes51659

If you do changes to code, code is enough. I will insert it into your project, and also into my project and FE eventually.

Affirmative

Originally Posted by Bes51659

One more thing. I will make you what I think is a tempting offer since you have no carpc yet. I have a second system. I am willing to part from it.

The PC is a MII12000 with 120GB of music and winXP. Just sitting on a book shelf at the moment, so I could send you the PC now. As MII12000 does not work with 480x800 I have converted it with another graphics pcb. Have a look here

The Bordmonitor has DVD, converted LCD panel and a pcb, but I want to update it before selling it. It will be identical to mine, apart from the LCD control board. Panel is the same Sharp unit. Interested of any of this?

I have seen from your pages that you have this for sale, but I did not see that you allso had a BM for sale, and this could be interesting for me.
I plan to use the Zotac ION board for my build, I ordered it yesterday and a SpaceNavigator (will try to swap to red "bmw amber" leds).
Your sharp is not touchscreen?
I did start my planned build with a touchscreen in mind, but lately I've "come back" to buttons and a SpaceNavigator, and if I truly would need a keyboard, there's is aps for my iPhone that would handle that.
So yes.. I would be interested in the boardmonitor

**bes51659** · 11-24-2009, 07:16 AM

Strange, no one seems to be interested at buying my PC. At any price! Yeah I know its ugly on the outside :-) And I've upgraded to a dual core myself too.

I have been a bit reluctant to sell the BM, so I have not put it on my site. And it is not ready.

It has not got touchscreen! Could be added if you change your mind though. I removed it to get best possible picture quality. Don't need my greacy fingers on the screen :-) I will let you know when its complete.

**Crinos** · 11-24-2009, 08:03 AM

I plan to run my own FE one day, that I'm writing now. (C# and 64-bit), and the ION boards are very energy efficient.

Please let me know when the BM is finished.. It' sounds like my angle to become a member in the "BM CarPC gang"

I follow you on greasy fingers on the display... and from the touchscreens that I have been testing during the years that have past, nothing beats IR multitouch, and since I'm now quite familiar and used to the iPhone, anything less will be a big step down.
There is a company in Norway that can custom build a 7" inch widescreen multitouch display, but I recon they are expensive as (insert a very bad and warm place, and no... I'm not talking about Afghanistan, but it probably will substitue well). And on top of that, one need full support of multitouch in both OS and FE...

I have also considered the Lilliput 12.1 wide monitor, and axe up a part of the center dashboard, to get the screen closer to the windscreen. (like in the new'er BMWs). But I'm not that keen on axing up my dashboard....