Project NiteVision - NiteMax + HUD + carputer - Page 21

shotgunefx · 06-07-2006, 06:55 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Silentbob343

If you can't get over the projection problem you might have to do something like this:
LCD displays phony analog gauges:
...
When the night vision system is turned on the circular speedo goes away, and is replaced with a linear Speedo gauge along the bottom:
...
I know it's not as cool as the HUD, but......

Here's the problem with that for me.

That lilliput taped in there is about 2 1/2" higher than the standard gauge cluster. As you can see, most is hidden behind the wheel. It's actually a little worse than that when you're sitting in the car. As it is, I have to crane around the wheel to get a look at the gauges. So I still wouldn't be able to see it.

shotgunefx · 06-07-2006, 07:13 PM

Maybe I'm giving up on the viewfinder too quick.

I dug out my cheap little fresnel and was able to see it 3ft away on the wall in a dim, but not dark room. Looks a lot darker in the pics than it is.

Best pick I could get.

I wish I understood optics better

Silentbob343 · 06-07-2006, 08:09 PM

Have you tried those DIY projector forums, guys there have plenty of experience with fresnel lenses and projecting an image. I hate to turn you to another forum, but I believe they might have better information esp. with optics and such.

shotgunefx · 06-07-2006, 09:26 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Silentbob343

Have you tried those DIY projector forums, guys there have plenty of experience with fresnel lenses and projecting an image. I hate to turn you to another forum, but I believe they might have better information esp. with optics and such.

Yeah, they have part of the problem, but it's bit different. They don't have to deal with the collimnator which is what's really screwing us up. Though might be worthwhile just to see if any optics-heads hang out at them.

Silentbob343 · 06-07-2006, 09:47 PM

What about the guy who started this thread, alti, I wonder if he has any ideas on this?

trasko · 06-08-2006, 12:27 AM

2 questions:

1) What is the difference between the "projected HUD" that seems to be the goal in all this and a reflected image of a video source (like a small LCD mounted in the dash facing upwards and a piece of glass at a 45 degree angle)?

2) what is the story with the nitemax cameras? They aren't true infrared, correct? Is there something they have that those cheapy color/infrared webcam looking cameras don't have? are there any still available for the low price that people here got them for?

NiteMax Mark · 06-08-2006, 01:33 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by trasko

2 questions:
2) what is the story with the nitemax cameras? They aren't true infrared, correct? Is there something they have that those cheapy color/infrared webcam looking cameras don't have? are there any still available for the low price that people here got them for?

The NiteMax cameras ARE sensitive in the near infrared spectrum. (Wavelengths just above the range of human vision.) If you're thinking of thermal infrared, then the answer is no. The NiteMax cameras use a high quality 1/3" Sony CCD low-light CCD chip. The cheap web cameras are generally made with smaller CMOS imager chips that are less sensitive.

They are still available at the same prices as long as you don't need a complete camera.

Yevmeister · 06-09-2006, 09:52 AM

wow you guy went along way, sorry i couldn't contribute much

Question to Mark, somewhere along this topic i have read that you can use the nitemax LCD, not only as a projection to the screen, but also something with video imput.

I have an epia m10000 as my car comp. mommy, and it has RCA Video out, i know the quality isn't greatest, but i believe you can import the image from computer such as playlist, and gps map nav.

technically for noob what components would i need to accomplish that

-NiteMax Camera,
-NiteMax Screen
-Cables

anything else, besides lenses, and projection mounting equipment?

thanks,

Yev

P.S. also as shotgun said, the camcorded screen, i was thinking of buying buch of old sony handycams via nightvision on ebay, they are cheappp

alti · 06-09-2006, 10:33 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Silentbob343

What about the guy who started this thread, alti, I wonder if he has any ideas on this?

sorry, I have not been very invovled, life has me busy with other issues, so I have had to put the project on hold. I am taking a couple of fast paced (6 week) summer courses, I have to move by June 30th, my wedding is comming up (around 3 months away) along with the usual 40 hr week

I will try to catch up on the thread soon, I would love to be more involved right now, i just cant

Genesisfactor · 06-09-2006, 11:27 AM

Shotgun, i'm not understanding your problems....i know you want to enlarge the image, but project 3ft away...why???

shotgunefx · 06-09-2006, 11:44 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Genesisfactor

Shotgun, i'm not understanding your problems....i know you want to enlarge the image, but project 3ft away...why???

Not 3ft, that was just playing around as constrained by the wiring and the fresenl on hand.

Genesisfactor · 06-10-2006, 09:19 AM

Yev,

this is my proposed (only proposed as i'm having car troubles more than carputer troubles) set up. Take a look...

The CCD half has RCA out. The LCD half has RCA in AND out. So its pretty pretty simple what i have to do. I need a computer with RCA in and RCA out...that CAN process all that info (which i do)

So it goes like so:
CCD---->TV tuner car with RCA in---->computer---->recording software (optional) and viewing software---->RCA out/S-Vid out/Regular LCD screen depending on the needs

This works especially nicely if you can do a extended desktop option wiht RCA out. I'm hoping i have RCA out on my TV card, if and when i get it, so that i don't have to use my other options.

I have extended desktop with my laptop and a dockingstation with a seperate video card, so i can run a few screens on this thing. I don't know what your mobo has, but, if you buy a vid editor card or TV card, you should be able to put the image onto the nitemax LCD screen

Genesisfactor · 06-10-2006, 09:31 AM

hey shotgun, do you have any problems iwht image bounciness or anything. I dind't notice naything too bad in the video, but i'm just curious...

Peoples · 06-10-2006, 03:39 PM

So in an attempt to project the image on the glass like shotgun...I found my father's father's old film slide projector. God knows how, but the lighbulb inside still worked after 35+ years.

Anyway, the film cells this thing is ment to project are much smaller then the nitemax LCD, so I only ended up with part of the image....rendering it useless. Also the bulb was not bright enough to project the image clearly. I tried it against some tinted glass, and couldnt see the projected image at all, just the reflection from the lightsource of the projector.

Here are some pics of what I'm talking about

jammy_basturd · 06-12-2006, 09:14 AM

Has anybody had or looked over either of these two books:
Head-Up Displays: Designing the Way Ahead
or
Visual Optics of Head-Up Displays (HUDs) In Automotive Applications