Project NiteVision - NiteMax + HUD + carputer - Page 7

shotgunefx · 04-19-2006, 05:25 PM

You'd think they would use real images instead of photoshops. I noticed that on a GM press release too.

sama · 04-19-2006, 06:46 PM

here's another spanner to throw in the works. I was trying to find an polarised window tint - so to speak

spaceskater · 04-19-2006, 07:48 PM

This company makes polarizers in the list the ones that say (white) should be clear the are mostly used in TFT monitors. BUT I can't find any source to but them... I only find gray ones like tinted. I ordered one sheet to play around and some Fresnel lenses for coliminators if needed.

Company that makes them:
http://www.nitto.com/product/datashe...003/index.html

From where I ordered the stuff:
http://www.3dlens.com/enter.html

shotgunefx · 04-19-2006, 10:28 PM

Just tried to do some more testing. I cannot get pics for the life of me.

With the long exposure required, the screen just photographs as a mostly white square.

A couple issues, I think you'll need a polarized filter to block your own headlights. Using regular plastic for the reflector, the display washed out almost totally.

If something is relatively close, the headlights drown out most of the view. If I used the 3m privacy filter 90 degrees perpendicular, it worked much better but the view through it gets fuzzy. If you use it the way it's intended, the display is great but the reflector is opaque

Genesisfactor · 04-19-2006, 10:45 PM

wait, how are you having a headlights problem? Are we still on a regular LCD or a nitemax thing? I'm slightly confused on that. I'll play catchup with you guys in a few days (though we're on teh verge of cracking this sucker). Why do we need to filter the headlights? The biggest problem that we saw (wihtout the film, which may be the diffference) was other headlights and pright houses. We drve right up to a car at one point and still saw everything. THen agian, we were in an xB...

Please de-confuse my fragile little head...

shotgunefx · 04-19-2006, 10:53 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Genesisfactor

wait, how are you having a headlights problem? Are we still on a regular LCD or a nitemax thing? I'm slightly confused on that. I'll play catchup with you guys in a few days (though we're on teh verge of cracking this sucker). Why do we need to filter the headlights? The biggest problem that we saw (wihtout the film, which may be the diffference) was other headlights and pright houses. We drve right up to a car at one point and still saw everything. THen agian, we were in an xB...

Please de-confuse my fragile little head...

I'm a lot further back and lower (I think). Basically if you are to close to something, the pic is washed out. See the poor quality attachment.

I think as has been though that we need some sort of polarizer to block out the light.

Genesisfactor · 04-19-2006, 11:52 PM

Interesting...and disconcerting...

alti · 04-20-2006, 12:09 AM

Well I finally have an update to report!

I am sorry I have not been as active a participant in the thread as of yet, but I have been catching up a bit trying to get my hardware working the way i want it to work, So I can get it in the car and start experimenting some more.

But enough of my rambling, the pics will do most of the talking...

Here is A shot of the base of the main HUD part of the setup. This will be recessed down in my dash and there is a black project box that will surround it with the piece of plexi or other window on top even with the dash. I am tiring to get it something like OEM in this regard.

Here are some pics of the camera enclosure i made, it still needs allot of work but it is functioning right now. I have used molex style connections for all of my wiring.

Here is a picture of what is currently not working the way that it should. The camera is on and working but the screen only has its backlight on. I am tiring to figure out what is wrong with it right now. I do not have any of the contrast, gain controls hooked up (that entire harness is not plugged into the lcd controller) and i am wondering if it is related or if i damaged something in the fabrication. All of the connections seem tight, but i have to spend more time looking into it. I also have a second screen and controller so i can replace it if i killed it.

Here is a shot of the connections I made for the main HUD end of the setup, I did a 6 pin connector for the 2 12v+ lines in, ground, and the v, ground and video lines to the camera.

Here is a shot of how long the line is to the camera, it should be long enough to get from my rear view mirror to in my dash. (It looks to be around 10 feet long)

Here is a pic of the rca connector

And here is a couple of shots showing how it has an adjustable angle for the HUD

Low

high

And last but not least here is what the captured image looks like in centrafuse

alti · 04-20-2006, 12:28 AM

ok, forgive me as i am playing catchup with what has been going in the last few days myself, I have had so little time and the time i have had I wanted to work on my hardware above

Shotgun, I am going to checkout that magnifier thing you mentioned as a possible lens substitute. I have pretty much decided that a larger image is a must for me, and perhapes it will save me some aggrivation flipping and reversing the image when i get to the step.

I have to say looking though all of the pictures that you guys have so awesomly provided that useing the thin sheet of plastic caught my eye, it really looks good.

shotgun when you are refering to filtering the headlights you are talking about prevention of washing out the HUD, right? not to filter for IR light for the camera????? I think that is what you ment i just wanted to make sure i got you right on that.

I am going through all of the links you guys left. and hopefully soon I can get this in the car and start testing there, where i can be more help to the conversation above

next steps for me:
1. figgure out whats wrong with my HUD screen !@!@??
2. Figgure out what i am going to use as a lens to enlarge the image. (I am planning on mounting it above the screen in the pics above)

shotgunefx · 04-20-2006, 02:50 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by alti

...
shotgun when you are refering to filtering the headlights you are talking about prevention of washing out the HUD, right? not to filter for IR light for the camera????? I think that is what you ment i just wanted to make sure i got you right on that.
...

Correct, so the headlights don't drown it out. I'm thinking of using polarized film for the hud reflector.

I'm probably going to wait until that HUD glass I ordered comes before going any further.

One problem I didn't think about regarding magnifying the image is that it's a magnifier on your dashboard. Have to think about that one.

quantum · 04-25-2006, 12:05 AM

Hi guys,

Real life just came up and bit me in the *** a few weeks ago...damn!

Well, I've caught up on this thread finally. You guys are right on the money with the polarized film. It is definitely the way to go. You will have a difficult time finding the water white polarizing films, as mentioned most will have a tint to them of some sort.

i will make a few calls and see if I can get something a litle more clear. I don't know either way, my gut says no, but I will try.

Hey, one thing that popped into my head a few weeks ago and just thought I'd mention...the mounting of the ccd/lens itself. You guys know I am using a grille enclosure, and I saw some were considering the inside route by mounting it to the mirror. However, if someone shorter/taller/better looking drives the car, the camera lens could be poiting at the sky when they adjust the mirror for themselves.

Best bet might be to find a way to affix it to the windshield with suction cups or something. Then again, that's only if someone else is driving your car. Just food for thought.

Shotgun, I'm going to order that glass too, I have an idea. Also, try putting a piece of that film over the front of the camer lens for the headlight glare issue. My guess is 2 things happen, the diffusion of light on the ocular surface contributes a little, and the huge amount of light is probabkly overloading the board. Film might help reduce some of the glare.

BTW alti, that mount looks hot. Mine will be similar, but fixed in place. Can you e-mail me a few close up shots?

Genesisfactor · 04-25-2006, 12:28 AM

QUANTUM RETURNS!

Not mounting ot teh mirror itself...the arm of the mirror is stationary, unless yoru car is a bit diff than mine

. Anyways, that's not happening til my second shipment is paid for and comes in (ie, when i get PAID +5 days).

Where are you getting the headlight glare, i'm not following that.

Does anyone know where i can get a 4-6" VGA lcd? Seriously, can't find one ANYWHERE. I mean, short of using the nitemax LCD soldered to vga, i'm not sure what i can do...

I was thinking of doing a dual display with the GPS and speedo on one screen and the basic carputer stuff on the other, but i need a scree small enough.

Shotgun, where are those magnifiers found?

quantum, i forget yourcontact info, but hit me up, what ahppened a few weeks ago? I thought it was a midterm/spring break thing that contributed to your disappearance...

shotgunefx · 04-25-2006, 12:31 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by quantum

Hi guys,

...
Hey, one thing that popped into my head a few weeks ago and just thought I'd mention...the mounting of the ccd/lens itself. You guys know I am using a grille enclosure, and I saw some were considering the inside route by mounting it to the mirror. However, if someone shorter/taller/better looking drives the car, the camera lens could be poiting at the sky when they adjust the mirror for themselves.
...
Shotgun, I'm going to order that glass too, I have an idea. Also, try putting a piece of that film over the front of the camer lens for the headlight glare issue. My guess is 2 things happen, the diffusion of light on the ocular surface contributes a little, and the huge amount of light is probabkly overloading the board. Film might help reduce some of the glare.
...

I'm not mounting mine to the mirror, but to the control box for it that's already on the windsheild. Basically it's already got a abs box mounted to the glass which has a wire that comes out to the mirror, the mirror is mounted to a tab next to it.

I dont' think the privacy film will do much. It's meant to pass light that's aimed within roughly 40 degrees of center.

I'll have to play with the features and see if I can't do something with the gain I think. Even led streetlights look like suns.

alti · 04-25-2006, 01:34 AM

mine is getting mounted to the large mount for the mirror on the windsheild as well. I does not move with the rest of the mirror.

send me your email address and I will send you over some hi-res pics of hte mount. I will also try to get the sony camera to shot some more pics with, my fugi has alot of trouble getting clear pics up close

shotgunefx · 04-25-2006, 04:42 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Genesisfactor

QUANTUM RETURNS!
...
Where are you getting the headlight glare, i'm not following that.

Does anyone know where i can get a 4-6" VGA lcd? Seriously, can't find one ANYWHERE. I mean, short of using the nitemax LCD soldered to vga, i'm not sure what i can do...

I was thinking of doing a dual display with the GPS and speedo on one screen and the basic carputer stuff on the other, but i need a scree small enough.

Shotgun, where are those magnifiers found?

If I'm near something while trying to display a HUD type image, the headlight shining off whatever is in front of me, drowns out the image.

For a 4-6" LCD, try the PSONE screens. 5" 640x480. There are some caveats. Some can take RGB, some can't. Here's a huge thread at bit-tech.net

For the maginfiers, just search ebay for "gameboy sp magnifier", about 300 of em.

Though Edmund Scientific sells fresnel lenses cheap, (and they have polariziers), but their sight seems to have just taken a dump.