ScanMaster1
Laser projector control board. Connects a laser projector to client computers through
ethernet, eliminating any analog connections between the signal source and the projector
plus eliminating the need for special hardware to be used with the signal source. The board
operates the first digital laser projector on earth! Besides replacing the analog wire with
data streaming across the network, the board can be operated with frames and do realtime
interpolation of curves and vectors.
The board emerged from an earlier PC-based implementation, built into a large projector
and operated across the network as well. Output was done with a simple AT-Bus D/A
converter board. It could be determined, that jitter and stability where acceptable up to an
output rate of 20.000 points per second only. Hardware buffering is needed. Either in the PC
or in the projector. The decision fell for the projector to be able to use laptop computers as
signal sources.
Features
Realtime interpolation of curves and vectors.
On the fly calculation of up to 35.000 points per second.
Interfaces to operate 2 scan systems simultaneously.
Analog outputs can be arranged to be used as an ILDA standard projector output.
10 MBit Ethernet, AUI interface
I2C System expansion bus (monitoring, remote controls, etc.).
RS232 console dialog interface for setup and configuration through terminal software.
2x16 Bit dual D/A for (X1, Y1) and (X2, Y2) commands.
2x8 Bit dual A/D for command/position error measurement.
1x8 Bit 16-channel D/A for color command output.
2x8 Bit dual A/D for power measurements etc.
Clean and stabilized power supplies for all analog circuits.
2x3 digital in, 2x3 digital out.
Hardware watchdog shuts down the outputs in case of failure.
2 LEDs for simple diagnostics.
PowerQUICC with 40 MHz system clock, 1 MByte SRAM, 256 KByte Flash ROM
Processing power of approx. 100 MIPS with 2 CPUs (PowerPC + CPM).
100x160mm form factor, 4 layer PCB, height: 20mm (4HP).
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