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Control Omlympus C40 via USB

I want to control an Olympus C40 via USB but not via a computer. I can control the camera via the computer using the omlympus SDK. What I want to do is use a PIC controller to send the necessary command to the camera to take a picture. Nothing else is required. How can I find out what that command sequence is.
Is there any option via sofware to find out what the SDK is sending down the USB bus or should I just hook up an oscilloscope and record the signal and replicate.

Alternatively am I completely mad trying to do this

Johnnie
Thu, 26 Jul 2007 16:54:44 +0000

You could take a look at the USB specification. When you do, you will realize that USB has a complicated hand-shaking protocol.

Personally, I think if you have the skills to record and replicate the signal through a oscilloscope, that would be the much easier way to go . . . if you are going to control with a PIC controller.

I would only go with the full USB specification route if I was to interface with a computer.

Chieh Cheng
Thu, 26 Jul 2007 19:45:10 +0000

Thanks for the quick response. So is it as simple as duplication the one signal that is sent when the take picture command is sent or would there be set up strings before that to deal with.

Johnnie
Thu, 26 Jul 2007 20:59:30 +0000

Well, you have to duplicate the entire USB hand shake signal first. Then after establish the handshake, duplicate the camera trigger signal (as many time as you need). You should be able to see all the signals on the oscilloscope. USB only has four pins. Two are power and ground. So it should be easy to monitor and record.

Chieh Cheng
Thu, 26 Jul 2007 22:29:44 +0000

Having designed chips that use USB I can assure you that it will be VERY DIFFICULT to decode what is going on via a scope. This is a complex protocol involving many commands associated with whether the device is a slave or master. Of course in your case you want to make a master. I'm afraid when you are all said and done you will have reinvented a computer to do what you want.

The actual USB signals use an imbedded clock on the data lines and part of the USB operations are the extraction of clock from those signal lines for use by the logic on both ends. There's lots of complex things happening on those 2 wires. And if its USB2 simply loading it with a scope probe could cause the whole thing to stop working.

Sorry to be such a wet blanket about this.

I didn't even realize that I could actually use my computer to put my 740 thru its paces so I'm gonna have to keep on reading to see how I can go about doing that. Is there some freeware available to try?

best regards
Don

nospam.don
Fri, 27 Jul 2007 17:22:12 +0000

Thanks, Don. I'm glad someone with an expertise in USB chimed in.

I've added a few links to the TrackBacks below regarding how to control your Olympus camera remotely. There are probably more out there that I don't know about.

Chieh Cheng
Fri, 27 Jul 2007 17:55:19 +0000

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Title: Olympus digital camera control software
Weblog: Camera Hacker
Excerpt: Found some control softwares for the Olympus digital cameras: Cam2Com Olympus Camera Controller
Tracked: Fri, 27 Jul 2007 17:51:48 +0000

Title: Olympus Digital Camera SDK
Weblog: Camera Hacker
Excerpt: Olympus digital camera SDK is located at Olympus Developer web-site. The SDK is being sold by Olympus for $39.95. But for some reason, the ordering page is showing "NOT IN STOCK". FAQ
Tracked: Fri, 27 Jul 2007 17:53:43 +0000

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