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There are some minor mods required, and there are 3 issues, 2 that I’ll need help with:-

1. first wiring it correctly to the motion eyes usb connector so it takes the place of it. think this will be fairly easy to solve.

2. finding out how if it’s possible to flip the image when camera is rotated. lost on this but someone with much better understanding of electronic circuits might be able to help here.

3. will need to modify original cameras focus unit to make the focusing function work when new camera is in motion eye case.. pretty simple but need to study the best way to do it.

Anyway images show the new camera working via the USB on my tr1mp & 640 x 480 fully housed in the Vaio’s motion eye housing a shot of the new cameras casing and some images of the new camera pcb / components.

more details later and hopefully might be able to do some work on my other Tr projects soon.. RL been in the way recently…...

http://www.ebay.co.uk type item number 5865179758 into search

Well this camera looks like a fixed focus setup so I think you can scratch #3.

No it’s focusable, (is that a word), the knurled part of the lens screws in and out as said I’m pretty sure this will be easy just need to look into the best / simplest way to fix the motion eye adjuster to it. new cameras image quality seems much better than motion eye too.

Was trying to get the pin out of the motion eye USB with a continuity meter just now, probably have to do it tomorrow in daylight eyes not what they used to be and it’s all so tiny…

BladeRunner, as always man, this is another great find from you! I really hope this will work because finding the Sony webcam that is meant to be attached to the outside of a laptop is getting hard to find. Keep up the great work!

Wow… so you managed to fit it into the motion eye housing??? It fits??? That would be great!

Well… let me help you with some little brainstorming

#1 - easy job - 4 wires only - usb+, usb-, data+ and data-

#2 - tough one - as you already know the motion eye uses a little switch (mounted on top of the right hinge or whatever you call it) to determine the rotation. This switch is connected to the motion eye pcb. I guess that it wouldnt work without the original pcb and its driver.

So you would need to integrate that little switch onto the new pcb somehow and write a driver that knows to deal with it and mirror the whole picture. I think this is very elaborate and difficult.

Wouldnt it be easier to attempt such an install with a webcam that does have the rotating function onboard? You wouldnt have the hardware and software problem to solve.

#3 - Have you tried to rip off the optical device and put the motion eye one onto the ccd? Would it work? Would the whole thing still fit into the motion eye housing?

Can you further tell us what kind of webcam you used for that “transplantation”? Keep posting!

I was searching on ebay and found a couple of webcams that can be rotated just like the motion eyes. Anyone having experience with that one?

http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=018&sspagename=STRK:MEWA:IT&viewitem;=&item=280138484228&rd=1&rd=1

The seller claims that you can rotate it verticaly but the item description doesnt say if the camera/driver/whatever would automaticaly mirror the picture when rotation is higher than 90 degrees (like our motion eyes do).

Ive sent him an email to ask for it but havent received a reply yet. So Im posting here hoping that some you have got experiences with it. CU

BTW: You should add problem #4: How do I make webcam button work. Maybe editing registry to make button load an application other than the sony software would work.

The camera fits perfectly into the motion eye housing, one of the holes in the pcb lines up perfectly too. It could do with one component being relocated not done yet so it’s a bit tight but this would be easy. Some minor cutting away of internal plastic in the motion eye housing is required. the images show the camera being used in the motion eye housing with it pointing at the Tr1mp connected via the Tr1mp’s usb socket. Screwdriver just used for support to stop it falling over. the close up of the motion eye unit on it’s own is with new camera complete inside.

Connecting the USB should be easy it’s just working out which wires / pins are which. There are 5 wires from the motion eye plug I’m guessing the extra one is the capture output / input that’s routed to the capture button but the wiring doesn’t check out. will try it connected to a dead mobo to see if it runs via the mobo connector. The new camera has a capture button so I think if the contacts for this were routed to the motion eyes capture button it would work the same using the new cameras software.

The new software shows the motion eye in it’s device list too, but it doesn’t work being dead as usual, (black death). The new camera is shown in the my computer window as another USB camera just like motion eye, software places an icon on the desktop also. It works at up to 640 x 480, has better image quality although seems a tad slower in response..

As for flipping the image this may never be possible, but in reality how important is it? it’s a cool feature to show off but how often is it used. I don’t suppose swapping data + with data - would work… in reality it’s probably a simply swap over of output from the ccd but knowing which output is the key.

The beauty of this camera is it fits in the motion eye housing and is reasonably inexpensive. I’ve tried another but it was physically to big. how long it will last is another factor altogether, but if you simply want the camera working again for web use this looks like the best option…

See my original post for details of the camera used, at bottom under the images, your link isn’t working post it like mine with ebay site / item number

Hi… sorry for the bad link. Anyway the seller replied to my email and told, that there is no hardware switch for flipping the picture :( Seems like only the Vaio webcams have that what would make it very expensive. So your way really seems to be best!

However. I spend some time reading articles on a german electronic forum. In fact some CCD cameras have got the ability to flip the picture. For instance there was one guy who installed a CCD camera on his rear bumper. He asked for help on that forum and some guy instructed him to short something on the pcb with a resistor. Et voila… the picture was mirrored vertically.
So maybe there is a way to make it possible with your webcam somehow

Im trying to reach that guy right now. Maybe he can help.

Has anyone ever tried to do that “transplatation” with the creative live!cam notebook pro?
That one cost arround 25-30 Euros over here. I saw people sell it for like 15-20 USD on Ebay US. However. It looks pretty small, it flips the picture automatically.

Still I dont know how big the electronic devices inside is. I also dont how ceative makes the cam flip the picture…

Anyone opened it yet? I realy consider buying this one!

Will try one of them, it’s more expensive in the uk but what isn’t in rip off Britain. anyway I’ve pinned out the motion eye plug. Damn thing is so tiny it has 5 wires, oddly the capture switch isn’t connected to any of the 5 pins. they are:-

pin 1 = ground
pin 2 = ground
pin 3 = +6.4 mv
pin 4 = +3v
pin 5 = +5v

tested with moton eye on and working all be it no image (this one has fuzzy line death) I take in then pin 5 is USB power, pin 3 is data - and pin 4 is data + ( note pin 3 registers milli volts)

on the new cam the pcb is marked where the four USB wires are soldered.

5v, DP, DM, GRD

I cut the plug off the old cam board and will attempt to solder on new cam wiring tomorrow.

When I grow up, I want to be like you BladeRunner! Damn I wish I was knowledgeable like you! Keep up the great work!

OK. Ive just ordered the Creative Notebook Pro. It should arrive here next week. I hope that I can transplant it into my Webcam housing. If it doesnt work out then I will just clip it onto my Desktop TFT. Wish me luck!

Definitely let us know how it goes, pictures and all!

Bladerunner,

Did you ever get this mod transplanted with the existing motion eye wiring?  I am looking for a cheap replacement as well.  Also, have you seen any more of these aftermarket cams on eBay?  Thanks

I can confirm these cameras can be transplanted in place of the original short-lived motion eye.  I was able to get a few of the cameras bladerunner got but the newer 1.3megapixel type (black housing).  I soldered the existing motion eye wires (had to cut off the white harness) to the new cameras pcb.  I will attempt to make a plug in solution with my wife’s TR using the plug from the motion eye’s pcb. 

A few things:

-I clipped one side of the new camera’s pcb (where the capture button is located) to make it fit better.  I can live without a capture button.

-As bladerunner states, you will have to cut some of the extra plastic inside the motion eye housing, not a big deal at all.

-This camera does have a focus lense that can be adjusted by twisting, so I just removed the original focus ring from the original motion eye housing.  To focus (which will not be often), I just have to stick a flat object into the slot where the old focus ring was and adjust accordingly. 

-The new camera’s pcb (1.3megapixel) is a little different from bladerunner’s picture.  The contacts are now on the left side of the pcb instead of the center near the lense as bladerunner’s picture shows.  having it all the way to the left makes it MUCH easier to solder the existing wires.

-You can still flip the camera over but of course the picture will be upside down.  Fortunately it comes with good software that lets you flip/and mirror the image to make it look right again.  Not automatic, but at least there is still an option.

-This camera still works with the original network capture software by sony.

If I am successful in making a plug in verion on my wife’s TR, I will try to post some pictures.

Thank you bladerunner for the great idea, it’s great to have a working webcam again!