paradug

Check out this Instructable for how to tune the clock crystal. This step of the Instructible also includes a simple program so you watch the timing of your crystal on the scope. http://www.instructables.com/id/MSP430- ... -Capacita/

I was surfing the Instructible's microprocessor contest today and realized that there are no MSP430 projects in the running. With all the talent of the folks who are regulars on this forum, It seems a shame. I did a quick breakdown of the microprocessors the current entries use. The contest ends on Feb 13. AVR / Arduino - 26 PIC / PICAXE - 17 Cypress - 1 Motorola - 1 Parallax - 1 MSP430 - 0

This is really neat! Easy to build and useful. I can't wait to give it a go. Thanks for sharing.

I originally had the camera take pairs of pictures spaced by 5 seconds, but I decided that I preferred to have more "events" than sets of photos. It just a matter of preference. The code change is easy. I suspect it depends on how long you plan to leave the camera unintended, the target that you are trying to capture, and the purpose of your shots. For example if you want to know if there are deer going to your location you would be interested in events and you might want to increase the minimum time between shots. If you are looking for cute pictures (what I'm doing) you might want to do sets

Here is the schematic of the microcontroller board of the Motion Detection Wildlife Camera.

I have posted the code to the Motion Detection Wildlife Camera project to this topic. The range of the PIR sensor is about 15 to 20 feet for large movements. The code has a sensitivity adjustment that consists of requiring the signal from the PIR to be low for a period of time before the response is considered valid. I have it set at approximately 1/8 of a second. This stops little noise spikes and very slight movements. Since the camera's resolution is only 352 x 288 pixels you want your target to be within 3 to 6 feet to get good images of a squirrel sized object. At this range the P

Here is the code for the Motion Detection Wildlife Camera. /********************************************** Motion Detection Wildlife Camera PIR Activated Keychain Camera Copyright: Doug Paradis - 2010 All rights reserved This code may be used for private use, as long as, copyright notice retained. Acknowledgements: Some code based on TI App note SLAA335 authored by Mike Mitchell P1.3 (input - pin 5) --> PIR signal (low = motion) P1.4 (output - pin 6) --> Shutter switch P1.5 (output - pin 7) --> Mode switch compiled using IAR Embedded Workbench **********************************

You have to be careful about what type of feeder you are monitoring with birds or you will have lots of pictures of a feeder swinging in the wind. LOL

The project that I would like to submit to the November contest is a Motion Detection Wildlife Camera. It uses a re-purposed PIR sensor module from an air freshener to provide motion detection, an inexpensive key chain camera to capture images, and a TI msp430g2211 microprocessor from the Launchpad kit to provide the necessary brains. The project is described in depth at http://www.instructables.com/id/Cheap-Motion-Detection-Wildlife-Camera/ This link includes the code and schematic for the project. An overview of the schematic is shown below:

The project that I would like to submit to the November contest is a Motion Detection Wildlife Camera. It uses a re-purposed PIR sensor module from an air freshener to provide motion detection, an inexpensive key chain camera to capture images, and a TI msp430g2211 microprocessor from the Launchpad kit to provide the necessary brains. The project is described in depth at http://www.instructables.com/id/Cheap-Motion-Detection-Wildlife-Camera/ This link includes the code and schematic for the project. An overview of the schematic is shown below:

You might find this instructable step informative with regards to the 32k crystal. http://www.instructables.com/id/MSP430-Based-Chronulator-using-Launchpad-chip/step11/Determining-the-32768-kHz-Crystals-load-Capacita/ It explains why the crystal's load capacitance needs to be right. It also gives a way that you can check if you have a freq. meter.

I know you have already have the Parallax PIR module, so this might not be of interest for your current project, but you might want to look at this instructable for future PIR projects. http://www.instructables.com/id/Re-purposing-an-Air-Wick-Freshmatic-Compact-i-Moti

The MSP430 clock project instructable below generates 2 independent pwm signals from a MSP430G2211 (Launchpad part). http://www.instructables.com/id/MSP430-Based-Chronulator-using-Launchpad-chip The code could be used to drive DC motors with the correct transistor drivers.