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From: deanr@sco.COM (Dean Reece)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Batty monitors and cheap video
Message-ID: <3396@scolex.sco.COM>
Date: 6 Oct 89 04:21:37 GMT
References: <1989Sep28.122217.26867@watcsc.waterloo.edu> <57732@psuecl.bitnet> <3254@mit-caf.MIT.EDU>
Reply-To: deanr@sco.COM (Dean Reece)
Distribution: sci.electronics
Organization: The Santa Cruz Operation, Inc.
Lines: 37

In article <3254@mit-caf.MIT.EDU> fritz@mit-caf.UUCP (Frederick Herrmann) writes:
>In article <57732@psuecl.bitnet> peg@psuecl.bitnet writes:
>>>First of all, take a 4kX1 bit DRAM and somehow expose the silicon. \
>>>To use the thing as a camera, just charge up the thing to all 1's, \
>>>wait for a bit, and then check which bits are discharged ...
>>
>>Well, this actually works, in a manner of speaking.  The devices are called
>>CCD's, charged coupled devices, and are used for picture tubes in most
>
>Let's be careful with terminology here.  You don't need CCDs to build
>an IC imager, as the `RAMera' demonstrates.  A CCD is a kind of ...

Well, theres been plenty of talk about the RAMera idea, but no references, so
here goes:
----------------------------------------------------
Microprocessor Based Robotics -by- Mark J. Robillard
ISBN=0-672-22050-4   LCN=83-60160   (Copyright 1983)
----------------------------------------------------
The book _Microprocessor_Based_Robotics_ has a chapter called "Vision Systems"
which gives a good discussion about building a RAMera (though not by that name)
It is NOT a step by step building guide, but an idea and tutorial book, so
there is still plenty-o-engineering to do.

The discussion explains how to remove the metal lid and replace it with a
clear cover (Microscope slide covers work well, and they are of optical quality
too!).  The electronics and timing are almost completely absent from the
discussion, but it is a start.

The book uses 16k dynamic RAM in the CerDIP (Ceramic DIP package) and pops the
top off by heating it with a soldering iron.  I am working on building such a
beastie, but I don't want to post just yet (until it works).  Oh, you could use
64k or 256 k DRAMS, except that they are hard to find in the CerDIP package.

 ______________________________________________________________________
| Dean Reece     Member Technical Staff |"The flames are all long gone |
| The Santa Cruz Operation 408/458-1422 | but the pain lingers on"     |
|___________deanr@sco.com_______________|___________________Pink_Floyd_|