VFX-1 Link Box Project
This is my next project. I'm going to interface the VFX1 tracking information to a microcontroller in an attempt to eliminate the VIP card. DMendes has cracked the video part of the equation. His web page can be viewed in his Portuguese version at this site . Use altavista's babelfish to translate. I may attempt to improve the video portion with some types of controls like contrast and brightness, but my main concern will be the tracking.
The VFX-1 uses an Access.bus protocol which is an I2C at hardware level. Atmel makes several microcontrollers that have a I2C compatible port. With an I2C Bus Analyzer this should be a fairly simple task. The major question is whether raw tracking data is enough or should it emulate some sort of device like a mouse. I think for the type of person who uses the VFX-1 (the gamer) a mouse emulation solution is the key. So intially I will be accessing the VFX-1 with a Atmel Atmega163L microcontroller to obtain raw data. Then I will be modifing the code to emulate a mouse. This way with DMendes's video information, the VFX-1 can be converted into a plug and play system for use on any PC machine.
I'm in the process of researching different avenues and obtaining the equipment needed to get this project started. Keep checking back for updates.
I have the microcontroller emulating a mouse. Windows detects the system and it operates like a standard 2 button mouse. Now I'm waiting to get my I2C Bus analyzer but funds are low around this time of year. Hopefully right after the holidays I can get to the real work. Stay tuned.
