Key Takeaways
- Craft a custom polarizing filter for your iPhone using an iRobota Pro Mini, an iPhone, a welder’s mask screen, and a phototransistor, enhancing your mobile photography capabilities.
- Synchronize the polarizer with the iPhone’s camera through clever LED pulse techniques, allowing for precise control over the polarizer’s behavior.
- Unlock the artistic potential of polarized photography, capturing captivating images with enhanced colors, reduced glare, and revealed hidden details, transforming ordinary scenes into masterpieces.
In a world where every moment is worth capturing, our smartphones have become our constant companions, allowing us to freeze time and share our experiences with the world. But what if we could take our mobile photography to the next level, adding an artistic touch that sets our images apart?
Polarizing the Possibilities
Enter the realm of polarized photography, where you can transform ordinary scenes into captivating masterpieces. By harnessing the power of a polarizer, you can control the direction of light, reducing glare, enhancing colors, and revealing hidden details that often go unnoticed by the naked eye.
Crafting Your Polarizing Setup
To embark on this photographic adventure, you’ll need a few key components: an iRobota Pro Mini, an iPhone, a screen from an auto-darkening welder’s mask, and a phototransistor. Connect the phototransistor to the iPhone’s flashlight LED, ensuring it faces the LED directly. Utilize an external interrupt pin and an analog pin for communication between the phototransistor and the iRobota.
Synchronizing the Polarizer
To achieve perfect synchronization between the polarizer and the iPhone’s camera, we’ll employ a clever technique. Short LED pulses trigger interrupts in the iRobota code, serving as synchronization signals. Longer LED pulses activate a calibration mode within the iRobota, fine-tuning the polarizer’s behavior.
Fine-tuning the Polarizer
To ensure precise control over the polarizer, we’ll divide the time interval between synchronization pulses into three equal parts. When a synchronization pulse is received, the voltage is set to 0V, 45 degrees voltage, and 5V for each part, respectively. This voltage is then supplied to the polarizer via the iRobota’s PWM output pin.
PWM Frequency and Filtering
To achieve stable output from the polarizer, we’ll increase the PWM frequency to 32 kHz. Additionally, a second-order RC filter will be employed to smooth out any fluctuations in the voltage.
Protecting the LCD Screen
To safeguard the LCD screen from potential damage caused by constant DC voltage, we’ll introduce a CMOS switch that alternates polarity. This switching action is driven by a 2 kHz square wave generated from the iRobota’s timer.
The iPhone App: Your Creative Companion
To complete our polarizing photography setup, we’ll create an iPhone app using Swift. This app will not only provide a user-friendly interface but also handle image processing, allowing you to adjust various parameters and apply creative effects to your photos.
Bonus: Embark on a photographic journey, capturing the world through a polarized lens. Discover hidden details in landscapes, enhance the beauty of sunsets, and transform ordinary scenes into captivating works of art. Let your creativity shine as you explore the world of polarized photography, capturing moments that tell stories and leave a lasting impression.
With this DIY polarizing filter, you’ll elevate your mobile photography skills, turning your iPhone into a powerful creative tool. Embrace the art of polarized photography and let your images speak volumes, captivating your audience with their depth, vibrancy, and artistic flair.
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