SlideScan

Note: There is a new version of the slide scanner using a M5Stack Fire for more info visit Filmolino SlideScanner

Filmolino SlideScan is a device that makes it easy to scan slides in magazines fully automatic using a modified slide projector and a digital camera. It controls the slide projector and a digital camera using a cable release or an infrared remote control (Nikon, Canon, Pentax, Sony, Olympus, Minolta). It is powered directly from the slide projector or over a mini USB connector. New cable releases and IR controls can easy be added to the software.

Thanks to the M5StampC3 from M5Stack using a ESP32-C3 RISC-V microcontroller from Espressif it is also possible to control the SlideScan through a web interface over WiFi. The scanner has it's own access point to which you can connect.

Everything of the SlideScan is open source, so you can easy build your own!

Guide

Camera connection

You can connect your digital camera using a cable connection or infrared remote control. To control your camera using the cable release you need a shutter release cable for your camera with a 2.5 mm jack connector on the other end. You can find the right cable for your camera searching the web for JJC Remote Control Shutter Release Cable. They are not expensive you should get one for about 10 EUR.

DIN cable connection to pcb

Connect the male 6 pin DIN connector as follows to the PCB J2:

| Pin DIN | Pin PCB |Function | | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | 4 | Reverse slide transport | | 2 | 3 | Forward slide transport | | 3 | 2 | Positive DC voltage | | 4 | x | Not used | | 5 | x | Not used | | 6 | 1 | Negative DC voltage (only needed if you want to power SlideScan from the projector) |

Slide projector connection

Important: Use the Tape/remote control socket and not the lap dissolve socket. Connect the 6 pin DIN connector of the Filmolino SlideScan to the remote control socket of your slide projector. SlideScan can be powered from the slide projector or you can power it over the Mini USB connector.

To power it from the projector the following components R2, C4, U1, C3, D2 need to be assembled on the pcb. If you power SlideScan over USB you don't need this components.

To not damage your SlideScan or slide projector check the pin map below first! | 6 pin DIN connector | Function | | --- | --- | | 1 | Reverse slide transport | | 2 | Forward slide transport | | 3 | Positive DC voltage max. 42 VDC! (This voltage is usually about 30...35 VDC on most slide projectors) | | 4 | Focus motor | | 5 | Not used | | 6 | Negative DC voltage |

USB power

If you don't want to power your SlideScan from the slide projector connect an USB charger to the mini USB connector of the SlideScan.

Turn on

Now you are ready to turn SlideScan on. To do so turn on the slide projector and if needed the USB charger. After turning on the green LED should light up and the red one slowly blinking (because there is no WiFi connection yet).

WiFi Connection

SlideScan starts its own WiFi access point:

Default WiFi credentials | ID | value | | --- | --- | | SSID | scanner | | Password | filmolino | | IP | 192.168.4.1 |

To see the web user interface do the following:

1. Connect your PC/Tablet/... to the SlideScan network with the SSID scanner using the password filmolino
2. In your webbrowser enter the address: 192.168.4.1
3. Now you should see the web interface of the scanner

Configuration

To see the configuration menu click on Config.

Access Point

Here you can change the SSID and the password.

WiFi Network

Not implemented yet.

Scanning

Here you can config the SlideScan.

Slide Change Time

This is the time the slide projector needs to change the slide. Unit is milliseconds (1 second = 1000 milliseconds)

Slide Change Pulse Time

Duration of the pulse for the slide transport. During this time the slide transport contacts are closed. Unit is milliseconds (1 second = 1000 milliseconds)

Scan Time

This is the time the digital camera needs to capture (scan) the slide Unit is milliseconds (1 second = 1000 milliseconds)

Slides to scan

Number of slides in the magazine.

Selected cable release

Can be OFF or the cable release you want to use.

Selected Infrared Release Code

Can be OFF or the brand name of your digital camera.

Buttons

| Button | Function | | --- | --- | | Save | Saves the changes | | Delete Config | Deletes the actual configuration, you need to click the Restart System button after that | | Restart System | Restarts the scanner |

Standalone operation

The device is controlled with only two buttons. The functions are as follows:

| Button | Short press | Long press | | --- | --- | --- | | Left | Forward slide transport | Backward slide transport | | Right | Trigger camera (if auto an auto scan is active, stop it) | Start auto scan |

The actual state is indicated by a bi-color LED: | State | LED green | LED red | | --- | --- | --- | | Running and no WiFi connection | ON | BLINK slowly | | Running with WiFi connection | ON | OFF | | Auto scan active | BLINK | OFF | | Error | OFF | ON |

Auto Scan

When starting an Auto Scan the scan is always starts with image 1 and then the number of images is scanned. If the image counter is higher it will be reset to 1 before start.

WiFi operation

Connect to the WiFi and open the address 192.168.4.1 in your webbrowser as described above. The SlideScan is connected as long as you see the green connected sign in the top left corner.

This view shows the current slide counter and the slides in the magazine (0/50). You can start an auto scan or manually scan slides using the five buttons below. If you want to change the current configuration click Config in the top right corner.

Buttons | Button 1 | Button 2 | Button 3 | Button 4 | Button 5 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Start Auto Scan | Forward | Backward | Capture (Scan) | Reset current slide |

To change to number of slides in the current magazine you can click on the current slide counter or go to the config menu.

Hardware

You can find the KiCAD project with complete schematic and pcb design in the hardware folder. The double sided pcb can be easily soldered by hand. It uses just a few SMD components in not too small cases (0805). The components are easily available from the usual distributors.

Software

Project

The software is build with ESP-IDF using platform.io and Visual Studio Code.

Documentation

The documentation with images can be found in the docs folder.

To do

• slidescan.local address not working yet. So you have to point your browser to the default IP 192.168.4.1
• Station mode (to connect to a WiFi network) not working yet
• Tested with Nikon and Pentax cameras