MSCcam Design

From Merlin Systems Wiki

The MSCcam is an enhanced development of the 'AVRcam', an open-source video camera design.

The MSCcam adds certain modifications and enhancements -

Camera processor upgraded from a Mega8 to a Mega64
Separate ‘boot’ processor upgraded from a Tiny12 (?) to a Mega8.
Mega8 ‘boot controller’ also provides I2C link for integration into Miabot-Pro robot.
Added ability to fit a Bluetooth wireless link.

( A future enhancement should enable 8-bit video capture and processing - presently only 4-bits, as in original AVRcam )

Future enhancements to the AVRcam can potentially be employed in the MSCcam, but code will require porting from one to the other, of course.

In accordance with the 'GPL' free software licence, the MSCcam main processor code is open-source (see below).

See GNU for details of the free software movement and the GPL licencing strategy.

Note: the MSCcam hardware design and 'boot processor' code are original designs specific to the Merlin product, and not freely available to developers. This should not seriously affect developers who want to build on the MSCcam design as -apart from the I2C link capability- all changes from the AVRcam design are trivial. Relevant details can be released to independent developers under a commercial 'non-disclosure agreement'.