[Robotgroup] Hauntlites- Review, thoughts, Lessons learned, and improvements...

[Vern Graner]

Def Egge wrote:
> Enlarge the hold in the cardboard LED retainer?  We originally thought that
> the extreme sensitivity was a liability.

Yup. Our perceptions had a direct run-in with reality yesterday. Now we
know that more sensitive to IR = better. ;)

> Sandpaper might be less effective than, say, acetone.  I have some here if
> we need it.  The LEDs could be roughened without unsoldering...no risk of
> damaged leads as per sandpaper.

Would good ol'e nail-polish remover do that? If so, my wife has that
stuff somewhere... :)

> Black electrical tape ... even fixes that pesky GET ENGINE SERVICED SOON
> light on the dashboard!

This was discussed as well, but the mounting for the visible red LED is
physically next to the water-clear case of the IR emitter and makes the
red light visible from the front of the remote, not the top that the
tape would fix. By clipping the led we 1) make sure no visible light is
emitted and 2) possibly increase the amount of IR light and 3) possibly
reduce current usage thereby increasing battery life.. :)

> See first note at top of this reply.  The reflector could be dimmed a bit
> with paint?  Chemically-diffused?

I'm sorta thinking that the reflector didn't really come into play much
in the current design as the radiation pattern of the LED in its case is
somewhat cardioid with a fairly large amount of the light energy
pre-focused. the reflector in the flashlight was designed with a
mostly-omni directional light source (i.e. incandescent bulb) in mind.
I'm thinking if we diffuse the LED body, more light will be emitted in a
horizontal plane and the reflector would come into play more at that
point.. Dont know if thats good or bad, but it should make it operate
more "flashlight like" at least in the way the beam looks...?

> Eric, Ed, and I were discussing ideas out in the parking lot.
> Unfortunately, all that came to mind was a Lemmiwinks tunnel.  ;-)
> 
> "Lemmiwinks, you must find your way out of this place, or you will surely
> die.  This way has been closed off by the great sphinctor.  To escape, you
> must journey up to the dark riches of the intestine and pass the stomach!
> Who am I? Just a friend.  Heed my words, Lemmiwinks.  Your time is running
> out.  Make for the large intestine.  Start straight ahead."

Dam! that would have been a better name than Hauntlites... "The
Lemiwinks Light System" !! :)

Vern

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