building webcam into notebook

L

laser21

n00b
Joined
Feb 25, 2007
Messages
11
Hi,

Im looking for a tiny webcam that could be build into the lid of a notebook. Maybe ordering a part from another NB, which then I could(hopefully) attach to USB?

Im in the phase of research for this...so any ideas are welcome!

thanks
 
As densely packed as all the parts in a typical notebook are I really doubt you'll have any free space to install it in.
 
I already packed a 4USB hub a gps module and a 2,4ghz mouse reciever inside...so let space be my concern...the problem is the lid...

I havent found a webcam that is so thin. Like in other notebooks, it has to be possible. I just dont know how it is connected to the motherboard. If per USB or in another way.
 
I would like to see pictures of the modifications you have already made to your laptop. It sounds interesting what you have added so far.

Have you been keeping an eye out on ebay for a dead laptop that has one of the new integrated cameras on it? That might be your best solution for getting a camera that small that would be usb or how ever it is attached.
 
sony and toshiba are 2 of the main laptops that come in at work with onboard cams. how ever if i remember sony has been doin it much longer
 
Yeah, I would like to see them also, but don't want to join another forum...can you post then here?
 
Some time ago the notebook survived really a lot. My dad sat down on it, while it was opened, so he just sat down on the screen...uff. It was bend "a bit" I thought - thats not a warranty issue , so went ahead and disassembled the screen, heated it up a bit with a hairdryer, and bend the magnesium case into the right position. The screen feels like a sponge, I bend it back, too. It works perfectly, and looks quiet like new again.
Btw, the screen is just lying inside, no screws or anything, but maybe thats the reason why nothing happened to it.

A month ago I made some modifications inside, because I hated having the USB dongle of my Logitech V500 mouse looking out of the USB port all the time. It gets also uncomfortable in some holding positions.
So I integrated it inside. As U can see on the pictures, it was a lot of adjusting work, because now it works perfect, U can pull it out by ejecting the plastic part, that fills out the empty pci express slot. So when I need it, I just eject the dongle and put the express card in it. The mouse was not originally black and glossy, I used a lot of car spray and lacquer. So now it looks like it belonged originally to the notebook. Before, it looked like that: http://isklep.net/images/mysz/mysz_PERLOGMYS0024.jpeg

http://picozilla.com/en/135882/cimg8345_resize.jpeg
that was how it looked before
http://picozilla.com/en/135883/cimg9004_resize.jpeg
when all was done
http://picozilla.com/en/135884/cimg9008_resize.jpeg
a close-up
http://picozilla.com/en/135885/cimg9009_resize.jpeg
how the dongle is on the way out
http://picozilla.com/en/135886/cimg9584.jpeg
sorry for all the fingerprints - was too lazy to clean it :p
 
I just ordered a Intel4965abgn mini pcie card plus an extra antenna, so some modifications are coming up! :) I will post here, when Im done.
 
Hi

Basically I had an integrated usb mouse reciever. The problem was, that it occupied my usb port all the time. the fujitsu Q2010 has only 2 ports, so I had only 1. I bought the smallest USB hub I could find, opened it and integrated into the laptop.

Also I recently bought a intel 4965AGN adapter, plus an extra antenna - it needs 3 antennas to work on full speed and range.


This image is just to give you an idea of the workspace.

since the antenna was 40cm long, and I needed just a few cm, I had to bend her. With my skills in soldering, I wouldn't be able to make it shorter

the usb hub



After I desoldered everything



I cut all the 4 wires, that I can solder on the outgoing and ingoing cables.
The ones left on the boar will go to the usb hub, then from one port on the usb hub, the wires will come back to the top pins.

all connected

now, here you can see the progress. I put the part from the previous picture back into the case, attached the cables to the usb hub - input was a micro usb port...so soldering was funny - you can zoom in to see how "big" it is. :) :cool:
The red cable is the 5V, to which I will attach a switch later on, so I can turn off the USB hub whenever I dont need it. On battery it is draining quiet a lot.

I attached the mouse reciever - made the wire shorter - look at previous picture to compare.


So that is the reason, why I left my red 5V wire so long. I had to make a hole in the led panel...I noted in a previous pic, that there is not a hole (yet) The left hole of the switch is even perfectly aligned with the hole for the screw. (luck) :cool:

It all starts to look ready

Had to make a hole in the next layer

final product.
the switch and hub work like a charm, I have now 2 usb ports, the mouse reciever and two ports left!!! the webcam is in the mail, cant wait to integrate that! :D

Thanks for reading ;)
 
Im back with more pics. I have to warn you, its not final...but it works.

I got a genius slim 310nb webcam, http://www.geniusnet.com/geniusOnli...02&_pageLabel=productPage&test=portlet-action which I disassembled, modified a bit - removing the USB connector and tried to fit in the ultra slim lid of the Q2010.

First I tried with a panasonic camera, but it was simply too big. I had to remove a bit of the magnesium lid, but luckily, its covered by a plastic lid on that spot. Still, it sticks out a bit.


View of the opened original lid


camera...


plain magnesium lid, screen is bottom up


If you compare this to the original lid, you can see how much grinding it was, until I got this kind of fit


cables attached, PCB glued on




Im absolutely not satisfied with my result, so Im gonna finish it later...filling the gap with some material, grinding it, probably spray a black square afterwards. - will post then


the red line is just to illustrate how the cable is lead, its already connected to the usb hub.


Thats a really important finger reader!!!


because the camera sticks out, I had to place it directly above the fingerprint reader...


Just a side view.

It all works well, also I can turn it hardware-off, so no hacking into my living room!! :-D
 
Thanks! Im sure people do stuff like this, but I haven't found any yet :-( Any place where those guys meet?
 
Wow that is a pretty cool mod I must have to say that I am quite impressed. Good job man and keep up th good work!
 
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