Thinkpads Forum

Hi,
I have been working on a webcam mod for my x61 recently, so would like to share with the results so far.

As you know there is no much space inside the x61 screen to place a webcam. So for me there are two options:

1. a tiny webcam module from another model to be small enough to fit into the space for bluetooth module, below the screen. As an alternative an endoscope module can be considered, as they are generally smaller than average webcam. The only concern would be the focal distance of such cameras.

2. to find a module which has a tiny lens attached to its board through a ribbon cable. Such camera can be added to the top of the bezel and be wired down either to bluetooth section or down to the mainboard where its board can be positioned. Here are few examples:






For now I have been playing with webcam and endoscope modules. I tried one very tiny endoscope module



the link

but, unfortunately couldn't make it work. I don't know why it didn't work, but the poor support from the seller didn't help me either.

I will return to endoscope modules later. Have ordered several different modules to play with. They haven't arrived yet though.
So for now I am focusing on webcam modules from different laptops.
The main problem here is the size. I couldn't find a module to be small enough, so I started to look for a one that can be trimmed to a smaller size. The one I found is the T410/510 camera. Its edges do not contain major circuit components, there might be few contact lines which can be replaced with soldering.
here is the one I used.

The module is not a common 5v. It is using 3.3v. At first I was planning to wire it down to the motherboard and connect it to a usb via an LM3940 voltage regulator. Another option was connecting it to the bluetooth connector on the lcd cable. Luckyly the bluetooth module uses 3.3v as well. With the help of flyingfishfinger who made a pinout of the bluetooth connector I made a connector for it. The connector used here (the one on the bluetooth module) is the HIROSE DF12(3.0)-14DS-0.5V(86). Can be ordered from mouser.ch. The connector is really tiny. Soldering is a real pain (at least with my skills), but after an hour of soldering under a microscope I managed to do it.

the pinout of the connector on the cable

the HIROSE DF12(3.0)-14DS-0.5V(86) connector
the USB pinout of the webcam
The connector soldered 2 3
camera vs space
connector soldered for trial
a selphie

Thus, the camera is working! Now I need to trim it a bit to fit into the space. The connector will be attached to the board at the back (same way as the BT module)

will update the thread according to the progress.

Cheers,
VA

Amazing how you keep upgrading this already "middle-aged" laptop!

RealBlackStuff wrote:Amazing how you keep upgrading this already "middle-aged" laptop!

that's the whole fun, upgrading a newer machine is not that challanging
I have few newer machines (X1 Carbon, W510) and used to have several 12 inch X. None of them gives the same feeling of ergonomy and compactness as the x61.

besides, my main X61 with t9300, 8GB ram, SSD, LED SXGA+, touchpad and modified battery has everything a newer model can offer for a daily work (and even development). The only missing feature I'd love to have is the camera, and that's just a matter of time

Sweet, glad the pinout was right. It looks like it'll fit just fine if we trim the connector off. I'd better order one...

R

vavet wrote: 2. to find a module which has a tiny lens attached to its board through a ribbon cable. Such camera can be added to the top of the bazel and be wired down either to bluetooth section or down to the mainboard where its board can be positioned. Here are few examples:

The first photo - what is it (partnumber, manufacturer)? I think it is very tiny webcam to start with. I dont want webcam now but who kows;)

PS
+1. X61 is compact and well designed thing. All followers (X2xx, or more commonly - post T60 era) with big framed screens are not as elegant as X61.

Done!
http://i.imgur.com/Brd7C0n.jpg

Details soon!!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ok, so here are the details of recent "progress"

The trimming
I decided to make a hole on the right side to fix it same way as the bluetooth module is . This allowed to reduce the trimming area.
pictures
http://i.imgur.com/cAs5Aqf.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/pFc0aIv.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/gecc6vo.jpg
its not visible on the pics, but there is a circuit line going around the hole so have to be carefull not to cut it.

here how it seats between the back and bezel
http://i.imgur.com/UvUovNM.jpg

According to first measurements done on an stock xga screen there was no need for vertical trimming, but sxga screen seats a bit lower so I had to shave the top of the camera a bit. Luckily the components on the board were not that close to the edges.

Connector
I chose to attached the connector to the back, but then I regretted. It's better to keep it separate give the camera a little play when fitting it inside.

pictures
http://i.imgur.com/YhHKtIu.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/rUfXo3q.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/EpHrIgw.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/ydUISoe.jpg

installation
The installation went smooth. I drilled a hole on the bezel in front of the lens. Camera sit well, no visible borders from the hole.

pictures
http://i.imgur.com/aCVFszq.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Brd7C0n.jpg

outter view
Its obviously a good idea to cover the camera with transparent layer to keep it clean. The module came with such cover but it was for T410 and was shorter than the area on x61 bezel. so I decided to make another one to sit exactly in the place where the original "X61 lenovo" label was.
I took a piece of transparent plastic sheet and a piece of usual black tape. Attached the tape on the plastic. Cut a hole with a tool for making holes in the belts.
it looks pretty clean now.

http://i.imgur.com/Qv7GbNi.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/b3n0hLv.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/osrl048.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/oCWi4Y2.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Kr9Hbd0.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/A3KtdfZ.jpg

problems
Although everything went smooth with installation, there are some problems still.
1. Camera is not working in skype. When I open the video configuration in skype it does see a "USB 2.0 camera" but can not get preview from it. It keeps loading without any error message. I tried a different webcam viewer tool (the first thing I found in google). It also detected the camera. Possible resolutions available in the tool were starting from 640x480(highest) and going down to very low resolution. When I was trying with 640 resolution it was giving me an error saying that the camera might be in use. But lower resolutions were working. I suspect that the camera simply doesn't support the exact resolution the tool (as well as skype) were trying to read. Maybe, they are fixed on certain resolution, I don't know. I tried a driver from lenovo. It was installed but nothing has changed. I tried to update the driver manually but it said that it is already there.

2. The colors of the camera are quite poor. The module I bought from ebay was not original lenovo. It was cheaper and didn't even have a "busy" led on it. I don't know If this has something to do with the quality of picture.

So the installation went smooth and it worked (to some extend). Then (as usual) I tried to make things better and screwed up everything
I opened the screen to fix the position a bit, and eventually broke something on the camera board. So it's not working again
The connector is fine all signals are there on the board but it just doesn't work.

Today I received two endoscope modules from aliexpress. At least one seems promising. If it doesn't work either I will buy an original camera and will try again (no way back).
The only thing that worries me is the resolution and why it didn't work in skype. Any thought?

FryPpy wrote: The first photo - what is it (partnumber, manufacturer)? I think it is very tiny webcam to start with. I dont want webcam now but who kows;)

I don't know frankly, I brought it as an example. Saved it while browsing in aliexpress a while ago. It wasn't USB, otherwise would have paid more attention.

The only thing that worries me is the resolution and why it didn't work in skype. Any thought?

How long were the wires from the camera board to the Bluetooth connector?
Did you twist the 2 USB data wires together?

axur-delmeria wrote: How long were the wires from the camera board to the Bluetooth connector?
Did you twist the 2 USB data wires together?

About 5mm and the are not twisted, they are wired to the opposite side of the board from different sides (see the pic).


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

FryPpy wrote: The first photo - what is it (partnumber, manufacturer)? I think it is very tiny webcam to start with. I dont want webcam now but who kows;)

there are several cameras with distant lens that can theoretically be hacked to place separately from board, but couldn't find a USB one so far.

here are few examples:
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/1-6-inch ... 85684.html
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/3-3-5V-4 ... 63047.html

Don't know if there is a board that can transform video signal to usb...

Don't know if there is a board that can transform video signal to usb...

There are USB video capture devices, but AFAIK none of them are small.

The Lenovo G560 (and others as well) has a CMOS camera that goes to USB.
Check this: http://laptoplabcalicut.com/laptopservi ... -5752P.pdf
(look for CMOS camera)

what about dimensions?

45 x 8 mm
3 mm at highest (camera)

The bluetooth area can fit 32 x 8 mm. With some grinding may be 35 mm.

I suspect that the problem with driver is that the system recognizes it as a generic usb webcam and tries to use it with the default 640x480 resolution. While the camera simply doesn't support that particular resolution. That's why it works with webcam viewer once you change default resolution while skype doesn't give you that option, and keeps trying to get a default resolution image.

Does anyone know if there is a way to change the default resolution for a usb webcam in windows?

After playing with various cameras I finally found several that worked !!!
The modules from some sony vpc-sc/b machines are fitting with some trimming and modifications of the cover/bezel.
Also had success with certain endoscope cameras.

Eventually, ended up with an hd camera from a Sony VAIO VPCSB.
These cameras use 3.3v so connected them directly to the bluetooth connector.

Pics:
http://i.imgur.com/Qh8Tvcy.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/5Qjx3HJ.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/mDUAdNW.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/zYYcHzW.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/h9tEYKE.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/3kleDN0.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/aRde6d8.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/n0PMoZw.jpg?1

As for the problem with t410 I believe that the problem was in the wires. It seems that data wires are very sensitive to external signals and tend to fail if not protected by a shield. Windows acts weirdly, in such cases, reads only small resolutions and shows "device malfunction" message. Unfortunately, my t410 camera is dead after trials and errors, so can not say for sure.

Now I have several spare modules that are working. Will do the needed modifications and put them up for sale to compensate part of the investments .

Great work! What's the resolution on the one you picked (VPCSB)? They seem pretty cheap, so I'll probably pick one right up!

R

The max resolution is 1280x1024
It is a VPCSA (SB is 640x480)
here is the link from ebay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/360943054451?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT

Boom, acquired. Btw, was the one you chose done through the BT port or through a new USB you pulled up into the screen (as you were playing with) ?

Still playing with it. BT port is glitchy, now building internal usb hub to connect all my added devices