Laser trip based pad.

[termdeath]

Anyone ever thought of making a laser trip based pad? You could recess the "buttons" so that it's just like the arcade, but inside the recess you set up a simple laser to photoelectric cell trip sensor. You could even mirror the beam in a grid around the square to ensure detection. Or if you really needed the feel of depressing a button you could use the button to trip the laser. rather then just your feet. The thing would be super accurate and responsive. It would also be super durable because you would have no moving parts, no impact sensors to deal with etc... Just wanted some input on the idea.

[xpguardian]

That would be cool. but there is someone on here that knows more about this stuff than we do and they are gonna give us this reason why it wont work and we arent gonna be able to understand it cause its gonna be all scientific and stuff. But nice try
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[MolotovCat]

I don't see why it wouldn't work.

[adamthole]

I think the timing would be off. If you simply had your foot trip the beam, it would be tripped slightly before you actually hit the button. However, having the depressed button block the beam would fix that problem. The only way (I can think of) that that can be done would be with using relays. This means that you will hear a click similar to your turn signals every time your "press" a button. It would also be thicker and more expensive.

With all of that said, it is a good idea. It kind of makes me want to build one...but I don't think it is worth it, as homemade pads seem to not have the sensitivity problem...or do they? I havent made one yet.

[termdeath]

No relay necessary; well not the kind you're thinking of anyway. A NPN photo-transistor would pull the circuit to ground. In simple terms the switch is always on unless the photo-transistor (energized by the laser) pulls it open. When the laser is blocked it de-energizes the transistor allowing the circuit to close triggering the button press. It really wouldn't be that difficult to build a suitable control board. You could even add a delay to compensate for the early trigger problem you mentioned. Although some people might like the added sensitivity; but for the most part you shouldn't notice. We're talking about fractions of a second between your foot interrupting the laser and actually touching the pad. Anyway I appreciate the input so far; keep in coming. I'm probably going to put together a prototype for the hell of it. If it works it could be a really inexpensive way to have an extremely high quality pad. Of course I think if it works I'll put together a deluxe model with the button switch. I'll keep everybody posted. (Don't hold your breath though, might be a couple months. I have an air conditioning business in which I am a partner that keeps me pretty busy)

[Cutriss]

There's actually been two other threads about this topic in the last few months. You might try combing through the older threads for this forum and read what others have discussed about the idea.
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[termdeath]

Thanks for the heads up. I found a thread on an optical pad which brought up some interesting points. My thought is a little different but that definately helps. I'm actually thinking of bouncing a single laser off of a couple of mirrors on the sides of the button to a single receptor. The more I look at it though, the more it looks like an enclosed setup with a button to interrupt the signal is the way to go. I could even stick a couple of lasers in there for redundancy and sensitivity. I'm thinking a flat diode would be best so that there is less travel required in the button to reset the switch. Anyway, now I'm just thinking out loud so-to-speak. Thanks again.