KInterface Port Selection

Lap Timer 2000 supports all of the standard interface ports found on personal computers running the MS Windows operating system. You can build your own computer interface cables using the wiring diagrams provided in this help file, or if you prefer, you can purchaseCable Order Form ready-made and tested cables designed specifically to work with Lap Timer 2000.


KPurchasing

Secure on-line credit card purchases can be made by using the Help | Purchase Interface Cables menuHelp Menu command.


Photo-Cell Devices

Photo-cells connected to any of the three interface ports described below offer reliable and accurate lap counting and timing. Photo-cells are normally placed under the track with their lenses “looking up” through a small hole drilled in each lane. As a slot car passes over the lens light is blocked from entering the cell causing the photo-cell to switch off for a short period of time.


The slot car itself acts as a light shutter to restrict light from entering the photo-cell for a fraction of a second as the car passes over. This short “off” period is enough time for Lap Timer 2000 to detect a lap count.


Slot car tracks with up to four (4) lanes can be timed and counted using any of the three interface options described below.


KPrinter Interface

The parallel printer interface found on most personal computers makes an ideal input sensor port for photo-cells. This is the recommended port, due to its high speed and simple interface circuitry. See the Printer Interface WiringPrinter Interface Wiring section of this help file for complete wiring diagrams.


KJoystick Interface

The joystick game pad adapter interface found on most multi-media equipped computers can also be used to count laps. Lap Timer 2000 simulates the “fire” buttons to map lap counts for up to four (4) lanes when this interface is employed. See the Joystick Interface WiringJoystick Interface Wiring section of this help file for complete wiring diagrams.


KKeyboard Interface

The standard keyboard attached to the computer running Lap Timer 2000 can also be used to manually count and time laps. See the KeyboardKeyboard Interface section of this help file for configuration details.


KSerial Interface

The RS-232 serial communications port can also be used to count and time laps. See the Serial Interface WiringSerial Interface Wiring section of this help file for complete wiring diagrams.


KTiming Gantry

Photo-cell detectors, attached to the various interface ports described above, work by sensing light in the infra-red portion of the light spectrum. Incandescent room light contains a sufficient amount of infra-red light and can easily be used with most photo-cells.


If you would prefer to provide a pure source of infra-red light you can build a small light gantry that spans the race track above the photo-cell detectors. Infra-red light emitting diodes, or IR LED devices as they are often called, are an ideal source of infra-red light. See the Timing Gantry WiringTiming Gantry Wiring section of this help file for complete wiring diagrams..


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