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Step 6Hack the PS3 Eye
There are a number of videos onine that explain how to mod a PS3 eye camera, the best being the crew at Peau Productions.
How to take apart the PS3 Eye and remove the IR blocking filter:
How to instal a visible light filter using a floppy disk:
These videos document the process of hacking the PS3 Eye pretty thoroughly. But, In our case we need to use a lens with a shorter focal length than the one provided with the PS3, so some extra hacking is in order. To recap and expand on how to mod the PS3 Eye for use with the EyeWriter software:
1. unscrew the four screws on the back of the PS3 eye
2. Crack open the case using a small flat head screw driver
3. Unscrew the screws that mount the camera circuit board to the plastic housing
4. Unscrew the camera lens mount
5. Either a) throw away the PS3 Eye lens mount and lens and use one of the lens mounts linked to in the parts list (and the 8mm lens from our lens pack) or b) if you want to repurpose the PS3 lens mount you need to dig the IR light filter (as shown in the video).
6. If you want to use the original PS3-native lens mount, you will need to separate the PS3-native lens from the mount, which is attached with some industrial glue. To do this you need to scratch away the glue around the outside lip of the mount. This is hard to do and requires some patience and some luck. You will need to scratch and try to turn the lens to unscrew it. Keep repeating this process until the lens separates and can be unscrewed. If you destroy the lens (which happened to us about half the time) you will be forced to use one of the lens mounts linked to in the parts list.
7. Cut your IR wratten down to fit inside the lens mount
8. If you have successfully separated the PS3 lens from the PS3 lens mount then just screw the PS3 lens mount back onto the camera circuit board. If you have not succeeded in separating the lens from the mount, then screw the new lens mount on the camera circuit board.
9. screw in the 8mm lens into the lens mount
Watch the video and look at the included photos for more tricks and information on how to successfully hack the PS3 Eye.
How to take apart the PS3 Eye and remove the IR blocking filter:
How to instal a visible light filter using a floppy disk:
These videos document the process of hacking the PS3 Eye pretty thoroughly. But, In our case we need to use a lens with a shorter focal length than the one provided with the PS3, so some extra hacking is in order. To recap and expand on how to mod the PS3 Eye for use with the EyeWriter software:
1. unscrew the four screws on the back of the PS3 eye
2. Crack open the case using a small flat head screw driver
3. Unscrew the screws that mount the camera circuit board to the plastic housing
4. Unscrew the camera lens mount
5. Either a) throw away the PS3 Eye lens mount and lens and use one of the lens mounts linked to in the parts list (and the 8mm lens from our lens pack) or b) if you want to repurpose the PS3 lens mount you need to dig the IR light filter (as shown in the video).
6. If you want to use the original PS3-native lens mount, you will need to separate the PS3-native lens from the mount, which is attached with some industrial glue. To do this you need to scratch away the glue around the outside lip of the mount. This is hard to do and requires some patience and some luck. You will need to scratch and try to turn the lens to unscrew it. Keep repeating this process until the lens separates and can be unscrewed. If you destroy the lens (which happened to us about half the time) you will be forced to use one of the lens mounts linked to in the parts list.
7. Cut your IR wratten down to fit inside the lens mount
8. If you have successfully separated the PS3 lens from the PS3 lens mount then just screw the PS3 lens mount back onto the camera circuit board. If you have not succeeded in separating the lens from the mount, then screw the new lens mount on the camera circuit board.
9. screw in the 8mm lens into the lens mount
Watch the video and look at the included photos for more tricks and information on how to successfully hack the PS3 Eye.
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So I saw your video and was inspired to find someone in my city that is disabled and needs help and is interested in an eyewriter but I'm a bit stuck, help!
So I bought and took my ps3 camera apart and it has a different lens configuration so i couldn't take out the infra-red filter as it is stuck to the new style chunkier piece of glass..instead i accidentally damaged the lens.
I also ordered the lens set you mentioned on instructables from dealextreme (with the 8mm lens) .. but wasnt able to pry the other lens from the lens holder to insert the new 8mm lens onto the existing one. i assume the dealextreme ones dont have infra red filters?
My questions are these:
the lens holders are expensive from australia.. shipping alone is $20! so im hoping for a cheaper alternative.. the shipping on the $6 lenses is $50 to here too. Is it possible to attach the 8mm lens without a lens holder... perhaps just with some blutack or gaffa tape or a piece of plastic holding it on?
Do I need to use part of the original lens system from the ps3 eye or is the dealextreme lens part all I need?
does it need to be a certain distance away from the circuit board? does it focus somehow?
if I was to use a different webcam, what specs does it need to have to work properly with your system?
Cheers
Paul