Remote Trigger With CHDK for Canon A2300 and Arduino

This instructable will show how to trigger a Canon A2300 with Arduino by USB pulse.

For enabling the remote trigger option you need to change the firmware of the camera with CHDK which is a temporary firmware saved in the SD Card for Canon cameras that enhace their capabilities.

Links:

CHDK: http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK

- Canon camera (I'm using A2300)

- mini USB male connector

- Arduino board

- Solder iron

- 2 female jumper wire

First, cure one end of the jumper wires. Then solder the two wires to VCC and GND pins of the mini USB connector.

Links:

http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/USB_Remote

First, you need to upload the CHDK firmware in your camera following this steps:

- Download CardTricks v1.44 from: http://savedonthe.net/download/78/CardTricks-144-S...

- Download the firmware (I'm using "PowerShot A2300 1.00E Complete" Firmware) from: http://mighty-hoernsche.de/

- Format the SD card and upload the firmware in the SD card ( http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK/Installing_with_Ca... )

Notes:

- The firmware version depends on the Camera model. Note that for PowerShot A2300 you have 1.00E, 1.00C and 1.00F.

- If after uploading succesfully the CHDK firmware, your camera doesn't turn on, you should try the other firmware versions.

All the steps are explained here: http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK/Installing_with_Ca...

For enabling the USB mode operation you need to follow these steps:

- Access to CHDK Main Menu: <ALT> mode and press the MENU button.

- Access to CHDK Settings

- Access to Remote Parameters

- Select "Enable Remote"

- Select Switch Type [TwoPush]

- Exit from Main Menu and <ALT> mode

For more information: http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/USB_Remote

The following code triggers the camera in TwoPush Operation with pulses over the miniUSB port. The pulses are sent when Arduino receives a "T" over serial port.

int trig = 9; //select the output pin

void setup() {

pinMode(trig, OUTPUT);

// initialize serial:

Serial.begin(9600);

delay(500);

}

void loop() {

digitalWrite(trig,LOW);

delay(20);

}

void serialEvent() {

while (Serial.available()) {

int Aux = (int)Serial.read();

if (Aux=='T'){

Serial.write("Successful trigger ");

digitalWrite(trig, HIGH);

delay(2000);

digitalWrite(trig,LOW);

}

}

}

Finally, upload the code to the Arduino with Arduino IDE (https://www.arduino.cc/en/pmwiki.php?n=Main/Softwa...)

First, connect the Arduino to the PC and then connect the miniUSB cable (that you already have made) to the usb camera connector and to the Arduino pins: GND and D9.

microUSB cable-----Arduino

VCC----------------------D9

GND--------------------GND

Open "Serial Monitor" in Arduino IDE and send "T" to trigger the camera.

Note:

Make sure you have selected the right serial port and board in Arduino IDE.