The WaveSensor Manual from HTML.pdf · Clap your hands - the light should flash briefly. This...

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The WaveSensor ™by LPA Design

Users Manual

WaveSensor™ users guide Rev 0.95

Published 4/21/97 by:

LPA Design

1350 Shelburne Rd Suite #265

So Burlington VT 05403, USA

Sales: 603-664-5010 fax: 664-9100

Factory: 802-864-8572 fax: 658-6125

Email: [email protected]

www.lpadesign.com (currently under construction)

Applies to:

Hardware Rev 1.1 and 1.2

Software Rev 1.2

The WaveSensor™ is exclusively distributed in the USA by:

bogenPhoto Corp.

565 E Crescent Ave

Ramsey NJ 07446

Phone: (201) 818-9500

Fax: (201) 818-9177

www.bogenphoto.com

This is a PRELIMINARY manual. Please contact us so that when a new manual is available we can send it toyou! You will find a postcard enclosed to register your WaveSensor™ manual. If you return this card, youwill automatically be sent a copy of the next revision of the manual.


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Please note that some pictures of the WaveSensor may look different than the actual WaveSensor that you received with this manual. Some cosmetic changes were made to the product just before it was placed inproduction. Functionally the unit is the same as the prototypes.

IntroductionThe LPA Design WaveSensor™ is a versatile tool for triggering lights and or cameras following a light orsound event. The WaveSensor™ will respond when an object passes between a laser beam and a light sensoror when a sound level increases beyond a selected threshold. The WaveSensor™ has a built in adjustabledelay allowing you to capture just the right moment, or to create rear-curtain sync effects.

The WaveSensor™ also has the ability to measure (time) an event. This feature allows you to save setup timeon complicated events and measure the "Lag Time" for a motorized camera. For instance you can measurethe time it takes a falling object to travel between a beam of light to start a sequence, and when the objectcrosses a second beam to fire the strobes and capture the image.

With the WaveSensor™ you can take pictures when:

-a water drop falls through a beam of light

-a person walks into a room

-a gun is fired

-hands are clapped

-a pin is dropped (our apologies to Sprint)

-a strobe is fired (responding like an optical slave)

Or, you can:

-Use the delay for a simple rear curtain sync shot

-Time an event

-check the lag time of your camera

And MUCH MUCH more.

FeaturesBuilt in microphoneBuilt in phototransistorSensitivity adjustment

8888 Numeric LED Display showing the delay and statusVariable delay (0.001 - 99.99 seconds)Immediate output upon triggerDelayed output after trigger


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Output disable jack (lockout)Laser power jackAutomatic lockout during adjustmentAuto shut-off of laser when triggeredExternal sensor jackPower from 4 AA batteries or included AC AdapterAC adapter jackCamera shutter delay timer featureEvent timer feature

The WaveSensor™ Package Includes:

The WaveSensor™ unit itself

Lockout switch on a cord with photosensor

Laser light module

Rubber Shock Mount for Laser light module

Miniphone to miniphone cord (PN: MM1)

Miniphone extension cords, qty 2. (PN: MMX)

AC Adapter

AA Batteries, Qty 4

Items you might want to consider purchasing:

Motor drive cord for your camera (see accessory list)

External Photo Sensor for cross-beam applications.

Battery powered laser pointer for cross-beam applications.

2 or 3 axis laser positioning mount (see resource list)

Sturdy tripods, Bogen Superclamps, Magic Arms, etc.

Quick SetupGeneral Setup

Identify the following items that came with your WaveSensor™:

WaveSensor™

AC Adapter or 4 AA batteries


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Disable switchbox with cable

Obtain the following items (not included):

Motor drive cable for your camera with a miniphone connector on the other end

Strobe cable appropriate for your strobe with a miniphone connector on the other end

Then, follow this procedure:

Turn the WaveSensor™ off

Install batteries in the unit paying close attention to polarity (or plug in AC adapter)

Plug the strobe cable into your strobe, and into the "delayed" output jack.

Plug your motor drive cable into your camera, and into the "immediate" output jack. Set your camera to 1/8 s.shutter speed.

Plug the disable switchbox into the "Disable Outputs" jack.

Rock the switch to the "Disabled" position

Beam Setup

Set the sensor select to "Light" (down towards the laser target)

Connect the strobe to the delayed output.

Connect the camera motor port to the immediate output of the WaveSensor™ and set the shutter speed to "B"mode.

Turn unit ON. After a few seconds the WaveSensor™ will blink 8888 and then display the current delay timesetting.

Adjust the delay time to the desired delay using the up and down buttons. Try setting it to 0.125 s. so you cansee the effect of the delay function.

Press and hold the "Retrigger Delay" button. Use the up and down buttons to adjust the recycle delay. Fornow, set it to around 2.000 s. The exact value is not critical, it should just be longet than the actual recycletime of your strobes.

Plug the laser pointer into the laser power jack. The laser beam should be on. If not, go back to the beginning(general setup) and double check everything. DO NOT LOOK INTO THE LASER BEAM!!!

Mount the WaveSensor™ and the Laser pointer to something very sturdy aiming the laser at the target.

Set the sensitivity so that if you pass your hand (or string or other object) quickly in front of the beam the"Triggered" LED lights up. If the Triggered LED is lit up constantly, there is too much movement. If the lightlights when you have not passed anything in front of it, you either have too much movement or it is set toosensitive. On MAX sensitivity, the WaveSensor™ will trigger from the 60 Hz flickering from flourescentlamp fixtures.

Enable the system with the disable switch.


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Open the camera,Pass your hand in front of the beam and strobe will fire. If the camera is aimed at your handwhen it breaks the beam, you will get a photo of your hand moving. Try adjusting the delay and notice how the placement of your hand changes in the image area.

The laser beam is shut off immediately after tripping, so there is no possibility of the beam being in thepicture.

Sound Setup

Set the sensitivity to the middle

Set the Output Disable switch to "Disable"

Set the sensor select to "Sound" (up towards the top of the unit)

Turn unit ON. After a few seconds the WaveSensor™ will blink 8888 and then display the current delaytime.

Adjust the delay time using the up and down buttons to the desired delay. Try setting it to 0.001 s.

Press and hold the "Retrigger Delay" button. Use the up and down buttons to adjust the recycle delay. Fornow, set it to 2.000 s. The exact value is not critical.

Watch the Triggered LED in the upper right hand corner. It should be off. If it is not, you are in a noisy room- slide it down towards "Min" until the light goes out and does not light again.

Clap your hands - the light should flash briefly. This indicates that it would have been triggered if we did nothave the unit disabled.

Attach your camera's motor port to the immediate output, and connect your strobe directly to your camera.

Rock the Output Disable switch to the "Enabled" position.

Clap your hands in front of the lens. The camera should fire, followed by the strobe.

If there was some ambient light and the exposure was correct, the photo should show a solid image of yourhands with some blur.

Quiet the room and adjust the sensitivity setting. Experiment with the unit to see how sensitive it is onvarious settings.

How it worksAbout sensors

The WaveSensor™ includes two sensors: a phototransistor and a microphone. A switch on the end panelallows you to switch between the two sensors. In the "up" position (toward the front panel) it is set for themicrophone. In the "down" position, the phototransistor is connected. Both the phototransistor and themicrophone vary the amount of current that can flow through them based on the amount of light or the wavesof sound that they detect.

A jack is provided for an external sensor. If you connect anything to this jack, it will disconnect the internal


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phototransistor and microphone. You can connect a microphone, phototransistor, or any of a number of otherdevices to this jack. The signal is then sent to a special chip (described below). Before connecting anything tothis jack other than a LPA Design manufactured sensor, please check to make sure that it conforms to the jack specifications (see the appendix).

How the WaveSensor™ determines what consititutes a trip

The WaveSensor™ uses an advanced chip designed for cellular phone and radio use which LPA Design hasadapted for use in detecting low frequency waves. This chip outputs a voltage signal that is logarithmicallyproportional to the power input, for any frequency that we want to detect. This signal is compared to avoltage that is dependent on the slider position. If the chip outputs a voltage that is higher than the slidervoltage, the WaveSensor™ is tripped, and it starts activating your equipment.

It is important to note that the WaveSensor does not truly trip based on the presence or non-presence ofsound or light. It depends on the changein the signal. Now, in the case of sound, the signal level is always changing (remember sine waves?) so acertain volume of sound will trip the unit. In the case of light, however, things are a little different. Light isalso made up of waves (well, some physicists will tell you particles, but that's another story...) However, thewaves are much too fast for the phototransistor to detect. So, to trip the WaveSensor™, we cannot depend onthe amount of light, but we can detect changesin the light level. A drop of water or a fine mist passing in front of the phototransistor will scatter or reflectsome of the light resulting in a rapid change in the amount of light the sensor sees. This changes the amountof electric current, which the chip detects and translates into a voltage proportional to how much and howfast it is changing, and if it's enough ... trip! What does this mean to you? If you SLOWLY pass your handthrough the beam, it will not trip. But any object moving quickly will trip the unit. If you didn't understand aword of the above paragraph - do not dispair. Set up the WaveSensor™ and laser pointer and play with ituntil you understand it.

What happens after the unit is tripped

When the unit is tripped, a few things happen. First of all, the laser pointer power is turned off. This is toensure that there is no possibility that the laser light is shown in the photo. Then, the output disable connectoris checked to see if something is connected and shorting out the two pins (for this connectors specifications, see the appendix). If they are shorted, the trigger will be ignored and the outputs will not activate nor tripyour camera or strobe. This is designed as a way to not have strobes and cameras firing all the time while youare setting things up. When the outputs are disabled, the "Triggered" light will light for a minimum of 1/10 ofa second each time the WaveSensor™ is triggered. This allows you to see if the unit is detecting a trigger. Ifthe output disable is NOT shorted or not connected, a normal trip sequence starts including activating yourequipment.

If the output disable is NOT activated (nothing plugged in), the "Immediate Output" connector isimmediately activated. This output is only designed to fire cameras and may not fire all strobes on themarket. This contact is held closed for the duration of the delay plus 2ms (0.002 seconds). If you set the delaytime to less than 0.200 S, some cameras will not activate. The camera may optionally be placed in a "B"mode so that the shutter is timed by the WaveSensor™.

After the delay is over, the "Delayed Output" is activated. When this output is activated, you will hear a"click" sound from the relay. This output generally will be attached to a strobe, but can also be used to triggera camera. This output will be held closed for the duration of the retrigger delay time (less 0.150 seconds) andyou will hear another click

Note: If you trigger a camera using the immediate output or the delayed output, the shutter will take a


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fraction of a second to open. This is called the "Lag Time". For more information on "Lag Time" and how tomeasure it, see the glossary and the "Measurements" section. If you are using the immediate output to fire acamera and the delayed output to fire your strobe, make sure the delay is set to a time that is greater than the Lag Time, or the strobe will go off before the shutter is open! In addition, make sure that the delay that youset is at least .002 seconds less than the sum of the exposure time plus the lag time.

After the Delayed Output is activated, the WaveSensor™ goes into the "Retrigger Delay" timer. During thistime, the immediate output is generally turned off (see above), the delayed output is left on, and theWaveSensor™ will ignore all attempts to trigger it. Laser diodes are sometimes a little erratic when beingpowered up, so the laser is turned on about 0.150 S before the end of the retrigger delay. The delayed outputis also turned off at this time, giving time for a shutter to close, the power surge to stabilize, and noise fromthe shutter and relay to dissipate. When the retrigger delay is done, the Retrigger Delay indicator will shutoff, and the WaveSensor™ will be ready to accept the next trigger.

Sensors, Controls, and Connectors(or: what IS all that stuff?)

The WaveSensor™ has a built in Microphone. You can trigger your camera or strobes based on noiselevel. The level can be controlled by the sensitivity slider.

The WaveSensor™ also has a built in Phototransistor. This can be used to trigger the unit fromquick changes in light levels. In most cases the laser light source included with the Wave Sensor would be aimed at the Phototransistor target on the top of the unit. The sensitivity slider switch controls how sensitive the Phototransistor is to changes in light. It can be set to sense something as subtle as dust or water particles in the air or not trigger until a solid object breaks the beam

The Sensitivity Slider controls how all of the sensors respond. The internal microphone and phototransistor as well as any external sensor can be controlled precisely

Immediate Output: This output will trigger a camera or strobe immediately after the system has been triggered.

Delayed Output: This output triggers lights or cameras after the system is triggered based on the delay time you set on the unit.The delay time is displayed when the unit is on, and can be changed by using the up and down keys. Hold either key down and the delay value will change. The longer you hold the key down the faster the value changes. The delay can be set from 0.001-9.999 seconds.

Output Disable: (lockout) This connection is designed to make setup easier. Because the Wave Sensor is very sensitive, anadjustment in positioning may cause the unit to fire. If you connect a switch to this jack, you can disable (orlock-out) the outputs or enable the outputs, depending on the position of the switch. This allows you to be faraway and not touching the WaveSensor™ when you manually enable it. The WaveSensor™ comes packagedwith a switchbox that use this jack. A description of this part can be found later in this manual. The lockout


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jack is also used for measuring the time between two events (see "Measurements" section).

The WaveSensor™ also has an Automatic Output Disable Feature. Each time you make an adjustment on the Wave Sensor it automatically turns off the outputs for 7 seconds. This provides time for the unit to stabilize after any movement. This is indicated by a dot (LED) on the display.

Retrigger Delay: This feature prevents the Wave Sensor from triggering until a programmed wait time is up.Each time the Wave Sensor triggers it will wait until the retrigger delay time has expired before it will triggeragain. The retrigger delay starts when the regular delay is finished. This is useful for allowing enough timefor strobes to recycle, or to space exposures apart during a continuous event. To adjust the retrigger delay,hold the "retrigger delay" button down and use the up or down key to set the desired time. Note the "Retrigger Delay" indicator in the lower right corner of the display. After a trigger the indicator will light for the duration of the retrigger delay.

External Sensor Jack:This input is provided for many external sensors. A phototransistor, an external microphone or even an electrical contact could be used to trigger the Wave Sensor from this input.

Laser Power Jack: Power is provided for the laser that is included with the WaveSensor™. This jack provides the correctvoltage and current for LPA Design's laser, and may not work properly with other laser diodes. The power tothis jack is turned off as soon as the WaveSensor™ is triggered, and turned on just before the retrigger delayis done.

AC Adapter Jack: The ac adapter provided with the Wave Sensor can be used with or without batteries in the unit. In addition other 6 Volt DC power sources can be used for long term use in remote locations. The center pin is positive

Controls & IndicatorsControls

PowerSwitch: Turns unit on or off. Turn unit off when not in use so as to not drain the batteries and prevent damagefrom possible battery leakage.

Sensor Select Switch: This switch selects between the laser and the microphone. The position of this switch is ignored if anexternal sensor is plugged in.

Up and Downbuttons: Pressing these buttons adjusts the delay time (or retrigger time) displayed. The up and down buttonare "Accelerated". This means that the longer you hold the button down, the faster the numbers change. All


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delays are shown in Seconds. Pressing the UP and DOWN button at the same time puts the WaveSensor™into "Count Down" mode (see Count Down section later in this manual).

Retrigger Delay button: Press and hold this button down. This will show you the "Retrigger" delay. This is the delay that isstarted just after the delayed output is triggered. During this delay, the delayed output is held closed(shorted), the laser is off, and triggers are not reacted to. Use this delay to make sure that you do not fire yourstrobes faster than they can recycle. Alternatively, you can use it to set the cadence of firing sound activatedtime-lapse photos such as a shuttle launch.

Measure Delaybutton: Pressing this button starts timing an event. The WaveSensor™ will first check the Disable Outputjack, and as soon as the outputs are enabled it will fire the immediate output. A counter is started until atrigger is detected from the sensor. See the "Measurements" section of this manual.

Sensitivity Slider: This adjusts the sensitivity of the WaveSensor™. Adjust this as necessary to obtain the correcttriggering setting.

Indicators:

Output DisabledLED: When this light is lit, the unit will display when it is triggered on the "Triggered" LED, but it will notfire the outputs. If this LED is off, the unit will fire the outputs when triggered. This light will come on forapproximately seven seconds after any change is made in the delay times to allow the user to move away from the unit without triggering it.

Triggered LED: When this light is lit, the unit has been triggered. If the output has not been disabled, the immediateoutput has already been fired, and the unit is counting off the delay time, before triggering the delayed output.

Retrigger Delay LED: When this light is lit, the unit is counting though the retrigger delay, and getting ready to turn the laserback on and wait for more triggers. If you are holding down the Retrigger Delay button, this light is litconstantly indicating that you are viewing the retrigger delay setting.

Included with the WaveSensor™...Lockout Switch Assembly

Included with your kit is a box with a switch on it. This can be plugged into the output disable connector

in the WaveSensor™. This switch has three modes, depending on which way it is rocked:

Laser Pointer

Make sure it is only plugged into the port.

MM1 Cable


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LPA Design has included a Miniphone (male) to Miniphone (male) cable. This can be used to fire Broncolorpacks and certain cameras. It can also be used to interconnect to a SpeedCycler, TimeMachine, FlashWizard,or PocketWizard.

MMX Cables

Included are two MMX cables. These are generic miniphone (male) to miniphone (female) extension cords.Use these to move your lockout switch, camera, or strobes further away from your WaveSensor™.Additional cables may be purchased from your dealer camera dealer, from Bogen Photo, or from your localelectronics store.

Power Sources

LPA Design recommends use of Alkaline AA batteries. A set of 4 batteries is included with theWaveSensor™ to help get you started. Also included is an AC adapter designed for 110VAC.

Rubber Shock Mount

This little rubber mount helps to reduce shock from people walking around the room. In some cases it helps,in some cases actually causes false triggers. Experiment to see if it is useful to you or not.

Setup ExamplesOn the next few pages, we'll go through some of the first few setups LPA Design ever did with the WS and show the results.

Pin Drop

The pin drop was produced using the internal microphone. Position the WaveSensor™ (or a microphoneplugged into the external sensor jack) as close to the spot the pin will drop. Connect the lockout switch andconnect the strobes to the immediate output. Lockout the system and drop a pin, adjusting the sensitivity untilthe WaveSensor™ triggers from the sound. In a darkened studio, open the camera, unlock the system anddrop the pin. When the pin hits the surface the strobes fire. It is important to open the camera beforeunlocking the system because the noise from the shutter opening will be enough to trigger theWaveSensor™.

Water Drop

After arranging theset and building ameans to createdrops above the setattach theWaveSensor™ unitand the laser lightsource to stands sothe beam crosses justbelow the dropper.


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Connect the lockoutswitch to the lockoutinput and set thelockout switch to themiddle position.Connect your strobeto the delayed outputon the Wave Sensor.With the unitdisabled verycarefully align thelaser light source soit passes through thepath of the waterdrop and hits thephototransistor target on the WaveSensor™. Adjust the sensitivity until a drop of water will trigger theunit(listen for a click).

Next set the recycle delay to match that of your strobes. Turn the lockout switch to the right and make a fewdrops. Adjust the delay time until the strobes fire when the drop hits the water. At this point a few polariodtests will help you adjust the delay time precisely. Each time you make an adjustment on the WaveSensor™be sure to lockout the system. Otherwise the strobe will fire each time you touch the unit.

Fuel Injector

A friend of ours wantedto photograph the spray pattern of fuel injectors.Here's his setup (we've edited out his drooling praise):

"I placed the WS laser emitter behind and below the injector body so that it was not seen from the camera angle.The sensor proper was placed on a light stand several feet away and tothe left of the camera.

"Polaroid testing showed us that if we placed the beam in the general mist area the sensor would trigger but that we would capture the mist cloud after formation rather than while being emitted. Accordingly we aligned the laser beam to just a millimeter ahead of the injectorsemission port so that the fuel particles would be captured as emitted rather than afterwards.

"Once we had everything locked down into place I simply loaded an F4 with film, set the WS retrigger delay to 3 seconds and told the technician to start up the fuel pump. The reason for using the retrigger delay wasthat I wanted to be sure that the strobe pack had fully recycled before firing again. This control assured me


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of uniform exposures - no bracketing and no wasted film. With the motor drive set to single shot the WSallowed the camera to fire every 3 seconds when activated by the presence of fuel mist. I literally stood thereand watched as the WS automated and orchestrated the entire shoot. The feature that turns off the laser beamjust milliseconds before triggering the unit is another example of thoughtfulness - it ensures that the laser light will never be captured on the film because it will not be present when the exposure is made.

"When the film was processed I had 36 identical shots on each roll from each injector. Perfect uniformity,total control - a location photographers dream come true..." - Ed Berger ([email protected])

Cross Beam Triggering

There aretimes whenyou may not want to trigger when just one beam is broken.An example ofthis is if you are trying to take a photo of some object that is moving past a point in space, such as a bird flying a certain distance in front of a bird feeder. A single beam can bebroken anywhere along the length of the beam, not just in one point, possibly wasting a lot of film.

With a cross-beam setup, two light sources and two photodetector (phototransistors) are used. Only whenBOTH beams are broken will the camera or strobes be triggered. One photodetector is the one built into theWaveSensor™ (or a external photodetector plugged into the external sensor jack). The other is plugged intothe output disable jack. Only when the unit is triggered AND the unit is not disabled does the camera fire.

Setup of this is a little tricky and requires the acquisition of some additional equipment. First of all you willneed a light source. If you are careful about the setup, you might be able to use sunlight - if thephototransistor is in the dark from a shadow this counts as one "beam" being crossed. A better solution is toget another laser pointer. Laser pointers can be purchased from your photo dealer (LPA PN: WS-LA2). Alsocheck out the Resources page in this manual for more sources of laser pointers.

The second item you need is a photodetector. The most common photodetector is called a phototransistor.One is mounted in the output disable box included with your kit. This can be mounted and used to detect thelight source. It is recommended that you use some gaffer's tape or other material to shield the phototransistorfrom ambient light. You want it to only disable the unit when the intended light source is striking it. LPA alsooffers a simple photodetector on a cord (LPA PN: WS-OP1). The benefit of the WS-OP1 is that it is mountedin a tube so that it only "sees" light from the intended light source.


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The setup is as follows:

Connect your camera and/or flash units as described elsewhere in this manual, set the unit to "beam" mode,install batteries, etc.

Mount the included laser pointer and WaveSensor™ so that it works as a single beam trip, adjust thesensitivity, and test thoroughly.

Attach your external photodetector (either your output disable switchbox or WS-OP1) to the output disable jack

Mount the external photodetector and a battery powered light source as if it were another beam trip

When there is light falling on this external photodetector, the WaveSensor™ will not trip. When there isbelow a certain threshold of light (which is NOT adjustable) the WaveSensor™ will be enabled. Then, if theregular beam is broken or disturbed, the WaveSensor™ will trip.

MeasurementsThe WaveSensor™ can be used to make event time measurements. To measure time, a button has beenprovided labeled MEASURE DELAY. When the MEASURE DELAY button is pressed, it will:

Activate the immediate output

Wait until the "output disable" jack is enabled (ie, nothing connected or open-circuit).

Start counting time

When a sensory input is detected, it will stop counting, and leave the time displayed.

Two examples are given below:

Lag Time

The lag time is the amount of time it takes from the time a motor driven camera is activated to the time thecamera shutter is open. This time varies from camera to camera and is dependent on the make and model ofthe camera, and sometimes the mode the camera is in, the freshness of the batteries, and the film in the camera or the back on the camera. Lag time can also change depending on whether the camera is "awake" orif it is asleep, and whether or not the mirror is locked up.

One wants to know the lag time of your camera for a number of reasons. For one thing, a lot of motion in theobject you are trying to capture can take place in the time it is taking for your camera shutter to open. Youalso need to know the lag time if you are using the delayed output to fire your strobes. For example, if youwant to set a 0.050 second delay between the shutter opening and the strobe firing, you cannot just set the delay to .050. If you do, the strobe will go off before the shutter is open (for most cameras, anyway). Youneed to lag-test the camera, then add the 0.050 second delay to the lag time to get proper timing.

To setup the lag test, do the following:

Turn the WaveSensor™ off


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Disconnect all devices from the lockout connector

Use a PC to miniphone cable (LPA #PC5) to attach the Camera's flash sync to the "External Sensor"connector on the WaveSensor™.

Use a motor drive cable (see accessory list) to connect the Camera's motor drive port to the "ImmediateOutput" connector on the WaveSensor™

Turn the camera on, put it in one-shot mode, and set it up the way you will be using it later (the same lens,shutter speed, horizontal/vertical orientation, etc.).

Push the sensitivity slider 3/4 the way towards "Min" as a starting point.

Turn the WaveSensor™ on

Press the MEASURE DELAY button

The camera shutter should release, while the display is counting

When the WaveSensor™ detects the flash sync connecting, it will stop counting and leave the "Lag Time"displayed.

Note: If the WaveSensor™ just keeps on counting, the sensitivity is set too low (move towards "MAX"sensitivity). To get it to stop counting, slide towards "MAX" temporarily. If the WaveSensor™ measures 0,

or a number like 0.016, 0.017, or 0.018, the WaveSensor™ is just picking up 60 Hz hum ( 1/60 = .016 ) fromthe electric wiring in your studio. In this case, either find a short (or better yet shielded) PC to Miniphonecord (such as the PC1), or adjust the sensitivity towards "MIN".

Event Timer

To measure the time between two events, the start of the event is activation of the Output Disable and the endof the event is a normal "trigger" condition (such as a beam breaking or flickering, a sound, or other source).

For example, to measure the time it takes for an object to go from point A to point B, we will use two beamsand break both of them. Here's how:

Obtain a bright directional light source (a commercial laser pointer is a good example). Aim it across the paththrough which the object will pass. This is point A.

Align a phototransistor (built into the Lockout Switch (PN: WS-LO), or use the optional phototransistor (PN:WS-OP1) in the beam but on the other side of the object, and plug this photosensor into the Output Disable connector. You may need to use gaffers tape to shield the photosensor from ambient light.

Plug the provided laser pointer into the laser pointer power connector, and aim it across the path of the objectat point B.

Switch the Sensor Select switch to the "Light" position (towards the bottom of the unit)

Align the WaveSensor™'s phototransistor in the beam, again on the other side of the object's path.Optionally, you may use an external phototransistor for this position as well - just plug it into the ExternalSensor connector.

Temporarily disconnect the plug in the Output Disable connector. Adjust the sensitivity of the WaveSensor™


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so that when the beam is broken, the WaveSensor™ trips. Reconnect the Output Disable.

Observe that the unit is disabled ("Output Disabled" LED is lit) when the object is not blocking the beam atpoint A, and that when blocked, the unit enables itself.

You are now ready to test the setup. Press the Measure Delay button. The display will read 0.000. If it iscounting, recheck your setup (concentrate on point A and the sensor connected to the Output Disable connector).

Pass the object first through point A (the WaveSensor™ display will start counting the time in 1/1000 secondincrements), then through point B (the WaveSensor™ display will stop counting). The displayed time is theevent time.

Count Down ModeAs if the WaveSensor™ didn't have enough features, there is a mode that allows you to ignore all triggers fora certain amount of time. This is useful for wildlife photography, difficult access setups, or setups where youknow the event start time (such as a Shuttle launch).

Instructions:

1. To activate the count down timer, press both the UP and DOWN buttons at the same time. Once you have done this the Triggered and Retrigger Delay lights will turn on at the same time. The display will show thecurrently selected count down time in the following format: HH.MM

Example: 02.15 will ignore triggers for two hours and fifteen minuites.

2. Use the Up and Down arrows to increase or decrease the total time. You can set the timer up to 99 hours and 59 minuites, or as littleas 1 minuite.

3. Once you have selected the amount of time to wait, press the Measure Delay button to start the timer. Ifyou do not want to start the timer, press the Retrigger Delay button to cancel the Count Down Mode and go back to normal operating mode.

4. Once started, the laser will turn off and the display will dim and continuously show the time remaining until activation.. At the end of the count down, the display will automatically go back to showing the normaltrigger delay, and the laser (if used) will turn back on and the system is ready to go!

Useful InformationLag times

The lag time is the amount of time it takes a camera shutter to open once given the signal to take a frame.This value changes from camera to camera, even within the same exact model. Changing (or wearing downof) the batteries, changing film types, or settings on the camera may change the lag time, so be sure to measure the lag time every time you change anything in your setup.

The following lag times were measured on cameras we had available to us at the time of printing. No


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guarantee exists that these numbers are correct - use your WaveSensor™ to check yours! These lag timeswere measured with a shutter speed of 1/250 sec with film in the camera.

Camera Lag TimeHassleblad 0.080 s.Canon T90 .216 or .178 s. if "awake"

F4 0.065 s.FM2 0.100 s.

Nikon 8008 0.088 s.Rear curtain times

The table on the next page gives sugested rear curtain sync times. These are starting points obtained fromexperimentation. The actual time required for your camera may not be the same, so experiment a little to findthe correct times for your application.

Useful Formulae for "Water drop" and "Spill" effects:

d = ½ at2 or t = square root ( 2d / a )

for feet : d = 16 t2 or t = square root ( 2d / 32 )

for meters: d = 4.9 t2 or t = square root ( 2d / 9.8 )

where...

t = Time (in seconds)

d = Distance object falls (in feet)

a = The Acceleration due to gravity, which is:

32 ft/s2 (feet per second per second), or

9.8 meters/s2

Example:

For an object dropped from 5 feet, the delay time (t) is:

t = square root (2*5ft. / 32) = .559 seconds

Note:These formulae only apply to objects in free fall with little wind resistance. Things like paper, feathers, etc.do not work with these formulae.

Just in case you do not have a calculator on hand, or hate formulas, you will find on the next page is a tablewhich gives some sample times and fall distances.

Useful Tables Of Information


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Rear Curtain Sync Times Time vs. Fall DistanceShutter Speed Decimal Equivelent Rear Curtain Sync Time Time (sec.) Distance

(inches)1/250 s. 0.004 s. 0.05 s. 0.48 in.1/125 s. 0.008 s. ? 0.10 s. 1.92 in.1/60 s. 0.016 s. ? 0.15 s. 4.32 in.1/30 s. 0.032 s. 0.023 s. 0.20 s. 7.68 in.1/15 s. 0.0667 s. 0.055 s. 0.25 s. 12.0 in.1/8 s. 0.125 s. 0.117 s. 0.30 s. 17.3 in.1/4 s. 0.250 s. 0.242 s. 0.35 s. 23.5 in.1/2 s. 0.500 s. 0.470 s. 0.40 s. 30.7 in.1 s. 0.980 s. 0.45 s. 38.9 in.2 s. 1.980 s. 0.50 s. 48.0 in.4 s. 3.980 s. 0.55 s. 58.1 in.8 s. 7.980 s. 0.60 s. 69.1 in. (5 ft 9 in)

0.65 s. 81.1 in. (6 ft 9 in)0.7 s. 94.1 in. (7 ft 10 in)0.75 s. 108.0 in. (9 feet 0 in)

ResourcesThere are a number of accessorys that you might want to purchase to compliment your WaveSensor™. Someitems can be purchased from your dealer -- check the accessory list at the end of the manual. If your dealerdoes not have a particular item, you may be able to obtain them elsewhere. Listed below are some sources forthese items.

Please Note: All information on this page is subject to change without notice. LPA Design does not endorseany of the products or companies listed or gurantee quality or suitibility for any particular purpose. Theselistings are as a partial listing of the many companies that offer these products.

Edumnd Scientific

2-axis adjustable positioning mounts

Quality Laser Pointers

Edmund Scientific carries a large selection of professional optical and scientific products. Of particularinterest, they carry small, tiltable mounts for optical devices. This can be used for precise alignment of alaser. (Also check out Part # WS-LA-PRO in the accessory list for a pre-fabricated "professional" laser with atilt mount). You can request a catalog by calling 1-609-573-6250. Edmund also carries a wide selection oflaser pointers with different spot sizes and shapes.

DigiKey Corp.

Laser Modules


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Phototransistors

DigiKey corp. carries small laser modules such as used in the WaveSensor™. These are just the lasers and require connecting a power source to the laser to use them. Contact them at 1-800-344-4539 or atwww.digikey.com. Try part number VLM-670-01L for a laser module. Also available is a wide selection ofphototransistors that can be used as an external sensors.

Damark

Laser Pointers

Damark has a wide selection of interesting products and generally has small inexpensive laser pointersavailable. Contact them at 1-800-729-9000. Check out part number B-40040-509141.

WaveSensor Discussion List

If you are interested in discussing WaveSensor uses, techniquies, etc. with other users, send an emailmessage as follows:

To: Library @ lpadesgn.usa.com

Subject: Subscribe : Wave

you will be sent instructions via Email. If you have any problems with this discussion list, please send theerror information to [email protected].

Web Page

LPA Design is working on building a web page. Look for it in the near future! We should be atwww.lpadesign.com. Also check out www.bogenphoto.com.

Technical DetailsPower Source. In most cases, you will use the AC adapter or batteries. When using batteries, please use fournew Alkaline 'AA' batteries. LPA does not recommend the use of any other kind of batteries.

The batteries should last about 10 hours with the laser on, and around 30 hours when not using the laser.

As the batteries drain, the voltage that they supply the WaveSensor™ decreases. As this happens, there willbe some change in the sensitivity of the unit. Most people will find that a fresh set of batteries or the includedAC adapter will produce very good results. If you must have a constant, long term setting, use a regulatedexternal AC adapter. One is available from your dealer (LPA PN: WS-AC-R).

Please use the supplied AC Adapter. If is is broken, damaged, or lost, please order a replacement from yourdealer (LPA PN: WS-AC). Until then, use batteries. If you MUST use another AC adapter or power source,make sure it is 6V DC with a minimum current capacity of 500mA. The center pin is positive. Use of anyother power source may damage the WaveSensor™.

The lockout jack provides around 5V DC at almost 0 current. If this voltage is brought below 2.5V DC, theunit will disable the outputs. A switch that closes it's contacts (shorts the wires) will give a voltage of 0V, sothe outputs will be disabled.


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The immediate output is designed for cameras only. It may fire a strobe, but not necessarily all brands ofstrobes. This output has a semiconductor switch only.

The delayed output is designed for cameras or strobes. It will "Tick" when fired, as it is firing a relay and anoptically isolated triac. This output is identical to the output used on a PocketWizard™ Receiver, and isbelieved to be compatible with 99% of all cameras and strobes, although LPA Design does not guaranteeoperation with all brands and models of equipment. Please contact LPA Design if you find that you cannottrigger your equipemnt.

The reaction time of the WaveSensor™ to a trigger is around 20-30uS (that's .00002 - .00003 Second) for astrong signal, and somewhat slower for a weak signal. If the signal is very high frequency and it is above theroll off of the frequency response graph, it may take a stronger signal to trigger, and the trigger may takesomewhat longer. Also, a very low frequency signal (even 60Hz) may take longer to trigger the WaveSensordue to it's long wavelength (60Hz = 1/60 second per cycle = .0166 second).

If you must experiment with the external sensor jack, put two very high value resistors (1M ohm or so) inline with the jack, and never apply any voltage to the jack. The center terminal is brought to about 5Vthrough a 2K resistor, the outer ring is groud.

Points to note:

In the grey shaded bars, triggers are actively looked for and acted upon. In all other areas, triggers areignored.


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The first trigger (T1) is ignored because the "Output Disable" switch is activated. Note that the "TriggeredLED" DOES light briefly.

The second trigger (T2) is the trigger that starts the timing sequence. The laser is turned off, the immediateoutput is turned on, and the regular delay counter is started.

Triggers T3, T4, and T5 are all ignored becauser the delay and retrigger delay have not completed theirsequence.

The Laser Pointer turns OFF as soon as a trigger is detected, and back on 0.150 seconds before the sensorsare re-enabled.

If you cannot understand the above chart - don't worry, the text explains all this pretty well.

Accessory ListWaveSensor™ Accessory and Replacement ProductsWS-AC WaveSensor™ AC Adapter Replacement unregulated 6V 500mA adapterWS-AC-R WaveSensor™ AC Adapter Regulated 6V Adapter.WS-LO WaveSensor™ Disable

(lockout) switchReplacement switch w/ phototransistor

WS-LA WaveSensor™ Lasermodule

Replacement Laser Module with cord

WS-LA-PRO Professional WaveSensor™Laser Module

Optional Laser Module with fine adjustment thumbwheels giving 3 axis tilt capability & cord

WS-LA2 Laser Pointer, battery operated

Regular battery operated laser pointer. For cross-beamapplications.

WS-RMT Rubber Mount with 1/4-20 Female to 1/4-20 Male stud

Replacement rubber mount

WS-OP1 External Phototransistor forWaveSensor™.

May be attached to External sensor or plugged into the Output Disable jack for cross beam applications. Set deep inside anenclosure so that ambient light is rejected..

WS-MIC External microphone Microphone on a cord and small holderMMX Miniphone Extension Cord Miniphone to Miniphone Female extension cordMM1 Miniphone to Miniphone

16" cableReplacement for MM1 included with WaveSensor™

????? LPA Design will be adding WaveSensor™ accessories as time goes on, please write for anupdated accessory list and/or an updated manual to find out what's new!

AdaptersMPCF PC Female to Miniphone

MaleAdapt PC sync cord to Receiver or Transmitter

MMMP Sub-Miniphone Female to Miniphone Male

Adapt Quantum motor drive cord to Receiver

HMA Household Female to Miniphone Male

Adapt Household sync cord to Receiver or Transmitter


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T3 Sub-Miniphone Female to Canon Motor Drive Port

Required for use with the CM3 cable

CablesPC5 PC to Miniphone 5' Coiled Camera to Transmitter, SpeedCycler, or SyncTimerPC5N Nikon Locking PC to

Miniphone 5' CoiledCamera to Transmitter (With Nikon Locking Ring)

PC5H Hasselblad PC Long Tip to Miniphone 5' Coiled

Hasselblad to Transmitter, SpeedCycler, or SyncTimer

PC10 PC to Miniphone 10' Straight

Camera to Transmitter, SpeedCycler, or SyncTimer

PC16 PC to Miniphone 16' Coiled Camera to Transmitter, SpeedCycler, or SyncTimerM3H Miniphone to 3 Head

Household Female 16" Straight

Up to 3 Cameras with PC-HH Cords to a single transmitter

MH1 Miniphone to Household 16" Straight

Receiver to Comet, Norman, Speedo, Dynalight, Novatron, etc.

MH3 Miniphone to Household 3' Straight


MH10 Miniphone to Household 10' Straight


LF3 Filtered Miniphone to Household 3' Straight

Reduces radio noise on long sync lines

MP1 Miniphone to 1/4" phono 16" Straight

Receiver to Balcar, Buff, Calumet, Profoto

MP3 Miniphone to 1/4" phono 3' Straight

Receiver to Balcar, Buff, Calumet, Profoto

MM1 Miniphone to Miniphone 16" Straight

Receiver to Broncolor

MM6 Miniphone to Miniphone 6' Straight

Receiver to Broncolor

MA1 Miniphone to Elinchrom 16" Straight

Receiver to Elinchrom

ME1 Miniphone to Metz 6-Pin 16" Straight

Receiver to Metz

Motor CordsNM3 Miniphone to Nikon Motor

Drive 3' StraightReceiver to Nikon motor drive port (3 Pin Locking connector)

RZM3 Miniphone to Mamiya RZ Motor Drive 3' Straight

Receiver to RZ motor drive port

HBM3 Miniphone to Hasselblad Motor Drive 3' Straight

Receiver to Hasselblad motor drive port (5 Pin DIN connector)

RLM3 Miniphone to Rollei Motor Drive 3' Straight

Receiver to Rollei (2-1/4 only, SLX to 6008) motor drive port


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CM3 Miniphone to Canon / Bronica Motor Drive 3' Straight

Receiver to Bronica motor drive port or Canon T3 Adapter

Other LPA Design ProductsPWT PocketWizard Transmitter Small, extremely reliable 16 Channel Digital Radio Control

System for firing cameras and strobes up to 800' away.PWR PocketWizard ReceiverFWT FlashWizard Transmitter Professional radio control system, any combo of receivers,

multipops, delays, sequences, software upgradable. Veryrugged.. 1000' range.FWR FlashWizard Receiver

FW2 FlashWizard II with Equilizer Software

Synchronises up to 30 different cameras at 1/250 to single strobe, 2-way radio w/ confirmation.

TM Time Machine External box - add delays, multi-pops, rear curtain, intervelometer

SC4 SpeedCycler Allows up to 4 strobes to attach to camera - fires each in sequence

LVT Low Voltage Trigger Use high voltage strobes with electronic shutters that could be damaged. Uuse multiple strobes on a single sync line.

Please contact your dealer to purchase any of the above items.

WarrantyThis warranty is given to you (the end user) by LPA Design, 1350 Shelburne Road, Suite 265, So.Burlington, Vermont, 05403, U.S.A. If you experience difficulty with your WaveSensor™ product you mayreturn the product to any factory authorized representative for repair. Please be certain that your product isproperly packaged before shipment. If possible, use the original packaging. Seller is not responsible fordamage during shipment. LPA Design will make every effort to promptly return the repaired product, subjectto availability of parts.

In - Warranty Service

All WaveSensor™ Products are warranted against defects in workmanship and materials for a period of one(1) year from the date of purchase. The only acceptable proof of purchase is a sales receipt which mustcontain the date of purchase and the serial numbers. During the warranty period LPA Design will repair or, ifnecessary, replace defective components at no charge. To obtain warranty service, please contact the dealerfrom whom you purchased the product or your sales representative. If you have shipped your product (freightprepaid) to an authorized service facility, LPA Design will return the product to you after it has been repairedor replaced. LPA Design will pay surface shipping charges to return the product to you. If you desire expressshipment or special shipment, shipping charges will be billed to you. If LPA Design repairs or replaces theproduct, it may use reconditioned parts or materials. All service work is warranted by LPA Design for 30days from the date of shipment of the repaired product or the original warranty period, whichever is longer.

This warranty does not apply to defect or damage resulting from: (a) accident or misuse, or as a result ofmodifications or repairs made by unauthorized personnel; (b) failure to operate or maintain the product according to manuals; (c) failure to provide a suitable environment for the product; (d) use of the product for any use other than for which it was intended; (e) battery leakage; (f) any cause external to the product. Thiswarranty is not assignable and runs only to the original purchaser. This warranty does not cover any productacquired by you for the purpose of remarketing, reselling, leasing or renting to any other person.


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NO OTHER WARRANTY IS EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED BEYOND THE FACE HEREOF, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. LPADESIGN IS NOT LIABLE FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR SPECIAL DAMAGES ARISING FROM THE PRODUCT OR ITS FAILURE TO FUNCTION PROPERLY, EVEN IF LPA DESIGN HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

Out of Warranty Service

Beyond the one (1) year warranty period, LPA Design will repair or replace defective components on a timeand materials basis. If LPA Design repairs or replaces the product, it may use reconditioned parts ormaterials. All service work is warranted by LPA Design for 30 days from the date of shipment of the repairedproduct. Call your sales representative for more information.

Policy on Changes or Upgrades

All WaveSensor™ products are sold on the basis of descriptive specifications in effect at the time of sale.LPA Design reserves the right to make periodic changes or improvements to any product and shall makeevery effort to notify the owner of changes or improvements, but LPA Design has no obligation to modify orupdate products once sold.

General

The validity, construction and effect of this warranty shall be governed by the laws of the State of Vermont.If any provision of this warranty is found invalid, the remaining provisions of this warranty shall not be affected or invalidated.

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