Introduction:
I have created code and an interface that allows an Atmel AVR or Nintendo DS to control a DSLR camera through a FTDI Vinculum USB host controller. The code implements a very basic subset of the Picture Transfer Protocol (PTP) / Picture Transfer Protocol (MTP) protocols which are used on DSLRs and many point and shoot cameras. This interface allows an Atmel AVR or Nintendo DS to control a modern USB camera such as a DSLR. I wanted to do this to create a standalone HDR controller without the need to haul around a laptop. For more background information on why I decided to do this and the CPLD interface I created to allow a Nintendo DS to talk to the FTDI Vinculum please read my previous blog post. I got the Nintendo DS / AVR USB controller working in June and have not changed the code since August so it is long overdue for me to post the code and schematic.
The code was written and developed on an Atmel AVR (non-Arduino) and ported over to the DS. It is much easier to develop code on an AVR then on the DS which you have to constantly swap SD cards on every recompile. I wrote the code to be as platform independent as I could so it can be moved to whichever device needed. I do not think it would be too hard to add to the Open Camera Control Project (OCC) (talked about in last blog post) code, you will need to call a few functions to init the Vinculum and to take picture, change exposure time, etc.