Pi Video Player

Sizes and Dimensions for items

I am using this log to put some item dimensions for me and my case-assisting heroes; reference :-)

Also will put a note on where in the case I am feeling about putting it.

10 Port USB Hub:

189 x 38 x 23mm

Mount on the bottom panel on it's side (ports in), with end USB port flush against left side (port accessible from outside). Other end allow space for USB and power cable. (Power to top right, USB to top centre?)

Pi

Dimensions: TBC

Choice here: Mount top centre with HDMI flush against top panel for access. Use A+ (smaller, Lower Power consumption but power usb blocked if HDMI mounted flush - can always provide power to GPIO pins) or B (bigger, but HDMI not on same side as microUSB power for power.

Adafruit Powerboost 500C

Dimensions: TBC

Mount top right with switch?

Batteries

Dimensions: TBC

Top right with switch/powerboost

2.5" Hard Drive enclosure

Dimensions: TBC

Mount top left, between switch and Pi

3.5" RPi Touchscreen

Dimensions: Approx TBC

Mount dead centre - use ribbon cable to link.

This screen will be swapped for a 5"/7" standard LCD when I source.

I was originally planning on using a laptop battery to provide portable power for my box.

I recently ordered an Adafruit Powerboost 500C for a different project, and when it arrived today, it got me thinking...

It's ideal for providing 5v from a 3-5v power source, and has an inbuilt charging circuit for Lipo/Li-ion batteries.

I have 4 5000mAh, 3.7v Ultrafire batteries lying around from a Wall-e Project that didn't get completed; these bad lads have protection circuitry built in so it should be safe to use the Powerboost with these running in parallel.

If this works I plan using to power a 10 port USB hub from it, and I will use this hub to connect the Pi (for power and data) and my other peripherals (Arduino/Teensy, Wifi dongle 2.5" Hard drive.

The plan is coming together!

The Teensy LC looks great, and I'd love to get my hands on one!

If I was lucky enough to receive one I would use it to simplify my project.

As it stands I plan to use an Arduino Nano to manage my buttons. I order to do this I will require my Python scripting to monitor the arduino's output over serial. This script would then need to pass commands to my video playing script.

Using the Teensy's HID capabilties, however I would be able to send standard key presses and just have my video playing script respond to what it considers a normal keyboard! :-)

In my mind this project will rely on 3 pivotal Python Scripts:

1. Media Compiler

Ran at boot up, this script will Locate the media directories on an attached memory stick, at locations such as:

Media/PeppaPig

Media/FrozenSongs

Media/DespicableMe

As well as the memory stick content I will have a smaller directory on the SD that will be included too.

Once located the files in the directories will be compiled into a list to be passed to the Video playing script.

script 2 will then be triggered to capture the button requests.

2. Button Press Monitor

This will monitor the serial port to listen for incoming button presses, then pass information to the main video player.

For example, if button one is pressed (a nice bright pink arcade button to trigger the playing of Peppa Pig videos) the script will pass the Media/PeppaPig Directory location from the compiler script to the video layer and refresh. If button 3 is pressed (a minion-yellow one at that :-) ) it will pass the Media/DespicableMe Directory location and refresh.

It will also pass the next/previous button presses to the layer to skip through videos within the directory.

3. Video Player GUI

Using PyGame & PyMedia libraries I will aim to create a simple GUI that will be ran upon either from the desktop or instead of it. Not sure if Python GUIs would show if the whole start x thing isn't ran?

Anyhow, this player will simply loop through a given directory playing all contents in a loop. Skipping to the previous/next video will be possible via button presses.

Eventually I would like to expand this GUI to utilise the playing of Youtube videos etc if links are present in the directory.

I have ordered 4 arcade style buttons to start messing around with an Arduino Nano.

Until they Arrive I will breadboard some small tact switches to work on the functionality.

Once I have them I will be able to measure them up and look for ideas for an enclosure design!