General Notes for ThingM Operations:

Reset Sequence:

When ThingM is first powered on, it automatically resets itself and all of its internal 
memory. Resetting ThingM a 2rd time or more (with the RESET pushbutton) will 
only resynchronize the controller electronics, but will not affect the data values which 
are stored in memory for that particular shooting session.

Keypad Operations:

The ThingM keypad allows basically 2 modes of operation: Programming and 
Running. Programming may take a few keystrokes to complete (beginning with the 
PGM/MENU key), while Running is as simple as pressing the RUN/STOP key. In 
fact if all you want to do is shoot a single frame at at time, ThingM is already 
programmed to run 1 Preset Frame Count at power-on time. 

For Programming mode, the PGM/MENU key is used to access either each data 
selection individually, or else all of them sequentially. Each data selection is 
associated with one of the number keys, such as FRM, EXP, LPS, etc. Once you 
have become familiar with the orientation of the menu selection keys, you will find 
that you can access them directly without using the PGM/MENU key first.  The only 
difference between whether a number key is used as a menu selection or as a data 
value is when the cursor on the display is flashing. 

Data Displays:

Any time a data key is pressed, a flashing cursor will appear for prompting the 
clearing, updating, or entering of data. You have the option for pressing the CLEAR 
key, or entering a new value with a sequence of number keys, or leaving the data 
entry alone. Once the data value on display is acceptable, press the ENTER key to 
accept it. (This is like pressing the RETURN key on IBM computers or the OK 
button on Macintosh computers.) If for some reason you do not want the data entry, 
and you cannot remember what the original entry in memory was, you can hit the 
PGM/MENU key instead. This will allow you to start the data entry process all over.  
(This is like the corresponding ESCAPE key on IBMs or the CANCEL button on 
Macs.) 

In either case, the cursor should stop flashing on the display, and return to the OK 
prompt with the current Total Counter. This is true whether the data was actually 
updated or not. If you are not sure, then just check the menu selection again. 


Running Sequences:

Once all applicable data has been programmed into ThingM, the sequence may be 
run by pressing the RUN/STOP key. If only 1 Preset Frame Count is programmed, 
the camera motor will run only 1 revolution. If more than 1 Preset Frame Count is 
programmed, the motor will run continuously as long as there are no time exposures 
or time lapse intervals. If a Lapse Time is programmed, the motor will pause after 
each full revolution. If an Exposure Time is programmed, the motor will also pause in 
the middle of each revolution at the the shutter-open position. 

If you wish to hold the running sequence, press the RUN/STOP key again. The 
current exposure should complete its revolution cycle, and a HLD prompt should 
appear to flash on the display. Pressing the RUN/STOP key once more will allow 
the running sequence to complete its Preset Frame Count. Otherwise any other key, 
such as CLEAR or PGM/MENU, will stop the whole sequence altogether.

Motor Operation:

In any of the above cases,  the camera motor will always run some multiple of a full 
revolution. Each motor revolution is motion controlled with acceleration and 
deceleration ramping. Only after the final deceleration ramp does the ThingM logic 
sense for the camera Home switch. Normally the motor locates the Home switch 
position exactly at the end of the revolution.  Otherwise the motor continues to run at 
its lowest speed until it reaches Home.  (This would happen in cases where the 
motor had stalled or slipped if there was not enough torque available at the desired 
Speed and Ramp.)