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Illuminator-CA and Sparkler - Propeller controlled LEDs! — Parallax Forums

Illuminator-CA and Sparkler - Propeller controlled LEDs!

Timothy D. SwieterTimothy D. Swieter Posts: 1,613
edited 2009-08-15 00:15 in Propeller 1
I have created another device that can control LEDs (or motors or relays etc). The device is called the Illuminator-CA. There are 24 outputs via MOSFETs that will operate in PWM or BAM. The outputs are arranged in groups of three for a total of 8 groups. Each group is well suited to control common anode wired RGB LEDs.

The Illuminator-CA has a Propeller controlling everything. There are a couple of LEDs and a button for user interface as well as DMX512-A/RS-485 circuitry. The device will be configured through a serial terminal. At the moment I am verifying hardware and working through firmware. The next step is to then post it on the Brilldea web site. Drop me a PM if you are interested in learning more as I am selling beta units.

I also created the Sparkler, which is a grouping of 24 RGB LEDs on a rigid PCB. The Sparkler can be mated to the backside of the Illuminator-CA or attached via wires. The Sparkler has the 24 RGB LEDs arranged in eight groups, or you can alternately solder the jumper pads on the back of the Sparkler to combine groups - in other words instead of 24 I/Os needed, you could combine them so only 3 I/Os control the entire block.

I'll keep the thread updated and post more details as I verify the design.

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Timothy D. Swieter, E.I.
www.brilldea.com - Prop Blade, LED Painter, RGB LEDs, 3.0" LCD Composite video display, eProto for SunSPOT
www.tdswieter.com
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Comments

  • SeariderSearider Posts: 290
    edited 2009-08-14 01:16
    This looks very cool what are the dimentions of the boards?

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    Searider
  • Shawn LoweShawn Lowe Posts: 635
    edited 2009-08-14 01:34
    Bit Angle Modulation- man I think that is a cool concept! Boards look good!

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    Shawn Lowe


    When all else fails.....procrastinate!
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2009-08-14 01:51
    Timothy,

    Great job! You have a flair for style that really shows in your boards.

    -Phil
  • Timothy D. SwieterTimothy D. Swieter Posts: 1,613
    edited 2009-08-14 01:51
    The PCBs are 4 inches by 5 inches. The input voltage to the PCB can be from 6V to 24V. There is a switching regulators for the 3.3V and what ever VIN is, it is also on V+ of the terminal blocks. I suspect most people will operate the device with 9V, 12V or 24V.

    The first pass at the firmware uses Beau's PWM object. I want to create a BAM object - or maybe there is one already, I haven't checked.

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    Timothy D. Swieter, E.I.
    www.brilldea.com - Prop Blade, LED Painter, RGB LEDs, 3.0" LCD Composite video display, eProto for SunSPOT
    www.tdswieter.com
  • Timothy D. SwieterTimothy D. Swieter Posts: 1,613
    edited 2009-08-14 01:56
    Thanks Phil. I think you agree, nothing beats hand routing and thinking through the design. I try to layout the PCBs in a clear manner since the PCB is the user interface. There was a problem with the PCB house for the sparkler, so you can might be able to see how there are vias disrupting some of the lines and text.

    One of the key design elements for the Illuminator-CA was that everything had to be pluggable. I recently worked with some devices that had to have every terminal block undone and other oddities. I decided things must be easy to hook-up and easy to plug/unplug. This helps for home and commercial installation during install and commissioning.

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    Timothy D. Swieter, E.I.
    www.brilldea.com - Prop Blade, LED Painter, RGB LEDs, 3.0" LCD Composite video display, eProto for SunSPOT
    www.tdswieter.com
  • Roger LeeRoger Lee Posts: 339
    edited 2009-08-14 02:21
    Very nice!!!

    What does the " CA " in Illuminator-CA stand for?

    Roger
  • Timothy D. SwieterTimothy D. Swieter Posts: 1,613
    edited 2009-08-14 02:22
    Common Anode. This particular design is best suited for Common Anode wired RGB LEDs. That is a single positive voltage to the LEDs and then the n-channel MOSFETs control the cathode of the red, green and blue LEDs.

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    Timothy D. Swieter, E.I.
    www.brilldea.com - Prop Blade, LED Painter, RGB LEDs, 3.0" LCD Composite video display, eProto for SunSPOT
    www.tdswieter.com
  • Roger LeeRoger Lee Posts: 339
    edited 2009-08-14 02:42
    Common Anode DOH!!!
    I'm still in my blinking light phase, can't have too many LEDs.

    I'm more comfortable with common cathode when I have a choice.

    Roger
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2009-08-14 02:47
    Timothy D. Swieter said...
    I think you agree, nothing beats hand routing and thinking through the design.
    Absolutely! It's more than just making connections. There's a feng shui to PCB design that autorouting can never attain!

    -Phil
  • Timothy D. SwieterTimothy D. Swieter Posts: 1,613
    edited 2009-08-14 02:57
    feng shui - exactly!!

    Common anode versus common cathode is a bit of a sore spot with me. I haven't learned yet the appropriate chinese terms for it, so when I am in the markets I try to explain what I want or ask a question on a product. I have bought products of both types and usually it is when I want one or the other. I prefer common anode from an easy to control standpoint such as n-channel MOSFETs, but I can understand the argument for safety with common cathode.

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    Timothy D. Swieter, E.I.
    www.brilldea.com - Prop Blade, LED Painter, RGB LEDs, 3.0" LCD Composite video display, eProto for SunSPOT
    www.tdswieter.com
  • Timothy D. SwieterTimothy D. Swieter Posts: 1,613
    edited 2009-08-15 00:15
    I'm considering "employing" someone who is interested in creating a combined PWM/BAM object. I am moving too slow in areas of development for portions of the Illuminator-CA, so if someone was interested in creating an object, I would pay them with an Illuminator-CA and perhaps also a Sparkler. Only those that have experience in assembly and creating objects should reply. I need to think through the object requirements, but one requirement is that the object be MIT licensed so it can be placed in the Object Exchange. IF you are interested, drop me a PM.

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    Timothy D. Swieter, E.I.
    www.brilldea.com - Prop Blade, LED Painter, RGB LEDs, 3.0" LCD Composite video display, eProto for SunSPOT
    www.tdswieter.com
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