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Multicolor LEDS block? — Parallax Forums

Multicolor LEDS block?

mikedivmikediv Posts: 825
edited 2010-02-24 23:10 in General Discussion
Hi guys I bought these LED blocks someone posted the link and I bought a few,, I have attached the data sheet it pretty worthless, but here is my question its suppose to be red/yellow and green leds I can get the green to flash by randomly poking around for the pins since I cant figure out the real pin out, but how do I get thew other colors I tried changing the voltage and the polarit but nothing what am I missing thanks
pdf
pdf
18050opsquareLEDSltaab01.pdf
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led.JPG
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led2.JPG
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Comments

  • davejamesdavejames Posts: 4,047
    edited 2010-02-23 20:05
    ...ewwwww - man, you're right! That "data sheet" stinketh.

    The only thing I could garner from it is that each cell has 3 LEDs, but the connection diagram is incomprehensible. I took a quick look around the InterWeb for this part and the two "examples" found were just as poorly written.

    Cool idea though.

    DJ

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  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2010-02-23 20:40
    The datasheet seems pretty clear. For one thing each cell contains only one LED -- one color. Most of the cells are green, but a few in the top row are other colors, as indicated in the diagram. The column lines connect to the LED cathodes; the row lines to the anodes. To turn on the LED in row 4, column 6, for example, you'd apply a current-limited positive voltage to R4(C6-10) (pin 14) and ground C1&6 (pin 7).

    -Phil
  • davejamesdavejames Posts: 4,047
    edited 2010-02-23 23:13
    ...an example of when something is explained, it becomes clear. Thank you.

    I presumed (won't use assumed 'cause I already look like one) that there were multiple colors per cell, mainly because there weren't words telling me otherwise.

    (smiles)

    DJ

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  • mikedivmikediv Posts: 825
    edited 2010-02-23 23:29
    Thanks guys, Dave I'm with you man it my make sense once you look at it for a long enough time but I ended up just going pin to pin and writing down my results, Phil your right after doing this for an hour I figured out that the LEDS are single colored ,
    but when you look at the ad from MJP it gives you a sense that you can control the color of each LED it would have been really cool if I could but in the end there are a few reds a few yellow and a lot of greens.
    Dave I found the one online where a guy used 5 of them to make a display he posted a lot of pictures and the project looked awesome but no schematic or diagram. I bought a few other LED packs some have less than the others but they are very bright I wanted to make a kind of TV display out of a bunch of them I saw a program about the big screen TV's at the football stadiums and each cell is an LED its really cool how good it looks from far away but they showed it up close and you can see each LED
    Thanks again
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2010-02-23 23:39
    mikediv said...
    ... but when you look at the ad from MJP it gives you a sense that you can control the color of each LED ...
    I know the feeling. It's like buying "sea monkeys" from a comic book ad and, when they arrive, finding out that they're just brine shrimp. smile.gif

    -Phil
  • mikedivmikediv Posts: 825
    edited 2010-02-24 00:03
    Phil that's funny, me and brothers were at a family dinner last weekend and we were all talking about the sea monkeys its was hilarious I have 2 sisters and 2 brothers we all had to have them growing up. The only thing mine ever did was grow a rancid smelling ooze that I would beg my mom not to throw out becuase they jsut needed more time LOL then when I had kids of my own they just had to have them no matter what I said about it being a rip off my girls just had to have them , It was like a flash back after a month of rotting water and bug eggs ripened in my daughters room it smelled like a septic tank but she would beg me for more time lol...
    Memories huh
  • electrosyselectrosys Posts: 212
    edited 2010-02-24 00:19
    mikediv
    I think your are mistaken, the LED module is mulitcolor (3 color) in fact the LED module has Red LEDs & Green LEDs, and yellow
    color, when you light on the LEDs Red+Green=Yellow. I am quite sure about that, as I have some kind modules almost like yours,
    I have use them at some multicolor projects as well. Try again and look at PDF schematic, it would not make sense to make a kind
    of LED module, by mixing some Red & some Green or Yellow!!! Would it?

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    At the end, everything will became Electron...!
  • electrosyselectrosys Posts: 212
    edited 2010-02-24 00:51
    At·the attached·photo of the LED module, (the module that I use)

    The first LED upper from left will ligt as:
    Red =··Pins·22 & 23
    Green=Pins 22 & 24
    Yellow=Pins 22 & Pins 23+24

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    At the end, everything will became Electron...!

    Post Edited (electrosys) : 2/24/2010 12:56:43 AM GMT
    Multicolor LED Module.JPG
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  • kwinnkwinn Posts: 8,697
    edited 2010-02-24 03:45
    I think there are 3 leds for each position in the matrix. Why else list the forward voltage drop for red, green, and yellow leds. Of course figuring out the multiplexing scheme from such a lousy data sheet is not easy.
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2010-02-24 03:56
    There is only one LED per cell. Look at the datasheet. It shows which colors are where and how the LEDs are connected. Plus, it would make no sense to combine red, green and yellow LEDs in one cell, since yellow can be produced by multiplexing red and green. This matrix is obviously designed for a product where the top row had special significance apart from the other rows, requiring colors other than green.

    -Phil
  • electrosyselectrosys Posts: 212
    edited 2010-02-24 11:39
    OK guys, my mistake, I am sorry,
    I admit that sheme at PDF file & modules data is kind of confusing! It looks not like a multiplexing but rather a kind of Charliplexing maybe, again, if I am not mistaking, because by closer look at your modules data (attached PDF) I find out that your module looks some differnts from the LED module that I have (attached image) try to work a liitle more with the module, you will soon find out & search internet for some better data.

    Good luck

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    At the end, everything will became Electron...!
  • PJAllenPJAllen Banned Posts: 5,065
    edited 2010-02-24 13:22
    Too, right, Phil: it's all (all) there in the datasheet.·

    Don't infer or impute, just read; let the scales fall from your eyes.· Minds are like parachutes -·they only work when they are open.· You can't fight this year's war with last year's battle plan.

    The modules were fab'ed for a particular customer, he wanted those colors and·in that arrangement; deal, kids.
  • davejamesdavejames Posts: 4,047
    edited 2010-02-24 16:18
    ...ok dad.

    (smiles)

    DJ

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  • Spiral_72Spiral_72 Posts: 791
    edited 2010-02-24 23:10
    Hey those are some really nice displays! You could ah, you could..... hmmmm.

    How about basic stamp pong? Two momentary pushbuttons for each player and score is kept on the top row of multicolored LEDs???

    Sorry, I would have bought them too.... multicolored displays.... Wow.

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    "puff"...... Smile, there went another one.
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