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PropRGB now for sale! — Parallax Forums

PropRGB now for sale!

RaymanRayman Posts: 14,876
edited 2011-08-25 11:20 in Propeller 1
The PropRGB (new name) is a Propeller powered RGB matrix driver.
Just finished testing the production PCB and it works! Boards will be for sale in a week or 2.

Introductory Price: Fully populated PCB driver board is $40 and the LED matrix is $15,
so $55 is the price for a complete unit.

Shipping is $5 via USPS Priority Mail.

PRM_Bottom.jpg
PRM_Top.jpg


Matrix Datasheet:
BL-M23B881RGB.PDF

Betlux has actually improved the BL-M23B881RGB significantly. It's now much brighter and also gives off white with all channels on full, making life much easier for me.

The driver is finished and produces 24-bit color on each LED using 3 cogs.

The PropRGB has design features to allow a very large matrix to be controlled using a single PropPlug.

Product web page now up!
PDF
PDF
BL-M23B881RGB.PDF
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PRM_Top.jpg
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PRM_Bottom.jpg
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Comments

  • Martin HodgeMartin Hodge Posts: 1,246
    edited 2011-01-17 16:16
    This one is definitely on my list to buy as budget allows. Really nice work!
  • SapiehaSapieha Posts: 2,964
    edited 2011-01-17 16:16
    Hi Rayman.

    Nice module
  • Bill HenningBill Henning Posts: 6,445
    edited 2011-01-17 18:58
    Very nice work - I really like how you can stack them in both directions. Heck, with enough of them you could display video...
  • RaymanRayman Posts: 14,876
    edited 2011-05-27 14:37
    It's been a while, but I finally got around to testing the daisy-chain functionality and it checks out.

    Actually sold a unit at UPEW, so now I feel obligated to post a demo and a driver...

    I've updated the top post with the latest info...
  • avsa242avsa242 Posts: 454
    edited 2011-05-28 10:37
    Rayman,

    This is so cool...might get one of these from you. Just out of curiosity, have you done any measurements to see how much current the whole setup draws when the board is being driven at full white? The reason I ask is I'm not sure what power supply you're using with it or what you'd need to safely drive it at full tilt.
    Thanks!
    Jesse
  • RaymanRayman Posts: 14,876
    edited 2011-05-28 11:24
    Jesse, power draw is ~300mA, full on. The hardware itself is capable of something like 8A, i.e., driving each LED close to it's design limit.
    But, I didn't think many people would have that kind of power supply around (or want it that bright), so I've dialed it down.

    I control the power draw with the 24 resistors. They are 100 Ohms. But, you can always replace the resistors with bigger or smaller values.
  • avsa242avsa242 Posts: 454
    edited 2011-05-28 14:39
    Awesome...that's what I was worried about...thought you might need some monster wall wart or something that delivers several amps :)

    Cheers,
    Jesse
  • RaymanRayman Posts: 14,876
    edited 2011-05-29 13:36
    Jesse, I just measured again and it's actually closer to 400 mA, sorry about that. I think it's still low enough so that it's work with most power supplies.

    The one I'm testing with right now is rated for 9V and 300 mA and works fine with the PropRGB on full blast.
  • BigFootBigFoot Posts: 259
    edited 2011-05-29 17:54
    Rayman,

    That is really cool. Now if you could hook it up to stereo and make a light show out of it.
  • RaymanRayman Posts: 14,876
    edited 2011-05-29 18:57
    BigFoot, not a bad idea. I suppose there are lots of neat things you could do syncing with music... I'd also like to have it display data from Phil's voice recognition code...

    BTW: I've had it on full blast for a few hours now from the 300mA rated supply and all is well.
    But, the power supply, the LED matrix, and the driver board are all a bit warm...
  • avsa242avsa242 Posts: 454
    edited 2011-05-30 06:34
    Ray,
    Should be no prob...I have one switcher that puts out 9v @ 660 that I use for both my prop boards so even 400 should be okay.
    Can't wait to get this thing...I always feel like a kid at Christmas when waiting for a new prop board, heh

    Cheers,
    Jesse
  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2011-05-30 09:32
    Rayman, Wow, another amazing product. You sure make cool stuff!

    I looked at your product page and didn't find a schematic. Are you going to make a schematic available?

    Are you selling the LED matrix by itself?

    If not, what about selling multiple matrices with one controller board?

    Thanks,
    Duane
  • BigFootBigFoot Posts: 259
    edited 2011-05-30 10:34
    Rayman,

    I am using these 1.5 amp switchers in our PoS terminals and Vending machine controllers. They are not very
    high tech but are very efficient and reliable.
    TPropBd12.jpg
    1024 x 464 - 23K
  • RaymanRayman Posts: 14,876
    edited 2011-05-30 11:17
    BigFoot, I may need something like that soon because I want to do a 32x32 pixel matrix...

    Duane, Thanks. I do want to put up a schematic, just need to find time... The LED matrix is for sale for $15 by itself. I have plenty.

    avsa242, I'll box yours up for the mail tomorrow. I think you'll get it Thursday (or maybe Friday latest).
  • avsa242avsa242 Posts: 454
    edited 2011-06-02 13:43
    This thing is too cool. I'd take a video (tried, actually) of it but the color saturation just doesn't come anywhere's near doing the real thing justice! The color in this thing just *pops* (well duh, they're LEDs :D ) And you're definitely right Ray, this doesn't need to be any brighter. Well I know what I'm spending the evening fooling around with!

    Cheers,
    Jesse
  • RaymanRayman Posts: 14,876
    edited 2011-06-02 16:53
    Jesse, Thanks! Glad you're happy with it. I haven't been able to take good photo or video either...

    I want to make a PC app to control it, have to find some time for that...
  • avsa242avsa242 Posts: 454
    edited 2011-06-02 17:25
    Yeah I was trying to think of things to connect it to too. One idea (or the start of one anyway) was to interface it with the PTP, draw an 8x8 grid of circles on the screen and use that to manipulate the LED matrix by touch (I think I was thinking along the lines of the shadebob effect commonly used on the demo scene... Google Image search for shadebobs if unfamiliar). That'll take me some time though. I haven't done much with the touchscreen part of the ptp yet...
  • RaymanRayman Posts: 14,876
    edited 2011-06-03 03:13
    PTP control sounds cool. Shadebob should work in principle, like to see how that turns out.

    I'll have to try more tricks to get a picture, especially when I get the 32x32 pixel array going... Maybe outside in bright light would work...
  • RaymanRayman Posts: 14,876
    edited 2011-06-25 19:13
    Finally got around to writing a little Windows app for the PropRGB yesterday. Was showing it at UPEC and the kids there really seemed to have fun playing with it. Seems to have also been a good marketing tool because I sold all the units I brought with me, even the demo unit...

    You basically pick left and right colors and then use the mouse buttons to paint the matrix.

    Anyway, here's what it looks like. It maybe needs a hair more polish, but I'll post the code and app soon to the product page.

    PropRGB_SerialInterface.png
    PropRGB_SerialInterface.png
    835 x 643 - 39K
  • avsa242avsa242 Posts: 454
    edited 2011-06-29 13:51
    Cool :) Glad to hear they cleaned you out! Definitely a fun little board to work on...it's like driving around and checking out peoples' Christmas lights decorations - lots of different ways you can go. I got the shadebobs working, basically, and the touchscreen side working on the PTP. Now I just need to physically connect the two boards to see if it actually works. The logic I have in there for the hue shifting code needs work, though. I'll post the code if I can get the drive they're on working; it seems to have died all of a sudden :/

    Cheers,
    Jesse

    Edit: Just as a sidebar, this works under Wine, too...for non-Windows users. The interface is a little messed up (the LED placeholders appear over the status area and Help button) but it works...very cool...can definitely see the kids going for that (what's that say about me?? :) )
  • schillschill Posts: 741
    edited 2011-06-29 13:55
    Rayman wrote: »
    Was showing it at UPEC and the kids there really seemed to have fun playing with it. Seems to have also been a good marketing tool because I sold all the units I brought with me, even the demo unit...

    I didn't get a chance to play with them at UPEC, but they looked pretty cool.
  • sssidneysssidney Posts: 64
    edited 2011-08-25 06:03
    How are these daisy chained together? Does one of your boards drive multiple matrix boards?
  • RaymanRayman Posts: 14,876
    edited 2011-08-25 11:20
    I haven't demonstrated that yet, but I do have P31 and P30 brought out to headers on either side of the board with the idea of allowing communications between boards.

    I want to demonstrate chain loading, where you load on board with the Prop Tool and it then programs all the other boards.
    Since each board has a hardware address, it should work.

    In principle, up to 256 boards could be connected...
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