Programmable Scrolling LED Name Badge

ozarkshermit

Hi
Does anyone know where to get some of the cables used to program these (7 x 29 scrolling LED badge)? The cable has a standard USB on one end, the other is a "Sub-Micro" size USB male plug. The plug is approximately 5.5 MM wide by 3 MM thick. I read somewhere that these are a proprietary cable, but find it hard to believe the ChiComs would not use some "off the shelf" cable. The plug ends both have the standard USB Triad type logo. I'm hacking some of these signs, and would rather just buy the badges, rather than badge, cable, and CD, if I can find cables cheap enough.
TIA
Ken

Duane C. Johnson

You have to give us a bit more:
A link would be best.

ozarkshermit

Thanks
Here is a link to one of several sites selling these
http://www.ebay.com/itm/RED-LED-Programmable-Scrolling-Name-Badge-Tag-Message-/250873616240?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a693b9770

dgately

ozarkshermit wrote: »

Thanks
Here is a link to one of several sites selling these
http://www.ebay.com/itm/RED-LED-Programmable-Scrolling-Name-Badge-Tag-Message-/250873616240?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a693b9770

Check this page on Wikipedia for possible connector types: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Serial_Bus

Seems like it might be a USB-micro (versus USB-mini) connector. The RaspberryPi uses this type of connector/cable for power...

dgately

ozarkshermit

Thanks - I had checked wikipedia earlier, and this connector is smaller than anything shown. I'm starting to believe that it is indeed a proprietary connector. I guess they sell enough of the badges that it was worth their while to develop their own connector. I am trying to buy just some cables from some of the vendors - probably a hopeless cause however.

Ken

Mark_T

If the plug dimensions you give are accurate then its neither mini USB nor micro USB I'm afraid... mini is 6.8x3.1 and micro is 6.8x1.8, as I've just measured.

ozarkshermit

Thanks.

I measured the plug with a digital micrometer, so the dimensions are accurate. I am now convinced this is a proprietary plug - I asked to purchase just some cables but probably won't succeed. These are really nice, small Led Matrix signs, I hope to hack some to be able to program them without using a PC, rather directly from a PIC, that way I should be able to send a variable (temperature) to them and display it along with a message.
Here is a link that "sparked my curiosity" for these.

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.digitalspirit.org%2Fwiki%2Fprojets%2Fledmatrixhacking

It is originally in French, but the link has the Google translator included. He states that the plug is proprietary, I guess I was hoping he was wrong. He is wrong on one thing though, regarding his statement that the sign could not be programmed via the cable. I originally purchased one with the cable and software, and then some others without the cable and software. They all program OK. I purchased two them from the ebay site I linked to earlier, and one other from another seller. I have opened one of them up, and hope to be able to solder two wires to where the usb is connected. There are only 4 connections, +, -, D+ and D-. They run fine just off the USB cable, using power from the port (don't need the LiIon battery). I plan on connecting my Logic Analyzer to D+ and D-, and interpret the protocol used.

Ken

ozarkshermit

By the way, I would like to point out that I am using a standard PIC, and programming it in PicBasicPro, which is very close to the Stamp software.
Ken

erco

Cool idea. As long as you're hacking to input the data, consider some of the cheaper $9 units which have no usb input, just 3 pushbuttons on the back. You could hack those switches and write code to bit bang directly into them.