Huge messageboard

Tumbler · 2013-03-14 03:08

Making progress here (regarding this post: http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php/144990-Large-messageboard)

My local soccerteam needs a large messageboard (for score and massaging stuff)

Since this has to be viewed at a large distance, the board will be at least 5m wide (70cm high)
So i start this project with 12 (or maybe 10) displays (each display consists 16 ledstrips, like a 16 digit display)

Uploaded some pics here:

This has to be the final product. ( i like photo editing software

)

And from a distance...

My first 2 displays, 10 to go ....
(almost 2 meters wide, 60 cm high) Tv is a 27 inch one)

wired the ledstrips...

And the drivers, need 3 of them.

some test with my first design...

And of course, it will be controlled by a propeller.

Video is coming up later...

Tumbler · 2013-03-14 04:33

And a video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EColROJJc5Q

Ttailspin · 2013-03-14 07:13

That looks like it will be very easy to read from a distance,
Maybe you could use a black background to make the LEDs really shine?

-Tommy

Martin Hodge · 2013-03-14 12:35

That's going to be a sweet display!

JLocke · 2013-03-14 17:02

Very nice! I hope you'll post full project details here when it's completed (looks like you're almost there!).
I used to help out a friend at a sign shop, and learned a good rule of thumb for character height is 1" of letter height for every 10 feet of distance it's to be read. So I guess that's 2.54 cm in height for every 3 meters in viewing distance. This is looking very good!

Tumbler · 2013-03-16 02:17

looks like you're almost there

Hmmm, i'm not :blank:
Finished my first panel, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0ntRBnoI2I&list=UUWYbKz2Sm27cdXqD5b6HEUA

and i need 6 of them.

And here is the driver pcb, can drive 4 displays (4 letters)
4 layer pcb

Almost finished my second panel, just need to connect it to the driver pcb and make a small program for the propeller.

Will upload a movie later this day

Tumbler · 2013-03-16 11:18

As promised

Mark_T · 2013-03-17 18:36

Very nice! Have you tried viewing in daylight?

Tumbler · 2013-03-20 21:31

Yes i have. The leds are bright enough.
Just have to test it in direct sun light.

Ken Gracey · 2013-03-20 21:45

Hey Tumbler,

I really like your your sign project. It'll have tremendous visibility, a useful purpose, and represents a great connection between community and technologists. I'm inspired to build something again.

Here's a different implementation of a neon sign project I built about ten years ago. Jon McPhalen provided the BS2p24 code.

http://www.parallax.com/tabid/336/default.aspx

And a video:

I'll continue to read this thread regularly.

Ken Gracey

Tumbler · 2013-03-21 12:40

Thx Ken,

I didn't thought about some animation after seeing your movie.
So i did some tests and uploaded a new movie.

I like the 'carrousel' sub and the 'independence day' test

The 'that's why...' text is coming from a sd card.

I hope to finish the next 4 displays this weekend.
Today i contacted some guy who is making a waterproof housing for these displays.

video:

And this is the code i'm using now for testing.

CON   _clkmode = xtal1 + pll16x
  _xinfreq = 5_000_000




CON




'Shiftregisters
  CLOCK           = 0            ' CLOCK pin number of CLK  pin on chip (AKA SCK)
  DATAIN          = 2            ' DATAIN pin number of SER   pin on chip
  LATCH           = 1            ' LATCH pin number of RCK  pin on chip




' SD Card
  DO              = 20      'Set these pins to match your SD connections.
  CLK             = 21
  DI              = 22
  CS              = 23




'Xbee
  XBT   =  10  'DIN                                                  
  XBR   =  11  'DOUT








OBJ
  pst   : "Parallax Serial Terminal"
  sdfat : "fsrw"
  xbee      : "xbee_object_2"




   
VAR
  long  letter,bitout,databyte
  byte id
  long LETTERS[95]
  byte inbuf[100]
  byte inMB[100] 




CON   
    
 
    A1=  %1<<0             
    A2=  %1<<1
    B=   %1<<2
    C=   %1<<3
    D1=   %1<<4
    D2=  %1<<5
    E=  %1<<6
    F=   %1<<7
    G1=  %1<<8
    G2=  %1<<9
    H=   %1<<10
    I=   %1<<11
    J=   %1<<12
    K=   %1<<13
    L=   %1<<14
    M=   %1<<15




   
      
    
PUB Main | idx,r  
  'special




  LETTERS[32] := 0                      ' space
  LETTERS[33] := 0                      ' !
  LETTERS[34] := F+H                    ' "
  LETTERS[35] := 0                      ' #
  LETTERS[36] := 0                      ' $
  LETTERS[37] := A1+H+G1+F+G2+C+D2+I+K+L' %
  LETTERS[38] := A1+A2+J+K+I+D1+D2      ' &  glass  
  LETTERS[39] := F                      ' '
  LETTERS[40] := H+G1+G2+L+M            ' (  little man arms down
  LETTERS[41] := H+J+K+L+M              ' )  little man arms up
  LETTERS[42] := G1+G2+I+L+H+J+M+K      ' *
  LETTERS[43] := G1+G2+H+I              ' +
  LETTERS[44] := L                      ' ,
  LETTERS[45] := G1+G2                  ' -
  LETTERS[46] := D1                     ' .
  LETTERS[47] := L+K                    ' /
'numbers
  LETTERS[48] :=  A1+A2+B+C+D1+D2+E+F+K+L   '0
  LETTERS[49] :=  A1+H+I+D1+D2              '1
  LETTERS[50] :=  A1+A2+B+D1+D2+E+G1+G2     '2
  LETTERS[51] :=  A1+A2+B+C+D1+D2+G1+G2     '3
  LETTERS[52] :=  B+C+F+G1+G2               '4
  LETTERS[53] :=  A1+A2+C+D1+D2+F+G1+G2     '5
  LETTERS[54] :=  A1+A2+C+D1+D2+E+F+G1+G2   '6
  LETTERS[55] :=  A1+A2+K+I                 '7
  LETTERS[56] :=  A1+A2+B+C+D1+D2+E+F+G1+G2 '8
  LETTERS[57] :=  A1+A2+B+C+D1+D2+F+G1+G2   '9




'special
  LETTERS[58] := A1+D1                    ':
  LETTERS[59] := A1+L                     ';
  LETTERS[60] := K+M+B+C                  '<
  LETTERS[61] := G1+G2+D1+D2              '=
  LETTERS[62] := J+L+F+E                  '>
  LETTERS[63] := 0                        '?




'alphabet 
  LETTERS[64] := 0                      '@
  LETTERS[65] := A1+A2+B+C+E+F+G1+G2    'A
  LETTERS[66] := A1+A2+B+C+D1+D2+G2+H+I 'B
  LETTERS[67] := A1+A2+D1+D2+E+F        'C
  LETTERS[68] := A1+A2+B+C+D1+D2+H+I    'D
  LETTERS[69] := A1+A2+D1+D2+E+F+G1     'E
  LETTERS[70] := A1+A2+E+F+G1           'F
  LETTERS[71] := A1+A2+C+D1+D2+E+F+G2   'G
  LETTERS[72] := B+C+E+F+G1+G2          'H
  LETTERS[73] := A1+A2+H+I+D1+D2        'I
  LETTERS[74] := B+C+D1+D2              'J
  LETTERS[75] := E+F+G1+K+M             'K
  LETTERS[76] := D1+D2+E+F              'L
  LETTERS[77] := B+C+E+F+J+K            'M
  LETTERS[78] := B+C+E+F+J+M            'N
  LETTERS[79] := A1+A2+B+C+D1+D2+E+F    'O
  LETTERS[80] := A1+A2+B+E+F+G1+G2      'P
  LETTERS[81] := A1+A2+B+C+D1+D2+E+F+M  'Q
  LETTERS[82] := A1+A2+B+E+F+G1+G2+M    'R
  LETTERS[83] := A1+A2+C+D1+D2+F+G1+G2  'S
  LETTERS[84] := A1+A2+H+I              'T
  LETTERS[85] := B+C+D1+D2+E+F          'U
  LETTERS[86] := E+F+L+K                'V
  LETTERS[87] := B+C+E+F+L+M            'W
  LETTERS[88] := J+K+L+M                'X
  LETTERS[89] := J+K+I                  'Y
  LETTERS[90] := A1+A2+D1+D2+K+L        'Z




  LETTERS[91] := A1+F+E+D1              '[ 
  LETTERS[92] := J+M                    '\ 
  LETTERS[93] := A2+B+C+D2              '] 
  LETTERS[94] := K+B                    '^ 
  LETTERS[95] := D1+D2                  '_ 
 
  
 
  'start terminal
  pst.Start(115_200)
  xbee.start(XBR, XBT, %0000, 9_600)                            ' start XBee coms 9600 baud
  pause
  xbee.tx("O")                                                  
  xbee.tx("K")                                                  ' indicate ready




   
  Init




  xbee.rxflush                                                  ' clear trash from xbee
  
{{  repeat
    getstring(string(13),@inbuf)
    'pst.str(string("this is what is in the buffer: "))
    'pst.str(@inbuf)
    'pst.str(13)








    'check for predefined commands
    if inbuf[0] == "@"
      if inbuf[1]== "1"
        carrousel(5)
      if inbuf[1]=="2"
        flash(5)
      if inbuf[1]=="5"
        SDCard
    'else show textfield




    elseif inbuf[0]=="!"
      idx := inbuf[1] 
      pst.dec(idx)
      pst.str(13)
      writeSer(idx)




    else
      repeat idx from 0 to strsize(@inbuf)-1
        pst.dec(inbuf[idx])
        pst.str(13)
        writeSer(LETTERS[inbuf[idx]])
        qpause
      bytemove(@inMB, @Inbuf, 100) 'Copy Buff1 to Buff2
      
 }}




  repeat
    writeLine(0,0,0,0)
    writeLine(A1+A2+H+I,B+C+G1+G2+E+F,J+K+L+M,0)    'thx
    pause
    writeLine(F+E+G1+K+M,A1+A2+F+G1+E+D1+D2,E+F+J+M+B+  C,0)  'ken
    pause
    writeLine(0,F+G1+G2+B+C,0,0)     '4
    pause
    writeLine(A1+A2+H+I,E+F+G1+G2+B+C,A1+A2+F+G1+E+D1+  D2,0)   'the
    pause
    writeLine(A1+A2+H+I,A1+A2+H+I+D1+D2,E+F+A1+A2+B+G2  +G1,0)  'tip
    pause




    SDCard        'read file from SD card
    'pause
    carrousel(5)  'show the carrousel 5 times




    'independence day test
    writeLine(0,0,0,G2)
    vqpause
    writeLine(0,0,0,G1)
    vqpause
    writeLine(0,0,G2,0)
    vqpause
    writeLine(0,G2,0,0)
    vqpause
    writeLine(0,G1,0,0)
    vqpause
    writeLine(G2,0,0,0)
    vqpause
    writeLine(J+K+L+M,0,0,0)   '*
    vqpause
    writeLine(A1+A2+H+I,0,0,0)  'T
    pause
    writeLine(A1+A2+H+I,0,0,G2)
    vqpause
    writeLine(A1+A2+H+I,0,0,G1)
    vqpause
    writeLine(A1+A2+H+I,0,G2,0)
    vqpause
    writeLine(A1+A2+H+I,0,G1,0)
    vqpause
    writeLine(A1+A2+H+I,G2,0,0)
    vqpause
    writeLine(A1+A2+H+I,G1,0,0)
    vqpause
    writeLine(A1+A2+H+I,J+K+L+M,0,0)  'T*
    vqpause
    writeLine(A1+A2+H+I,E+F+G1+G2+B+C,0,0)  'TH
    pause
    writeLine(A1+A2+H+I,E+F+G1+G2+B+C,0,G2)  
    vqpause
    writeLine(A1+A2+H+I,E+F+G1+G2+B+C,0,G1)  
    vqpause
    writeLine(A1+A2+H+I,E+F+G1+G2+B+C,G2,0) 
    vqpause
    writeLine(A1+A2+H+I,E+F+G1+G2+B+C,G1,0)  
    vqpause
    writeLine(A1+A2+H+I,E+F+G1+G2+B+C,J+K+L+M,0)  'TH*
    vqpause
    writeLine(A1+A2+H+I,E+F+G1+G2+B+C,J+K+L+M,0)  'THX
    pause
    writeLine(0,0,0,0)
    pause
    pause    




 
PUB SDCard | mount ,r




  writeLine(0,0,0,0)
  ' mount sd card
  mount := \sdfat.mount_explicit(DO, CLK, DI, CS)
  if mount < 0
    pst.str( string( 13, "Failed to mount", 13 ) )
    abort
  pst.str(string(13,"SD was card found and mounted fine.",13))
  
  sdfat.popen(string("data.txt"),"r")
   
  repeat                    'Start a repeat loop
    r := sdfat.pgetc        'Get a character from data.txt
    letter := r
    'pst.dec(r)
      if r < 0              'If the character is "less than zero"
         pst.newline        '  send a newline to the terminal
         
         quit               '  and quit.
      if r > 10             'If the character is "greater than 10"
         pst.char(r)         '  send the character to the screen. 
         WriteSer(LETTERS[letter])    'and write it to the modules    
         QPause
  pst.str(string("Closing file and unmounting SD card.",13))
   
  sdfat.pclose  
   
  'Unmount the card and end program.
  sdfat.unmount  
   
 








PUB WriteSer(Data)
  Data ><= 16                     ' bitwise reverse the lsbs
  repeat 16                      ' shift out 8 bits
    outa[DATAIN] := Data         ' shift out next bit (bit0)  to serial pin (0 or 1)
    outa[CLOCK] ~~       ' toggle the clock pin to shift bit out
    outa[CLOCK] ~        ' high then low to cycle the clock
    Data >>= 1                       'next bit
  outa[LATCH]~~        ' toggle the RCK pin to latch the output
  outa[LATCH]~    
  'waitcnt(clkfreq + cnt)








PUB WriteSerNoLatch(Data)  
  Data ><= 16                     ' bitwise reverse the lsbs
  repeat 16                      ' shift out 8 bits
    outa[DATAIN] := Data         ' shift out next bit (bit0)  to serial pin (0 or 1)
    outa[CLOCK] ~~       ' toggle the clock pin to shift bit out
    outa[CLOCK] ~        ' high then low to cycle the clock
    Data >>= 1                       'next bit




PUB WriteLine(data1,data2,data3,data4)
   WriteSerNoLatch(data1)
   WriteSerNoLatch(data2)
   WriteSerNoLatch(data3)
   WriteSer(data4)
   
PUB AllOff
    repeat id from 1 to 16 
      outa[DATAIN]:= 0
      outa[CLOCK] :=1       ' toggle the clock pin to shift bit out
      outa[CLOCK] :=0
      LatchIt
      




PUB LatchIt
      outa[LATCH] := 1
      outa[LATCH] := 0 




PUB Pause
  waitcnt(clkfreq + cnt)




PUB QPause
  waitcnt(clkfreq/2 + cnt)




PUB VQPause
  waitcnt(clkfreq/30 + cnt)




PUB Init
  'set control line as ouputs
  dira[CLOCK] ~~
  dira[DATAIN] ~~
  dira[LATCH] ~~




PUB getstring(endstr, buffer) | rxchar, ec, ce
  ce := 0
  repeat
    rxchar := xbee.rx
    ec := endstr
    'search term list for end char
    repeat while byte[ec] <> 0
      if byte[ec] == rxchar
        byte[buffer] := 0  'null terminate return str
        return byte [ec]   'return terminator
      else
        ec++
    if rxchar <> 10
      byte[buffer] := rxchar
    ce++
    if ce < 100
      buffer++
 
PUB Carrousel (count)
  repeat count
    writeLine(A1,0,0,D2)
    VQpause
    writeLine(A2,0,0,D1)
    VQpause
    writeLine(0,A1,D2,0)
    VQpause
    writeLine(0,A2,D1,0)
    VQpause
    writeLine(0,D2,A1,0)
    VQpause
    writeLine(0,D1,A2,0)
    VQpause
    writeLine(D2,0,0,A1)
    VQpause
    writeLine(D1,0,0,A2)
    VQpause
    writeLine(E,0,0,B)
    VQpause
    writeLine(F,0,0,C)
    VQpause
    writeLine(A1,0,0,D2)
    VQpause
    writeLine(A2,0,0,D1)
    VQpause
    writeLine(0,A1,D2,0)
    VQpause
    writeLine(0,A2,D1,0)
    VQpause
    writeLine(0,D2,A1,0)
    VQpause
    writeLine(0,D1,A2,0)
    VQpause
    writeLine(D2,0,0,A1)
    VQpause
    writeLine(D1,0,0,A2)
    VQpause
    writeLine(E,0,0,B)
    VQpause
    writeLine(F,0,0,C)
    VQpause




PUB Flash(count) | idx
  repeat count
    writeLine(0,0,0,0)
    qpause
    repeat idx from 0 to 3
        writeSer(LETTERS[inMB[idx]])
    qpause

Added the xbee lib for future use, i'm working on a visual basic project to control this board.

screenshot:

Tumbler · 2013-06-15 11:15

**UPDATE**

Almost completed the frames for the panels.

Blank panel:

Front:

Back:

Placed horizontally (4m wide)

and vertically (1,2 m high)

And painted

More to come (soon i hope)...

eod_punk · 2013-06-16 07:31

Very nice Tumbler. I can't wait to see what next.

Duane Degn · 2013-06-16 11:10

Cool project Tumbler. I'm a fan of LEDs myself.

Can you control the brightness of the display?

I doubt you need to control the the brightness of the individual segments (though I don't think it would be too hard to do so) but I'd think controlling the overall brightness would be useful.

It looks like you've tied the enable pin low on your PCB. I did the same with my recent LED project and in hindsight I wish I had routed the enable pins to the input header.

I'm pretty sure one could control the brightness of a display using TPIC6B595 chips by pulsing the enable pin (by "enable" I mean pin 9 "/G" on the datasheet).

Do you have specs on those LED strips you're using? They're pretty darn bright. What's the spacing between LEDs?

Thanks for sharing your project. It's fun to watch your sign in action.

Tumbler · 2013-06-16 11:55

Mason, i hope very soon

Duane, i can't control the brightness anymore, since i have grounded the enable pin of the tpics. :frown: (seems i made the same mistake as you)

Ledstrip specs (sorry, it's in dutch) : http://www.ledstripxl.nl/product-informatie/5-meter-LED-Strip-Los-IP65/LED01WS/LED-Strip-Waterproof-60*LED-5meter-Koud-Wit-Los.html

Cluso99 · 2013-06-16 14:38

Tumbler: Nice project, WTG

Tip for next time.. put a slope on your display. I am not sure of the angle - perhaps an old datasheet of a 16segment display will have the typical slope angle used, or you can measure one.

Ken Gracey · 2013-06-17 21:35

Just got to watch the reply video, Tumbler. You're welcome for the tip, and the animation looks great BTW. I think I might have to build one of these in the future myself.

Tumbler · 2013-07-02 00:57

First panel finished.

added a plexiplate front.
As you can see, this panel is huge!

Plz only take a look at the panel, not me

I think I might have to build one of these in the future myself.

Since this is a project, i will post howto instructions later when i finished this one

And like Wall-e used to say: Tadaaaaah

Chris Savage · 2013-07-02 10:02

Very nice! Good work, Tumbler!

Tumbler · 2013-07-07 12:50

Update...

Finished the second panel this weekend.

Wiring the drivers....

And a video:

Mark_T · 2013-07-10 06:54

They look great - you said 6 panels so you'll be busy for a while longer I think!

Harbinger · 2013-07-14 15:31

Nice project. I think the school will be happy with the result. Congrats well done!

Whit · 2013-07-18 16:54

Fantastic project Tumbler! I shared this with a friend who is really into lighting and animation.

Tumbler · 2013-07-18 21:41

Finished!

To reduce costs, we decide to use only 2 (2x4 -16 segment) displays.
The boxes looks like this:

Now comes the fun stuff, programming.
More later...

Tumbler · 2014-04-05 08:50

Update...

My first android app, connected via bleutooth (rn42) and my board...
i like this one

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83GmuRSBIKg&feature=youtu.be

kwinn · 2014-04-06 15:29

Very nice project. Congratulations.

Tumbler · 2014-04-06 19:05

Here is a better movie.

PropGuy2 · 2014-04-10 15:32

Very nice! I have been working on a large format display also, except it uses electro-color type paint. That is the paint / pigment color changes with an electric charge. So it can be seen in any lighting condition - dark to bright sunlight - using little power.since only the color is changed and not the intensity (as a light bulb or LED) BTW - It is not LCD, or e-ink or anything like that.

mrma · 2014-04-22 11:02

Good Job. Congratulations!

Tumbler · 2014-05-17 12:04

Finished project.

Boards willed be picked up in 2 weeks.
Finished software today. A test can be seen here:

Data1 to Data5 are textfiles, stored on a sd card.
There is a special effect between each data file.

Pictures or movie will be added here when boards are placed.

xanadu · 2014-05-17 12:20

Very nice, would love to see it in its new home too.

Huge messageboard

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