LED Control Using BS2E making Patterns(functions) & Color MIxing

Archiver

Hello,
I want to use a BS2E to do l.e.d. control with patterns(functions)and
color mixing using red, green & blue leds. I will need to program the
bs2e and i also want to be able to change programs from the computer.
I need help with the circuit to do this and any ideas on how to drive
the leds using pulse width modulation. I am building a full size
computer controlled jukebox that will play mp3's using a jukebox
program and i want the circuit for some lighting in the cabinet.

Any help is greatly appreciated.
Kevin Roach
Digital Jukebox Concepts

Archiver

if you want arbitrary color control, You're probably going to need
something that does parallel PWM's, one for each lead ; parallax has such
a chip. What might be better, if you don't want arbitrary color control,
is to figure out the 'base' colors that you want, bundle them together
into some sort of light-diffusing package, and turn them on & off
individually.

On Fri, 21 Nov 2003, digitaldeejay1 wrote:

> Hello,
> I want to use a BS2E to do l.e.d. control with patterns(functions)and
> color mixing using red, green & blue leds. I will need to program the
> bs2e and i also want to be able to change programs from the computer.
> I need help with the circuit to do this and any ideas on how to drive
> the leds using pulse width modulation. I am building a full size
> computer controlled jukebox that will play mp3's using a jukebox
> program and i want the circuit for some lighting in the cabinet.
>
> Any help is greatly appreciated.
> Kevin Roach
> Digital Jukebox Concepts
>
>
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>
>
>

Sean T. Lamont, CTO / Chief NetNerd, Abstract Software, Inc. (ServNet)
Seattle - Bellingham - Vancouver - Portland - Everett - Tacoma - Bremerton
email: lamont@a... WWW: http://www.serv.net
"Do not fear mistakes, There Are None" - Miles Davis

Archiver

I use a few methods to accomplish what you are looking for.

1. Hook up a Segment/Matrix driver to the stamp. I use Maxims
mainly and there are some docs in the nutz and volts archive with
respect to the max7219. It can control 64 led with either 16 or 32
levels of pwm each. There are a couple models up from that, that do
even more leds. They run about $10-$17US each.

2. I use a PAK V C hpwm coproccessor which controls 8 hardware pwm
outputs with only a line or 2 from the stamp. I usually use a
current sink(ULN2803) or current source ic to boost the current.
Basically it can fade the three colors in 2 different banks. This
runs about $25US each.

3. I use the native stamp pwm command and run a sample/hold type op
amp buffer then a current driver.

4. I use a BasicAtom-Pro24 that has 3 onboard hpwm ports which are
again plumbed through a current driver and can control a single
bank. The pro24 runs about $30us

5. I use a bank of digital pots that have 256 levels. I bought 10
dual units for $25us so basically it's like having 20 channels that
can be digitally dimmed at a decent resolution. This is definitely
the most bang for your buck but there is a lot of wiring involved.

I think the PAK V is the best way to go if you want to use a stamp
based controller and pwm, it is simple to hook up, doesn't consume
much overhead and can be attached to the stamp in 1 line.

I like the BasicAtom-Pro24 for fading the three different colors,
everyting is pretty much built right in except for the current
drivers and it's pretty cheap with all the features it has. Support
for the thing does suck at times.

You can also use the Parallax PWMPAL which has 4 hardware pwm
outputs and connects right up with the stamp. I haven't used this
and went the way of the PAK V as is what a lot cheaper solution.

I think the digital pot method is about the best setup I've used to
date as I like to have a lot of channels for my more complex
creations. It is the least expensive method if you compare price to
the number of ports you actually get but is a little harder to wire
up.

Hooking up RGB leds is a total nitemare. There are usually 4 pins
and they are spaced superclose so you have to do a lot of bending
and other BS to get them in place. They also usually share a common
cathode which makes things interesting sometimes. It was a lot
easier hooking up individual red, green and blue leds as a pixel
then it was to hook up the rgb led.

lsdiodes.com is where I buy my leds.

Resc.




--- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "Sean T. Lamont .lost."
<lamont@a...> wrote:
>
> if you want arbitrary color control, You're probably going to need
> something that does parallel PWM's, one for each lead ; parallax
has such
> a chip. What might be better, if you don't want arbitrary color
control,
> is to figure out the 'base' colors that you want, bundle them
together
> into some sort of light-diffusing package, and turn them on & off
> individually.
>
> On Fri, 21 Nov 2003, digitaldeejay1 wrote:
>
> > Hello,
> > I want to use a BS2E to do l.e.d. control with patterns
(functions)and
> > color mixing using red, green & blue leds. I will need to
program the
> > bs2e and i also want to be able to change programs from the
computer.
> > I need help with the circuit to do this and any ideas on how to
drive
> > the leds using pulse width modulation. I am building a full size
> > computer controlled jukebox that will play mp3's using a jukebox
> > program and i want the circuit for some lighting in the cabinet.
> >
> > Any help is greatly appreciated.
> > Kevin Roach
> > Digital Jukebox Concepts
> >
> >
> > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
> > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the
Subject and Body of the message will be ignored.
> >
> >
> > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> >
> >
> >
>
> Sean T. Lamont, CTO / Chief NetNerd, Abstract Software, Inc.
(ServNet)
> Seattle - Bellingham - Vancouver - Portland - Everett - Tacoma -
Bremerton
> email: lamont@a... WWW: http://www.serv.net
> "Do not fear mistakes, There Are None" - Miles Davis