Cubism the Netduino Way
#1
Posted 04 July 2011 - 08:53 PM
So a few weeks ago I started out with this:
and the challenge was to come up with something, just something, not necessarily useful. So I decided to have a go at making an LED cube to see if the Mini had enough performance to give the illusion of a constant display.
So a few weeks (and a lot of solder) later I had:
and a controller board to make.
A few minutes ago it finally all came to life:
Each of the rows is made up of 64 LEDs and there are 8 rows (512 LEDs). There are only a maximum of 64 switched on at any one time (i.e. one horiontal plane), so the picture above has each plane being switch on and off one after the other with a data change between the switching.
Sorry it's not a video - I'll get around when I have an interesting animated display sorted - just kind of pleased to have got this far with no major mistakes or burns !
Regards,
Mark
To be or not to be = 0xFF
Blogging about Netduino, .NET, STM8S and STM32 and generally waffling on about life
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#2
Posted 04 July 2011 - 08:56 PM
#3
Posted 04 July 2011 - 09:49 PM
#4
Posted 05 July 2011 - 03:42 AM
#5
Posted 05 July 2011 - 06:26 AM
My .NETMF projects: .NETMF Toolbox / Gadgeteer Light / Some PCB designs
#6
Posted 05 July 2011 - 06:49 AM
That's really cool! I've been wanting to make a huge LED Cube for Netduino for ages. Videos, please!
If you can put up some how-to's, we'll be happy to tweet about your cube...
I was planning on putting something in the Project Showcase (and on my blog) when I'd finally finished and satisfied myself that there were no hidden glitches.
Videos will follow when I have the software sorted out. Will be interesting to see how far the processing power can be pushed.
I think I saw something similar, but it larger scale in Zurcih HB station made by ETH Zurich students. If I remember correctly it's called 'Super Nova', it's a full cube, but it's huge. It has colors and and there is transperant touch panel to control it. You can even watch movie clips on that thing!
Have a look at these guys - seekway.com.cn - they have some awsome LED displays. I tried to get my wife to agree to the 32,768 LED cube as it is only four times bigger than the one I'm working on. I guess I'll have to stick with the 8x8x8.
Mark: the picture looks awesome, but it does not render grace to the light effects.
Could you take a video with some game of lights?
Congrats for the idea (and for the patience as well)!
The picture does leave something to be desired but better images and videos are planned when I get the software written.
In fairness, the concept was not mine, the design was but not the concept. As for patience, that's a lot of joints !
So far it's been fun and there is still more to do:
- Update the regulator as it get's hot when all the LEDs are on. I'm leaving this until I have software which needs a large number of lights on at the same time.
- Software
- A case
And then expansion...
To be or not to be = 0xFF
Blogging about Netduino, .NET, STM8S and STM32 and generally waffling on about life
Follow @nevynuk on Twitter
#7
Posted 05 July 2011 - 06:53 AM
I would agree with your wife: the dining room is too small for such a cube!I tried to get my wife to agree to the 32,768 LED cube
Mark, I'd curious about the schematic, just 'cos you mentioned the regulator getting hot.
Could you post something about it?
Cheers
#8
Posted 05 July 2011 - 09:01 AM
#9
Posted 06 July 2011 - 07:18 AM
The power is suppled by a standard off the shelf supply delivering 12V @ 2A. I then feed this into my own regulator board which is nothing too fancy and was knocked together to get the project going (I don't have access to a lab power supply at the moment).Mark, I'd curious about the schematic, just 'cos you mentioned the regulator getting hot.
Could you post something about it?
The regulator board is simply a couple of capacitors (1000uF on the input and 100uf on the output) and a 78S05 regulator between them with an LED and resistor acting as a power indicator. i.e.
12V in -> 1000uF between ground and 12V -> 78S05 Regulator -> 100uF between ground and 5V output -> 5V output
I think the problem is that with all of the LEDs on I am driving the regulator close to it's limit. It's rated at 2A and with all the LEDs on I am drawing 1.6A (64 LEDs @ 26mA). That assumes all of the components are perfect - which we know does not happen.
I always knew I would have to replace this part once I had demonstrated the theory worked. For a start it is inefficient.
Regards,
Mark
To be or not to be = 0xFF
Blogging about Netduino, .NET, STM8S and STM32 and generally waffling on about life
Follow @nevynuk on Twitter
#10
Posted 06 July 2011 - 07:30 AM
#11
Posted 06 July 2011 - 11:32 AM
I'm using TTL logic chips on the control board. I could investigate other options but this is a prototype afterall.Mark, why don't you supply the leds directly with 12V?
My next concern is to make sure I can drive the cube fast enough. If that works I'll move on to refining the electronics.
Regards,
Mark
To be or not to be = 0xFF
Blogging about Netduino, .NET, STM8S and STM32 and generally waffling on about life
Follow @nevynuk on Twitter
#12
Posted 06 July 2011 - 08:36 PM
To be or not to be = 0xFF
Blogging about Netduino, .NET, STM8S and STM32 and generally waffling on about life
Follow @nevynuk on Twitter
#13
Posted 08 July 2011 - 12:12 PM
#14
Posted 10 July 2011 - 10:18 AM
Videos, please!
One final video before I start to write this up. Here the cube demonstrates the following:
- Bouncing a plane from the back to the cube to the front and then back again
- Spells NETDUINO
- Bounces a plane from the top of the cube to the bottom and then back again
- Rains a little
- Clears the cube with a wipe effect
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAbHlAV_2IU
My wife loves the rain effect most of all.
Hope you like it,
Mark
To be or not to be = 0xFF
Blogging about Netduino, .NET, STM8S and STM32 and generally waffling on about life
Follow @nevynuk on Twitter
#15
Posted 10 July 2011 - 02:07 PM
My .NETMF projects: .NETMF Toolbox / Gadgeteer Light / Some PCB designs
#16
Posted 10 July 2011 - 05:51 PM
To be or not to be = 0xFF
Blogging about Netduino, .NET, STM8S and STM32 and generally waffling on about life
Follow @nevynuk on Twitter
#17
Posted 10 July 2011 - 08:08 PM
- Bouncing a plane from the back to the cube to the front and then back again
- Spells NETDUINO
- Bounces a plane from the top of the cube to the bottom and then back again
- Rains a little
- Clears the cube with a wipe effect
This is...
AWESOME!
Chris
#18
Posted 11 July 2011 - 03:54 AM
#19
Posted 11 July 2011 - 06:51 AM
#20
Posted 11 July 2011 - 07:23 AM
Why not?Can this be done using regular Netduino(not mini, not plus) ?
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