Here are handy battery cases for driving Aurora with batteries. These hold two, three, or four AA batteries, and has a power switch. The cords are terminated with a 2 pin Molex female connector (standard 2.54 mm pitch), so connecting to Aurora is a snap.
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Wave JT Firmware Update
A new function has been added to Wave JT. It’s auto-changer or “demo” mode. With this mode activated, Wave JT will change the animation pattern every minute. (Hence the word demo.)
You can activate this new function by holding the button down at the startup (when power is off). After each of eight LEDs has lit once, all LEDs will blink eight times. If you release the button within this period, the demo mode will be activated.
Wave JT only keeps this setting until powered down, so to get out of demo mode, turn off the power, and tap on the button again to turn on the unit.
The kits are now being shipped with this new firmware.
Maker Faire Exhibit was a Big Success!
I had a blast at the Maker Faire!
As this was my first attempt at getting out there in the physical world – I haven’t done a trade show or seminar or anything like that – I didn’t know what to expect.
But what a turn out! So many people came by, saw my stuff and gave me positive comments. I loved it. Many people also bought my kits. Sorry for not having enough kits available (sold out most of them).
If you are a maker/creator I’d say Make Faire is a great place to get involved.
Thank you so much for those who came by at my booth!
(Now I need a better picture…)
Come See Me at Maker Faire NY
Please come see me at the Maker Faire NY this weekend.
I have some goodies for you! Mention this code: “LED fetish“, and you will get a freebie. I will have proto PCBs, assorted LEDs, and even working prototypes!
I will also sell my kits at discounted prices! Must come!
Update: I’m on the flyer!
Prototype PCB Giveaway!
As a part of developing new projects, I make PCBs for prototypes. I usually use OSH Park to have my prototype PCBs made. They are great – sophisticated web ordering page compete with full preview of the PCB design, which has helped me notice the errors before ordering. Low, no-gimmick pricing – just $5/sq. inch for a set of three PCBs.
Since I don’t always use all prototype PCBs, I have a few PCBs laying around. Some of them contain errors (that’s the point of prototyping, right?), but most of them (lucky for me) are perfectly functional.
So I want to give away those good prototype PCBs. The schematics and BOMs are provided on this site or instructables already, so you can gather parts and build them!
The qualification is simple – give me/my site a mention and a link on your web site, or if you have made any of my designs, put up a project at instructables (with pictures or/and video). Let me know what you did by either leaving a comment here or email, and I will send you a PCB. (Free shipping within USA only – sorry, international shipping will cost $5.)
I have more than a few good PCBs for the published and unpublished designs. Offer is limited to while PCBs last.
Aurora 48 Kit
Aurora 48 is a compact and thin profile full LED sequencer. It’s built entirely with surface mount components, so the profile is nice and clean.
- Capable of individually controlling 48 Full color LEDs.
- Each LED can be faded in 7 bit per channel - 2,097,152 colors.
- Gamma corrected brightness curve for very smooth fades.
- Simple, one button control.
- 11 sequence pattern (as of firmware version 1.0).
- Compact – 2.68 inch (68 mm) in diameter.
- Thin profile construction (0.137 inch (3.5 mm) thick).
- No leads sticking out on the back. Ideal for wearable projects.
- Firmware is easily upgradable via 5 pin ICSP connection.
Please review the instructables before purchase – assembly requires some skills. You will also need PIC programmer such as PICKit 3, ICD 2, ICD 3 (PICKit 2 doesn’t work with the PIC used). If you don’t have a programmer, you can purchase the PIC programmed with the latest firmware.
- Detailed technical information at instructables.com
- Aurora 48 Schematic-rev3a (PDF)
- Aurora 48 part placement (PDF) (revised Feb.18, 2013)
- Firmware ver.1.0 (aurora48smd-1.0.hex)
*** Purchase Here ***
Aurora 48 Preview
Here’s the new project that I’ve been working on.
Aurora 48 has 48 full-color/RGB LEDs, each individually controlled. Each and every 48 LEDs has 7 bit per channel = 2,097,152 possible colors. Like other Auroras brightness curve is gamma corrected so the fades are very smooth.
Using all SMT components, Aurora 48 is compact and low profile. 2.68 inch (68 mm) in diameter and only 0.137 inch (3.5 mm) thick.
Aurora 48 inherits most of its circuit from other Auroras before it. The controller is PIC24FV16KA304 (same as Aurora 18×18), however doubling the RGB bus by the help of a binary decoder chip (74HC238).
SMT Soldering 101
I get a lot of questions regarding surface mount soldering. The thing is, with the right tools and a bit of practice, SMT (Surface Mount Technology) soldering is really not difficult.
First, please view this excellent video created by CuriousInventor.com (no affiliation. I just like this video very much). I’ve been doing SMT soldering for a while now, but was very impressed with the techniques shown in this video.
Here’s the list of tools/material you need:
- Temperature controlled soldering iron/station (such as Hakko FX-888. Standard size tip works fine.)
- Thin soldering wire – 0.015 inch (0.4 mm)
Regular 0.03 inch (1 mm) gauge solder wire is too thick for small SMDs. A very common problem with SMT soldering is to apply too much solder. Small parts like 0603 resister only need tiny amount of solder. - Flux – pen type flux such as Kester 951 recommended. Apply generously – it will dry out quickly and does not harm the PCB.
- Tweezers with small tips – get a good pair that’s confortable to use.
- Magnifying glass – you can’t solder if you can’t see. I wear magnifier visor (OptiVisor #4).
- Good lighting – you need much brighter lighting then reading a book to see the small details of SMT soldering.
- Solder wick – as excess solder is the enemy of good SMT soldering, you need solder wick to remove excess solder. Perfectly soldering fine pitch packages like QFP is very unlikely without a help of solder wick. Thinner one like 1.5 mm wide is easier to use.
Traditional through hole technology is phasing out, and so many new devices are not offered in through hole style. Learn to solder SMT will broaden your choices.
(Let me know if I forgot to add anything here.)
Rustybolt.info mention of JT Blinker
Mr. Watson of Rustybolt.info blog wrote about the LED blinker circuit using Joule Thief. I’ve sent him a PCB of my prototype, named JT Blinker – multivibrator and Joule Thief combined to blink LEDs with one 1.5V battery.
He had designed a similar circuit years ago, and has some insights about this type of circuits…
