The LED Artist - blog » PIC

A60 Source Code Published

The LED Artist — Mon, 08 Oct 2018 16:11:35 +0000

After receiving many requests, I finally decided to publish/share the firmware source code of A60.

I was put off by the cheap clone made available, but I now think there can be something good in sharing the firmware, so that others might learn something from my code – not that my coding skill is that good, but the way you can use a simple MCU like a PIC24Fxx to directly control the individual brightness of 180 LEDs (60 x (R+G+B)) is pretty cool, because you can same money and space by not using PWM controller ICs.

You can find the code here: https://github.com/theledartist/A60

R48 and Li-Ion Charger

The LED Artist — Thu, 18 Jul 2013 21:35:24 +0000

R48 comes with a non-rechargeable battery (CR2450) and a black cord (lanyard) to hang around the neck. The battery lasts for about 7-8 hours in continuous run.

There are also rechargeable battery (LIR2450) and the charger available. With those, you won’t need to keep buying batteries.
The charger is very compact and plugs right into an USB port.

White LEDs look yellow when they are not lit. Other colors (red, green, and blue) look like the photo above.

Features/Notes:

Available with 4 different color LEDs: Red, Green, Blue, and White.
Each R48 is fully assembled, and comes with a non-rechargeable battery (CR2450, easily replaceable).
Battery will typically last about 7-8 hours continuously.
Also comes with black cord (lanyard) to hang R48 around your neck.
25 beautiful animation patterns preprogrammed.
“Demo” mode automatically runs though all animation patterns – changes every minute. (Activated by holding the button at the startup.)
Rechargeable battery (LIR2450) is also available as an option. This recommended option lights the LEDs brighter, as it has higher voltage.
The charger for the above is also available.
Dimension: 1.9 inch diameter, 0.4 inch thick (including the battery)

In-stock and shipping now!

Wave JT Firmware Update

The LED Artist — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 02:46:35 +0000

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.

- download wave_jt-1.1.hex (ZIP)

Aurora 48 Kit

The LED Artist — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 05:04:33 +0000

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 Sequence Video

The LED Artist — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 01:27:07 +0000

Here is a video of Aurora 48 showing all of its preset sequence patterns. Watch it in full screen – it’s full 1080p HD.

Aurora 48 Preview

The LED Artist — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 16:54:45 +0000

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).

- Schematic-rev3a

Some Old Works of Mine

The LED Artist — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 05:10:15 +0000

I was doing some clean up and found some old works from years ago…

The one above is a multi-purpose PIC pad using PIC16F627. This was an exercise of multiplexing 7 segment LEDs and button matrix using the same set of I/O pins. I wrote code to make it work as a timer and organ (more like a beeper with notes). 2 AA battery holder was connected to it, but obviously lost.

This was done in April of 2003. Before Arduino and all that good stuff was available. Home etched and hand drilled PCB. What’s amazing to me now is that I designed the PCB in Adobe Illustrator! I did not have a CAD software.

> PCB Layout

Next up is my very first LED project using PIC microcontroller, which was done right around the same time as the pad above.

> Schematic
> PCB Layout

I used four microcontrollers on this one. three controlling LEDs, and another one controlling them. The center one is the “master”, sending command to the other controllers to orchestrate the animation. The three “slaves” are just controlling the LEDs as they are commanded. The setup seems more complicated than my recent projects, but back then I was literally applying “divide and conquer” method to the circuit design.
When I first envisioned this one, I had no knowledge of microcontroller. I had some electronics experience and knew how to use logic ICs, however it quickly became clear that what I wanted to do was too complicated to accomplish with logic ICs. So that prompted me to look around, which led me to BASIC Stamp. BASIC Stamp, for those who never hard of it, it’s kind of like a pre-Arduino. You can write the code in BASIC language and upload it to the chip over serial cable. It was easy to use, but the processor was very slow.
Faced by the limitation I decided to learn to code PIC microcontroller directly. It took me a while to get into, but I managed.

I made a revision of the same circuit, multiplying the number of LEDs by using a complementary drive approach. (July 2003)

> Schematic
> PCB Layout

After this prototype, I decided to move on up to manufactured PCB. Found a free PCB design software (called Osmond PCB – which I still use), and start having my PCB made by a factory. This enabled me to design with fine traces and more precision.

Wave JT – LED chaser with Joule Thief

The LED Artist — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 02:25:33 +0000

Wave JT is a multi-function LED chaser/scanner/sequencer. Wave JT incorporates Joule Thief to power the LEDs, so it operates on just a single AA battery.
Wave JT has over 16 sequence patterns, and speed can be adjusted by double/triple tapping the button. It’s the most compact yet versatile LED chaser.

Sequence patterns include many variation of the classic “Larson Scanner” from “Knight Rider”, random sparks, fade in/out, flashing, etc.

Even though there is only one button switch on Wave JT, you can control many things with it.

> Purchase Wave JT kit or PCB

Wave JT – Kit and PCB

The LED Artist — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 02:00:15 +0000

Wave JT is a tiny LED sequencer or “Larson Scanner” on steroid. It has over 16 sequence patterns, and speed can be adjusted by double/triple tapping the button. It’s the most versatile LED chaser.

Unlike other LED chasers, Wave JT controls each LED in smooth 7 bit (128 levels) brightness levels. The brightness curve is gamma-corrected like Aurora series, so the fades are visually pleasing.

Not only Wave JT versatile, it’s also energy efficient. Wave JT runs on a single AA battery, and the battery lasts for days!

> See more pictures and video

Please view technical details and assembly instructions at instructables.

Wave JT is made with 100% through hole parts. No surface mount parts!

Kit Contents
8x 3mm or 5mm Super Bright LED of your choice
1x 4.7k ohm (R1)
1x 100k ohm (R2)
8x 39 ohm (R3-10)
1x 10pF Ceramic Capacitor (C1)
1x 0.1uF Ceramic Capacitor (C3)
1x 33uF 10V Electrolytic Capacitor (C2)
1x 47-100uH Axial Inductor (L1)
1x Schottky Diode (D1)
1x 5.1V 500mW Zener Diode (D2)
2x MPS2222A or equivalent NPN BJT (Q1-2)
1x PIC16F1823 or PIC16F1824
1x Tactile Switch (SW1)
2x Battery Clips

Note: As of Oct. 1, 2012, all Wave JT kits are shipping with preprogrammed PIC. You do not need a PIC programmer to assemble Wave JT kits!

*** Purchase Here ***

New “Preprogrammed” PIC option for Aurora

The LED Artist — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 21:20:34 +0000

I realize that many people just want to assemble Aurora kits without having to purchase a PIC programmer. Now I added options to have the PIC microcontroller preprogrammed when you purchase the kits.

Note: PIC IC will be soldered to the PCB in order to be programmed.

Aurora 9×18 mk2 Kit and PCB

Aurora 18×18 Kit and PCB