Thanks for the invite. I just might have to take you up on that. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by SgtM
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Thanks for the invite. I just might have to take you up on that. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by SgtM
l ooks really cool keep it up
Nice piece of software. Perhaps you could sell guides on how to make the modules and sell the software with it. Once I open up my PC store (a few years yet) I would stock them for ya ;).
imm gunna be the first person to get a job at that store i swear
if we keep in contact that is
If somebody wants to buy 1000 modules then we could get them ready pretty quick but otherwise it will too long to get them ready for sale.
I can see where you are coming from. If you don't mind me asking about how much does it cost to make each unit?
I mean it really depends on quantity. Right now it's expensive because we got only small quantity of parts. Just LEDs cost $20. Then goes all the parts. Plus when we make the custom PCB that will be $50. Since everything is assembled at home it also takes quite a few human hours. If we actually ordered parts for 100 of them and got factory assembled the price would be a lot lower.
How about shipping some to the US?
Dude, we are from Omaha, NE :D
nevermind, I'm an idiot. How about Michigan?
Well we don't sell them. Somebody just gave us an idea that we should sell the kit and we might do that in the future. It's just Dan's mod and I am just building all the electronics. If you would like to include RGBs in your mod I would be happy to help you.
If you really would like one, we can build you one, but we would have to figure out a price and how long it would take to make. -after all, we are still building the prototype.
-Update on the project.
Sorry I don't have any pics for you of this work, I forgot my camera at home. :(
I'll try and take some pics tomorrow and update this post with the images.
I frosted all 10 led's with a file to help diffuse the light. They look much better!
Gediminas also finished wiring all the led's to the board. and They look kick ass, and very bright!
I did some more work on the interface too.
here is what it looks like now.
You can see that I added an Icon for the program at the top left. I also removed the minimize and maximize buttons. and I added a color box to show what color was selected.
The right side shows the color selector box that pops up when you click the color button. I set the Effect speed slider to be greyed out when Constant on or Off is checked for the Lighting effect.
I also configured it to run as an Icon in the lower right and not as an open program in the task bar. That way its always running, but somewhat in the background. Lastly I made the Large XPS Image a link to a "Info" window that says what version, date, and thanks to my friends that have helped me figure all this out.
Tonight I had to modify a usb to serial controller since the one I bought did not work. I'll have to rma that baby back as it was $20.
Again, I'll take some pics tomorrow at work and get some uploaded, I'll also get some video done too.
Later,
Is there any way to control it without the software? Like with a different micro controller on the board? That way, all the user has to do is supply power. Maybe have a switch to change between different functions (think flashy Christmas lights). I would LOVE to implement this setup in my truck... to replace my dome light of course.
Oh yes that's completely possible. In our case we will need computer software just to change a setting. It will be enough just to supply the power and it will remember what was the last setting selected before shutting off and will keep doing that until the user launches the software and changes the setting. It's actually a lot easier to have a button which changes the modes. Also there could be 3 sliders which adjust the color. Piece of cake. Then you would need no external software and everything would be done by the same chip.
Looking forward to seeing the video.
Today I got some more pics of the board and led's.
This is a shot of the frosted led's.
and some of the wiring on the led's.
Here is the circuit board with some of the components and led's wired up.
Here is the video of the color changing effect. :banana:
WOOOT!!! That looks sweet mate, fantastic job.
Like a x-mas tree:D
great job you have done!
This is going to be sweet mod:up:
I'm done with my part of the mod. Everything works great. Windows interface is also done. We had it nicely working during the day. I also mounted everything into the tiny box and everything is awesome!! I love how it turned out. Dan is playing bowling tonight so expect a long worklog with lots of pictures and videos posted tomorrow.
You have both done a really great job. Waiting intently for the pics.
Well, sorry guys, Gediminas is mistaken. Its not done yet. The modified usb connector must have a developed a short because it keeps dropping in and out. So now I have to make another.Quote:
Originally Posted by custom_electronics_man
The module does work but only with a standard usb connector. I can post some pictures and some video later tonight.
<img src="http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h205/rendermandan/Dark%20Carbon/DarkCarbonsig-1.jpg">
Well everyone, Its basically finished. Here is the final shot of it assembled.
And now for some color shots!
Then I mounted it to the bottom of my laptop. -you can see the custom windows program running on the desktop.
And lastly. a video showing some of the lighting effects. :banana::banana::banana:
I start by changing the color, then going through the pulsating, strobing and color change effects. If you look close, you can see the mouse icon moving on the screen.
The camera had a hard time picking up the brightness in video mode. -I need a better camear!
Thanks again goes to custom_electronics_man and Michael Kane for their help on this.
Well thats it for this work log. -Untill next time.
Rendermandan -OUT!
Man that is very awesome. +rep for both of you
I just have a quick question. I am noob with electronics and was under the impression that only 1 colour came from a LED. How do you get all the colours out of the same LED's? Is it voltage or are they a different type of LED?
These are special LED's with three connectors;)and diferent voltage changes the colour;)
great job there, you should programet that it blinks like some kind of a light show:D
Just like I thought. Thanks kris.
I want one... bad.. I have an inspiron 9300 though. By laptop is battle torn and worn out. I am missing my T key and no audio because headphone jack got ripped out the wrong way :-(. Wish I knew somewhere that did laptop repair. I can do the keyboard myself but I don't feel comfortable desoldering and soldering a new audio jack on.
But anyway awesome light effects and def +rep for the coding to make it have a gui.
Kris, you are close. they actually have 4 connectors as you can see in this picture. They are RGB Led's. RGB standing for; Red, Green, Blue.Quote:
Originally Posted by kris
one of them is negative, the others are positive.
The color between them runs based on Pulse width Modulation. and the Brightness depends on the percentage of how much time the leds are on or off -they actually flast so fast that you can't see them flashing.
PWM. You meen like mobo fan headers. Now I get what you mean.
Great mod! +rep to you both.
Dude dude dude dude.... This is like telling boring lappie users "I am a smart fellar and you are a fart smellar" when you sit next to their table at Starbucks!!!!! @_@
i like it very cool nice work
Any way I could get a schematic and parts list? :) I'd love to make one.
Edit: I just thought of an awesome place to use something like this. Is it possible to add/subtract more LEDs?
-CollinstheClown
This is such as awesome mod... I second collin's request! It would be cool to make on e of these!
Well it might not be so easy. You would have to invest some money into special programmer. The cost of it might be more expensive than the lighting kit that rendermandan might be selling in the future. Better wait a little...
Not really I believe if you head on over to ladyada.net you will find that she has a fairly inexpensive serial/usb aavr and timer chip programmer. Roughly 30 dollars and some solder last time i checked. It will work from an 8 pin socket up to a 24 i believe. Just search adafruit industries USBtinyISP. The ladyada.net site seems to be down at the moment.Quote:
Originally Posted by custom_electronics_man
That is freaking cool and makes me wish I had a laptop with a raised back.
off to mowing lawns I go, then.
Awww, I hate to be the guy to +1 the request for more info, but this is just that cool. At least throw us a bone here, can you give us a general list of components? softwares used to design GUI side? or, if possible, the source code? (that last one would be amazing)
Thanks guys, and truly great
eagle
ps. anyone wanna make an instructable anytime in the future? :-)
