The Binary Burst clock shows the time with LEDs: The clock uses 3 LEDs on each spire to count up to 5 in binary. The hours are displayed by the middle LED in RED (Its a Red/Blue bicolor, the others … Read more
Tronixstuff has posted a detailed tutorial on using Arduino and TM1640 LED Display Modules. The Arduino library included allows you to display numeric and certain alphabet characters on the display using the TM1640.
John demonstrates how to interface a vintage LED display with the Arduino. The display in question is a HP 5082-745 model, found in calculators, and other products from this manufacturer in the ’70s. Using the display is very easy – … Read more
DJ Delorie was looking for an excuse to learn about Verilog and CPLDs. So he coded up this binary to 7-segment display converter. He provides links to the source code and says this project fits into the Xilinx XC9572 (the … Read more
MIT physicists developed an LED that emits more light energy than the electrical energy consumed. These LEDs supplement electrical energy with heat from the surrounding environment. Unfortunately this has only been observed at very low power levels. The researchers chose … Read more
Using constant current to drive LEDs is a good practice, but turning them on instantly can be dangerous for both the LED and the LED driver. Harmful spikes are generated when large currents are instantaneously turned on. This app note … Read more
Adrianmb from Make-a-tronik has written a tutorial on how to how to communicate between your mobile device (Android / iOS device) or a PC and Arduino through a protocol known as OSC (Open Sound Control). The project uses Processing, Arduino, … Read more
Here’s a brief video from the recently concluded 28C3 hacker conference hosted by Chaos Communication Congress in Berlin, Germany. Jonathan Foote of rotormind.com covers some ways to drive high power LEDs without burning them up, including the latest technology current … Read more
David has written this short article on RGB LED strips and their different controllers. He covers addressable RGB LED strips and the HL1606, WS2801 and others controllers along with their control libraries. Via the contact form.
Juha Kuusama writes to inform us of LiveLight, a cool DIY ambilight project. This is a homebrew ambilight system by SunWind that has 9 PWM controlled RGB channels which drive RGB LED strips that are mounted in the back of … Read more
Adam Howard of 3 Sided Cube has developed the MacLight project. It works to vary the color of LEDs mounted behind your Mac to the average color of your monitor. It can also manually set the lighting via an RGB … Read more
Michu built a LED matrix panel that is controlled by his PixelController software we blogged about. The panel consists of 64 individual RGB modules. The modules have three RGB LEDs on them controlled with a LPD6803 serial shift register LED … Read more
ColorNode is a wireless Arduino-compatible microcontroller board designed to replace the stock controller board on GE Color Effects light strings. It’s a project designed by digitalmisery and was inspired by deep darc’s Hacking Christmas Lights project last year. The schematic … Read more
Jason continued to develop his 7400 contest entry the 80M direct conversion receiver, here is an update: Finally, I addressed the lack of knowledge of what frequency is being tuned by adding a frequency counter. It is based on the … Read more
This blog demonstrates how to drive a bi-color LED, or any 2 LEDs, by using only one microcontroller pin. Sinking or sourcing current from the LED selects which one will light up. Setting the pin as input turns both LEDs … Read more
Don built an Amblight for his home theater PC. He put together this tutorial describing his build of a multichannel Arduino-based Ambilight. He estimates the BOM at $40 (in addition to the Arduino). The bill of materials include 6+ ShiftBrites … Read more
Theatrus build a controllable aquarium moonlight strip. Royal-blue Osram high power surface mount LEDs provide the lighting, and an ATmega88 the control. RS485 port is used for control. All of the design files should be available shortly. Its quite potent (visible … Read more
Rob, a member over at 43Oh, wanted a quick way to add a digital display to his MPS430 Launchpad projects. So he devised a shield which he describes: Here is a little LED Display Shield I have created for LaunchPad. … Read more
Atarity writes to inform us of a project being developed in Russia known as the Lightpack 5.5, with an English language wiki page available. The software analyzes the image on your monitor and transfers its data by USB to the … Read more
Nuts and Volts Magazine has announced a LED Madness Contest. Want to win a 3D LED Matrix Cube for FREE?! Enter the “LED Madness” Contest – Grand Prize is one of our 3D LED Cubes. All you need to do … Read more
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