09/06/08 08:33 - ID#45595

Microcontrollers Part 4

OK!

I was able to program / animate the LED matrix. Basically, there are 8 pins on each axis, and you scan down one column at a time shifting bits out to off/on states for each LED in the row.

Each LED is only light 1/8th of the time so I need to boost the brightness a bit, see if I can lower the resistors maybe.

Now that I have it working I can get it all permanently soldered into place, and then work on the sensor components.

And of course, come out with some nicer animated faces :)

::Download Flash Video::

Permalink: Microcontrollers_Part_4.html
Words: 100

Category: electronics

09/04/08 10:05 - ID#45577

Progress

Have the matrix hooked up to the LED driver chip and that to the microcontroller. Will figure out how to program it tomorrow. Mmm, bitshifting.

Permalink: Progress.html
Words: 27

Category: electronics

09/01/08 03:18 - ID#45531

Microcontrollers Part 3

I'm building a DIY version of this Tengu thing (

) for my first full project.

I've got the LEDs for the eyes in and programmable, and have the face matrix assembled but that's not yet programmed. It will eventually be hooked up to sensors to react to the environment as well.

So far this weekend I've spent a lot of time relearning C and especially pointers. Matrix and timings for the rest of the animations will be challenging, too. Trying to fit everything in a few Kb of space brings me back.

::Download Flash Video::

Watching myself on video makes me realize I really need to work on my um's. :(

Here's a video of what it should end up looking like, although mine won't look so polished:

Permalink: Microcontrollers_Part_3.html
Words: 136

Category: electronics

08/23/08 04:14 - ID#45424

Microcontrollers Part II

So, this is just the getting started lesson from this page:

although I did deviate in the programming a bit to use functions instead of nested if-blocks. It's supposed to be a bike safety light (although not in a pretty / finished package).

Nothing special, but it is flashy and blinky so I made a video of it working.

::Download Flash Video::

Permalink: Microcontrollers_Part_II.html
Words: 68

Category: electronics

08/23/08 11:27 - ID#45421

Microcontrollers

I finished soldering together my microcontroller board and the prototyping shield which fits on top. The microcontroller board you can't see in this photo, it's the first layer.

Soldering is a lot of fun, it turns out.

Now, the little switch on top of that board I can read from inside of programs on my computer, like so:

Not bad for a first little project.

I'm going to construct some camera triggers, so that I can take pictures from sensors like motion, heat, laser, etc.