PIC based Animation Tile Display

Puzzlemation is an expandable platform of light and animation based on PIC24FJ64GA002. It can be used to create things as diverse as modular animated signs that can be changed by rearranging its tiles, to a uniquely animated puzzle. This project’s display is made of a number of tiles, about 2 inch square with an 8 x 8 array of color LED pixels. Each tile is individually powered and animated, so user can freely pick them up and re-arrange them. To set up a display, the tiles are placed in a special tray. Animations are downloaded into the tray via Ethernet and stored locally on an EEPROM, or loaded via an SD card. The tray broadcasts the animation to each of the tiles, and then synchronizes them.

John Peterson, project designer, said that the display is completely reconfigurable. If the pieces are left in the tray, the animation can be updated continuously over the Ethernet connection. If the tiles are removed from the tray, they’ll display the animation for several hours with their own re-chargeable battery power. Once the animation is synchronized and running on the tiles, user can pick them up and place them anywhere.

Download:
Project Documentation, Source Code and Schematic(zip)
tag :Display, LED, project, PIC, PIC24FJ64GA002, animation, puzzle

Ethernet WAN, Routers or Switches Making the Right Choice - Free E-book

In this white paper learn the value proposition and difference between these three tools, so you're able to make an informed decision:

1. Ethernet WAN
2. Routers
3. Switches

Get your free ebook

LED Psychedelic Lights

This project aim is to reproduce the old style psychedelic lights system that was very popular in the 70s. Being in the "digital era", the technical solutions adopted are quite different from what was characterizing their predecessor system. Old style lamps have been replaced by three high power LEDs; all filters, previously implemented with analog components, have been realized with digital processing techniques; input stages have been replaced by one A/D converter and one digitally controlled variable amplifier, that is able to warranty the best signal amplitude for the system.

The project requirements are related to technologies adopted: high power LEDs need to be driven with a constant current; digital filters need a fast DSP engine, to be implemented, and an A/D converter is required to transform an audio signal in a numerical representation. Control data communications between central processing unit and external analog components require to have an SPI on board and, last but not least, the capability to link the system with a PC could be very useful for firmware debugging and for tuning some parameters in real time without needing expensive developing tools. The project is designed by Marco Signorini.
[link]