Comments on: Maker Faire 2008: ShiftBright RGB LED module http://hackaday.com/2008/05/08/maker-faire-2008-shiftbright-rgb-led-module/ Fresh hacks every day Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:51:30 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: n17ikh http://hackaday.com/2008/05/08/maker-faire-2008-shiftbright-rgb-led-module/comment-page-1/#comment-33446 n17ikh Thu, 15 May 2008 03:51:33 +0000 http://hackaday.iheartcashews.com:8181/2008/05/08/maker-faire-2008-shiftbright-rgb-led-module/#comment-33446 I saw the Radiohead show in Charlotte the other day and they had something probably like this, and I was imagining that a solution exactly like this would be the way to do it. I figured it would be 1-wire controlled or some such. They had what looked like ropes hung from the catwalk above the stage spaced at about 6" apart in various lengths hanging down, and they looked to have a whole bunch of individually controllable RGB LEDs down the length of the "rope", with about 1-2" of vertical resolution each. They displayed complex moving and static patterns and occasionally scrolled letters across them. I was thinking that they were using a projector at first but the images were way too precise to be done that way. That had to have been a few tens of thousands of these gadgets, though.... guess cost isn't really an object at a big rock show like that. It was one of their major props. I saw the Radiohead show in Charlotte the other day and they had something probably like this, and I was imagining that a solution exactly like this would be the way to do it. I figured it would be 1-wire controlled or some such. They had what looked like ropes hung from the catwalk above the stage spaced at about 6″ apart in various lengths hanging down, and they looked to have a whole bunch of individually controllable RGB LEDs down the length of the “rope”, with about 1-2″ of vertical resolution each. They displayed complex moving and static patterns and occasionally scrolled letters across them. I was thinking that they were using a projector at first but the images were way too precise to be done that way. That had to have been a few tens of thousands of these gadgets, though…. guess cost isn’t really an object at a big rock show like that. It was one of their major props.

]]> By: Richard http://hackaday.com/2008/05/08/maker-faire-2008-shiftbright-rgb-led-module/comment-page-1/#comment-33445 Richard Sun, 11 May 2008 07:23:12 +0000 http://hackaday.iheartcashews.com:8181/2008/05/08/maker-faire-2008-shiftbright-rgb-led-module/#comment-33445 Oops, my mistake, it was a microchip controller that I was having a play with that had 9 outputs. Realized just after hitting the add comments button. DOH! Oops, my mistake, it was a microchip controller that I was having a play with that had 9 outputs. Realized just after hitting the add comments button. DOH!

]]> By: Richard http://hackaday.com/2008/05/08/maker-faire-2008-shiftbright-rgb-led-module/comment-page-1/#comment-33444 Richard Sun, 11 May 2008 07:20:18 +0000 http://hackaday.iheartcashews.com:8181/2008/05/08/maker-faire-2008-shiftbright-rgb-led-module/#comment-33444 It seems a waste of the chip to only be driving a single LED. I got some samples of that chip and it can do 9 outputs, so it would be a great idea to make a taller module with 3 leds on it IMO.<br><br>BTW, soldering wirewrap to that chip is a total nightmare! Makes chipping a ps2 look easy in comparison. It seems a waste of the chip to only be driving a single LED. I got some samples of that chip and it can do 9 outputs, so it would be a great idea to make a taller module with 3 leds on it IMO.

BTW, soldering wirewrap to that chip is a total nightmare! Makes chipping a ps2 look easy in comparison.

]]> By: drewp http://hackaday.com/2008/05/08/maker-faire-2008-shiftbright-rgb-led-module/comment-page-1/#comment-33443 drewp Sun, 11 May 2008 06:41:40 +0000 http://hackaday.iheartcashews.com:8181/2008/05/08/maker-faire-2008-shiftbright-rgb-led-module/#comment-33443 Similar to blinkm, except these have fewer brains (no standalone mode) and they're 1/3 the price!<br> Similar to blinkm, except these have fewer brains (no standalone mode) and they’re 1/3 the price!

]]> By: OvRiDe http://hackaday.com/2008/05/08/maker-faire-2008-shiftbright-rgb-led-module/comment-page-1/#comment-33442 OvRiDe Fri, 09 May 2008 19:48:58 +0000 http://hackaday.iheartcashews.com:8181/2008/05/08/maker-faire-2008-shiftbright-rgb-led-module/#comment-33442 These appear to be just about the same thing as ThingM's BlinkM's <a href="http://thingm.com/products/blinkm.html" rel="nofollow">http://thingm.com/products/blinkm.html</a>. I am glad to see more of these types of units on the market, so hopefully they will become more available.. Lots of possibilities with these little guys! These appear to be just about the same thing as ThingM’s BlinkM’s http://thingm.com/products/blinkm.html. I am glad to see more of these types of units on the market, so hopefully they will become more available.. Lots of possibilities with these little guys!

]]> By: David http://hackaday.com/2008/05/08/maker-faire-2008-shiftbright-rgb-led-module/comment-page-1/#comment-33441 David Fri, 09 May 2008 17:31:15 +0000 http://hackaday.iheartcashews.com:8181/2008/05/08/maker-faire-2008-shiftbright-rgb-led-module/#comment-33441 Cool images, my favorite. Cool images, my favorite.

]]> By: larawen http://hackaday.com/2008/05/08/maker-faire-2008-shiftbright-rgb-led-module/comment-page-1/#comment-33440 larawen Fri, 09 May 2008 14:18:50 +0000 http://hackaday.iheartcashews.com:8181/2008/05/08/maker-faire-2008-shiftbright-rgb-led-module/#comment-33440 Imagine a case mod that interfaced with the Phillips amBX background lighting system, that would be very cool. Imagine a case mod that interfaced with the Phillips amBX background lighting system, that would be very cool.

]]> By: DarkFader http://hackaday.com/2008/05/08/maker-faire-2008-shiftbright-rgb-led-module/comment-page-1/#comment-33439 DarkFader Fri, 09 May 2008 10:08:10 +0000 http://hackaday.iheartcashews.com:8181/2008/05/08/maker-faire-2008-shiftbright-rgb-led-module/#comment-33439 Now if only the driver/interface was incorporated inside the RGB LEDs (and also would have a 1-wire interface), this could be a bit smaller.<br>If they can place 3 dies on a LED, why don't they add one more for the "blinking"? Now if only the driver/interface was incorporated inside the RGB LEDs (and also would have a 1-wire interface), this could be a bit smaller.
If they can place 3 dies on a LED, why don’t they add one more for the “blinking”?

]]> By: tjhow http://hackaday.com/2008/05/08/maker-faire-2008-shiftbright-rgb-led-module/comment-page-1/#comment-33438 tjhow Fri, 09 May 2008 05:26:17 +0000 http://hackaday.iheartcashews.com:8181/2008/05/08/maker-faire-2008-shiftbright-rgb-led-module/#comment-33438 awesome!! awesome!!

]]> By: Aero http://hackaday.com/2008/05/08/maker-faire-2008-shiftbright-rgb-led-module/comment-page-1/#comment-33437 Aero Fri, 09 May 2008 05:23:36 +0000 http://hackaday.iheartcashews.com:8181/2008/05/08/maker-faire-2008-shiftbright-rgb-led-module/#comment-33437 Great idea for a case mod where the color changes depending on the temperature of whatever you wish to monitor. I can just picture computers swimming with different colors as you crank up your favorite game in a dark room. Great idea for a case mod where the color changes depending on the temperature of whatever you wish to monitor. I can just picture computers swimming with different colors as you crank up your favorite game in a dark room.

]]> By: Mojo http://hackaday.com/2008/05/08/maker-faire-2008-shiftbright-rgb-led-module/comment-page-1/#comment-33436 Mojo Fri, 09 May 2008 04:09:27 +0000 http://hackaday.iheartcashews.com:8181/2008/05/08/maker-faire-2008-shiftbright-rgb-led-module/#comment-33436 Wow that looks sweet, the kinda thing case mod freaks would kill for on thier pc (I know I would lol). Wow that looks sweet, the kinda thing case mod freaks would kill for on thier pc (I know I would lol).

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