PDA

View Full Version : How to control kazillion LED's...



kinghong1970
11-19-2007, 07:32 PM
ok, this may be in the wrong forum... but you guys there seem to be a bright bunch and i dont know where else to ask for help...

what can be used to control appx 200 LED "grids" where each grid contains a set number of LED's...

2 main function of light control, stay lit, and sparkle in "random" patterns...

thanks...

Polizei
11-19-2007, 07:56 PM
Depends on how the LED's are hooked up. Explain more.

Real Genius
11-20-2007, 03:22 AM
It would take something like two sixteen bit registers arranged x-y (256 LEDs max) and a micro controller like BASIC Stamp to address them. Simple enough if you have an electronics background but a bit out of reach if you don't.

There might actually be some ready-made kits out there for that very purpose but I don't know of any.

kinghong1970
11-20-2007, 06:04 AM
thank you for your replies...

i know my original question was vague...

ok, you guys see those ceiling panels in the office spaces? (you looked, right? :D ) the grids will be in similar format...

2' x 2' panels with LED lights installed.

the panel grid will have LED's of varying density (for artistic purposes)
4 LED @ 2x2 grid
16 LED @ 4x4 grid
36 LED @ 6x6 grid
64 LED @ 8x8 grid
100 LED @ 10x10 grid

so basically, sections of the grids will have varying densities...

the LED's will have 2 basic functions...
1) all on/off
2) sparkle where "random" LED's will turn on/off to simulate a sparkling effect when viewed in whole.

i dont intend to control the entire LED's but just select ones... say 1~4 per grid depending on density of grid.

i am looking for an already made solution if possible.

any thoughts?

or just some key words so i can google it?

bluep3ace
11-20-2007, 06:24 PM
It would take something like two sixteen bit registers arranged x-y (256 LEDs max) and a micro controller like BASIC Stamp to address them. Simple enough if you have an electronics background but a bit out of reach if you don't.

There might actually be some ready-made kits out there for that very purpose but I don't know of any.

yes! the best way would be to use a micro controller.
like what real genius said, it might not be the easiest for most people, but for a EE or electronics fan, it's definitely do-able.

IFMU
11-20-2007, 06:42 PM
http://www.allelectronics.com/

Check those guys out. I've bought from them before when I was doing some LED/wiring stuffs.
They have a huge selection to choose from and are a pretty nice webstore.