On the topic of small LED panels, Jason of Evil Genius Labs has been making some really small LED panels [0] with addressable 1mm x 1mm LEDs (yes, individually addressable AND only 1mm on each side!). Fitting 128 onto a 1" circle is pretty sweet.
I keep meaning to design some PCBs with them [1] but it's too far down my ever-growing list of projects to see the light of day...
For a second I thought this was about custom LED construction.
But apparently, LEDs require advanced processes unlikely to be available for makers, anytime in the near future.
However, Zinc sulfide phosphor mixed into epoxy can be used to make voltage activated luminescence. For some interesting guidance on "doping" for color, I present a 1953 patent:
> zinc" sulphide' activated by both copper ad manganese in accordance, with the present invention is strongly electroluminescent, the addition of.
manganese to the copper-activated material resulting in a shift in the color of luminescence toward the red end of the spectrum. Thus, the materials of the invention, when excited by a fluctuating electric field, show colors of luminescence ranging from bluish-green through shades of bluish-white, pinkish-white and yellow to orange. [0]
Looks like some level of RGB was possible from the get go.
The diffuser really makes this. The resulting effect looks great.
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smusamashah
I dont understand it. The resolution is only 8x8. How does the animation at the end looks so smooth and way higher resolution?
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foofoo12
For the diffuser, there's a nice one or two in all LED/OLED monitors. More stuff in there too, acrylic/polycarbonate glass and a Fresnel lens. Worth scavenging if you come across a broken one.
show comments
Havoc
Tried my hand at this too. Except more janky and was aiming at lots of output.
LED get freaking hot fast at higher wattages and quickly found myself dealing with heat sinks etc.
I have to resist the urge to tile every surface with blinky lights. I think part of the appeal goes back to why I enjoyed writing programs on my C64 to bounce my name around the screen. It’s a limited playground, and limitations inspire creativity.
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Lerc
I have a bunch of these 8x8 panels on their way from AliExpress right now for an art project that a part will look remarkably like the video. V1 will probably be a 32x32 just like it.
I still haven't decided if I want to have a partition grid between the panel and the diffuser to make square edge pixels. It's definitely going to have a rp2350 inside. PIO is the best thing ever.
I was about to comment that I also made a small LED panel, but then realized it was me.
Here's the latest LED thing I'm working on (the design isn't mine): https://immich.home.stavros.io/share/oXerU8gnLn-dNHunPOg8lM8...
On the topic of small LED panels, Jason of Evil Genius Labs has been making some really small LED panels [0] with addressable 1mm x 1mm LEDs (yes, individually addressable AND only 1mm on each side!). Fitting 128 onto a 1" circle is pretty sweet.
I keep meaning to design some PCBs with them [1] but it's too far down my ever-growing list of projects to see the light of day...
[0] https://www.evilgeniuslabs.org/one-inch-fibonacci128
[1] https://www.lcsc.com/product-detail/C5349953.html
Speaking about small led panels, I also recommend the "Fluid Simulation Pendant" from mitxela: https://mitxela.com/projects/fluid-pendant
For a second I thought this was about custom LED construction.
But apparently, LEDs require advanced processes unlikely to be available for makers, anytime in the near future.
However, Zinc sulfide phosphor mixed into epoxy can be used to make voltage activated luminescence. For some interesting guidance on "doping" for color, I present a 1953 patent:
> zinc" sulphide' activated by both copper ad manganese in accordance, with the present invention is strongly electroluminescent, the addition of. manganese to the copper-activated material resulting in a shift in the color of luminescence toward the red end of the spectrum. Thus, the materials of the invention, when excited by a fluctuating electric field, show colors of luminescence ranging from bluish-green through shades of bluish-white, pinkish-white and yellow to orange. [0]
Looks like some level of RGB was possible from the get go.
[0] https://patents.google.com/patent/US2743238A/en
The diffuser really makes this. The resulting effect looks great.
I dont understand it. The resolution is only 8x8. How does the animation at the end looks so smooth and way higher resolution?
For the diffuser, there's a nice one or two in all LED/OLED monitors. More stuff in there too, acrylic/polycarbonate glass and a Fresnel lens. Worth scavenging if you come across a broken one.
Tried my hand at this too. Except more janky and was aiming at lots of output.
LED get freaking hot fast at higher wattages and quickly found myself dealing with heat sinks etc.
LED matrix panels are tons of fun! I strung a bunch of them together to make a marquee across my basement soffit: https://youtu.be/W0_3rzvq9Ks?si=aTT_uOZfOYh9NLUi
I have to resist the urge to tile every surface with blinky lights. I think part of the appeal goes back to why I enjoyed writing programs on my C64 to bounce my name around the screen. It’s a limited playground, and limitations inspire creativity.
I have a bunch of these 8x8 panels on their way from AliExpress right now for an art project that a part will look remarkably like the video. V1 will probably be a 32x32 just like it.
I still haven't decided if I want to have a partition grid between the panel and the diffuser to make square edge pixels. It's definitely going to have a rp2350 inside. PIO is the best thing ever.
https://kno.wled.ge/
This is neat! Any notes on the algo for controlling the output of the ws2812s?
I wonder what material is diffuser made of