Arduino multi-mode lamp with soft touch switch

In this Arduino-based project, we will build a lamp with multiple light displays: color sequencer, dimming light, color chaser, firelight - all selected by a touch bar on the circuit board.

All the functions are done in software, including the touch sensor, which is a unique feature.

Step 1 What is needed?

We will be going the minimalist way for this project, filling the board with just a microchip, the LEDs, a handful of resistors and some capacitors, all for under $10, along with the necessary connecting hardware.

The circuit will be using 3 RGB LEDs. These are common-anode Piranha type available here and contains three LEDs within its body. Each color will need a single dropping resistor (220-ohm for green and blue and 330-ohm for Red). We can also add a small LED with a 1k-ohm as an indicator.

The IC we are using is an ATMega-328 microchip, available for about $5 here You will also need a 16Mhz resonator for about 35c, also available at the same site.

The development and testing of the software is done using the Arduino system, so a suitable 'host' is necessary. I've used an Arduino 'Nano', a Boarduino and a RBBB board and they all work fine.

Comments

[MRedmon]

I made this mood light for my sister's birthday. I followed the instructions above but etched a custom PCB, added a 2xAA or USB power source, fabricated a base out of plexiglass, and found a vase at Goodwill. I have a video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vbmpzk91vY

[qs]

Great work! She must be very pleased!

[remal]

AmAAAAAzInG

[qs]

Thank you!

[rapidprototyping]

YOU GUYS ARE SO COOL DOING THESE IS ONE THING I ALWAYS WANTED TO DO. IN 1980 I SAW MY FIRST TOUCH ACTIVATED LAMP IT WAS A AFICAN VIOLET YOU TOUCHED A LEAF AND THE LIGHT CAME ON. THAT WAS A REGULAR INCADESENT BULB. THERE IS A GREAT BIO OF THOMAS EDISONS LIFE AND WORK ON PROJECT GUTENBERG.COM THE PLAIN TEXT VERESION DEOWNLOAD IN SECONDS BUT ITS A FIVE HUNDRED PAGE DOC. i USE A READER I GOT FROM NCH SOFTWARE ITS A FREE TRIAL IT CAN READ PDG FILES TOO THAT COOL LISTEENING TO YOUR COMPUTER GO ALL DAY READING WHILE YOU WORK ON OTHER STUFF.

[CalcProgrammer1]

Since it still has the data lines intact, why not create a music visualizer out of it? Use Processing and the minim audio library to capture audio from your sound card (you have to have a "Stereo Mix" recording device though) and then output some data to the serial port. I did this with a bunch of RGB LED's and it looked awesome. This code makes a FFT (analyzes audio stream into a frequency spectrum like the Bars visualization). You can just set the LED brightnesses to whatever bar you want to get a flashing effect to the music. http://code.compartmental.net/tools/minim/manual-fft/

[qs]

I know what you mean. I did something similar here: http://www.instructables.com/id/The-LED-Matrix-Panel-or-LMP-for-the-Arduino-micr/ and in fact I've gone even further with a version that has 8 RGB LEDs - you can see a demo here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoocFDhX0Cw - I just never got round to writing it up. qs

[qs]

Oops, the version with 8 triLEDs is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Km-NZDvDG0s. This one uses an electret mic for input and analyses both frequency and beat. There are 4 different display modes. My plan was to make it large enough to mount on a wall, but never found the time.

[dunnos]

i NEED the code (for the touch wire and, who knows, if i can find led's even this lamp!) pm it to me please thanks! Dennis

[qs]

Dennis, Just added a step with the full sketch above. Good luck, and keep me informed of your progress!

[dunnos]

I love you man

[dosadi]

Nice instructable. Where did you get the terminated jumper wires in the step 2 photo?

[joejoerowley]

They sell them at makerstore.com I believe.

[dosadi]

They do, thank you. For anyone else who might be interested, it's makershed.com, not makerstore.com.

[qs]

Thanks. They are just jumpers sold for connecting breadboards.