If my flashlight business card isn't advanced enough for you, then how about one with a full graphical display on it that can be customised for a number of scrolling messages? This one could be made in quantity for about a $5 parts cost, and it is only a little bit more expensive if you are making just a few. I won't kid you that this is an easy design to make - don't try it unless you have very good soldering skills and some experience in electronics. Some of the components here are smaller than grains of rice, so it would be useful to have good eyesight as well! Like the flashlight card, it is more of a proof of concept than something you can churn out in quantity, but it might at least give you an idea of what can be achieved, and where business cards might be in just a few years time.
Led Card.brd35 KB
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Signing UpStep 1: About The Design
This is the sort of card that would suit a high-tech business, or those who were involved in high-value contracts, where an innovative image is all important. I would never suggest that it would replace a conventional business card, but to impress that all-important prospective client, there would be more than a few companies who would be happy to spend just an extra few dollars. Like the flashlight card, the aim is to design a business card that people just can't throw away!
The design is really quite simple for what it does - a matrix of 5x15 LEDs, connected to a single-chip "PIC"microcontroller. A handful of resistors and switches complete the design (Schematic available below). By keeping the microcontroller in sleep mode unless the buttons are pressed, the battery can last several years, and still allow a couple of thousand displays of your messages.
The design is really quite simple for what it does - a matrix of 5x15 LEDs, connected to a single-chip "PIC"microcontroller. A handful of resistors and switches complete the design (Schematic available below). By keeping the microcontroller in sleep mode unless the buttons are pressed, the battery can last several years, and still allow a couple of thousand displays of your messages.
MatrixSchematic.pdf(595x842) 101 KB
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Seriously awesome stuff ! Many thanks for showing exactly how this is made with VERY - Clear & concise pictures and steps!
Also interested in your MK 2 version with colour OLED screen!
Undoubtedly Awesome & is every possible meaning of my words!
You're A Genius! Simply-Said !
how can write new message this display ?
it's very well designed
and i really like the idea for the overlay
good job pal
How can I make one of these
Just using the idea, not the whole thing.
Tom
Sam
Thanks,
Sam
Thank you for your time! I really appreciate it.
p.s. Is it possible that you could send me one of your prototypes? I would pay you of course.
Thanks
I was totally curious to see what was the part number of the display, hahahaha, very nice work!
I gave you 4.5 stars because I don't think the card is waterproof.
4 patterns without a reprograming.
all my base are belong to you
You can try it commercially
OK, the wiring matrix will be harder to do, but it is possible. I have charlieplexed 144 leds from one pic with no problems at all, see http://www.clock-it.net/led_clocks/charlie4.html
If you were in the software buisness you could use such USB Flash Card/ Buisness Cards to give away sample versions of your software up to say 1GB leaving the rest for recipiant use.
Or a Stock Broker could give them away loaded with stock market historical data with a short program that would bring the data up to date with automatic downloads from your web site.
I think that larger USB Flash Cards of up to 32 or 64 GB are possible for a higher price.
Being something useful it will stay in the walet not the desk drawer and keep your name in the recipiant's mind.
And eventually, you'll end up building a PDA ... easier to just buy one.
This is just awesome
Also there are these switches which are about 2 millimeters thick which you could use for the next type with the smaller inlaid battery
Thanks for this great Instructable
Nicely done.
and a beautiful solder job/board layout.
"Firstly I would change the CR2032 cell to a CR2016 as this is thinner, and then embed it within a space cut in the PCB. By using lower-profile components, the thickness of the card could probably be reduced to about 1/8th of an inch (rather than the current 1/4 inch)"
If you're going to inset the thin battery in the pcb, consider also insetting the switches and the chip( "professional deadbug soldering? ;-)
For the "ugly but effective" idea of what I am referring to, see http://www.instructables.com/id/USB-Li-ion-battery-charger/
but applied to your design, with the pretty circuitboard.