Extensible LED Beam

Extensible LED Beam

Do you get tired of that hundreds of LED doing the same thing over and over again? Turn on together, turn off together and flash together?

Or, if you know basic programming of micro controller, how many LED can you control with I/Os?

In this instructable, with the help of 74HC595, you would know how to form a standard section of 8 LEDs, which can be extented limitless. And it only takes 4 I/Os.

Not only on/off control to individual LED, but also brightness control on single LED can be carried out.

animation video of 2 Sections (16 LEDs):
http://youtu.be/aADcOLSNU0M

animation video of 3 Sections (24 LEDs):
http://youtu.be/qvYaGY43A5Y

animation video of 4 sections (32 LEDs):
http://youtu.be/FeqEkkHhzhE

Step 1 Make the base board of a single section

Make the base board with a 80 x 40 perforated PC board.

Dimension matters. because not only the distance between LEDs in one section should be equal, but also the leds between section need to be distanced equaly, 1000mil.

Tip: When cutting off the board, you do not have to cut it through, cut groove on bothe sides, and bend it with a plier. It would take off easily.

Comments

[agis68]

ok...i dont know about the extensibility of this circuit....i have some doubts....but anyway is a good idea....could you please upload in pdf or jpg the diagram for the leds in perforated pcb....(you have it here in small image) I need it larger.....plz

[aguegu]

Hi agis68. The image I uploaded originally was big enough I think. However, Instructables make it too small to be clear. You could leave your email, with which I would sent the diagram to you.

[agis68]

ok....thanks for your reply.....my email [e-mail]

have a great new year!!!

[kelvinmead]

how extensible do you think this could get?

[aguegu]

With my 1T mode 89C51 microcontroller with 12 M XTAL, it can be extended to 64 LEDs (8 sections.) at least. I have made a 8x8x8 LED cube, with 8 74hc595. The longer the beam is, the longer it takes to send data, the harder to make it darken. In my application, it is sending brightness signal, something likes a virtual PWM. If all you need is control of on/off. As long as the signal from the micro controller is collectable by 74HC595. Tha t would be very long.