Magic POV Wand (yet another POV toy)

NEW!  (7/12/2009) This kit has been upgraded to a professionally manufactured circuit board and the price has been reduced to only $8 per kit. (For educators, a classroom set of 32 kits is being offered for only $5.50 per kit.)

This Persistence of Vision (POV) toy is simple to assemble and fascinating to play with.  It is a good introduction to digital electronics and soldering.  It works by flashing each column of “pixels” in rapid succession producing the illusion of text in mid-air.  You can program in your own messages using two push-buttons.  The message is saved in “Flash” memory and will remain in the MCU’s (PIC16F628a) memory even when powered off.  The message can be changed as often as you like.

This POV toy is similar to the MiniPOV3 with a few important exceptions:

*  Button cell battery - more portable.  Easier to mount onto a bicycle or other spinning object.
*  Change the message without using a computer.
*  Less components to solder in.
*  Less expensive ( Now only $8!  ) 

Buy kits at www.chinchillasoft.com/projects.aspx

Watch Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAk2QtPzHrU

Step 1 What you need

Tools:

Soldering iron
Solder

Everything pictured here is included in the kit.  If you already have most of these components, you can order the circuit board and/or the programmed chip individually.

ID Qty Part
A 2 Momentary Push-buttons
B 7  Diffuse Red LEDs
C 7 200 ohm resistors
D 1 Mini Slide Switch
E 1 18-pin IC Socket
F 1 Programmed Integrated Circuit
G 1 CR2032 Button Cell Battery
H 1 Button Cell Battery Clip
I 1 Engraved Circuit Board

Comments

[nodoubtman]

With wish compiler do you compile your c source code?

thank you!
marC:)

[rleddington]

I used the one from SourceBoost. Check out http://www.sourceboost.com

[dumes79]

 Just bought the kit from your website.  Do I need software?

[rleddington]

You shouldn't need any software.  The PIC has the program in it already and you can change the message just using the push-buttons.

[smnoor88]

hello sir plz give me hex file of Magic POV Wand when i click on Magic POV Wand.hex12 KB ANOTHER FORMATE FILE IS OPEN (FR6I64EGC4G0NZB.tmp)
PLZZZ SEND ME REAL HEX FILE ON [e-mail]

I AM VERY THANK FULL TO U

[nodoubtman]

rename it : magic Pov wand.hex

thank you!
marC:)

[Jolenelim]

hi releddington,
if i buy the programming chip itself.how long can u deliver to spore.

[dumes79]

 The kit just came in.  It works perfect.

[rleddington]

I'm glad to hear it.  Thanks for the feedback.

[franmazz]

can you add the printed circuit? please

[rleddington]

Sorry for the slow reply. Assuming you mean artwork, I don't actually have a printed circuit that you could use for etching. If you mean the schematic, that's already provided as one of the pictures. If you're familiar with any circuit design tools such as EAGLE, I'm sure you could create a board layout fairly easily by following the schematic. If anyone happens to make one, I'd love to post it here for others to use. If you would just like an circuit board, they only cost $2.50 at www.chinchillasoft.com.

[palurdo]

Thankyou for sharing the code and schematic. I uploaded my PCB design for everybody who want to use it without having to design it from scratch I had to do because mi case it was a matter of "emergency gift" (when you remember that today is an important day for somebody, you know...)



http://www.mediafire.com/?pw73i7eefx00zyh



I forgot to include a power switch so you have to remove de battery if you want to turn off the device. Once built the PCB and soldered the parts, the circuit worked as you described, rleddington.

Again, Thankyou very much.

[despoto]

Thank you for link with deleted file ...

[palurdo]

Ok, try this link:

http://mural.uv.es/mabuva/Ledwand.rar

It's a permanent link

[palurdo]

Sorry, i didn't notice the file was deleted. This copyright conspirancy than came from the megaupload issue has led everybody crazy about storing files at the cloud. Please keep in touch so i will upload again the file quite soon in a different server.

Thankyou for your understanding.

[rleddington]

Thanks palurdo,

I'm glad to hear it has worked for you. Thank you for uploading the PCB design, I'm sure others will be glad you did.

[despoto]

Would you like to explain to me why downloaded code (.hex) in program mode works inverse (LEDs that should be on are off and vice verse) ? I suppose that message will be displayed inverse in further action . In "without mc-chip mode" testing was OK......any suggestions?

[rleddington]

Hi despoto,

The only thing I can think of is if you built your circuit with the resistors connected to ground rather than +5. With this design I purposely set up all of the LED's to turn on when the control pin goes low and goes off when the control pins go high. This is backwards from what people usually do, perhaps that is messing you up. You may be able to change the source code and reverse all of the letter patterns and then re-compile.

[nodoubtman]

how can you send a message with 7 led?

thank you!
marC:)

[16zzundel5]

I just bought the kit. I am so excited to build this!

[robot1398]

is there a messege already there or do i have to program the message using the 2 switches

[rleddington]

The programmed chip has a very generic and boring message by default: it is "ABC" I'm guessing you will want to change the message to something a little more interesting.

[robot1398]

ok

[smnoor88]

hello sir plz give me hex file of Magic POV Wand when i click on Magic POV Wand.hex12 KB ANOTHER FORMATE FILE IS OPEN (FR6I64EGC4G0NZB.tmp)
PLZZZ SEND ME REAL HEX FILE ON [e-mail]

I AM VERY THANK FULL TO U

[vignesh1990]

ya i to have the same problem the hex file is in different formate

[medo50]

gooooooooooood

[rubenrs]

Hi rleddington, how to reset the message? have to reset or letter by letter?
Thanks
Rubens

[rubenrs]

Thanks for the reply
I think my problem is to push the button confirms, sometimes I think it confirms the two times.
But I think it got the knack.
Thanks

[rleddington]

I'm not sure I understand your question completely. Yes you do have to change the message letter by letter. There is no reset. Are you having trouble understanding how to set the message to what you want it to be?

[yaly]

i have PIC16f84a will it work?
how to i edit the files to accept it?

[rleddington]

I'm afraid the 16F84 doesn't have enough memory for the whole program. You may be able to re-write it to only have capital letters rather than capital and lower case.

[rabbsword]

already order but my package not arrived almost 2 month...:(

[milian579]

where is the schematic diagram? can't understand the circuit at the PCB cause it's not very clear... please send me a schematic diagram.. thank you... [e-mail]

[rleddington]

Hi milian579, You can see the schematic diagram on the first (introduction) step. It is one of the pictures, the last one on the right. Ray

[boozo]

hey nice work i did it and i made all the test and evrthing workd as you said and made the hex file the probl is when i am finsh i put it in the pov but dont work just one light up so can you plz help me and send me your hex file my be it will work thank you for your time

[rleddington]

Hi boozo, did you build the circuit yourself? That's awsome! The .hex file is available right here on the instructable (Step 1) for download. It's called MagicPOVWand.hex and it is 12K. You should be able to just click on it and download it. Make sure you're using the 16F628 or the 16F628A. The 16F627 doesn't have enough program memory.

[shaf789]

how to program the 16F628A.??? plz tell

[rleddington]

There are many tutorials online for programming PIC chips. I use the free ICProg program. Basically you use a compiler to create a .hex file and then you use the ICProg program and a JDM (or similar) programming device.

[shaf789]

do u have Cheap PIC Programmer simple diagram ?

[laciubul]

Do you send a .hex file of Magic POV Wand to me?