This is a really cool project from Adafruit customer Graham Perks. Full tutorial here!
For driving an array of LEDs with a Valentine’s message.
Currently this is configured for a 5×5 array of pixels.
I used Adafruit’s RGB Pixels which have a WS2801 driving them.
There’s a class (LEDFader) here which wraps the WS2801 library and provides the ability to animate pixel color changes, which makes for a smoother color flow. Rather than the pixel snapping from color to color, you can specify a duration to setPixelColor over which the pixel’s color will animate.
For the hardware, I followed http://www.instructables.com/id/Yet-Another-Daft-Punk-Coffee-TableDisplay/#step0, though of course I replaced the individual LEDs with the Pixels. I also thickened the box, by 3cm; this added a hidden back area with space for the wiring and arduino.
I ordered a translucent cover from Blick art materials (failed to find anything locally). http://www.dickblick.com/products/grafix-drafting-film/. I found the 2-sided version of this better at hiding the LEDs within, there’s more blurring going on.
5V 2A (2000mA) switching power supply – UL Listed – Need a lot of 5V power? This switching supply gives a clean regulated 5V output at up to 2000mA. 110 or 240 input, so it works in any country. The plugs are “US 2-prong” style so you may need a plug adapter, but you can pick one up at any hardware store for a $1 or so. Read more.
Happy Valentine’s Day from Adafruit! Today we are highlighting our favorite heart-shaped electronics projects. We have lots of excellent projects to let your loved one know that you care. Be sure to check out our gift guide as well!
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Stop breadboarding and soldering – start making immediately! Adafruit’s Circuit Playground is jam-packed with LEDs, sensors, buttons, alligator clip pads and more. Build projects with Circuit Playground in a few minutes with the drag-and-drop MakeCode programming site, learn computer science using the CS Discoveries class on code.org, jump into CircuitPython to learn Python and hardware together, TinyGO, or even use the Arduino IDE. Circuit Playground Express is the newest and best Circuit Playground board, with support for CircuitPython, MakeCode, and Arduino. It has a powerful processor, 10 NeoPixels, mini speaker, InfraRed receive and transmit, two buttons, a switch, 14 alligator clip pads, and lots of sensors: capacitive touch, IR proximity, temperature, light, motion and sound. A whole wide world of electronics and coding is waiting for you, and it fits in the palm of your hand.
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Happy Valentine’s Day from Adafruit! Today we are highlighting our favorite heart-shaped electronics projects. We have lots of excellent projects to let your loved one know that you care. Be sure to check out our gift guide as well!