Automatic smooth color changing lightsaber

[DJMoonbass]

I talked with x197 about this and got some good ideas. it's a blade that smoothly changes colors by smoothly transitioning between LEDs in an RGB tri rebel. Like one led fades off as another one fades on. This would be a cool effect IMO. It would need two control boards. One for sound and then one to control the transitioning effect. More ideas to accomplish this feat? I want to do this as my senior project next year!

[xl97]

Id wait to hear form someone more knowledgable in electronics than myself..

but I believe youd need a board that has seperate PWM control for each of the diodes in the RGB,so you could fade the individual colors

then of course you need something that can 'control' the 3 separate PWM outs in a fashion you desire...

[Rhyen Skytracker]

That is correct, you would have to make a custom LED driver that would do all of that.

[xl97]

as well as somethign to 'control' the driver.. ;)

there has to be a 'brain' to control the PWM outputs..and mixes/fades each one idependently

[Rhyen Skytracker]

I think we know how to do it, it is just getting it on a pcb that is the problem.

[xl97]

outside of something like the replicantFX Orion chip? how would you 'do it'?

and the PCB part doesnt seem to difficult? I'll be making a homebrew one this weekend..
(my first)..

thanks

[Rhyen Skytracker]

I was talking about the replicantFX chip. That would be the best way to do it. I made a crystal chamber with RGB LEDs that changed colors. They had the color change built into the LED. We need to find out how those 5mm RGB LEDs work.

[xl97]

which ones?

also.. there is a 7 color (single) accent led availabel at radio shack... it can be set to stay on any of the 7 colors..or 'beacon mode'..which is basically a constant loop of the colors..

just ground/break to cycles the colors..

here it is:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3060680

[DJMoonbass]

i got my idea from watching my moms Little stand for her glass figurines. the LEDs (Three of them RGB) faded from one LED to the other. this sounds like its going to be difficult though :???:

[xl97]

I dont think it is difficult at all....

it just depends on how much you want to invest & learn I guess..

[DJMoonbass]

oh yeah i deffinatley want to learn. im just not very good with electronics. i need to take a few classes...

[xl97]

you just need to read.. once you read things enough they will 'click' heck I dont know jack about electronics either really.. some basics..and facts that I see people post around here..

the search feature (albeit a little 'wonky').. is a treasure..

[DJMoonbass]

yup. read. and ill talk with radio shack. see what they got. lol

[xl97]

HA....goo dluck with radioshack.. they never have ANYTHING good.. unless you want a cellphone..

or the odd (non specialized) part..

most of the stuff they even say they have is ONLY available n-line..

[Rhyen Skytracker]

I am talking about the ones I used here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFxlRK0LICE They look like a standard 5 mm accent LED with only 2 leads.

[xl97]

and you cant get them to ...what? change color? (havent watched vid yet)

[Rhyen Skytracker]

Watch the video, the cycle through about 24 different colors. First slow and then fast, then it starts the cycle over again. The LED looks like a regular accent LED with no other components in it.

[cardcollector]

does the Green Cree really look cyann? or is it just the camera.

[Rhyen Skytracker]

It is the camera, the CREE green is green not cyan.