The prototype is physically built! WOO!

Sorry for the crap quality pictures and video, I have a crap smartphone.

Hopefully this time, the video works...

WOO! that's awesome, huh?

So, the gist of it is a 5x5 display... and it's DMX controllable. I explain ad-nauseum my plans for that in the video.

TODO:

DMX input software and testing

Procedures development (lots to do here)

5ch / 75ch mode... I'll elaborate on this now:

As a DMX fixture, it will accept RS485 serial data consisting of 512 pieces of information (channels), or DMX512. This is one of the most commonly used protocols for stage and theater lighting and effects. A single channel or piece of information in this data chain goes from 00 to FF. This can be a value for the red lamp, green lamp, or blue lamp. this can also be a trigger for software or other effects, such as overall intensity, pan/tilt in moving fixtures, etc. What this then means is we have to figure out what each channel in our DMX512 data chain will control within this fixture. The initial plan is simple:

5 channels

75 channels

So with 25 pixels, one channel for each color of each pixel, that makes 75 channels. Even on a 3/4 universe board like the Chauvet Obey70, this is doable. It would be a royal pain to program on a board like that, and that brings me to the long-term TODO on external control:

Artnet.

That's all for tonight, happy making!

-Floz

PS: almost forgot the code. This is as-uploaded to the 'duino last night.

#include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>
#include <avr/power.h>

#define PIN 6

// Parameter 1 = number of pixels in strip
// Parameter 2 = Arduino pin number (most are valid)
// Parameter 3 = pixel type flags, add together as needed:
//   NEO_KHZ800  800 KHz bitstream (most NeoPixel products w/WS2812 LEDs)
//   NEO_KHZ400  400 KHz (classic 'v1' (not v2) FLORA pixels, WS2811 drivers)
//   NEO_GRB     Pixels are wired for GRB bitstream (most NeoPixel products)
//   NEO_RGB     Pixels are wired for RGB bitstream (v1 FLORA pixels, not v2)
Adafruit_NeoPixel strip = Adafruit_NeoPixel(25, PIN, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);

// IMPORTANT: To reduce NeoPixel burnout risk, add 1000 uF capacitor across
// pixel power leads, add 300 - 500 Ohm resistor on first pixel's data input
// and minimize distance between Arduino and first pixel.  Avoid connecting
// on a live circuit...if you must, connect GND first.

void setup() {
  // This is for Trinket 5V 16MHz, you can remove these three lines if you are not using a Trinket
#if defined (__AVR_ATtiny85__)
  if (F_CPU == 16000000) clock_prescale_set(clock_div_1);
#endif
  // End of trinket special code


  strip.begin();
  strip.show(); // Initialize all pixels to 'off'
}

void loop() {
  //
  // TODO: DMX Slave 
  // take RS485 differential "DMX" input
  // and convert it into:
  // ch 1 = procedure chooser
  // ch 2, 3, 4 = color picker
  // and ch 4 = rate
  // maybe ch 5 "option" (theater chase spacing?)
  // 
  // Some example procedures showing how to display to the pixels:
 colorFlood(strip.Color(0,0,0),1500);// Off between each demo
 //spinning_star(strip.Color(255,255,255),500); //grab a pixel make it white, spin the pixels around it
// colorFlood(strip.Color(0,0,0),1500);// Off between each demo//
// spinning_chase(strip.Color(96,0,255),100); //3x3 matrix outer perimeter Z configuration chase
 colorFlood(strip.Color(0,0,0),100);// Off / blackout
 colorWipe(strip.Color(255, 0, 0), 500); // Red
 colorWipe(strip.Color(0,0,0),500);// Off / wipe
 colorWipe(strip.Color(0, 255, 0), 500); // Green
 colorWipe(strip.Color(0,0,0),500);// Off
 colorWipe(strip.Color(0, 0, 255), 500); // Blue
 colorWipe(strip.Color(0,0,0),500);// Off
 colorWipe(strip.Color(0,0,0),1500);// Off between each demo
  stars(strip.Color(255,255,255),75);
  colorFlood(strip.Color(0,0,0),1500);// Off between each demo
  /*
  theaterChaseRainbow(175); // Send a theater pixel chase in...
  colorFlood(strip.Color(0,0,0),1500);// Off between each demo
  theaterChase(strip.Color(127, 127, 127), 150); // White
  colorFlood(strip.Color(0,0,0),1500);// Off between each demo
  theaterChase(strip.Color(127,   0,   0), 150); // Red
  colorFlood(strip.Color(0,0,0),1500);// Off between each demo
  theaterChase(strip.Color(  0,   0, 127), 150); // Blue
  colorFlood(strip.Color(0,0,0),1500);// Off between each demo
 */
  //pickapixel(7,strip.Color(255,255,255),1); //grab a pixel make it white
  //pickapixel(5,strip.Color(0,255,255),1); // grab a pixel make it cyan
 // pickapixel(3,strip.Color(255,255,0),1); // grab a pixel make it yellow
 // pickapixel(1,strip.Color(255,0,255),1);  // grab a pixel make it magenta
 // delay(3500); //let the pickapixel show for a moment.
  colorFlood(strip.Color(0,0,0),1500);// Off between each demo
  
  rainbow(20);
  colorFlood(strip.Color(0,0,0),1500);// Off between each demo
  strobe(27);
  colorFlood(strip.Color(0,0,0),1500);// Off between each demo
  rainbowCycle(20);
  colorFlood(strip.Color(0,0,0),1500);// Off between each demo
    
 stars(strip.Color(255,255,255),100);
 colorFlood(strip.Color(0,0,0),1500);// Off between each demo
 rainbowCycle(10);
 colorFlood(strip.Color(0,0,0),1500);// Off between each demo

}

// Fill the dots one after the other with a color
void colorWipe(uint32_t c, uint8_t wait) {
  for(uint16_t i=0; i<strip.numPixels(); i++) {
      strip.setPixelColor(i, c);
      strip.show();
      delay(wait);
  }
}

void colorFlood(uint32_t c, uint8_t wait) {
  for(uint16_t i=0; i<strip.numPixels(); i++) {
      strip.setPixelColor(i, c);
  }
  strip.show();
  delay(wait);
}

void stars(uint32_t c, uint8_t wait) {
  for(uint16_t i=0; i<strip.numPixels(); i++) {
    int pixeltopick = (random(0,strip.numPixels()));  
    strip.setPixelColor(pixeltopick, c);
      strip.show();
      delay(wait);
      strip.setPixelColor(pixeltopick, 0,0,0);
      strip.show();
      delay(wait);
      }
}

void pickapixel(uint32_t p, uint32_t c, uint8_t wait) {
    strip.setPixelColor(p, c);
    strip.show();
    delay(wait);
      }

      
void spinning_chase(uint32_t c, uint8_t wait) {
for(uint16_t i=0; i<strip.numPixels(); i++) {
    
    strip.setPixelColor(0, c);
    strip.show();
    delay(wait);
    strip.setPixelColor(0, strip.Color(0,0,0));
    strip.setPixelColor(1, c);
    strip.show();
    delay(wait);
    strip.setPixelColor(1, strip.Color(0,0,0));
    strip.setPixelColor(2, c);
    strip.show();
    delay(wait);
    strip.setPixelColor(2, strip.Color(0,0,0));
    strip.setPixelColor(3, c);
    strip.show();
    delay(wait);
    strip.setPixelColor(3, strip.Color(0,0,0));
    strip.setPixelColor(8, c);
    strip.show();
    delay(wait);
    strip.setPixelColor(8, strip.Color(0,0,0));
    strip.setPixelColor(7, c);
    strip.show();
    delay(wait);or anyone I found information/software to build this with
    strip.setPixelColor(7, strip.Color(0,0,0));
    strip.setPixelColor(6, c);
    strip.show();
    delay(wait);
    strip.setPixelColor(6, strip.Color(0,0,0));
    strip.setPixelColor(5, c);
    strip.show();
    delay(wait);
    strip.setPixelColor(5, strip.Color(0,0,0));
    strip.show();
}}
      
void spinning_star(uint32_t c, uint8_t wait) {
for(uint16_t i=0; i<strip.numPixels(); i++) {
    
    strip.setPixelColor(0, strip.Color(0,0,0));
    strip.setPixelColor(2, strip.Color(0,0,0));
    strip.setPixelColor(4, strip.Color(0,0,0));
    strip.setPixelColor(6, strip.Color(0,0,0));
    strip.setPixelColor(8, strip.Color(0,0,0));
    strip.setPixelColor(1, c);
    strip.setPixelColor(3, c);
    strip.setPixelColor(5, c);
    strip.setPixelColor(7, c);
    strip.show();
    delay(wait);
    strip.setPixelColor(1, strip.Color(0,0,0));
    strip.setPixelColor(3, strip.Color(0,0,0));
    strip.setPixelColor(5, strip.Color(0,0,0));
    strip.setPixelColor(7, strip.Color(0,0,0));
    strip.setPixelColor(0, c);
    strip.setPixelColor(2, c);
    strip.setPixelColor(4, c);
    strip.setPixelColor(6, c);
    strip.setPixelColor(8, c);
    strip.show();
    delay(wait);
}      
    }
      
void rainbow(uint8_t wait) {
  uint16_t i, j;

  for(j=0; j<256; j++) {
    for(i=0; i<strip.numPixels(); i++) {
      strip.setPixelColor(i, Wheel((i+j) & 255));
    }
    strip.show();
    delay(wait);
  }
}
void strobe(uint8_t wait) {
  uint16_t i, j;

  for(j=0; j<256; j++) {
    for(i=0; i<strip.numPixels(); i++) {
      strip.setPixelColor(i, 255,255,255);
    }
    strip.show();
    delay(wait);
   for(i=0; i<strip.numPixels(); i++) {
      strip.setPixelColor(i, 0,0,0);
    }
    strip.show();
    delay(wait);
     
}
  
}


// Slightly different, this makes the rainbow equally distributed throughout
void rainbowCycle(uint8_t wait) {
  uint16_t i, j;

  for(j=0; j<256*5; j++) { // 5 cycles of all colors on wheel
    for(i=0; i< strip.numPixels(); i++) {
      strip.setPixelColor(i, Wheel(((i * 256 / strip.numPixels()) + j) & 255));
    }
    strip.show();
    delay(wait);
  }
}

//Theatre-style crawling lights.
void theaterChase(uint32_t c, uint8_t wait) {
  for (int j=0; j<3; j++) {  //do 3 cycles of chasing
    for (int q=0; q < 3; q++) {
      for (int i=0; i < strip.numPixels(); i=i+3) {
        strip.setPixelColor(i+q, c);    //turn every third pixel on
      }
      strip.show();
     
      delay(wait);
     
      for (int i=0; i < strip.numPixels(); i=i+3) {
        strip.setPixelColor(i+q, 0);        //turn every third pixel off
      }
    }
  }
}

//Theatre-style crawling lights with rainbow effect
void theaterChaseRainbow(uint8_t wait) {
  for (int j=0; j < 256; j++) {     // cycle all 256 colors in the wheel
    for (int q=0; q < 3; q++) {
        for (int i=0; i < strip.numPixels(); i=i+3) {
          strip.setPixelColor(i+q, Wheel( (i+j) % 255));    //turn every third pixel on
        }
        strip.show();
       
        delay(wait);
       
        for (int i=0; i < strip.numPixels(); i=i+3) {
          strip.setPixelColor(i+q, 0);        //turn every third pixel off
        }
    }
  }
}

// Input a value 0 to 255 to get a color value.
// The colours are a transition r - g - b - back to r.
uint32_t Wheel(byte WheelPos) {
  WheelPos = 255 - WheelPos;
  if(WheelPos < 85) {
   return strip.Color(255 - WheelPos * 3, 0, WheelPos * 3);
  } else if(WheelPos < 170) {
    WheelPos -= 85;
   return strip.Color(0, WheelPos * 3, 255 - WheelPos * 3);
  } else {
   WheelPos -= 170;
   return strip.Color(WheelPos * 3, 255 - WheelPos * 3, 0);
  }
}

I never claimed to be a great, or efficient programmer... Instead I've found ruthlessly mutilating existing software works as well and is more entertaining. This started as the Adafruit strandtest example, and will continue to mutate.

for homebrew DMX512 sheilds:

http://www.deskontrol.net/blog/schematic-arduino-4-universes-dmx-shield/

for NeoPixel library and other Adafruit awesomeness:

https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-neopixel-uberguide/arduino-library

This whole thing is OpenSource/Humanistic in the sense that you can copy what I've done and build something like this, or something better/worse... and not owe me a single cent.

You still have to buy your own parts, though.

Please credit where credit is due if you use stuff other people wrote, of course... and be a nice person.

If you've learned something, great! If you want to contribute, great!

More updates to come.