Difference between revisions of "Beacon3"

From Hackstrich
(Minor updates.)
(Updating status.)
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Beacon3 will be a beacon for the top of our flag(less?) pole for Burning Man 2011.  It will be simpler than [[Beacon2]] as time is limited to get it done, but we want a brighter beacon.
 
Beacon3 will be a beacon for the top of our flag(less?) pole for Burning Man 2011.  It will be simpler than [[Beacon2]] as time is limited to get it done, but we want a brighter beacon.
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== Project Status ==
 +
* 2011-07-19: Initial design started.
 +
* 2011-07-23: Schematic for LED driver board started and almost completed.
 +
* 2011-07-24: Board layout for LED driver board completed pending final review.
 +
* 2011-07-25: Final review of board layout for LED driver board completed, order submitted to MyRO for manufacturing.
 +
* 2011-07-28: Completed schematic for planar board and began board layout.
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* 2011-07-29: 4 Cree MC-E LEDs (on star heatsink/boards) ordered.
  
 
== Ideas ==
 
== Ideas ==
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*** Same light sensor and (lack of) charging circuitry as [[Beacon2]] can also be used
 
*** Same light sensor and (lack of) charging circuitry as [[Beacon2]] can also be used
 
*** Regulator on planar will only be needed for wireless functionality, MCU can operate over whole battery range as can LED drivers
 
*** Regulator on planar will only be needed for wireless functionality, MCU can operate over whole battery range as can LED drivers
**** '''Figure out how to level shift for the XBee (MCU running at battery voltage, XBee needs 3.3V)'''
 
 
*** Will use an ATmega328p for the MCU, makes it Arduino-compatible
 
*** Will use an ATmega328p for the MCU, makes it Arduino-compatible
 
** 4 RGBW LED units on Star boards and heat sinks at 12, 3, 6, and 9
 
** 4 RGBW LED units on Star boards and heat sinks at 12, 3, 6, and 9
*** Current thought is Cree MC-E ~2.5W per component colour RGBW LEDs
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*** Using Cree MC-E ~2.5W per component colour RGBW LEDs
 
** 4 RGBW LED driver boards (custom) at 1:30, 4:30, 7:30, and 10:30
 
** 4 RGBW LED driver boards (custom) at 1:30, 4:30, 7:30, and 10:30
 
*** 4x NXP SSL3250A chips on each board looks good to drive the RGBW LEDs
 
*** 4x NXP SSL3250A chips on each board looks good to drive the RGBW LEDs
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*** Rubber-duck antenna
 
*** Rubber-duck antenna
 
*** LiIon pack (plugs directly into Arduino Fio)
 
*** LiIon pack (plugs directly into Arduino Fio)
 
== Project Status ==
 
* 2011-07-19: Initial design started.
 
* 2011-07-23: Schematic for LED driver board started and almost completed.
 
  
 
[[Category:Current Projects]]
 
[[Category:Current Projects]]

Revision as of 14:13, 29 July 2011

Beacon3 will be a beacon for the top of our flag(less?) pole for Burning Man 2011. It will be simpler than Beacon2 as time is limited to get it done, but we want a brighter beacon.

Project Status

  • 2011-07-19: Initial design started.
  • 2011-07-23: Schematic for LED driver board started and almost completed.
  • 2011-07-24: Board layout for LED driver board completed pending final review.
  • 2011-07-25: Final review of board layout for LED driver board completed, order submitted to MyRO for manufacturing.
  • 2011-07-28: Completed schematic for planar board and began board layout.
  • 2011-07-29: 4 Cree MC-E LEDs (on star heatsink/boards) ordered.

Ideas

  • Beacon Unit
    • Same enclosure as Beacon2 can be used to save time, just remove PCBs and replace with these
    • Planar PCB that fits onto the spindle, which the other boards plug into vertically
      • Single MCU this time, as there are fewer LEDs
      • Same light sensor and (lack of) charging circuitry as Beacon2 can also be used
      • Regulator on planar will only be needed for wireless functionality, MCU can operate over whole battery range as can LED drivers
      • Will use an ATmega328p for the MCU, makes it Arduino-compatible
    • 4 RGBW LED units on Star boards and heat sinks at 12, 3, 6, and 9
      • Using Cree MC-E ~2.5W per component colour RGBW LEDs
    • 4 RGBW LED driver boards (custom) at 1:30, 4:30, 7:30, and 10:30
      • 4x NXP SSL3250A chips on each board looks good to drive the RGBW LEDs
        • Will drive them at 200mA per component colour constantly, and 500mA flashes of 820mS
        • This chip has a fixed I2C address though so an I2C mux would be needed on each LED board
          • The PCA9545 looks perfect for this, I2C controlled 4:1 I2C mux and can be "turned off" so that there's no need for a planar mux
  • Remote Control Unit
    • Having a remote that would make the beacon extra-noticeable when a button was pressed would be cool
    • To get long enough range to be useful, we'd want ~50mW
    • XBee is probably the best way to go, but need to look at power draw for the RX side and would have to custom-design a remote control unit
    • Remote Control Unit could just be:
      • Arduino Fio
      • XBee Series 1 RP-SMA (plugs directly into Arduino Fio)
      • Rubber-duck antenna
      • LiIon pack (plugs directly into Arduino Fio)