PC programmable LED flasher?

[norcalbusa]

Is there one on the market now? I'm thinking there's a market for a flasher that you build your own patterns on a simulator, on your PC. Oh for sure, make it easy and have a few dozen pre-made/canned patterns one can drag 'n drop into a script. But also allow the user to create their own by getting as granular as they desire in the flash, dwell, etc. I'm thinking it not unlike mixing music or video where there entire script is a timeline (set however long you desire) that loops. Or with a signal (such as Horn ring) it jumps to a second script, then reverts- all of this customizable by the user. For those of us who aren't already on computers all day... Wouldn't this be cool though? No measurable benefit to society, just fun as heck to play with and design multi-head stuff, be able to view it play on your screen- then go upload it to a bar or individual heads on a vehicle and watch it play, rinse/repeat...

 

[Medicman695]

Whelen makes one called "WeCan"

 

[Pimp]

I really really want exactly what you describe... I'd love for someone to design that and me market it!

 

[WhiteLite03]

I really really want exactly what you describe... I'd love for someone to design that and me market it!

+1


I'd like for someone to design it and you market it too. That sounds like an awesome idea. The simulator portion on the PC wouldn't be that hard I don't imagine, the challenging part would be the interface to a flasher unit.

 

[fire1]

+1

I'd like for someone to design it and you market it too. That sounds like an awesome idea. The simulator portion on the PC wouldn't be that hard I don't imagine, the challenging part would be the interface to a flasher unit.

That would be nice, but the R & D & then finding a company to manufacture it would cost a fortune.

 

[norcalbusa]

That would be nice, but the R & D & then finding a company to manufacture it would cost a fortune.

Head for China, have them add the R&D to our National Debt they are already carrying?

 

[factorone33]

I really really want exactly what you describe... I'd love for someone to design that and me market it!

I'm on it. Just give me four years to get my degree in electrical engineering...

 

[Zapp Brannigan]

Lol, this just kinda fizzled out couple months ago. I am still interested if anyone can find someone electrically inclined to design this!

 

[Ipuvaepe]

It's not much really, just a microprocessor, programming board, and then inputs and outputs to boot. But since they aren't mass produced for this purpose, consider buying a basic robotics kit and using that with relays. I'd recommend Parallax.

 

[julietbravosierra]

I've wanted somthing like this. Cantrol is too expensive and I haven't attended their stupid class, so I can't touch it haha.

 

[factorone33]

I've wanted somthing like this. Cantrol is too expensive and I haven't attended their stupid class, so I can't touch it haha.

CanTrol allows for pattern switching based on input and output thresholds, but it doesn't allow for custom pattern building like what he's describing.


Most of Whelen's "Smart" LEDs use the LM310 IC for controlling patterns and syncing lightheads. I would imagine there is a similar architecture on the CanTrol/WeCan systems. If you had a way to flash the firmware of the 310, you could theoretically make your own patterns.


But good luck doing that. ;P

 

[unlisted]

Talk to this guy: HexBright, an Open Source Light by Christian Carlberg — Kickstarter


He created exactly what you are all looking for- in a flashlight.

 

[EVModules]

This I could do no problem. However, there would have to be a market for this. The smaller the demand, the higher the price there would have to be in order to simply break even.


I've done horn ring flash which jumps the pattern for approx 8 seconds.

 

[ChangchungLeds]

Hi everydody... I think that is not that hard, I will recomend you start with a simple programing in basic or C, when you make the program turn on and off a Led you are on the road... the following is to have a little practice, I do programing for so long now, sometimes some programing are hard than others, but with practice you can make all, then you need to have experience with the electronics or check some forums and make the PCBs, I start building mines my own, now I order from china, no junk, the cost me a lot...

 

[ryanm]

This sounds like the perfect application for an Arduino microcontroller. I'm going to have to get back to messing with those.

 

[KAdams327]

This sounds like the perfect application for an Arduino microcontroller.

Exactly. Hack a Day has a ton of information about using these for different projects. I know they have featured a few LED projects with these.

 

[ryanm]

Exactly. Hack a Day has a ton of information about using these for different projects. I know they have featured a few LED projects with these.

I played with some at a conference a while back. I don't think it would be that difficult, just a time-consuming project.


Too many other things to do!