Components

These are example of the components that i have been using in making prototypes including back lit switches and high intensity LED's

Seperate Block Prototype

This is a post to show the progress i have made on making non-coded prototypes. This one shows how a single block may work on a more technical level.

Handles, Handles, Handles

After a talk with Pete the conclusion was reached that i should look into the area of handling as some fans may have other things to hold such as a drink, food item or a phone. It was also noted that the length of a half alone was long enough that this need ed looking into. Here around 7-8 methods i have considered over 2 models.

Gantt Chart

Todays afternoon class with Pete was based around the making of Gantt which is one of the hand-ins but it will also be useful for me as a timekeeping tool, I was in a group with Blair and Callum L.

This is our Gantt Chart,










Everyone seemed to find this a great help as it made us realise how much there is to do in such a short space of time.

Magnetic Tray Display

After a thought on the magnetic block display i felt it needed to be changed again, this new idea mean there could be less chunky piece as the tray would carry more of the electrical components and the new block would only be fitted with the LEDs,

Video to Follow soon, sorry.

Distance Checks

This was a very quick project i gave myself over an hour, which was to check how easy it is to see a some non lit 7 segment fronts from a distance from 15-20metres. All I did was place two display fronts at the end of the hall. As you can see the larger display is easier to see but the colour contrast was a major problem.

Magnet Block Display

In a side step from coding i have thought of an idea that uses the conductivity of magenets to hold blocks toegether and in turn complete a circuit and light up the connect peices and in turn display a character.
Velcro has been used in the prototype as i did not have any magnets at the time.

Hacking Keyboard

On managing to select characters in the serial monitor in my most recent code i have now purchased an Argos, Super cheap keyboard. I have taken it apart and removed the spingy rubber parts (used to bounce the buttons back up) on all buttons that will not be used like, Tab, ESC, DEL, Num Lock. This will make it easier to incorporate into a prototype.

An issue i may have with it is that i do not have the right connection, i may need to get a USB convertor or buy a cheap USB keyboard.

Keyboard Entry

I have recently managed to program Arduino to accept characters that are typed in to the serial monitor using the laptop keyboard. From this the next step may be to move to a separate keyboard.

Here is the videos of it working :-

Dropping the Scarf

For various reasons i decided that i would drop the concept of the camoflague scarf. This decision has been backed by Jon and Pete, as they feel there are too many things that could go wrong and to consider. I found myself less and less confident that i would be able to produce a good peice of work. This is due to the fabric element involvement in the making and after this pitiful attempt at knitting i felt it was definately a risky thing to attempt a project including this. I also felt concious of how big a power supply should be when being wore for the length of a match and the heat it would generate.

Folding good/bad/ugly?

I have done some prototypes of a folding, rolling idea and it has highlighted a major issue. I believe that inserting wiring and circuits into a product that rolls up will be very difficult for someone of my ability. I have deicded that i will look else where for the time being for form ideas.

Here are the prototypes:-

Button code work

Just a post to show some pictures of the circuit and other things i have done in getting the Button program to work which will be the first stage in getting user input on the board.

Soft Crit Feedback

I have had a Soft Crit that was viewed by , Jon, Pete, Sean, Mike and the Class.

Feedback points include,

• Drop the Scarf - All members backed the vote to leave trhe scarf behind.
• Keyboard entry - Could a keyboard be used for the letter/number entry sytem? For ease of use.
• Distance Check - I have been advised that i should take show an interest into the ease of viewing from a distance as i have spent the majority of time looking close up.
• Materials - Plastic, fabric, metal?
• Power - Mike raised the issue of how is should consider powering, Batteries, rechargable?
• Can it fold up? or should it be in plaque form.

This was what i presented



This is the plastic front used to display the program given in the last post.









This is the Strip LEDs being placed in the 7 segment display holes.







Video Won't load, will try again soon.

7 segment display code 1

This is the code i created over a weekend,

The code is programmed in order for the 7 Led's to form a 7 segment display and run through the numbers 0 - 9 and on to a - z. This is an automatic program where the is a 2 second delay on each number/letter. This is not how the final program is going to be but it has helped a lot for me to learn how to work with the program.

int ledPina = 2;// LED connected to digital pin 2

int ledPinb = 3;// LED connected to digital pin 3

int ledPinc = 4;// LED connected to digital pin 4

int ledPind = 5;// LED connected to digital pin 5

int ledPine = 6;// LED connected to digital pin 6

int ledPinf = 7;// LED connected to digital pin 7

int ledPing = 8;// LED connected to digital pin 8

// The setup() method runs once, when the sketch starts

void setup() {

// initialize the digital pin as an output:

pinMode(ledPina, OUTPUT);

pinMode(ledPinb, OUTPUT);

pinMode(ledPinc, OUTPUT);

pinMode(ledPind, OUTPUT);

pinMode(ledPine, OUTPUT);

pinMode(ledPinf, OUTPUT);

pinMode(ledPing, OUTPUT);

}

// the loop() method runs over and over again,

// as long as the Arduino has power

void loop ()

{

digitalWrite(ledPina, HIGH); // set the LED on 0

digitalWrite(ledPinb, HIGH); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPinc, HIGH); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPind, HIGH); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPine, HIGH); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPinf, HIGH); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPing, LOW); // set the LED off

delay(2000);

digitalWrite(ledPina, LOW); // set the LED off 1

digitalWrite(ledPind, LOW); // set the LED off

digitalWrite(ledPine, LOW); // set the LED off

digitalWrite(ledPinf, LOW); // set the LED off

delay(2000);

digitalWrite(ledPina, HIGH); // set the LED on 2

digitalWrite(ledPinc, LOW); // set the LED off

digitalWrite(ledPind, HIGH); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPine, HIGH); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPing, HIGH); // set the LED on

delay(2000);

digitalWrite(ledPinc, HIGH); // set the LED on 3

digitalWrite(ledPine, LOW); // set the LED off

delay(2000);

digitalWrite(ledPina, LOW); // set the LED off 4

digitalWrite(ledPind, LOW); // set the LED off

digitalWrite(ledPine, LOW); // set the LED off

digitalWrite(ledPinf, HIGH); // set the LED on

delay(2000);

digitalWrite(ledPina, HIGH); // set the LED on 5

digitalWrite(ledPinb, LOW); // set the LED off

digitalWrite(ledPind, HIGH); // set the LED on

delay(2000);

digitalWrite(ledPine, HIGH); // set the LED on 6

delay(2000);

digitalWrite(ledPinb, HIGH); // set the LED on7

digitalWrite(ledPind, LOW); // set the LED off

digitalWrite(ledPine, LOW); // set the LED off

digitalWrite(ledPinf, LOW); // set the LED off

digitalWrite(ledPing, LOW); // set the LED off

delay(2000);

digitalWrite(ledPind, HIGH); // set the LED on 8

digitalWrite(ledPine, HIGH); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPinf, HIGH); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPing, HIGH); // set the LED on

delay(2000);

digitalWrite(ledPind, LOW); // set the LED off 9

digitalWrite(ledPine, LOW); // set the LED off

delay(2000);

digitalWrite(ledPine, HIGH); // set the LED on a

delay(2000);

digitalWrite(ledPina, LOW); // set the LED on b

digitalWrite(ledPinb, LOW); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPind, HIGH); // set the LED on

delay(2000);

digitalWrite(ledPina, HIGH); // set the LED on c

digitalWrite(ledPinc, LOW); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPing, LOW); // set the LED on

delay(2000);

digitalWrite(ledPina, LOW); // set the LED on d

digitalWrite(ledPinb, HIGH); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPinc, HIGH); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPinf, LOW); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPing, HIGH); // set the LED on

delay(2000);

digitalWrite(ledPina, HIGH); // set the LED on e

digitalWrite(ledPinb, LOW); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPinc, LOW); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPinf, HIGH); // set the LED on

delay(2000);

digitalWrite(ledPind, LOW); // set the LED on f

delay(2000);

digitalWrite(ledPinb, HIGH); // set the LED on g

digitalWrite(ledPinc, HIGH); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPind, HIGH); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPine, LOW); // set the LED on

delay(2000);

digitalWrite(ledPina, LOW); // set the LED on h

digitalWrite(ledPind, LOW); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPine, HIGH); // set the LED on

delay(2000);

digitalWrite(ledPina, LOW); // set the LED on i

digitalWrite(ledPine, LOW); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPinf, LOW); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPing, LOW); // set the LED on

delay(2000);

digitalWrite(ledPind, HIGH); // set the LED on j

digitalWrite(ledPine, HIGH); // set the LED on

delay(2000);

digitalWrite(ledPina, HIGH); // set the LED on k

digitalWrite(ledPinb, LOW); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPind, LOW); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPinf, HIGH); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPing, HIGH); // set the LED on

delay(2000);

digitalWrite(ledPina, LOW); // set the LED on l

digitalWrite(ledPinc, LOW); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPind, HIGH); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPinf, HIGH); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPing, LOW); // set the LED on

delay(2000);

digitalWrite(ledPina, HIGH); // set the LED on m

digitalWrite(ledPing, HIGH); // set the LED on

delay(2000);

digitalWrite(ledPina, LOW); // set the LED on n

digitalWrite(ledPinc, HIGH); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPind, LOW); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPinf, LOW); // set the LED on

delay(2000);

digitalWrite(ledPind, HIGH); // set the LED on o

delay(2000);

digitalWrite(ledPina, HIGH); // set the LED on p

digitalWrite(ledPinb, HIGH); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPinc, LOW); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPind, LOW); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPinf, HIGH); // set the LED on

delay(2000);

digitalWrite(ledPinc, HIGH); // set the LED on q

digitalWrite(ledPine, LOW); // set the LED on

delay(2000);

digitalWrite(ledPina, LOW); // set the LED on r

digitalWrite(ledPinb, LOW); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPinc, LOW); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPine, HIGH); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPinf, LOW); // set the LED on

delay(2000);

digitalWrite(ledPina, HIGH); // set the LED on s

digitalWrite(ledPinc, HIGH); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPind, HIGH); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPine, LOW); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPinf, HIGH); // set the LED on

delay(2000);

digitalWrite(ledPina, LOW); // set the LED on t

digitalWrite(ledPinc, LOW); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPine, HIGH); // set the LED on

delay(2000);

digitalWrite(ledPinb, HIGH); // set the LED on u

digitalWrite(ledPinc, HIGH); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPing, LOW); // set the LED on

delay(2000);

digitalWrite(ledPinb, LOW); // set the LED on v

digitalWrite(ledPinf, LOW); // set the LED on

delay(2000);

digitalWrite(ledPina, HIGH); // set the LED on w

digitalWrite(ledPinc, LOW); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPinf, HIGH); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPing, HIGH); // set the LED on

delay(2000);

digitalWrite(ledPina, LOW); // set the LED on x

digitalWrite(ledPinb, HIGH); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPinc, HIGH); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPind, LOW); // set the LED on

delay(2000);

digitalWrite(ledPind, HIGH); // set the LED on y

digitalWrite(ledPine, LOW); // set the LED on

delay(2000);

digitalWrite(ledPina, HIGH); // set the LED on z

digitalWrite(ledPinc, LOW); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPine, HIGH); // set the LED on

digitalWrite(ledPinf, LOW); // set the LED on

delay(2000);

}

Code at work

Here is the a code which i have created which shows the numbers 0 - 9 cycling through with 2 second intervals and also some other images of the circuit set up.

7 segment display characters

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven-segment_display_character_representations

Here is a link that i have cross referenced with for the numbers/ letters that i will be displaying on the football display frame. It has helped in showing me how they will look on a seven segment display. Some letters require the user to rotate their frame to display. Also i have realised that some letters may be more difficult to display or understand, for example K, X, Q, V.

Arduino Set-up

This is just a post to show how the Arduino Mini is connect on a breadboard, The Mini is made up of 2 parts, the part that communicates with the laptop for downloading programs and passing back data, the other is used to connect input and outputs such as buttons and LEDs. A voltage regulator is also needed in the same way in which it is for the PICAXE chip.

Changing Chips

After a week of trying to get my PIC to work and failing. I went on to talk to Jon in my weekly 1 to 1. He seemed frustrated as to the lack of progress made and urged me to make up for this in the next week and opened up the possibility of using a new chip, Arduino. At first this was intimidating but after loading it up and looking at some of the example programs such as 'Button' and 'Blink' i found that this may just be as easy as the PIC programming language. The following week will be dominated by working out how to incorporate more LED's and learning how to define these.


The Arduino Duemilanove Chip









The USB A - B cable used to connect it to the laptop.

Knitting a Scarf

As requested by Jon i went ahead with giving knitting a shot, which is a good idea as my project cannot continue much further if i do not at least give it a shot.

It was a steep learning curve as i am trying to learn using to the videos found on the internet. I went out and bought thin wool and needles without asking those i know who knit what was the best. I found that knitting as a beginner can be sore, trying to control the needles and manuver them in small precise movements has nearly given me blisters.

I have been told since that i should use chucky needles and wool as it is easier to hold and work with.







The wool














The poor progress attained after a 4 hours.

PICAXE

Ok so i have had the class with Mike Shorter for PICAXE. Was Quite good, although a worrying note is the PC users have had trouble using it.

So we all were asked to solder our chips up (they come unmade with instructions), i personally found it easy as i quite like soldering, once all were done we split into groups and worked on getting the chip to communicate with the laptop. Our group seemed to be doing something wrong but Mike said it may be the quality of soldering.

We were shown how to connect the chip up on a breadboard :-

On the left is the chip connected
On the right is the Voltage Regulator used to control the flow of Volts through the system.

Start of Play Stage

So once every one had decided around a few ideas Jon has said that those who are doing electrical products will be given an afternoon class by Mike Shorter, using the micro controller chip, PICAXE.

In the meantime i was producing some very simple prototypes to kick- start myself into the mind set of making things. Here are a few images of things that i have made to gain an idea of how the concepts may look.












Miniature display made from card and LED's, helped me get used to wiring and doing simple crafting again.





















One old scarf barely used, fitted with a row of LEDs. Badly done as LED's did not light up, so tried only a small amount of the Leds and they lit so i believe that it was due to the resistors i used and the voltage supply.