Just came across your website. I have a 36”x24” map I would like to utilize individual leds (10 or so) to sequence from one point to another. Then in a different area (actually 5 or 6 areas) on the same map, start a new sequence. As one sequence ends, there would be a pause then the next one would run. After all sequences are finished a button push would restart it. I’ve seen sequencers designs and controllers but nothing quite like what I would like. Any suggestions would be most appreciated.
What you described loosely reads very doable, but it’s a work on the intersection of basic electronics and basic computer programming. I’m afraid to explain it in detail would mean writing a small to medium sized book… Do you have any experience in electronics or microcontroller programming?
Thanks for the reply. I have bit of experience, rather than breadboard a bunch of components, I was hoping not to have to reinvent the wheel and find something with the wheels already on it. Arduino looks like a good start but I need to have 6 different sequences (say 10 LED’s each) and then tying them all together to run one after the other. I’ve only started researching and thought checking around some forums may save some leg work, so any suggestion are welcome. Thank you!
Well, with something like Arduino you have good chances of tackling it.
Thing is your application is pretty specific, I’d say, so I’m afraid you have to develop it yourself.
I would like to direct your attention to a way of hooking up the LEDs so that you have a kind a “matrix” - imagine three pins powering the “rows” and four pins switching ground to the “columns”. At each intersection of a “row” and a “column” you have a LED. Then the trick is to cyclically power the rows 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3 in fast succession and switching the columns accordingly. This way with a little more complicated programming you can save on hardware and drive 12 LED with only 3+4=7 pins.
Or with 4 “rows” and 4 “columns” you can drive 16 LEDs with only 4+4=8 pins. And you can also do brightness control from 0 to 1/number of rows of maximum brightness of the LED.
I hope this helps - good luck with your build and have a nice day!