SignArt - A project for Christmas

Contents

• Description
• Limitations
• Downloads
• Future Plans
• Other Links

Description

Tim Fischer and I partnered together to make device the will sequence throught a set of letter. At first the letters were christmas light formed to spell "M-E-R-R-Y C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S". Now the is no limit to what any one can spell. Using christmas lights the user can configure the system to have up to 16 letters. Actually the are just 16 extendion cords for the first prototype. Other Examples of thing to do are:

• spell "Happy Birthday"
• chasing Christmas ornaments
• Cascading Christmas tree top to bottom or visa versa

• "Noel" or "Joy" using Bi-Color LEDs

This device/controller is designed with 16 AC outputs that can be controller locally by the controller system. These same outputs can also be controlled via the serial port program SignArt Communitcator (listed in the downloads section below).

 

Once this system is settup it comes with 16 defined sequence. (5 of the seqeucenes are not excessable without the SA Communitcator.

 

Here is a links to the sign in action. Tim & Cathy Fischer's house Christmas 2000 and 1999. Click here more details about the sign.

 

Please email me to request additional info about this system.

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Limitations

Here is a list of limitations for the this complete system:

• Max of 1A per output.
• 16 outputs total.
• 10 dipswitch positions.
• 15 internal sequences.

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Downloads

Here is a simulator the Tim designed with C++ Builder to show some of the sequences.

 

Here is the communcator/config tool which is used to talk via the serial port to the Control Box.

 

Details like the Schematics and the Bill Of Materials are available

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Future Plans

Here is a list of future ideas that are on the drawing board.

• User defineable sequences
• Fade controls
• Day/Night Detection for timing the on and off time of the system.

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Other Links

• AVR for Dummies

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