This is my proposal for the LED Road Test+ sponsored by element14, Texas Instruments and Würth Elektronik - in case people are curious about what it took to get selected as a participant:
LEDs have long been an interest of mine, in fact my first patent was on LED optics so this road test is definitely interesting. The LED Road Test has several components that lend themselves to different applications, so in my road test they would be applied in different experiments:
- The Power LED driver and MSP430 would be used in a system to provide information to drivers when reversing their vehicles.
- The BLE-controlled LEDs would be used in several unique clolour lighting applications suited to their great feature set.
These test applications are intended to explore the road test components and spark imaginations with potential new uses and markets:
Vehicle Reversing Information System
The Vehicle Reversing Information System would use the MSP-EXP430FR4133MSP-EXP430FR4133 for information display and the TPS92512EVM-001TPS92512EVM-001 to drive some W ürth LEDs.
Backup cameras are typically low-cost, small imaging chip cameras with limited low light performance, so these small imaging sensors always benefit from having more light available.
Backing up is usually a relatively slow speed operation requiring only about 30 feet of visibility.
LEDs are an ideal light source to ensure backup cameras have enough illumination to view 30 feet.
In addition to providing illumination for the driver, whether they are using mirrors or cameras, the backup light also provides a warning to other motorists, cyclists and pedestrians who may be behind the vehicle.
Some vehicles have built-in backup lights, but they may may not be matched to an add-on camera, and some vehicles have no backup light at all, but this road test will experiment to determine what level of LED illumination is appropriate for use with a rearview camera.
Another feature of rearview cameras is often an overlay grid that provides some indication of how far away objects are. These grids can be hard to interpret accurately as the height of the object is a factor in where it appears on the grid, so it would be useful to have a more accurate indication of distance to objects behind the vehicle. The Vehicle Reversing Information System will use an ultrasonic distance sensor to augment video information.
Vehicle Reversing Information System Features:
- Rearview camera and dash display that are turned on when the vehicle is in reverse gear
- High brightness white LEDs driven by TPS92512 chips provide illumination for the camera – also turned on when in reverse.
- An ultrasonic distance sensor able to measure up to 6 meters – mounted beside the rearview camera
- A dash-mounted MSP430FR4133 module to calculate and display object distance.
This could also be useful in monitoring following vehicles when driving forward.
- A forward facing sensor could be useful when parking.
- The MSP430FR4133 can also provide audio warning when too close
- Dash-mounted displays will be in a 3D printed enclosure
- The road test system will be controlled by manual switches so optimization strategies can be easily tried
Self-BLE Light (CC2540TDK-LIGHTCC2540TDK-LIGHT )
Coloured lights are typically used for signage, decoration, signaling, illuminaton, mood lighting and some specialty applications like night vision preservation, however this light module has several unique features that make some non-traditional applications feasible. My proposal is to present some ideas to make use of the full feature set and get imaginations fired up about potential uses. Several applications would be demonstrated with videos and even more applications would be discussed in the blogs.
I would like to experiment with it in two application categories that utillize all of its features:
The first category is decorative lighting applications. The first application in this category I want to test is if the module is suitable to illuminate a remote-control decorative lamp in the shape of a dodecahedron. This would be an attractive 3D-printed tabletop centrepiece that guests could have fun controlling with their phones. The blog and video would discuss extensions to the concept such as:
- unique interactive trophies - using appropriate illuminated shapes for a sport or accomplishment
- mood orb or lamps - with a little custom software to utillize the phone's microphone the orb could become sensitive to volume, to control brightness, or sensitive to pitch to control colour - turning the device into a mood orb or a colour organ.
A fairly important aspect of this type of device is how to achieve uniform illumination. The blog will highlight practical ways to attain effective light diffusion.
A second application in this category I would like to try is an illuminated 3D-printed Christmas tree ornament. This is a simple idea but what I want to demonstrate is that we can create unique creations that are not yet available commercially. Specifically in this case I want to replace the typical star found atop Christmas trees with a maple leaf (this will resonante with some people here in Canada). A maple leaf is a good subject for variable colours as real maple leaves change from green to yellow, orange, red, or purple. Again discussion-point extensions would include ornamental colour organ capability.
I have already experimented with difusing LED illumination in 3D-printed objects, so I expect to be successful with the glowing scuplutre effect.
The second application category for BLE LEDs is more useful adjustable-colour illumination.
The first application in this category is very unique – a makeup illuminator that would allow users to see what they and their makeup look like under various coloured lighting conditions.
Lighting can make a large difference to the appearance of people and up to now there hasn't been a good way to know ahead of time what that appearance will be. This application will demonstrate the effects of various illumination scenarios on a subject with different makeup scenarios.
The second application in this category would use the adjustable light as illumination for specialized photo graphs to obtain various coloured lighting effects. An emerging market that has exploded in recent years is the "selfie" photo phenomenon. It is set to become the most common use of phone camera functions, if it hasn't already taken over. This light will provide an accessory tool to create unique selfie photos, whether it is simply to add illumination in low-light conditions or to create coloured illumination effects. The vast selfie market may provide enough sales to make these lights commercially successful. To be useful for selfies, the light needs a battery and of course a suitable housing. I would also add a Qi wireless charging capability to demonstrate added convenience. I cannot predict if this idea will gain momentum, but maybe the road test will at least spark imaginations to come up with even better ideas for a wirelessly controlled, wirelessly charged, portable, variable colour light.
The LED Road Test page is here:
http://www.element14.com/community/roadTests/1481
The Lighting Group page is here:
Here are links to my other blog entries for this road test:
LED Road Test - Proposal - Blog 0 Jan 1, 2016
Light Emitting Diodes Road Test - Blog 1 Nov 1
LED Road Test - 3D Printed Housings - blog 2 Nov 10
LED Road Test - Dodecahedron Light Fixture Blog 3 Nov12
LED Road Test - Wearable Interactive Lights - Blog 4 - Nov 13
LED Road Test - Interactive Trophy - Blog 5 Nov 16
LED Road Test - Making Household Objects Interactive - Blog 6 Nov 22
LED Road Test - Power LEDs - Up & Running - Blog 7 Nov 24
LED Road Test - Star Wars - The Force Awakens - Blog 8 Nov 28
LED Road Test - Selfie Phenomenon - Blog 9 Nov 29
LED Road Test - MSP EXP430FR4133 Launchpad IDE - Blog 10 Dec 6
LED Road Test - Vehicle Situational Awareness System Blog 11 Dec 14
LED Road Test - Vehicle Situational Awareness System Indoor Demo - Blog 12 Dec 20
LED Road Test - Maple Leaf Christmas Decoration - Blog 13 Dec 24
LED Road Test - Reflow Soldering Power LEDs - Blog 15 Jan 10
LED Road Test - Induction Heating Reflow Soldering - Blog 16 Jan12
LED Road Test - Summary - Blog 17 Jan 15
Associated Video Links
Creating a Light Fixture using 123D Design
Wearable Interactive Arc Reactor
Interactive Illuminated Household Objects
Star Wars - Let The Force Be With The Light
Vehicle Situational Awareness System in Operation
