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Light Conductor

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Make an interactive light show using a proximity sensor, and a bunsh of shift registers and LEDs.

We map the input from a proximity sensor (either infrared or sonar ) to an LED bar graph controlled by a 74HC595 shift register. Then we show how to control a bunch of daisy-chained shift registers using the same idea. Control a ton of LEDs by gesturing or moving back and forth in front of the sensor.

Images

Inputs and Outputs

Inputs and Outputs

Proximity sensor is mapped to the LED driving shift registers.
The Light Conductor

The light conductor code using an Arduino.
Proximity Sensor

The closer you get the more light you see!
Air Touch the LED Light!

When objects are near the proximity sensor all the light go on.

Proximity sensor is mapped to the LED driving shift registers.

Video

Light Conductor Demo Video

The Light conductor code in action!

Double Video

Watch as the hand an the camera approach the sonar sensor. As they get closer they trigger more lights on the LED bar graph controlled by the 74HC595 shift register.

Code

Light Conductor Arduino Code

This code lights the LEDs based on proximity to the distance sensor. We do an analog read on the pin where the proximity sensor is connected. Then we scale and constrain that value:

    int distance = analogRead(sensor_pin);    int scaled = map(distance, min_in, max_in, num_registers*8, 0 );    scaled = constrain(scaled, 0, num_registers*8);

Then we call the function light_leds(scaled) and give it the scaled value as input. This function Lights up scaled LEDs connected to the shift registers, or if you have connected the LEDs in the opposite polarity this function will light up num_registers*8 - scaled LEDs. See the entire Arduino sketch below:

Download File

/* LucidTronix Light Conductor * For instructions, details and schematic, See: * http://www.lucidtronix.com/tutorials/11 */int clockPin = 8;int latchPin = 9;int dataPin = 10 ;const int num_registers = 6;int sensor_pin = 2;int max_in = 600; // adjust these for different supply voltagesint min_in = 3;boolean on = true;unsigned long last_press = 0;void setup() {  pinMode(latchPin, OUTPUT);  pinMode(clockPin, OUTPUT);  pinMode(dataPin, OUTPUT);}void loop() {  if(on){    int distance = analogRead(sensor_pin);    int scaled = map(distance, min_in, max_in, num_registers*8, 0 );    scaled = constrain(scaled, 0, num_registers*8);    light_leds(scaled);  }  if(digitalRead(0) && millis() - last_press > 400){    on = !on;    last_press = millis();  }  else if(digitalRead(1) && millis() - last_press > 400){    on = !on;    light_leds(255);    last_press = millis();      }}/*  Individual control fro all the LEDs attached to  *  daisy-chained shift registers *  Scaled is how many LEDs to light up depending on how you wire the LEDs *  0 is either all on or all off 8*num_registers is the opposite */void light_leds(int scaled){    digitalWrite(latchPin, LOW);    for (int i = 0; i < num_registers; i++){      // three cases: all on, all off or a mix..      if(i*8 > scaled){        shiftOut(dataPin, clockPin, MSBFIRST, 255);      }       else if ((i+1)*8 > scaled){        int mod_8 = scaled % 8;        byte pow_2_light = 255 >> mod_8;         shiftOut(dataPin, clockPin, MSBFIRST, pow_2_light);      }       else {        shiftOut(dataPin, clockPin, MSBFIRST, 0);      }    }    digitalWrite(latchPin, HIGH);    delay(60);}

Parts

parts

Parts

Title	Description	#	Cost	Link	Picture
Sonar Range Finder	Maxbotix Sonar range finder	1	$24.95	Link
PCB Multi-Shift out	Controls 3 different set of shift registers from analog input(s)	1	$7.0	Link
Shift Register	IC SHIFT REGISTER 8BIT 16-SOP Tri-State Serial to ParallelValue:74HC	1	$0.65	Link
LED SMD	LED 3X1.5MM 568NM Green Clear SMDValue:2.2V Green	8	$0.18	Link