Hi all -
I'm in the earliest planning stages of a project to build a programmable glowy pixel wall into a permanent outdoor cement fixture. The wall would use an array of bright RGB LEDs (large NeoPixel units?) behind translucent tile, built so that when turned off it would look like innocuous decorative tile. Each tile would be a square pixel, 2"x2" to 3"x3". I'm still fantasizing about sizes, but 3' x 6' (12x24=288 pixels) would be sufficient, and space between the pixels would be acceptable. I'm more interested in stealth than resolution.
I have two questions for the forum at this stage:
* The project is meant to be a permanent fixture set in an outdoor cement wall. What considerations are typical for embedding electronics in outdoor structures? What kind of service access should I expect to need to the LED array, if any? Power and data would be routed to a locked outdoor metal service box containing the controller (Arduino is fine). Any construction advice for the wall itself? We get a lot of rain in our area, so I'd hope the surface and top of the wall would be sealed like any other outdoor decorative tile. If it's done right, the thing could be dead in 10 years and it'd degrade to a normal tile wall. But I'd like it to last about that long, if possible.
* Proximity sensors and sound are under consideration, but the ultimate fantasy would be for the pixels to be individual touch inputs. For a stealthy low-service tile-like structure, I would not expect or want mechanical buttons, but I'm wondering how you could do touch/tap sensors. I would expect the thickness of the tile (assuming glass tile) would require something on or along the surface. What do you think? Subtly embedded IR light/sensor pairs? Translucent capacitance strips of some kind? It should be operable in the dark, so a plain light sensor probably wouldn't be sufficient.
I plan to experiment quite a bit before starting construction, as I have a lot to learn about materials and construction options. Scaled down versions of this (a single row of pixels, a glowy wall without touch input, or a less stealthy light array in prefab outdoor housings) would also be fun, but if it's gonna be permanent, I might as well go big.
Thanks for your help and ideas!
--Dan
Permanent outdoor programmable glowy pixel wall
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- dddaaannn
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- pburgess
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Re: Permanent outdoor programmable glowy pixel wall
Hi Dan,
LED pixels do occasionally give out. Sometimes it's in the LED part (won't light up, or lights the wrong color, doesn't affect downstream LEDs), other times it's the driver IC (affecting that pixel and everything downstream). It's not a frequent thing, but when you get enough pixels in one place, and have them going for years, it's something that should be planned for. Consider mounting the LEDs along horizontal or vertical supports, with connectors such that the whole row can be swapped out relatively quickly...keep a few extras on hand, and then replace any bum LEDs at your leisure before returning the units to the on-hand inventory.
Not sure what to suggest about the touch part. That's an interesting one!
LED pixels do occasionally give out. Sometimes it's in the LED part (won't light up, or lights the wrong color, doesn't affect downstream LEDs), other times it's the driver IC (affecting that pixel and everything downstream). It's not a frequent thing, but when you get enough pixels in one place, and have them going for years, it's something that should be planned for. Consider mounting the LEDs along horizontal or vertical supports, with connectors such that the whole row can be swapped out relatively quickly...keep a few extras on hand, and then replace any bum LEDs at your leisure before returning the units to the on-hand inventory.
Not sure what to suggest about the touch part. That's an interesting one!
Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.