Golden-Road.net

Studio 46 - Non-TPiR Discussion => Out In Left Field => Topic started by: ComeOnDown98 on March 23, 2021, 11:04:09 PM

Title: Electronic project idea: Widdle baby eggcrates!
Post by: ComeOnDown98 on March 23, 2021, 11:04:09 PM
So, if you remember from looooooooong ago, I found out about the 19S-8 display. And I tried to get a control device going for it, but the CMOS chips I tried crapped out on me... (damn things are too sensitive to static electricity! :mad: )

But as I thought of a control device (and gave up and used plain ol' rotary switches :oldlol: ), tomcat came up with a control device for them using relays. D'oh! :headbang:

While I was purchasing digits for my custom display, I decided to have a peek at its internal shot... I found out that the bitmapping was done using diode steering! Just as I initially thought, but it was common anode, not common cathode like I wired the diodes up in my original diode card replica. (I'm used to a 1 being an "on" data signal and a 0 being an "off" data signal. With common anode it's inverted.)

To get an idea, here's a replica I recently sketched...
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/i/ComeOnDown98/ECDROM.png)

Now my idea here is to make a miniaturized version, with #6838 28V 24mA grain of wheat bulbs and SMD 1N4148 or LL4148 diodes.

I think they'd be a cute little miniaturization of the classic eggcrate display! :D tomcat can even try making a few if he is up for the challenge. All that would need done is that the schematic be followed but with different, smaller parts.

Figure, Staver made a tiny 1.5" vane display (the 152L) for use in toll booths and arcade games, so why not make a custom tiny eggcrate display! I hypothesize it'd be about 2" tall.
Title: Re: Electronic project idea: Widdle baby eggcrates!
Post by: SteveGavazzi on March 23, 2021, 11:25:51 PM
That's all fine and dandy, but the thread title is weird as all hell, and it doesn't really have anything to do with The Price Is Right.  I'm moving it to Out in Left Field.
Title: Re: Electronic project idea: Widdle baby eggcrates!
Post by: ComeOnDown98 on March 24, 2021, 06:52:30 PM
Kthx Steve.

Didn't realize I had it in the wrong board! :bork:
Title: Re: Electronic project idea: Widdle baby eggcrates!
Post by: ComeOnDown98 on March 24, 2021, 06:55:55 PM
Aaaaand I thought for the mini version's masks, I could just use a thin separator grating (made from thick paper like cardstock) with little tubes in each hole where a bulb would be.
Title: Re: Electronic project idea: Widdle baby eggcrates!
Post by: masoudfun1996 on March 24, 2021, 07:11:53 PM
Will the mini-eggcrates have all 26 letters of the alphabet from A-Z, or will it be just numbers and the dollar sign ($)?
Title: Re: Electronic project idea: Widdle baby eggcrates!
Post by: ComeOnDown98 on March 24, 2021, 09:33:16 PM
Quote from: masoudfun1996
link=topic=32054.msg488730#msg488730 date=1616627513
Will the mini-eggcrates have all 26 letters of the alphabet from A-Z, or will it be just numbers and the dollar sign ($)?
Uhhh... an alphanumeric version would require multiple layers of diodes, and a larger connector.

And I might make the font for the alpha displays in the style of the Apple II screen font (like as seen on The Magnificent Marble Machine and Your Number's Up).

Also, I'd format it for a 6-bit input, so as to make control easier.
Title: Re: Electronic project idea: Widdle baby eggcrates!
Post by: ComeOnDown98 on March 25, 2021, 04:42:58 PM
designer accessories! I forgot that Marble Machine's board was a smooth-scrolling display!

Well, I might as well bust out the Arduino for that...

----------

EDIT: Ohhh my gooooossshhh!!! "designer accessories"?! HA!!! :biggrin: Clever censorship, g-r...
Title: Re: Electronic project idea: Widdle baby eggcrates!
Post by: tpir04 on March 25, 2021, 06:12:13 PM
Aww, designer accessories
Title: Re: Electronic project idea: Widdle baby eggcrates!
Post by: ComeOnDown98 on March 25, 2021, 08:57:33 PM
Yeah, the Marble Machine board needs a SPECIAL controller designated for graphic matrix displays.

And I can't really multiplex bulb matrices without having dark areas...
Title: Re: Electronic project idea: Widdle baby eggcrates!
Post by: RJSchex on March 26, 2021, 05:22:18 PM
Quote from: ComeOnDown98 on March 24, 2021, 09:33:16 PM
Uhhh... an alphanumeric version would require multiple layers of diodes, and a larger connector.

And I might make the font for the alpha displays in the style of the Apple II screen font (like as seen on The Magnificent Marble Machine and Your Number's Up).

Also, I'd format it for a 6-bit input, so as to make control easier.

The Apple II font was also used on "Double Dare", "Definition", and for the center-stage displays on "Blank Check".
Title: Re: Electronic project idea: Widdle baby eggcrates!
Post by: ComeOnDown98 on March 27, 2021, 03:11:30 PM
Quote from: RJSchex on March 26, 2021, 05:22:18 PM
The Apple II font was also used on "Double Dare", "Definition", and for the center-stage displays on "Blank Check".

Thanks for the notes!

But I fear an alphanumeric eggcrate would be impossible without a microcontroller such as an Arduino.

The numeric type will suffice. If you want custom characters, such as to spell "BUST", add another word line. "OVER" needs another bulb or two for the necessary digits.

I am designing these mini displays with a plug-and-play diode card with a 12-pin connector. Connectivity would be as follows:
A 14-pin PCB connector would go to the back of the diode card...