Sequential lighting full#
Sequential lighting software#
Sequential lighting code#

Sequential lighting code#

The code examples are all setup for the mbed LPC1768 using the four onboard LEDs. Further experimentation on algorithms is warranted and may lead to better lighting effects. The code examples are designed to be short and easy to understand and they not been optimized for performance. 'wait(seconds) ' is used for time delays on mbed. This happens at such a fast rate that human vision does not perceive the flashes and only the average brightness level is perceived. Anything in between will partially dim the LED (i.e., “LED=0.5 ” would turn on the LED 50% of the time. An value of “1.0” turns the LED on, and “0.0” turns it off. Using the mbed APIs, PwmOut controls a hardware PWM output pin, and SoftPWM (Software PWM) can be used on any digital output pin. Several LED lighting effects will be examined along with a code example for each one. An optional orange filter can be added to simulate incadescant lights in older trains.Ī tiny lighting control DCC decoder (microprocessor) can also be added inside the car to allow individual lighting control of each car in the train from the DCC remote train controller.Īutomatic track semaphore signals are available with red, green, and yellow LEDs that indicate train locations using a sensor in the track.

Kato N scale model train passenger cars can be upgraded with internal LED lighting with a standard kit.Ī white LED at one end of the car hooks to track power using the wheels and shines light into a special long plastic lens at the top of the car that spreads the light evenly through the car. Many newer model train passenger cars are coming equipped with LED lights. Many engine lights also change automatically when the train changes direction.

DCC systems can remotely control and dim the lights using a microprocessor. Model train engines have used LEDs lights for several years such as the N scale engines above.

Sequential lighting full#

Just cut off the connector, strip the wires, and hookup to the screw terminal (even the polarity does not matter with the full wave bridge circuit).Current draw for a single board is under 100MA.Ī commercial board used for LED lighting effects The power needed can come from just about any old AC wall wart with an output in the range 6-12V AC or DC. On the board seen below, with the full wave bridge rectifier circuit, 100uf filter capacitor, and small 5V regulator. A variety of these boards and LEDs from different sources can also be found at Walthers.

Sequential lighting software#

Many new microprocessors have hardware PWM controllers and if they don't, PWM can also be done in software with timers and interrupts. Most mbed platforms have several analog inputs and PWM outputs, so multiple LED dimmer controls could be implemented on one device.įor smaller home layouts, the tiny LED lighting effect board below from Iron Penguin contains a low-cost PIC SOC microprocessor, a full wave bridge rectifier, a 5V regulator and screw terminals to attach 6-12AC/DC power and LEDs. Using the mbed APIs PwmOut and AnalogIn with a small breadboard friendly potentiometer hooked up as a voltage divider between 3.3V and ground to an analog input, the following program would allow the potentiometer to dim the LED in a similar manner to the Woodland Scenics control box. Miniature Town with a dimmable nano LED lighting systemĪn N scale downtown street scene using pre-wired LED buildings, street lights, and vehicles from Woodland Scenics. Even buildings and vehicles with pre-wired LEDs are now available for this system. It is designed to provide building lighting for small models as seen in the small model town below. It only supports initial dimming setups and does not have the more advanced lighting effects that will be described later. Prewired LEDs plug into the box, and multiple boxes can be tied together to the power source along with a master control switch. Woodland Scenics has a new LED lighting set that features a small control box with four potentiometers that can dim four Nano LEDs individually by using the analog input from each potentiometer to adjust the LED's brightness. Tiny surface mount LEDs in pico, nano, and micro sizes with wire leads from Iron Penguin Small pre-wired LEDs and modules with some of these effects are also available from Evan Designs, Miniatronics, Bakatronics and Iron Penguin. Over 600 artisans worked on the $40 million dollar exhibit.Įxtremely small and bright LEDs are available with wire leads already soldered on, so LEDs can be used even for very small scale models. Guliver's Gate recently opened in New York's Time Square.