Eye Scanner

Post by **SiR-ROUND** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 3:19 am

$2500!!!

For such a simple circuit? Ridiculous! Probably makes 2450 selling one...

How about converting a LED chaser to bulbs? Has anyone tried that? Might need some line drivers for higher bulb currents, but that's fairly simple.

Just brainstorming here.

Post by **GoldCylon** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 3:42 am

I have one designed up that is about 99% complete on paper. I just haven't had the time, or money to have the designer finish the true bulb scanner. One day it will be finished.

Post by **SiR-ROUND** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 3:50 am

Mkay, well I just thought, the whole scanning is easy nowadays with modern components. The LED version I've seen in a clip compared to the bulb scanner, has a short stop at the ends which is not pretty. As for using bulbs, of course the afterglow works great for that chase effect! Not as easy to accomplish with leds. It would mean on/off timed "bleeding" for the leds.

Anywho, if someone can point me to a really good chaser for a good price? I could try to work something out.

Post by **GoldCylon** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 4:00 am

Your very correct about the LED fade out, the designer of my circuit wanted to do that LED fade out, but the stigma of that flash on/off the LED has is what I was staying away from. The question about a low cost quality LED or even a bulb scanner been asked for years, and there just isn't one to be had at all. Everything that is half way good in in the range of $200 or more.

Post by **SiR-ROUND** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 4:18 am

Well, simple circuits like this (Pic=Link):

Look very promising. Even has the bulb solution already baked in! Not sure how this chases though. And the main problem is to get more than 10 to do the job.

[/img]

Post by **SiR-ROUND** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 5:03 am

I thought I read somewhere that the original had 32 bulbs?

I think I can come up with something for 30 bulbs.

There is a way to get the 4028 to output 8 not 10. Then you would need 4 of those to get the 32, but I can't figure out how to work em that way(yet).

If 30 is kewl, that would be easier.

I can join 3 4015(BCD counters) to output synchronous counting to 3 4028's.

That should give the sweep we need in theory.

As for the bulb function, also easy... I was thinking of using the cheapest available, XMAS lights!!! LOL. Nah, need a rounded top for the best results I guess, but bulbs as little as LEDS are hard to find like that.

Making this circuit wearable though, might be a problem. The bulbs will fit, wired to the circuits to some other place in a suit, but more power is needed. And there's the heat problem. For me, I want a helmet with great eye for display. But as said, this can also be a LED version without additional sweat.

Lemme know what yall think. I dunno what price Kropserkel charges, but I will definitely try to keep it under $100. If things start to roll, I need to get some circuit boards done etc. But right now an Xperiment board + components is what I need.

Post by **cybertrooper** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 7:55 am

Good points on the heat generated and the increased power requirements (sadly).

I would certainly be interested in one of these.

Post by **womo68** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 3:58 pm

yeah, me too!

womo

Post by **SiR-ROUND** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 2:32 am

Cheers!

I decided to order some software for creating circuits and simulate them, instead of trial and error with smoke...

Waiting for that to arrive, then I can see if I was right. LOL.

Still, it will take some time to complete. Taking it one step at a time.
Eventually I'd like to have PCB's made in a professional way. And all that still under $100. Quite a task.

If it all works out, I'll be sure to have the absolute minimum price on this fine forum.

Post by **BazookaJo** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 3:33 am

SiR-ROUND wrote:Cheers!

I decided to order some software for creating circuits and simulate them, instead of trial and error with smoke...

Waiting for that to arrive, then I can see if I was right. LOL.

Still, it will take some time to complete. Taking it one step at a time.
Eventually I'd like to have PCB's made in a professional way. And all that still under $100. Quite a task.

If it all works out, I'll be sure to have the absolute minimum price on this fine forum.

You might want to check out Dan @ Knightlight - used to do Knight Rider style lighting for cars etc. and did a short run of eye chaser kits which I bought 10 of at about

Post by **SiR-ROUND** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 3:54 am

Wow,

Pretty professional kit! SMD Technology and Eeprom.

And a good price as well! Mine will be old style PCB, using a potentiometer for speed. And it will be able to include LED's and/or bulbs.

Post by **SiR-ROUND** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 8:05 am

Question:

What's the dimension of the total scanner eye? I found cheaper bulbs but they are 5mm in diameter. That times 30 is 15 cm in total. Will it fit? Still haven't got a helmet, sorry...

Post by **BazookaJo** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 11:04 am

SiR-ROUND wrote:Question:

What's the dimension of the total scanner eye? I found cheaper bulbs but they are 5mm in diameter. That times 30 is 15 cm in total. Will it fit? Still haven't got a helmet, sorry...

3mm diameter bulbs my friend - would have cost about

Post by **SiR-ROUND** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 1:59 pm

Hi and thanks!

Say, are you the guy that made the papercraft helmet?

I could try that one for size ofcourse.

Yeah, not easy to find cheap sub miniature bulbs for a good price.

But... What bulbs did they use in the original then? Also 3mm? Did they have those back then?

Post by **nashslash** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 2:32 pm

SiR-ROUND wrote:Hi and thanks!

Say, are you the guy that made the papercraft helmet?

I could try that one for size ofcourse.

Yeah, not easy to find cheap sub miniature bulbs for a good price.

But... What bulbs did they use in the original then? Also 3mm? Did they have those back then?

Go get 'em Tiger...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/20PCS-12V-DC-20cm ... .m14.l1318

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