Suggestions for tri color LED patterns/uses
Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 3:41 am
Hello folks,
My question is about a tri color high intensity LED, with blue, red, and green.
As you know, these base colors will produce any color just about,
including white if mixed properly.
The question is, what kind of patterns might be interesting for an LED
like this? For an example, back when i was working with a Z80
controller board i had used a bi color LED for testing. This LED
only had two colors, red and green, which of course also means
it could do amber by turning them both on at the same time.
The pattern was a sort of random but gradually changing intensity
of the green and red, so that red might be 20 percent while green
was 50 percent, then red would step to 21 percent while green
stepped to 49 percent, but that's only one possibility.
The visual effect however is not really describable in terms of
duty cycle, but rather in terms of previous human experience.
That is, when the human eyes see this somewhat random pattern
if it is done right it looks just like a candle flickering. The degree
of flicker can be varied too of course, by changing the timing.
The small but significant difference in the mounting positions of
the red and green dies mean the flicker actually appears to move
as the two intensities vary over time, which really enhances the
flicker effect.
This 'candle flicker' test was a good test for the controller, and
it was interesting to do, but now that i have a tri color LED
the possibilities are even greater for some kind of visual effects.
I am thus asking about what visual effects the folks here might
come up with, such as candle flicker, model police car lights,
etc.
The second part of the question is based on more practical uses.
For example: color matching. Possibly adjust the color (three
push buttons for stepping the duty cycle to each LED color) to
match the output to some reference color, such as some paint color
or whatever.
I guess another practical use would be some sort of sophisticated
indicator that needed to indicate something that had several dimensions.
The color could lead the human mind into almost instant comprehension
of something that normally would require basic interpretation and then
comprehension (with a little practice of course).
So that's two key inquiries:
1. General visual effects
2. Practical uses
Thanks much...
My question is about a tri color high intensity LED, with blue, red, and green.
As you know, these base colors will produce any color just about,
including white if mixed properly.
The question is, what kind of patterns might be interesting for an LED
like this? For an example, back when i was working with a Z80
controller board i had used a bi color LED for testing. This LED
only had two colors, red and green, which of course also means
it could do amber by turning them both on at the same time.
The pattern was a sort of random but gradually changing intensity
of the green and red, so that red might be 20 percent while green
was 50 percent, then red would step to 21 percent while green
stepped to 49 percent, but that's only one possibility.
The visual effect however is not really describable in terms of
duty cycle, but rather in terms of previous human experience.
That is, when the human eyes see this somewhat random pattern
if it is done right it looks just like a candle flickering. The degree
of flicker can be varied too of course, by changing the timing.
The small but significant difference in the mounting positions of
the red and green dies mean the flicker actually appears to move
as the two intensities vary over time, which really enhances the
flicker effect.
This 'candle flicker' test was a good test for the controller, and
it was interesting to do, but now that i have a tri color LED
the possibilities are even greater for some kind of visual effects.
I am thus asking about what visual effects the folks here might
come up with, such as candle flicker, model police car lights,
etc.
The second part of the question is based on more practical uses.
For example: color matching. Possibly adjust the color (three
push buttons for stepping the duty cycle to each LED color) to
match the output to some reference color, such as some paint color
or whatever.
I guess another practical use would be some sort of sophisticated
indicator that needed to indicate something that had several dimensions.
The color could lead the human mind into almost instant comprehension
of something that normally would require basic interpretation and then
comprehension (with a little practice of course).
So that's two key inquiries:
1. General visual effects
2. Practical uses
Thanks much...