"charlie b" wrote in message
...
This is one of three pieces in The Three Sisters set I've been working
on - for what seems like FOREVER. Like the other two, it uses a small,
battery
powered, programmable micro-computer to control its "behavior".

A small unobtrusive sensor (a Light Detecting Resistor) is incorporated
in the finial. When a shadow falls on the sensor / detector the
"controller"
senses the change and turns on a special type of light emitting diode
(LED). This little puppy has THREE different little LEDs built into one
lens - Red,
Green and Blue - RGB. Each of the three LED's brightness can be set to
one of 255 levels - 0=off, 255 = max brightness. So - with a little
programming magic - it can put out any color in the visible spectrum.

So, this piece sits there looking like a normal static hollow form with
finial - and some little surface decorative "beads" around it. But when
a shadow
passes over its finial it goes into Display Mode - the little beads
begin glowing - and changing colors. Shadow goes away - the beads stop
glowing - the
piece returns to being a normal static turning.

I shot the video with day light coming through windows on three sides so
I had to cup my hand over the sensor to shade it. If the piece were top
lit
the sensor would be triggered from farther away - say by leaning over
the piece examine it.

Working with these micro-computers / "stamp controllers" was just a wee
bit trickier than I thought it would be. With just ONE controlled
"component" things are easy. With two controlled components it still
isn't that tricky. To get them to work together - the way you want them
to
work - well THAT can get tricky - IF timing is important - for
generating a tone at a specific pitch - or tones whose pitch changes
based on what a
"sensor" is seeing, feeling or hearing. I'm working on a bunch of web
pages about this "stamp controller" thing that hopefully will make
things easier
For The Next Guy - or Gal.

Will be posting links to the Youngest Sister and the Oldest Sister in
the near future - hopefully.

Here's the link to the YouTube vid of this one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uo4xLYxGGG4

comments, questions, constructive criticism welcomed.


Can you build in an on/off delay?

BTW, very Cool!

--
National Socialism showed what can happen when very ordinary people get
control of a state and the merely opportunistic are regarded as
intellectuals.

Anthony Burgess