LED flashing pen

L

Leon Heller

Guest
I was given a similar pen to this as a freebie on the PCB-Pool stand at the
NEPCON Show in Brighton, UK, yesterday:

http://www.dealsonic.com/7coledfllipe.html

It's a retractible ball-point pen with a transparent plastic barrel and
three bright LEDs (R,G and B) mounted on a PCB, with a sort of light guide
in the centre of the barrel. It's powered by three button cells. There is a
switch on the top part which when pressed once, illuminates one or more of
the LEDS. When pressed a second time, they are turned off. Repeating the
on/off action causes it to cycle through about six colour combinations,
including one where each combination is cycled rapidly, about every 1/2
second. There seem to be lots of similar gadgets around - does anyone know
how the LEDS are controlled? My guess is an ASIC, given the large volumes
involved.

Leon
--
Leon Heller, G1HSM
http://www.geocities.com/leon_heller
 
Leon Heller <leon_heller@hotmail.com> says...

http://www.dealsonic.com/7coledfllipe.html

It's a retractible ball-point pen with a transparent plastic barrel and
three bright LEDs (R,G and B) mounted on a PCB, with a sort of light guide
in the centre of the barrel. It's powered by three button cells. There is a
switch on the top part which when pressed once, illuminates one or more of
the LEDS. When pressed a second time, they are turned off. Repeating the
on/off action causes it to cycle through about six colour combinations,
including one where each combination is cycled rapidly, about every 1/2
second. There seem to be lots of similar gadgets around - does anyone know
how the LEDS are controlled? My guess is an ASIC, given the large volumes
involved.
Click to expand...
My guess is a 4-bit Asian microcontroller. Usually Cheaper than an ASIC.
 
On Fri, 28 May 2004 16:47:44 +0100, the renowned "Leon Heller"
<leon_heller@hotmail.com> wrote:

I was given a similar pen to this as a freebie on the PCB-Pool stand at the
NEPCON Show in Brighton, UK, yesterday:

http://www.dealsonic.com/7coledfllipe.html

It's a retractible ball-point pen with a transparent plastic barrel and
three bright LEDs (R,G and B) mounted on a PCB, with a sort of light guide
in the centre of the barrel. It's powered by three button cells. There is a
switch on the top part which when pressed once, illuminates one or more of
the LEDS. When pressed a second time, they are turned off. Repeating the
on/off action causes it to cycle through about six colour combinations,
including one where each combination is cycled rapidly, about every 1/2
second. There seem to be lots of similar gadgets around - does anyone know
how the LEDS are controlled? My guess is an ASIC, given the large volumes
involved.
Click to expand...
They are made molded right into the LED housing. I believe the dies
are Asian-origin ASICs.

Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany
--
"it's the network..." "The Journey is the reward"
speff@interlog.com Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com
Embedded software/hardware/analog Info for designers: http://www.speff.com
 
"Spehro Pefhany" <speffSNIP@interlogDOTyou.knowwhat> schreef in bericht
news:6freb0tghs3dnh4fj6k90gr0jjt2db3dpp@4ax.com...
On Fri, 28 May 2004 16:47:44 +0100, the renowned "Leon Heller"
leon_heller@hotmail.com> wrote:

I was given a similar pen to this as a freebie on the PCB-Pool stand at
the
NEPCON Show in Brighton, UK, yesterday:

http://www.dealsonic.com/7coledfllipe.html

It's a retractible ball-point pen with a transparent plastic barrel and
three bright LEDs (R,G and B) mounted on a PCB, with a sort of light
guide
in the centre of the barrel. It's powered by three button cells. There is
a
switch on the top part which when pressed once, illuminates one or more
of
the LEDS. When pressed a second time, they are turned off. Repeating the
on/off action causes it to cycle through about six colour combinations,
including one where each combination is cycled rapidly, about every 1/2
second. There seem to be lots of similar gadgets around - does anyone
know
how the LEDS are controlled? My guess is an ASIC, given the large volumes
involved.

They are made molded right into the LED housing. I believe the dies
are Asian-origin ASICs.
Click to expand...
Not with these pens, three normal leds, and a small PCB with
a blob. The program has 8 modes, 7 steady colors, and the 8th is
animated flashing going through the entire rainbow.


--
Thanks, Frank.
(remove 'x' and 'invalid' when replying by email)
 
On Fri, 28 May 2004 20:14:43 +0200, the renowned "Frank Bemelman"
<f.bemelmanx@planet.invalid.nl> wrote:

"Spehro Pefhany" <speffSNIP@interlogDOTyou.knowwhat> schreef in bericht
news:6freb0tghs3dnh4fj6k90gr0jjt2db3dpp@4ax.com...
On Fri, 28 May 2004 16:47:44 +0100, the renowned "Leon Heller"
leon_heller@hotmail.com> wrote:

I was given a similar pen to this as a freebie on the PCB-Pool stand at
the
NEPCON Show in Brighton, UK, yesterday:

http://www.dealsonic.com/7coledfllipe.html

It's a retractible ball-point pen with a transparent plastic barrel and
three bright LEDs (R,G and B) mounted on a PCB, with a sort of light
guide
in the centre of the barrel. It's powered by three button cells. There is
a
switch on the top part which when pressed once, illuminates one or more
of
the LEDS. When pressed a second time, they are turned off. Repeating the
on/off action causes it to cycle through about six colour combinations,
including one where each combination is cycled rapidly, about every 1/2
second. There seem to be lots of similar gadgets around - does anyone
know
how the LEDS are controlled? My guess is an ASIC, given the large volumes
involved.

They are made molded right into the LED housing. I believe the dies
are Asian-origin ASICs.

Not with these pens, three normal leds, and a small PCB with
a blob. The program has 8 modes, 7 steady colors, and the 8th is
animated flashing going through the entire rainbow.
Click to expand...
Interesting. I can get 7-color and similar) LEDs as components with
about ten variations, some with a trigger pin. Possibly the same die
with different packaging. I've also seen it on little plastic pendants
that people buy at street fairs etc., though I have never dissected
one. Very nice effect and dirt cheap. They are making millions for
sure.

Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany
--
"it's the network..." "The Journey is the reward"
speff@interlog.com Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com
Embedded software/hardware/analog Info for designers: http://www.speff.com
 
"Spehro Pefhany" <speffSNIP@interlogDOTyou.knowwhat> schreef in bericht
news:eek:n5fb0purk331278rubeed5elben2u9ntl@4ax.com...
On Fri, 28 May 2004 20:14:43 +0200, the renowned "Frank Bemelman"
f.bemelmanx@planet.invalid.nl> wrote:

"Spehro Pefhany" <speffSNIP@interlogDOTyou.knowwhat> schreef in bericht
news:6freb0tghs3dnh4fj6k90gr0jjt2db3dpp@4ax.com...
On Fri, 28 May 2004 16:47:44 +0100, the renowned "Leon Heller"
leon_heller@hotmail.com> wrote:

I was given a similar pen to this as a freebie on the PCB-Pool stand
at
the
NEPCON Show in Brighton, UK, yesterday:

http://www.dealsonic.com/7coledfllipe.html

It's a retractible ball-point pen with a transparent plastic barrel
and
three bright LEDs (R,G and B) mounted on a PCB, with a sort of light
guide
in the centre of the barrel. It's powered by three button cells. There
is
a
switch on the top part which when pressed once, illuminates one or
more
of
the LEDS. When pressed a second time, they are turned off. Repeating
the
on/off action causes it to cycle through about six colour
combinations,
including one where each combination is cycled rapidly, about every
1/2
second. There seem to be lots of similar gadgets around - does anyone
know
how the LEDS are controlled? My guess is an ASIC, given the large
volumes
involved.

They are made molded right into the LED housing. I believe the dies
are Asian-origin ASICs.

Not with these pens, three normal leds, and a small PCB with
a blob. The program has 8 modes, 7 steady colors, and the 8th is
animated flashing going through the entire rainbow.

Interesting. I can get 7-color and similar) LEDs as components with
about ten variations, some with a trigger pin. Possibly the same die
with different packaging. I've also seen it on little plastic pendants
that people buy at street fairs etc., though I have never dissected
one. Very nice effect and dirt cheap. They are making millions for
sure.
Click to expand...
I have a collection of leds now, most of them from Ebay. Among them
is one that fades through all kinds of colors, and then goes flashing
madly, and goes back to crossfading again - and again. Quite nice,
but not very powerful. No trigger pin, the 'program' just runs forever.

The pen has three 3mm leds and gives a lot more light. Blue, red and
a yellow one - I would have expected a green one. I'll post a picture
of the PCB on ABSE, in a minute.

--
Thanks, Frank.
(remove 'x' and 'invalid' when replying by email)
 
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