Fading LED lights: Home concepts revisited
The hallmark of technology is its simplicity. Creativity and practicality have reached new heights, with students discovering the simplest ways to apply a basic concept to a practical working model. Sample this!
Fading LED lights can be built with just a Picaxe board.
At the outset, the idea seems complicated. However, a few students have proved that you can do it right at your home with a basic knowledge about electronics.
For starters, you would need Pulse Width Modulation (PWM), which can be coded in to create a constant period pulse train with an adjustable duty cycle. All you need to do is obtain a variable level by averaging it. And with LEDs, you wouldn't have to use an RC filter to average the pulse train.
So, just make the necessary connections and connect the Picaxe output directly to the LED via a resistor. Ideally, a 470 ohm resistor is good to start with. When all the arrangements are done, switch the circuit on and show it off to your friends.
Via: Makezine
