DynamoBen
08-01-2007, 12:07 AM
The subject of this thread is a little deceiving but let me explain. I just finished watching a presentation at OSCON about open source hardware, present and future. I found it very interesting and exciting, but it got me thinking about DIY Christmas hardware.
I like most on this forum I am an electronics hobbyist and am interesting in building my own dimmers. While I understand electronics, and could design my own dimmers doing so takes up both time and money; both of which are always in short supply. ;)
Between this forum and Computer Christmas there are literally dozens of different hardware designs and methods for controlling lights. While all a great they all have their advantages and disadvantages. For me I really wanted my dimmers to have local SCRs and receive both DMX and RDM, nothing like that really exists.
How cool would it be to have DIY dimmer “building blocks?” Most folks here are familiar with Sean’s SCR blocks, what if you could buy several SCR blocks and either solder on a connector for remote use or solder on a header for local use. Then you could purchase or build a “motherboard” that you could plug/cable your SCRs too. For this example lets say that the motherboard is Pic microcontroller based, so you buy a microcontroller for it. Lets say the microcontroller and motherboard allowed you to load whatever “flavor” of dimmer code you wanted via a serial port; it could be anything from lynx, to renard, or whatever else it out at the time. Finally you add the interface from the dimmer to the PC, for this example you add the RS485 interface. You’re done…you have a fully functioning dimmer.
The advantage with this method is down the road you could change the dimmer as you see fit or as something better comes along. In addition the smart folks on the forum can focus on firmware updates and additional “building blocks” to extend the dimmers capacity instead of being spread out over multiple projects. And going into the future these building blocks could be used to do automation, video, you name it. Now I’m not saying get rid of all the individual development, I’m saying focus efforts toward interchangeability and creativity.
What I have in my head that might be similar is products like Arduino, the Basic Stamp and EFX-Tek Prop controller. The hardware is partially complete, you can buy addition interfaces, you set it up the way you want; you can use existing code or create your own…and away you go.
Maybe I’m missing the mark here but I thought this might spark some good discussion.
So what do you think?
If you are interested watching the video from OSCON about Open Source Hardware this is the link:
http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2007/07/phillip_torrone_and_limor.html
I like most on this forum I am an electronics hobbyist and am interesting in building my own dimmers. While I understand electronics, and could design my own dimmers doing so takes up both time and money; both of which are always in short supply. ;)
Between this forum and Computer Christmas there are literally dozens of different hardware designs and methods for controlling lights. While all a great they all have their advantages and disadvantages. For me I really wanted my dimmers to have local SCRs and receive both DMX and RDM, nothing like that really exists.
How cool would it be to have DIY dimmer “building blocks?” Most folks here are familiar with Sean’s SCR blocks, what if you could buy several SCR blocks and either solder on a connector for remote use or solder on a header for local use. Then you could purchase or build a “motherboard” that you could plug/cable your SCRs too. For this example lets say that the motherboard is Pic microcontroller based, so you buy a microcontroller for it. Lets say the microcontroller and motherboard allowed you to load whatever “flavor” of dimmer code you wanted via a serial port; it could be anything from lynx, to renard, or whatever else it out at the time. Finally you add the interface from the dimmer to the PC, for this example you add the RS485 interface. You’re done…you have a fully functioning dimmer.
The advantage with this method is down the road you could change the dimmer as you see fit or as something better comes along. In addition the smart folks on the forum can focus on firmware updates and additional “building blocks” to extend the dimmers capacity instead of being spread out over multiple projects. And going into the future these building blocks could be used to do automation, video, you name it. Now I’m not saying get rid of all the individual development, I’m saying focus efforts toward interchangeability and creativity.
What I have in my head that might be similar is products like Arduino, the Basic Stamp and EFX-Tek Prop controller. The hardware is partially complete, you can buy addition interfaces, you set it up the way you want; you can use existing code or create your own…and away you go.
Maybe I’m missing the mark here but I thought this might spark some good discussion.
So what do you think?
If you are interested watching the video from OSCON about Open Source Hardware this is the link:
http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2007/07/phillip_torrone_and_limor.html