[Vanhackspace] Sven's lights

[James Garry]

>From: svenblack <svenblack22 at yahoo.ca>
>To: vanhackspace at lists.uselessdegree.net
>Subject: Re: [Vanhackspace] newbie says hello.
 
>Omg, that's hilarious! I'm so blonde under my blue hair! 
>Well then, maybe someone at hackspace could point me in the
>right direction for affordable parts for such a project.?

I see two options - and these are pertinent to all wanting to produce light in small volumes. I've made glowy jewellery in the past and tiny audio projects (an 'engaged (telephone) ring' as an 'engagement ring') etc.

1) "Bring the light to the object"
Lightguides - the ugly step-child of fibre optics.
Thread the light guide 
http://www.tradeindia.com/selloffer/1790027/Epsilon-Plastic-Light-Guide.html
through the appropriate locations which need to be illuminated.
Light guides aren't terribly flexible but are waterproof, cheap, tough, and ideal for difficult-to-light regions.

You then have to deliver light down the guide - clear epoxy a suitable LED (or laser diode!) to the non-remote end, and drive with circuit of choice. (see 2)

2) "Produce the light at the object"
Here the problem is that of size and weight - the circuitry has to be small (a 556 SMD with Rs and Cs is about 1cc in volume) and the battery has to be small enough to not be visible but powerful enough to last 'long enough'.

I'd favour the LM3909 (lovely chip, very low component count, but hard to find) for long battery life and/or a surface mount 555 (or 556 at a push) for funkier effects - the triggers of the CMOS version would be sensitive enough for a tiny microphone to act as a trigger - scope for interaction there.

Drive with two coin cells, job done.

-JamesG
(extra points for using alternative power source, such as a geared motor and exposed handle to crank the motor)

 		 	   		  
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