I was looking for a decent project for a STEM class I’m assisting with in late September. I found a video of a 64 LED GRID where all the LEDs randomly flashed giving the display that retro looking action of an old computer thinking/calculating.
I tried to get a circuit schematic but no joy… not a peep from the author. All I have to go on is it was created for a dated TV show as a computer lighting effect and it used several flip-flops in the circuit design, each controlling small groups of LEDs scattered amongst the large group.
Would anyone have a design to recreate this effect. It would make a great project. A labeled schematic would be super! (Retro adjitive….LOL)
Thanks

 

Easiest to do with a microcontroller.

What is a STEM class? STEM means Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. That is a rather broad topic for a class. I guess you could get an entire education in just two classes, STEM and Humanities.

 

Easiest to do with a microcontroller.

What is a STEM class? STEM means Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. That is a rather broad topic for a class. I guess you could get an entire education in just two classes, STEM and Humanities.

Congratulations! Yep STEM means just that. The library offers various classes in the STEM realm of categories. I help out in the Science/Engineering (this time, electronics sub category.

 

Don't have a schematic but look up pseudo-random linear-feedback shift register, whose output could drive the LEDs.

 

Don't have a schematic but look up pseudo-random linear-feedback shift register, whose output could drive the LEDs.

I’ll try

 

Congratulations! Yep STEM means just that. The library offers various classes in the STEM realm of categories. I help out in the Science/Engineering (this time, electronics sub category.

You miss my point entirely.

Why not say an electronics course, instead of STEM?

Compare:

“I am teaching a humanities class and would like suggestions on a reading list.”

to:

“I am teaching a 20’th century English Literature class and would like suggestions on a reading list.”

 

You guys don't get out much apparently. Big Ciive on YouTube has developed and explained these "supercomputers" for years. They consist of nothing but resistors and self-flashing LEDs. Because of the tolerances in timing of the LEDs, when initially powered, the LEDs will be in sync, but every quickly they appear totally random.

Tayda Electronics has these self-flashing LEDs at a good price in several colors.

There's really not much to these "supercomputers", but I think they are still a good STEM project – a chance to learn to solder, learn about polarity, component tolerances, etc., and end up with an impressive project.

Clive has a number of videos on this topic. This one is more focused on assembly – others talk more about theory.