Micro Framework for Controlling Lights

The project was designed to provide a variety of sparkling patterns to a Christmas light with the use of .NET Micro Framework.

Any .NET Micro Framework device that has a network port and 3 or more output ports can be used to build this project as it allows running C# programs on tiny embedded devices. Unfortunately, the .NET Micro Framework cannot be connected to the lights directly since it will not have enough outputs to control all the lights to be used and it will not be able to switch the amount of current needed to drive the lights. This would require some hardware that goes between the lights and the processor.

Twenty LEDs wired up as four strands of five LEDs each, form lines that make up the lights. Each strand contains all LEDs in the same color. A small battery box holds a tiny controller and 3 AA batteries as it fits the lights. The battery box was removed and connected the strands to the hardware to get the display. A signal will be produced by the CD 4094 device along with an amplifier and the ULN2803 for driving the lights.

Rest of the project