AntiKippenLights-MiniEnglish

project overview
Year	2005
Number of pixels	18
Grayscales / Colors	greyscales
Illuminant	SMD LEDs
Power input
Contact person	Arne Rossius
Project website

AntiKippenLights-Mini is an AntiKippenLights in the size of a matchbox. It consists of 18 SMD LEDs (size 0805) that are, unlike in the original, driven by an Atmel ATtiny2313 microcontroller. The device is powered by a single CR2032 3 V lithium button cell. The circuit can be switched on and off with the button. When it is switched off, it draws only approx. 200 nA which in most cases will be less than the battery's self discharge current. To prevent an empty battery when the circuit has bad contact to the battery, it switches itself off when the battery is (re)connected.

Prototype

The prototype is still the same size as the AntiKippenLights, but it already consists of the parts that will be used in the AntiKippenLights-Mini. The source code that was written for a PIC microcontroller was ported to AVR almost literally, thus the animations are somewhat slower. In addition, the LEDs have a different order, so some animations will start at a different LED than on the original AntiKippenLights.

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Hardware

The PCB measures 45.7 x 30.5 mm and fits exactly into a matchbox. The layout is double sided (of course) and it's recommendable to use thin PCB material (e.g. 1 mm). Up to Rev. 1.2, the button cell retainer is the same as the ones used on PC mainboards, so you can desolder one from a broken board. From Rev. 1.3 onward, an SMD button cell retainer is used. The resistors and the capacitor have to be size 0805, the same size as the LEDs.

Rev. 1.2

• Schematic (PNG image)
• Schematic (EAGLE 4.x)
• PCB layout (EAGLE 4.x)
• Construction kit instructions

Rev. 1.3

• Schematic (PNG image)
• Schematic (EAGLE 4.x)
• PCB layout (EAGLE 4.x)
• Construction kit instructions

Rev. 1.4

• Schematic (PNG image)
• Schematic (EAGLE 4.x)
• PCB layout (EAGLE 4.x)
• Construction kit instructions

Software

All versions can run on all hardware revisions.

• Version 0.7 (direct port of the AntiKippenLights-Software without the random number generator)
• Version 0.8 (on/off button now working)
• Version 0.9 (button without function (always on) when bridging PD5 and GND)
• Version 0.9.1 (improved button debouncing to prevent accidental turn-on)

Photos

http://arne.blinkenarea.org/akl-mini/

Kit

Due to the great success at WhatTheHack and 22C3, I am now offering kits to build an AntiKippenLights-Mini all the time via mail. A kit contains all needed parts including the already programmed microcontroller and a CR2032 battery. The kit is available for 10 EUR, please note that shipping to foreign countries might add quite some cost due to the postage. If you want one, please contact me at arne (at) blinkenarea.org.