Microcontroller RP2040 Whirls Inside Point-of-View Display
A rotating LED sphere offers an unusual twist on traditional flat displays. For those seeking a rounder display, [lhm0]'s creation, the rotating LED sphere RP2040 POV display, might just meet your requirements.
This persistent-vision display relies on an RP2040 microcontroller as its core, providing the rotating (or spinning, to be precise) motor's command. For wireless control, an optional ESP01 module offers a web interface. To fit the SMD chips, custom PCBs have been designed, a departure from the usual slot installation seen in dev boards.
[lhm0] has dared to differ from the current trend of using individually addressable LEDs, opting instead for through-hole RGB LEDs managed via a 24-bit shift-register. Through the intelligent use of interlacing, 64 LEDs produce a display of 128 lines. A 3D-printed LED-bending jig was also developed to help align the through-hole LEDs during mounting.
What truly sets this project apart is the creation of a custom binary video/image format, .rs64, specifically engineered for this LED sphere display. The code and related files are available on GitHub, while a separate library hosts the firmware and KiCad files for the display itself.
Although the Rotating LED Sphere is not the cheapest POV display, it is one of few projects that have gone the extra mile to develop a custom file format. The hardware boasts an impressive design that maximizes LED count and display quality without compromising on component count.
Interested in seeing the display in action and learning more about its construction? The embedded video provides a glimpse into the project, taking you through its development process step by step.
The Rotating LED Sphere RP2040 POV display combines innovative hardware design, custom firmware, and a specialized video format to deliver a visually captivating full-color spherical POV experience. This project offers an exciting opportunity for creative electronic enthusiasts to experiment, replicate, and customize the design. The complete project resources, including firmware source code, KiCad PCB designs, and the .rs64 format specification, are available under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0 or later) license.
This rotating LED sphere project, driven by the RP2040 microcontroller, showcases an uncommon approach to display technology with its custom PCB design, featuring SMD chips and through-hole RGB LEDs. The creative application of interlacing, along with the development of the unique .rs64 binary video/image format, sets the Rotating LED Sphere apart from typical POV displays.
