Pixelated RGB Display for the Engineering Design and Innovation Building

Overview

The Penn State Learning factory was looking for a way to “spice up” the newly built Engineering Design and Innovation Building. This project aimed to create an RGB pixelated display that could be externally controlled to display graphics and information. Our team had the opportunity to take on this task by utilizing LED light strips in conjunction with a Raspberry Pi to control them.

Objectives

• Create an LED panel with a resolution of 64×32 pixels, larger than 2’x2’
• Design a method of controlling all 2048 LEDs remotely using a Raspberry Pi
• Determine the best way to power all 2048 LEDs and Raspberry Pi
• Design a frame to encase the LED panel, grid, acrylic diffuser, power supply, and Raspberry Pi

Approach

• Understand the wants and needs of our sponsor through weekly meetings
• Tested different options for all major components, such as the grid, diffuser, and power supply, for aesthetics and functionality
• Created multiple prototypes and tested how small-scale LED displays worked, constantly improving the design
• Created CAD models of the display to understand how the acrylic, grid, hardboard, and frame will interact
• Constructed the full-scale display with 32 rows of 64 LEDs after adequate prototyping and appropriate tests had been done
• Created a program in C to program all 2048 LEDs
• Designed a frame that is strong enough to support the weight of the display and contain all display components

Outcomes

• The LED panel was created using LED light strips, hardboard, and LED solderless connection clips. The LED strips were cut into sections of 64 LEDs, then were applied to the hardboard of size 45”x23” and connected using solderless connectors and wires
• Produced a manufacturing guide so that future displays can be made
• Created code to display any series of jpg, png, gif, and mp4 files on the LED panel using a Raspberry Pi