Rack KITT

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A rack mounted LED array of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blinkenlights|blinkenlights]], 1RU, which emulates [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KITT|KITT]]s scanner by visual, but is similar to the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BeBox|BeBox]]'s blinkenlights for function.
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A rack mounted LED array of [[wikipedia:blinkenlights]], 1RU, which emulates [[wikipedia:KITT]]s scanner by visual, but is similar to the [[wikipedia:BeBox]]'s blinkenlights for function.
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{{TOCright}}
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== What can it display? ==
  
== What can it display? ==
 
* Status monitors
  
* Status monitors
−
** KITT Scanner
 +
** KITT Scanner for system load indicator
  +
** Fill bars for memory/cpu/disk/whatever
 
* Error displays
  
* Error displays
 
** Guru Meditation error
  
** Guru Meditation error
 
** BSOD
  
** BSOD
  +
** Full bright
  +
** red X
  +
** scrolling words
 
* Screensavers (may require multiple in sync)
  
* Screensavers (may require multiple in sync)
 
** Conways game of life
  
** Conways game of life
 
** Matrix
  
** Matrix
 
** PONG
  
** PONG
−
* other
 +
** Tetris
−
** snow crash visual
 +
** Flames
−
*** heartbeat (slow speed)
 +
** ripples
−
*** screensaver (medium)
 +
* other visuals
−
*** crash indicator(fast!)
 +
** snow crash randomness (error?)
  +
** heartbeat (status)
  +
  +
  +
A rack unit is 1.75inch high, or 44.45mm, and a 19" rack is 482.6mm wide. If we use 3mm LEDs. then we can get 9 high (means we can have a border and a 3x5 font inside), or 8 high (easier to calculate the electronics?!) and still leave room for potential airflow. (5mm LEDs could fit 8 high, but no airflow)
  +
  +
So at a density of 5.4575mm per LED:
  +
* x8 high = 43.66mm - which is the recommended 0.79mm short of a RU to ensure devices can stack comfortably), then 80
  +
* x80 width = 436.6mm = 46mm to the sides for controls/UI
  +
  +
Alternatively, a 16x2 LCD to display extra status/etc, would require perhaps 80mm width, so dropping the possible width of the LEDs down to around 70. (70x8 LEDs is 560 still!)
  +
   
 
== Extending the basic idea ==
  
== Extending the basic idea ==
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* KITT scanner is at the left at the start of every minute, so ALL displays sync up, and it's easier to see which is fastest...
  
* KITT scanner is at the left at the start of every minute, so ALL displays sync up, and it's easier to see which is fastest...
 
** say: scanner scans (a full left-right-left cycle) at X scans per 10 seconds, and only updates the speed every 10th second. That way every 10 seconds it is back to the left. 5 scans/10seconds = default. Integer scan count/10 seconds.
 
** say: scanner scans (a full left-right-left cycle) at X scans per 10 seconds, and only updates the speed every 10th second. That way every 10 seconds it is back to the left. 5 scans/10seconds = default. Integer scan count/10 seconds.
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* most screensavers (esp Matrix) will improve across multiple lines, so a basic protocol to transmit data "down" and "up" (left/right too?)
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* most screensavers (esp Matrix) will improve across multiple lines, so a basic protocol to transmit data "down" and "up" (left/right too? probably not for this iteration)
   
 
== limitations ==
  
== limitations ==
−
* how many ~LEDs can be lit at once as powered by USB?
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* how many LEDs can be lit at once as powered by USB?
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** * http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?p=327983 - so, maybe 20? :/ Also, ensure USB driver is correct!
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** http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?p=327983 - so, maybe 20? :/ Also, ensure USB driver is correct!
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* how many ~LEDs can be controlled at what speed by PIC controllers? (PIC bandwidth?)
 +
** Discussions with Brett at LCA2011 suggested closer to 80 or 100.
  +
* how many LEDs can be controlled at what speed by PIC controllers? (PIC bandwidth?)
 
* how much space (depth) to build this. The idea is it can sit in FRONT of a machine in a rack cabinet
  
* how much space (depth) to build this. The idea is it can sit in FRONT of a machine in a rack cabinet
 
** remember to consider rKITT heatsink issues, and server case airflow issues!
  
** remember to consider rKITT heatsink issues, and server case airflow issues!
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* http://www.thinkgeek.com/clearance/c58c/ - a thinkgeek product with 18 LEDs
  
* http://www.thinkgeek.com/clearance/c58c/ - a thinkgeek product with 18 LEDs
 
* Have seen 36white LEDs reading lamp on ebay. USB powered.
  
* Have seen 36white LEDs reading lamp on ebay. USB powered.
  +
  +
note that Arduino will make all of this much simpler, it just wasn't around when I first came up with the idea. This page is yet to be refactored with Arduinoness :)
  +
  +
* The CM-5 LED display
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** on wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connection_Machine
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** someone recommissioned the display of one to their home: https://web.archive.org/web/20140408112433/http://www.housedillon.com/?p=1272
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*** Some code they wrote is at https://pastebin.com/9xhxiHeL and https://pastebin.com/MZh9ing5 (I have saved local copies if pastebin goes awol)

Latest revision as of 09:36, 9 February 2021

A rack mounted LED array of wikipedia:blinkenlights, 1RU, which emulates wikipedia:KITTs scanner by visual, but is similar to the wikipedia:BeBox's blinkenlights for function.

Contents

[edit] What can it display?

  • Status monitors
    • KITT Scanner for system load indicator
    • Fill bars for memory/cpu/disk/whatever
  • Error displays
    • Guru Meditation error
    • BSOD
    • Full bright
    • red X
    • scrolling words
  • Screensavers (may require multiple in sync)
    • Conways game of life
    • Matrix
    • PONG
    • Tetris
    • Flames
    • ripples
  • other visuals
    • snow crash randomness (error?)
    • heartbeat (status)


A rack unit is 1.75inch high, or 44.45mm, and a 19" rack is 482.6mm wide. If we use 3mm LEDs. then we can get 9 high (means we can have a border and a 3x5 font inside), or 8 high (easier to calculate the electronics?!) and still leave room for potential airflow. (5mm LEDs could fit 8 high, but no airflow)

So at a density of 5.4575mm per LED:

  • x8 high = 43.66mm - which is the recommended 0.79mm short of a RU to ensure devices can stack comfortably), then 80
  • x80 width = 436.6mm = 46mm to the sides for controls/UI

Alternatively, a 16x2 LCD to display extra status/etc, would require perhaps 80mm width, so dropping the possible width of the LEDs down to around 70. (70x8 LEDs is 560 still!)


[edit] Extending the basic idea

The basic display should be standalone, but racks tend to be in servers, stacked... so there should be a way to synchronise multiple rKITTs for easier overall displays. For eg:

  • KITT scanner is at the left at the start of every minute, so ALL displays sync up, and it's easier to see which is fastest...
    • say: scanner scans (a full left-right-left cycle) at X scans per 10 seconds, and only updates the speed every 10th second. That way every 10 seconds it is back to the left. 5 scans/10seconds = default. Integer scan count/10 seconds.
  • most screensavers (esp Matrix) will improve across multiple lines, so a basic protocol to transmit data "down" and "up" (left/right too? probably not for this iteration)

[edit] limitations

  • how many LEDs can be lit at once as powered by USB?
  • how many LEDs can be controlled at what speed by PIC controllers? (PIC bandwidth?)
  • how much space (depth) to build this. The idea is it can sit in FRONT of a machine in a rack cabinet
    • remember to consider rKITT heatsink issues, and server case airflow issues!

[edit] further reading

note that Arduino will make all of this much simpler, it just wasn't around when I first came up with the idea. This page is yet to be refactored with Arduinoness :)

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