Ultra tiny (15.8mm x 14.8mm) smart USB RGB LED display/matrix
Already have an account? Log in.
To make the experience fit your profile, pick a username and tell us what interests you.
Compared to the original #192:LED design. Nearly everything did change
You may already saw them on Twitter. Thanks to fablab Munich I could take some IR pictures of a running matrix.
Front at 15% brightness white:
This small programming Jig was quite handy today
I marked the positions of the Test pins in new Layer in eagle. Than I exported this Layer and the Outline as dxf. With this dxf and some work in Fusion i ended up with this small jig. Due to it small size (~3x3cm) it also prints in ~1/2hr. After redrilling the holes the test pins can be pushed in the plastic.
Best part: it worked: And I now have the Trinket-M0-USB-Bootloader on the board. And now I can program it via USB! Pictures of working board will follow tomorrow.
Here is a picture of the whole setup needed to burn the bootloader. Beside the JIG some power source and a Programmer. I used the Atmel ICE.
This is really cool! I'm curious, strips of similar LEDs typically have a capacitor per pixel or two, but you don't seem to be using any. Is it really not necessary? Also curious how you did the surface mount on both sides! I'm close to assembling a stand-alone game console with 10x20 display using WS2812-2020s. But now that I know these 1515s exist, I already want to make a new version! And if I didn't need all those capacitors, that would be great too...
It is not absolutely necessary if the power traces to the next capacitor are just short/big enough. At least with this design it is tested good working. When designing bigger Board (or longer strips) placing capacitors next to each LEDs is a good design method to keep the Power clean. If there is place you should add capacitors. I this board would be bigger would add some more on the back. There are three 1µF Cs on the back
Sorry for the late reply... In short: Apply solder paste for LED side with stencil - place LEDs - hot Air - repeat with other side. I start with the LED side to get a evan backside when doing the controller side.
Good stuff! Any sellers of that LED on alibaba you'd reccomend?
Sorry for the late reply: Yes these LEDs do look like the one I ordered. MY listing is not available anymore.
Sorry for the late reply.... I will upload it tomorrow..but it is basically according to the datasheet.
HOLD ON
Tiny WS2812-Style LEDs? Sign me up for those, what part number can I find them as???
The smallest DigiKey holds is a 3535 package. This size of LED would be fantastic for some of my projects though, as much better tiny indicators <3
By the way, I love that programming jig. Nice way to save some board space and leave out a connector or SOIC-Bite :>
I soooooo wanna build one of those :)
Did you use a stencil to apply solderpaste? I imagine placing all those LEDs is quite the tedious work?
Yes I used the stencil also made by Aisler for the solder Paste. Placing the LEDs was indeed quite difficult. I had to drop them on the PCB, because the tweezers tips do not fit between two LEDs.
196:LED to be exactly. There is also one discrete LED beside the APA102 on the back. But I decided that only LED chips on the LED side do count.
Alex
So it should not run a full brightness for a long time. I am thinking to use the SAMD21'S integrated Temperature Sensor to limit the Brightness to Maximum Board (/MCU) temperature - maybe to 70-80°C. 
Ethan Durrant
ajlitt
NDX5800
bobricius
This is the coolest thing.