Ambilight Clone
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Contents
Overview
Ambilight is a technology invented and implemented by the Phillips corporation, used in some of their flat-panel displays. Ambilight (or Ambient Light) projects colored light on the wall behind a television or monitor screen that matches the hue and intensity of the colors on the screen. This project will try to mimic that idea on a triple-monitor desktop setup. It will be designed such that it is easily removable and re-arrangeable, for adaptation to other displays and monitor setups.
Ideas
There are three major components to this project: lighting hardware, lighting control, and image analysis software.
Lighting Hardware
Three cheap 12V RGB LED strips will be used as the main lighting source; one strip will be attached to the upper-back of each of the three monitors. If needed, two more strips can be added to the sides: one on the left of the far-left monitor, and one on the right of the far-right monitor. Each strip will be mounted to the monitor using small Neodymium magnets for easy removal and transportation. The 12V supply will come from the computer's PSU, using an easily detachable cable.
Lighting Control
An Arduino will be used initially to receive color information from the computer and control the hue and brightness of each LED strip. Each strip will be individually controllable using PWM. Since the LED strips require 12V and will draw a moderate amount of current, three high-power transistors, like the TIP220, will be needed to run each strip (one for each color). Eventually, a custom PCB will be used to replace the Arduino board and house all of the control hardware and interconnects.
Software
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Parts
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Cost Analysis
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Progress Log
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Design Files
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