[dorkbotpdx-blabber] Advice on large LED matrix

[Paul Stoffregen]

>
> Travis, how many I need would depend on how large I can get LEDs?

No matter what you do, the actual LED is only a very tiny little chunk 
of material attached to the lead frame and molded inside a plastic case 
that focuses/diffuses the light.  (actually, some very large LEDs have 
multiple chips inside)

>  I wouldn't want there to be more than a 1/2" gap between LEDs.
>   

If you want a 1/2 inch "pixel", you can also use a LED of any standard 
size and mount something around and in front of it to present the light 
in the way you want.

One example might be that egg crate material that's often used over 
light fixtures, together with a diffuser material like velum paper or 
frost tinted plastic (also often used over lighting).  The square cells 
of the egg crate could keep the light from each LED from bleeding over 
to the adjacent pixels, maybe even reflect much of it in the desired 
direction towards the viewer, and the diffuser material over the top 
would create the illusion of nice square pixels that are viewable as 
squares from a wide variety of angles.


-Paul