Displaying Phone Video on an RGB LED Matrix

Here's interesting Android + Arduino project that was linked from the Make blog:

http://blog.makezine.com/2012/02/02/displaying-phone-video-on-an-rgb-led-matrix/

I used the OpenCV library to convert the video frames to 16×32 pixel resolution to match the LED matrix. I also constrained the color space of the frames to 12 bit color. That is, each pixel has 4 bits each for red, green, and blue. That means that each pixel can have 16 different brightness levels of red/green/blue, yielding 4096 possible colors. In other words, all of the image processing is performed on the phone because it’s much more powerful than the Arduino.

Anyone here working on an Arduino & Android project?

Cheers,

Drew

Attributes

Like (3)
Reply

Tags: arduino, android

DAB

Currently Being Moderated

1. Feb 3, 2012 3:51 PM (in response to Drew Fustini)
Re: Displaying Phone Video on an RGB LED Matrix

Hi Drew,

Neat idea. With LED's getting smaller everyday, we should soon see a lot more LED video displays of gigantic size. Neater still, they can probably still be driven by the Arduino.

I just love simple projects like this. It encourages others to see what they can do.

Good post,
DAB

Report Abuse

Like (0)

Reply
ntewinkel

Currently Being Moderated

2. Feb 3, 2012 4:05 PM (in response to Drew Fustini)
Re: Displaying Phone Video on an RGB LED Matrix

Connecting Android to some kind of dev board is high on my list of want-to-do, but I haven't done anything more than download the software dev kit.

Do you know if the IOIO is a requirement, or just handy? I'd prefer to go straight from Android to Arduino if at all possible, or if it needs the extra USB port, I have a TI board that has a few USB ports on it that might be cool to use.

As it is, it already feels like I'm hoarding dev boards good thing they're small or I'd be getting dirty looks from my wife

Cheers,
-Nico

Report Abuse

Like (0)

Reply
ntewinkel

Currently Being Moderated

3. Feb 3, 2012 4:10 PM (in response to Drew Fustini)
Re: Displaying Phone Video on an RGB LED Matrix

ps, here's (a tiny bit) more info on the IOIO board: http://ytai-mer.blogspot.com/2011/04/meet-ioio-io-for-android.html
I see it on Sparkfun for $50, but I can't find it here on element14 yet.

Report Abuse

Like (0)

Reply
Drew Fustini
584 posts since
Jul 31, 2009

Currently Being Moderated

4. Feb 3, 2012 4:45 PM (in response to ntewinkel)
Re: Displaying Phone Video on an RGB LED Matrix

Hi - I don't think IOIO is a requirement per se. I think it is being used in this case as the Arduino board doesn't have a host controller. I actually picked up the Arduino Mega ADK at a local RadioShack which I thought was pretty fitting they carried given their DIY heritage and current emphasis on selling phones. Unfortunately, I've not used it in a project yet. It is $85 (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12326250), so they're are cheaper options like the SparkFun Electric Sheep for $80 (http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10745). I've see other boards, too, but can't remember now.

Report Abuse

Like (2)

Reply
Drew Fustini
584 posts since
Jul 31, 2009

Currently Being Moderated

5. Feb 3, 2012 4:47 PM (in response to Drew Fustini)
Re: Displaying Phone Video on an RGB LED Matrix

Ah ha, just remembered that element14 member Simon Monk has written a lot about this including the USBDroid which is only $70:

http://srmonk.blogspot.com/2011/10/freetronics-usb-droid-review.html

Report Abuse

Like (2)

Reply
ntewinkel

Currently Being Moderated

6. Feb 4, 2012 8:37 PM (in response to Drew Fustini)
Re: Displaying Phone Video on an RGB LED Matrix

Thanks Drew!

Report Abuse

Like (1)

Reply
element14sy

Currently Being Moderated

7. Feb 6, 2012 1:09 AM (in response to Drew Fustini)
Re: Displaying Phone Video on an RGB LED Matrix

Well done,Drew! Maybe it will be more cool that you use wireless conmunication between mobile phones and arduino board.

Report Abuse

Like (0)

Reply
Drew Fustini
584 posts since
Jul 31, 2009

Currently Being Moderated

8. Feb 6, 2012 1:17 AM (in response to element14sy)
Re: Displaying Phone Video on an RGB LED Matrix

Oh, hope you didn't misunderstand that I made it - I just saw it on Make blog

Yeah, I think Bluetooth makes it a lot easier to interface an Android with hardware as I think it's better not to have to have the phone tethered. I had read that Google has plans to extend the Open Accessory APIs beyond USB to Bluetooth.

Cheers,
Drew

Report Abuse

Like (0)

Reply
element14sy

Currently Being Moderated

9. Feb 6, 2012 1:19 AM (in response to Drew Fustini)
Re: Displaying Phone Video on an RGB LED Matrix

Report Abuse

Like (0)

Reply