EZ-Color LED Lighting Controller from Cypress Semiconductir
Filed Under LED Landscape Lights, Lighting Controllers
This is a fascinating product for controlling large arays of LED lights. It may be beyond what’s needed for an average domestic landscape lighting application - unless you have a taste for clever technology or maybe a super-sized Christmas lighting installation.
The EZ-Color high brightness LED controllers pair with the “PSoC Express” software to deliver a design solution for applications that require precise light-blending, including architectural lighting and entertainment lighting.
The system overcomes the two biggest problems LED lighting engineers face today:
(a) having to account for differing High Brightness (HB) LED performance specifications and
(b) the LEDs’ performance variation over different temperatures.
With PSoC Express, designers simply select a color from a palette presented on-screen. Pre-loaded manufacturers’ LED specifications and temperature feedback algorithms are automatically applied to the selected design and programmed into the EZ-Color controller.
In other words its pretty much like using a run-of-the-mill Windows graphics of photo application, where the picture on the PC is translate dinto LED light display. Awesome!
This can save a designer / installer anywhere from weeks to months of design time for a complex design, or if you’re a home (not so) handy-person - years of wasted weekends!
The EZ-Color controllers can support up to 16 LED channels (more than you’ll ever need at home), compared to four or five channels for competitive devices. These additional channels can mean a savings of dozens or even hundreds of controllers in very large designs (which would definitely be beyond the scope of a domestic set up), saving on design complexity, power consumption and board space.
You can get more information on EZ-Color, education materials on HB LED color mixing, and a free download of PSoC Express 3.0 software are all available at www.cypress.com/EZ-Color.
So in summary a useful tool and/or a fanbtastic toy for controlling light installations. Imagine its your wife’s birthday and you program a message into your landscape lighting.
“Hi Darling happy birthday . . . PS what’s for dinner tonite?”
Or maybe you have an annoying neighbor you’d like to send a message to . . . the possibilities are endless!
Stay tuned for the latest landscape lighting news.
Related Posts
Improve Security & Save Power With Lighting ControllersMost landscape lighting systems now use a lighting controller with a timer that shuts your garden lights off at night (to save power and avoid disturbing neighbors). Some systems will also let you select an option to maintain your lights at a reduced power setting, so you have a soft glow rather than full illumination. Many systems also include a motion sensor in the control system. When the motion sensor is activated, it fully illuminates the lights for a pre-selected amount of time. This performs 2 functions: It either advises you that there is someone on your property. In this situation the motion sensor fully illuminates the lights to alert
Fiber Optic Landscape LightingThe focus here is on using fiber optic landscape lighting for domestic applications. For commercial applications, fiber optic lighting is an increasingly popular alternative to neon lighting. Fiber optic landscape lights provide a very different approach to landscape lighting compared with traditional outdoor lights, such as low voltage lights or solar landscape lights. As the "fiber optic" name suggests, light itself travels down the cables rather than electricity. The benefits include: Electrical safety - these lights are ideal for pools, spas and water features because there is no electricity reaching the light fixtures and so no danger of shock. The light source can be
Energy Star Lighting The ENERGY STAR is awarded to select fixture types that meet strict efficiency, quality, and lifetime criteria. Because LEDs lights are relatively new, there are not many that are Energy Star approved yet. However LED lighting is an intrinsically efficient lighting technology that is rapidly evolving and improving. LEDs produce light in a new way and many LED lights are already rated higher for quality and efficiency compared with existing lighting technologies, such as fluorescent and incandescent lights. ENERGY STAR Qualified LED Lighting: Reduces energy costs — uses at least 75% less energy than incandescent lighting, saving on operating
Outdoor Security Lighting GuidelinesThere are several issues when considering outdoor security lighting. There are the practical aspects such as: Which lighting arrangement provides the best security? What is the most cost effective system, taking into account both installation and running costs? Which is the most visually appealing design that will enhance the appeal of your property? One of the most common errors with outdoor security lighting is the overuse of floodlights. The assumption with floodlights is that because they are bright they are the safest. However they can actually create safety and security problems and are centainly not energy efficient (i.e. they are not cost effective to run). The problem
Guidelines for Installing and Using Low Voltage and Solar Landscape LightingGeneral Principles of Low Voltage Lighting The issues to consider when plaaning the installation of low voltage landscape lighting include factors such as: - How close the light is to the area to be lit (low voltage and solar light5s are not as bright as mains lights) - The color of the walls and other structures close by (light, shiny colors reflect light, but dull or dark colors absorb it) - The use of diffusers and shades over the light - The use of reflectors to direct the light It can be worthwhile to purchase a few different low voltage lights to which ones best suit
Leave a Reply