news.volyx.in

LED Matrix Earrings (mitxela.com)

615 points by nrabulinski · 909 days ago · 84 comments on HN

Article summary

The article describes the creation of LED matrix earrings, which involve replacing the plastic gemstone and single LED in off-the-shelf LED stud earrings with a custom circuit board. The design requires shrinking the circuit board to fit the earring, using a CH32V003 chip and 0201 LEDs. The author details the challenges of crafting the circuit board and populating it with components, including using a pick and place machine to place the small LEDs. The final result is a working LED matrix earring that can display various patterns.

Main themes

  • LED matrix earrings
  • Circuit board design
  • Component placement
  • Programmability
  • Power consumption
  • E-waste and environmental impact
  • Production automation
  • Wearability and durability

What commenters say

  • Some commenters think the earrings could be sold for a few hundred dollars, while others are concerned about the potential for e-waste and the environmental impact of such products.
  • There are differing opinions on the feasibility of adding multi-color LEDs or using a boost converter to increase the battery life.
  • Some commenters suggest using a small IR receiver or optical sensor to allow for programmability of the LEDs, while others propose using visible light to transmit data.
  • The weight and size of the earrings are discussed, with some commenters suggesting that they could be made lighter or more discreet by hiding the battery behind the ear.
  • The potential for automating the production of the earrings is mentioned, with an estimated cost of at least $50,000.
  • Some commenters note that similar products are already available for purchase online at a low cost, but these do not have the same programmable LED matrix feature.
  • There are concerns about the durability and longevity of the earrings, particularly with regards to the battery life and the potential for the LEDs to become damaged.
  • The idea of using the earrings to blind cameras with IR LEDs is also discussed, but it is unclear if this would be feasible or effective.