Neuron v1.0

thingiverse

The Neuron is a learn-to-solder kit designed for the 2012 Kansas City Maker Faire, featuring easy assembly and a "my first soldering project" blinker function. Connect multiple units to create light and touch reactive light displays; they act as standard alternating LED blinkers with a jumper but remove the jumper and they mirror light pulses between LEDs in sequence. Chain them together for interactive, bi-directional displays, activating each other and even using one Neuron as a convenient pulse source. Noteworthy features include magnetic mounting capabilities and piezo speaker activation in neuron mode. Neurons also adapt to various lighting conditions, with touch-activation of LEDs on contact. One-sided PCBs are easy to etch at home and assemble. Instructions available online, with demonstrations on Adafruit Show-and-Tell and at the hackerspace. Firmware developed in AVR Studio 5, compatible with avr-gcc under Linux. Note that ISP header may not work with inline current limiting resistors once LEDs are installed.