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Effix
B1248 - single brightness/program button variant w/ ARM controller
So another b1248 badge arrived today, and to my delight, this one has the correct resolution: 12 pixels high, 48 pixels wide. It has a mini USB port (as per your hardware, @Effix ) but interestingly has a single button that controls both brightness (in four steps) and program selection. Presumably this was another cost-saving measure on the engineer's part.
Using the provided software, "Mini LED Display V 9.17 (Driver Free)" I've been able to rapidly loop a series of 8 images at a pleasing frame rate of around 12 fps (maybe a bit faster).
Now I am keen to see what's inside the case, and to find out if it will be compatible with this project's firmware/software.
I've had a preliminary poke at the case with a small screwdriver, but it looks like it is well and truly glued shut. I should be able to open it, but damage to the case is likely.
Okay, so I got the case open. The bad news is, this unit also uses an ARM controller; as per the previous GD1144 (which was masquerading as a B1248).
As with the GD1144, the PCB is very simple. Below are the markings I was able to read on the ARM controller (the only component with markings discernible to the naked eye):
MM32L050 (specs for it here: http://www.skydomecn.com/product_18_35.html ) PF 729369-00 G3F1630
I will take some macro photographs of the PCB and components and place them here later today.
Dang... that's a bummer. At least you are able to get some animation loops out of it with the default software.
I've been able to get some pleasing test loops happening on this badge, but I'm constrained by what the loader software allows me to do. It's really set up to scroll art/messages, not animate full frame art.
The only way I can achieve full frame animation using this combo of loader software and badge is to place a single frame in each of the 8 available fields for messages/images. This limits my creativity to a mere 8 frame loop!
I'm hoping that the Mini LED V10 loader software will deliver on its promise when some compatible badges arrive. It appears to be able to load an animated .gif file into each field, thus allowing me to create much longer sequences, apply animated transition to .GIF blocks and take full advantage of the available storage space on the device.