Mini Message DMD - Anyone Interested?

Hi All,

I've been toying with the idea of providing these mini messaging dot matrix devices that will basically accommodate any machine with 6.3V AC power via one of the GI lamp sockets. It provides animated text that can be entered into the device via your PC. It turns on when your pin machine is turned on, off when your machine is off, and remembers your settings. Has brightness and speed settings. Can scroll text in various directions, do some very basic graphics, and do some basic gif animations. Target price of $24.95. 3.5 x 1 inch (9 x 2.5 cm). You can for example have it flash famous call out quotes like "LIONMAN!" or "Destroy Centaur..." etc. Or it can scroll game rules..what ever you want. Can mount in various positions within your machine. See enclosed pic and video. Let me know if this is something you'd be interested in. I have a few samples made up.

Thanks.

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#2 7 years ago

SPB

onemoresean

Pinside+ Frequent

8y 97,050 812

I'm in for one

#3 7 years ago

REH

Imeh

Pinside member

10y 56,650 1,415 10

I would definitely toy with a couple.

#4 7 years ago

REH

Imeh

Pinside member

10y 56,650 1,415 10

Any options on the color?

#5 7 years ago

MNR

indy5mike

Pinside member

12y 51,800 867 12

One for me!

#6 7 years ago

TOY

mario_1_up

Pinside member

Fairbank, IA

11y 80,800 2,350 24 8

I'm down for one.

#7 7 years ago

???

newpinballfan

Pinside member

12y 47,050 105

If you're able to keep the price low (24.95$ ) you will sell a ton of this.

#8 7 years ago

JJS

agodfrey

Inactive member

Granville, OH

9y 73,600 2,716 3 23

Great mod...but you reminded me that selling my sof was so stupid...hahahahhaha

#9 7 years ago

JJF

JeffF

Pinside member

11y 92,800 1,247 12

I would love to grab two of these. Awesome little project!

#10 7 years ago

JSG

Thor-NL

Pinside member

Breda

11y 97,650 2,289 8

Hope the shipping will not kill it

Great DIY-mod

#11 7 years ago

MIC

msj2222

Pinside member

Mansfield, MA

10y 67,650 1,701 9 14

Yep, I would find a spot for a couple...great price!

#12 7 years ago

LOU

Cheese_WizardPQ

Inactive member

North Hatley, QC

9y 64,800 762 39

I'm in

#13 7 years ago

JAS

Manimal

Pinside member

8y 71,050 2,015 3

Yep

#14 7 years ago

DAN

calico1997

Quoted from Imeh:
Any options on the color?

Great question! Yes, there are some options for color, but the non red ones are a little more expensive. Aside from red, what other 2 or 3 colors would be popular? I was actually thinking "DMD Orange" would be a nice matching look.

2016_08_13_08_14_11_Greenshot_(resized).png

#15 7 years ago

DAN

calico1997

Quoted from agodfrey:
Great mod...but you reminded me that selling my sof was so stupid...hahahahhaha

I miss every pin I sold or traded.

#16 7 years ago

DAN

calico1997

My inspiration for this little dot display was that I recently got a Centaur and the designer Jim Patla said it actually had a mini dot matrix display in the tradeshow prototype model animating the motorcycle guy riding out on the playflied. He said he even still has the cut out for it. That would have been way ahead of its time for 1981. They didn't do it commercially because of cost. I wonder where the display would have been placed in the playfield? Perhaps I will try contacting him to find out.

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#17 7 years ago

ASM

AlexSMendes

Inactive member

10y 74,150 6,014

OP
Quoted from calico1997:
I miss every pin I sold or traded.

So do I.... Great mod for a fair price, btw!

#18 7 years ago

ROB

transprtr4u

Pinside+ Frequent

Edmonton, AB

10y 130K 8,407 3

2 for me

#19 7 years ago

MGP

mgpasman

Pinside member

8y 51,400 558

What about a version that holds more than one line of text? You could connect it to various lamps on the matrix, so it will start the text when the corresponding shot is lit.

#20 7 years ago

CBS

sulakd

Pinside member

Williamston, MI

8y 65,550 295 9 6

In for 2. Pm sent.

#21 7 years ago

REH

Imeh

Pinside member

10y 56,650 1,415 10

OP
Quoted from calico1997:
Great question! Yes, there are some options for color, but the non red ones are a little more expensive. Aside from red, what other 2 or 3 colors would be popular? I was actually thinking "DMD Orange" would be a nice matching look.

I think blue, red, and orange would all have applications depending on the machine.

#22 7 years ago

JAS

Sinistarrett

Pinside member

Freeport, FL

8y 81,850 1,623 3 12

I will take one.

#23 7 years ago

MAR

marspinball

Pinside+ Frequent

San Diego, CA

13y 66,800 626 30

This would work for Ghostbusters. ECTO1A had a dmd on the roof. . One saying was "WE BELIEVE YOU"

How many lines of text can be programmed?

Screenshot_20160813-103405_(resized).png

#24 7 years ago

DAN

calico1997

Quoted from mgpasman:
What about a version that holds more than one line of text? You could connect it to various lamps on the matrix, so it will start the text when the corresponding shot is lit.

It can hold about 32k bytes of text, so you can input rule cards, slogans, etc. and have it go through the lines of text it in any sequence you set it up for. Personally I got some rule cards in WORD document format and just did a copy-and-paste from WORD into the device and now it reads off the rule card text. But getting it to say specific things tied to a specific controlled light would be much more complex. It would need a multi-input controller and that would add to the cost. Great idea though. I will look into it.

#25 7 years ago

DAN

calico1997

Here is the Windows input screen it uses...

Micro_DMD_software_screen_(resized).png

#26 7 years ago

DAN

calico1997

By the way it is a little under 1 CM thick. Does not weigh much, so I was just planning to attach with something like 3M Command tape or hook-loop fastener.

20160812_214425_(resized).jpg

#27 7 years ago

JJF

JeffF

Pinside member

11y 92,800 1,247 12

Are these custom or are they the same ones you can get on eBay(found under "scrolling name tags")?

Looks like yours is 11x44 and most of the ones I'm looking at on eBay are the same.

#28 7 years ago

CAC

TiltDis

Pinside member

Bedford, TX

9y 52,050 223 5

Would love one for my laser war! SHOOT THE ION CANON!

#29 7 years ago

japespin

Pinside member

Las Vegas, NV

9y 41,800 430 4

Count me in for one. How do we order?

#30 7 years ago

???

Starwriter

Inactive member

Unknown

8y 24,150 422 17

If they were available in white LEDs, you could use a colored gel to make any color you wanted.

#31 7 years ago

PRH

rockrand

Pinside+ Frequent

Bloomfield, MI

11y 84,800 3,533 1

#32 7 years ago

DAN

calico1997