Pixlpanes consist of multiple layers of laser-etched and cut acrylic. These are then combined, and a light source is added to the edge of the acrylic. Full color images are achieved by placing different layer details close enough to one another to fool the eye – much like a typical display screen – then lighting one layer red, one green and one blue. In the case of badge and display stand Pixlpanes, the attached light source is known as the Pixlpane LightBoard.
At present, the LightBoard is designed to light up to four layers of etched acrylic each any one of millions of colors. The board itself is quite small and can be configured to be either lithium-ion battery powered (for badges) or powered via USB (for display stands). The USB recharging port also allows the board to be reprogrammed to light Pixlpanes in almost limitless ways. Presently, this interface is arduino-compatible, making it remarkably easy to design, code and test different lighting. Further, with the LightBoard plugged into a host computer it can communicate, allowing notifications or audio visualization to alter colors! (Think a character lighting up when an email arrives, or on in time with your music!)
More information about the LightBoard, including explicit technical specs and software libraries will be made available in the future!
