“The LED eclipse is an interactive instrument with LEDs, capacitive touch sensors, and a MIDI output all controlled with an Arduino Uno. You can program the device in many different ways. Across all the applications, the idea is pretty much the same: determine which sensors are touched and then update the LEDs and MIDI output. In the video posted here, you can check out some of the programs that I wrote. The chassis is made out of MDF and was inspired by laser cut topographical maps that I saw on instructables.
I was motivated to create the device because I wanted to make more interactive light devices that added a new spin to LED tables. Due to some problems I had with the IR sensors in my geodesic dome project, another goal for the LED eclipse was to implement more reliable sensors. I chose capacitive touch sensors, which are better at providing clean signal for each sensor without having to adjust trim-pots like with the IR sensors. I also wanted to make a smaller device that was easier to assemble and transport.
In this instructable, I will go over setting up ten capacitive touch sensors with an Arduino, the WS2801 LED pixel strip, and MIDI output. Let’s get started building the eclipse!”