FINAL EL GRANDE JOURNEY BEGINS
In early 2006, I had an epiphany and saw a “vision” of the exact type of light projector I wanted. It would have a light engine using state-of-the-art High Brightness LEDs. The light engine would be computer controlled and sound activated, and display beautiful Lumia images. Having built at least 15 other analog-type Lumia projectors (circa 1976–late 1980s), I did not see any problems in designing and building a digital Lumia projector, despite the fact that it required work in two areas I have no skills in: computer programming and electronic kit assembly. I can solder and assemble electrical wire harnesses, but when it comes to attaching resistors, capacitors and timer chips to a PC board, I'm outta here. But that would not stop me from bringing El Grande into being.
EL GRANDE’S BIRTH
El Grande’s full journey began in 2K 6 when I settled on the final design of an RGB, LED light engine. To maximize its color changing capabilities, I used three 3W Luxeon LEDs (red, green & blue) which were heat sinked and directed into a diachronic mirror mixing chamber which combined the colors into white, and as well other desired colors. To control the color mixing, the LEDs were managed by a micro-processor which allowed the RGB to be mixed into a multitude of in-between colors.
Above: The El Grande light engine is formulated from a dichronic mixing chamber, showing off the heat-sinked RGBs and the mirror chamber. To the right is a power supply (background) and in front, the microprocessor (foreground).
Right: The dichronic mixing chamber from above. The RGB LEDs are properly set against their specific diachronic colors. Turned on simultaneously, they are mixed into "white" which appears by the circular beam exit window.
