Light and Shade
PIC microcontroller, electroluminscent panels, flexible solar cells
A window shade that doubles as a light source. A window shade is commonly used to adjust the level of sunlight. A user can pull on a set of cords to raise or lower the shade. At night, when we most need light, the shade is transformed into a light source with electroluminescent panels. The user can adjust the light level by pulling another set of cords up and down. Solar panels on the back side of the shade harness solar energy by day to partially power the light at night. Slots in the modular design of the shade allow the user to insert and change the pattern of the window shade. A collaboration with Michael Jefferson and Jae In Lee.
(Thank you to Gary Shrober, Rolf Levenbach, and Tom Igoe for helping me figure out the solar circuit.)