Suggestions for Emerald v2

[Antron007]

Good Post.
 I've only just received my first saber but I can't help but notice certain sounds seem to match certain colors better. I know it's purely psychological but I was thinking along the same lines.

 I envision that the banks could be settings banks and not just sound banks and changing the preset would set the sound and colors. So, you could have a few whole saber setups. I'd even be willing to loose a couple of the preset slots in order to make this happen.

 I haven't noticed an issue in regards to you 2nd point but I will keep an more detailed eye on it next time I play with it.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who wants this. Thanks again.

[ithekro]

Instead of attaching the Emerald v2 and Obsidian v4, what about just giving them the same feature.  So that when the button is held to get to the Obsidian to switch fonts, the Emerald is also engaged (separately) to change color presets.  There would of course have to be a default pre-set of 8 colors, probably based on the sounds in the Obsidian v4, and including one for "silent".  I would guess the basic Obsidian sound and silent might be set to the customer's default color on order, while the others have a specific color to them.  The user would then have to figure out both if changes are made.

The other option might be the ability to run the Emerald's program on a mobile device so that one can change the colors basically anywhere.  We almost always have our phones with us these days.

This last one is likely impractical, but the ability to change the colors remotely (WIFI, Bluetooth, whatever) so that one does not have to even unscrew the pommel.  That could just be considered lazy, but it lessens the risk of damaging the wires while getting the battery pack out.  Especially if one already has a recharge port and doesn't need to take the batteries out much, if at all.

Or related to that one, have the option of an external cell phone style Mini or Micro USB port that is used to both recharge the saber and can grant access to Emerald and/or Obsidian boards.  That might be asking too much out of the electronics while also being able to duel with the saber.

[nermaljcat]

May as well toss in a couple of my suggestions:

** Ramped LED power up/down (user selectable) to mimic a blade extending/retracting.

** Ability to add more steps to the pulse mode & a "Random" pulse setting so it wouldn't be so mechanical.

These would be great features.

Also keen on #3 - change color settings on the fly (ideally at the push of a button).

The other option might be the ability to run the Emerald's program on a mobile device so that one can change the colors basically anywhere.  We almost always have our phones with us these days.

^^ this idea would be another way to change color settings on the go ... and at the same time solve some hassles that us Linux users have trying to use the launcher =P


BTW - does FoC require the two boards to communicate? I thought the accelerometer was on the Obsidian board, and that the sound board sent a signal to the Emerald board to tell it to flash? If that's the case, could this also be used by the Obsidian board to tell an Emerald v2 board to switch color profiles?

[Kouri]

If that's the case, could this also be used by the Obsidian board to tell an Emerald v2 board to switch color profiles?

Not with the current Obsidian. There's no pinout for a signal identifying which font is in use.

I'm personally hoping that the recent addition of Obsidian v4 to the parts store means that a new soundboard is on the way.

I know of another saber builder that builds all their sabers with RGB-capable soundboards, but offers the hilts in these configurations:

Base Price: Sound with single color
Upgrade lvl 1: Sound with Single Color and FoC
Upgrade lvl 2: Sound with FOC-capable RGB blade

All the same board, but different LEDs and wiring.

If US could combine Obsidian and Emerald into one new Diamond board offering RGB mixing and delayed crossguard ignition...

[nermaljcat]

It'd also be great if the Emerald v2 came with a brighter LED.

You pay a premium for Emerald, but the LED configuration is dimmer than the Tri-Cree option.

[ithekro]

Well the Tri-Cree is more limited as it is only one color.  Very bright color, but only one.  No pulses, nor flash on clash either.

[Blue of the Far Star]

Well the Tri-Cree is more limited as it is only one color.  Very bright color, but only one.  No pulses, nor flash on clash either.

It should be possible for the Emerald to be as bright or brighter than the single Tri-Cee. What about have three (RGB) or four (RGBW) LEDs for Emerald rather than a single RGBW LED. Or else use a brighter RGB LED. I also think that US should use a more powerful (more amp-hours) Lipo cell. If you need higher voltage, boost regulators are inexpensive.

For changing the Emerald color, I would use voicemail system. Instead of a long-press while the saber is off going only to sounds, it could ask for color or sound? Under that, it could use the user's predefined colors or (if the user hadn't defined any) US's predefined colors or go into the Emerald sound system like today.

This is, of course, if the Obsidian board could control the Emerald board. And I suspect it can.