ICELED UFO Instruction Manual

www.ICELED.co.uk
UFO GUIDE v8
1
WARNING
This product has been deliberately designed to create a highly noticeable
lighting effect that will turn heads at car shows and exhibitions. Because
of this it is EXTREMELY important that it is not used on the public highway
to prevent the distraction of other road users.
Having issued this warning ICELED Will not accept any responsibility for
issues arising from any failure to comply with this clear instruction.
ICELED Will not accept responsibility for any other issues arising from
improper use or fitting of this product as these matters are beyond our
control.
This product uses CLASS 2 LED devices (with respect to IEC825-1 &
CENELEC EN 60825-1) While not considered to be hazardous, direct
viewing of the LED’s should be avoided.
This product is capable of producing stroboscopic lighting effects.
IceLed
Electro Styling
UFO
USER GUIDE
INSTALLATION GUIDE
®

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UFO GUIDE v8
2
Features
ICELED UFO employs advanced digital imaging techniques to create stunning ground
lighting effects –with over 2 million different colours available from anywhere
around the LED pixel tubes. This versatility results in the projection of an endless
display of multicoloured patterns with an organic appearance that can be adjusted to
look as subtle or as eye-catching as desired.
UFO Patterns can be made to react to music via a built-in microphone or line-level
input or can be left to run without any audio input at all. The colours used in each
pattern can be restricted to those held in user-defined palettes to create specific
colour-coordinated displays or may be chosen from other ranges –including an
Audio Frequency Spectrum Analyser that provides colours reflecting the frequency
content of any audio source.
All interaction with the electronic control unit (ECU) takes place by infrared remote
control so the ECU and wiring can be fully hidden away. This also allows all the
patterns to be controlled and enjoyed from outside the vehicle –if the remote
display is located at or near to window level. The discrete remote display shows the
status of the ECU at all times and conveniently doubles as the infrared receiver.
Using the ICELED standard 3-wire interconnection system UFO has been designed to
complement and integrate with other devices in the ICELED range of digitally-
networked lighting products. As well as controlling four or more external LED pixel
tubes, the ECU can easily be linked to interior ICELED so that colours may be
synchronised inside and out. A connection is also provided so that the ground light
automatically switches on whenever a door is opened.
Tough polycarbonate tubes provide complete protection for the outboard electronics
and are fully sealed against water penetration. The use of solid-state LED light
sources results in highly reliable and energy-efficient operation that has already
proved to be capable of withstanding more than a decade of rough use. Among
numerous other electronic protection systems the ECU monitors battery voltage and
automatically interrupts the supply to the tubes under fault conditions.
ufo

Digital image projection

2 Million+ colours

111 Pattern Variations
11 User defined palettes

Sound reactive

Remote control

Expandable
Rugged and reliable


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UFO GUIDE v8
3
Remote Control quick-reference
UFO is controlled by a standardised ICELED remote control handset. The function of
each button depends on which mode UFO is being operated in:
press one or other of these device buttons before you attempt to operate UFO.
Pattern Play mode
AUDIO activation on/off
SELECT one of ten Pattern
Variations (athrough j)
POWER On/Off
Activate Patterns 0to 9
(Press and hold to enter
Palette Edit mode for Pattern)
Demonstration mode DEMO
Lightning Strobe Pattern
Pattern ACCENT colour
Pattern SPEED control
Pattern RANDOM effect
Pattern COLOUR range
Palette Edit mode
SELECT one of six Colour
Palette entries (1through 6)
Direct R G B settings
0 to 100% in 10% steps
EXIT Palette edit mode
Hold to restore factory
settings for Pattern
Blue adjust
SET pure Hue
Green adjust
Red adjust

Remote Display
The signal from the Remote Control handset is received by the discrete remote
display module plugged into the UFO controller. When buttons are pressed on the
handset, the remote display module responds with information relevant to the
context of the operation.

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UFO GUIDE v8
4
Basic operation
A small glowing dot in the corner of the remote display indicates that the UFO
controller is powered-on but waiting in Standby mode, ready to be switched-on fully
by the remote control.
 In standby mode power is removed from all ICELED tubes so that
current consumption is reduced to the absolute minimum.
A single press of the POWER button takes UFO in and out
of Standby mode. Switching-on with the POWER button
causes the default UFO (Streetwise) display to be
activated which shows on the remote display as   U
 Unlike all other patterns this default display of white/amber/red is
designed to be minimally distracting and cannot be adjusted in any
way.
Pattern activation
As an alternative to using the POWER button, pressing any
numbered button switches UFO into Pattern Play mode
activating one of the 10 corresponding patterns directly.
The Lightning Strobe pattern also has a dedicated button which should be used with
extra caution due to its potential for affecting people with photosensitive conditions.
Remote display information
The remote display normally shows the current pattern number –prefixed by the
letter Pe.g.  whenever a new pattern is selected.
Pattern Summary
Pattern Variations
The SELECT buttons recall ten Variations of each pattern multiplying the
number of different patterns available from 11 to 110 (including the Strobe).
The pattern prefix changes to a lower-case letter in the range ato je.g.   when
selecting different variations of a pattern.
Remote
display
Name
Pattern description
 
Lightning
Strobing colour blocks of random size and position
 
Pulsar
Contrasting pulses firing across a phasing background
 
Quasar
Pulses of light appearing at random diffusing into darkness
 
Inferno
Random segments flowing at different rates in random directions
 
Ripple
Random injections of light rippling into each other
 
Warp
Expanding and contracting colours in both directions
 
Flux
Random segments circulating front to back
 
Scanner
Circulating highlight on a phasing background
 
Phaser
Gradual colour changes starting from random origins
 
Moire
Colour gradients stretched from end to end
 
Spectrum
Audio-Frequency Spectrum Analyser display

SELECT

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UFO GUIDE v8
5
Demonstration feature
UFO can be set to make a continuous sequence of random pattern selections on its
own. Pressing the DEMO button initiates the sequence which continues until
cancelled. If an audio trigger is present each new random Pattern will be selected in
time with the music.
Press DEMO again to include random pattern variations in the demonstration.
Press any Pattern button soon after pressing DEMO to restrict the demonstration to
variations on that particular Pattern.
After a short delay, any other button-press immediately cancels Demonstration mode and
restores manual Pattern selection.
Sound activation
Pattern dynamics can also be influenced by an audio input. Sound activation is
toggled on and off with each alternate press of the loudspeaker button. The small
dot on the remote display lights brightly when sound activation is enabled and blinks
out in time with each beat detected.
Sound activation is combined with the pattern speed setting to create dynamic effects.
In addition to the audio beat detector, an Audio Frequency Spectrum Analyser
constantly monitors the audio input and assigns different colours to different audio
frequencies for use in particular colour selection ranges.
Pattern 0 visualises the Audio-Frequency Spectrum directly on the UFO tubes while other
patterns may incorporate frequency-dependent colours within the pattern.
Automatic ‘Door open’ operation
If the UFO controller has a connection to an interior light activated by a door-switch
then the tubes can be made to switch-on and off when the doors are opened and
closed - transforming the UFO kit into a useful puddle-light. Alternatively this circuit
can be used to trigger UFO manually using a simple switch.
‘Door open’ Pattern
The default is for the Streetwise Pattern to be selected when the Door-switch circuit
is activated but it is also possible to nominate any other pattern for this role by
selecting a different Pattern/Variation when a door is open. The same selection is
recalled whenever the door is subsequently reopened.
When the door circuit is deactivated by closing the door, UFO slowly fades out the
pattern. During this eight-second period, the pattern number blinks on the remote display
to indicate that UFO is about to turn off automatically.
The polarity of the switch can be altered from ‘active low’ to ‘active high’ using the
Custom Installation menu described on page 9.
To temporarily disable the ‘Door Open’ feature: Switch-off using the power-button on
the remote-control handset when a door is open. To re-enable the feature: Switch-
on when a door is open.
DEMO

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UFO GUIDE v8
6
Customising the Patterns
The appearance of each generic Pattern may be varied
extensively by choosing different settings for four key
properties of each Pattern Variation:
Speed, Colours, Random and Accent
The effects of using the four pairs of up/down arrow
buttons to change these settings are instantly
applied and recalled whenever the same Pattern
Variation is selected in the future –even after Power has
been removed from the UFO controller.
In all cases the remote display and LED tubes will flash
rapidly to warn whenever high or low adjustment limits
have been reached.
Settings may be returned to their factory defaults at any
time using procedures detailed in later sections.
Adjusting Pattern Speed
Pattern speed can be adjusted over a wide range. While the buttons are held down
the remote display blinks  to confirm that speed is changing.
Selecting a Colour range
The UFO pattern generator picks its main pattern colours from one of seven possible
ranges that include:
2, 3, 4 or 6 different user-defined colours from a palette belonging to each pattern.
Unlimited range of pure hues sequenced from the colour spectrum (rainbow hues).
Randomly sequenced Colours.
Colours representing the Audio Frequency Spectrum of any audio signal present.
The buttons labelled
COLORS step up and
down through the
ranges shown here.
The remote display
shows the colour range
prefixed by the letter C
e.g.   - whenever a
new range is selected
Colour preview
Newly selected colour ranges are previewed on the side tubes –in a similar fashion
to the examples show above. After a few seconds without any button presses normal
Pattern Play mode resumes using the new colour range.
To cancel the preview before the automatic time-out press the EXIT DEMO button in
the bottom left corner of the numeric button area.
Remote
display
Colour range
Example
 
Frequency colours
 
Random colours
 
Unlimited colours
 
Palette entries 1 to 6
 
Palette entries 1 to 4
 
Palette entries 1 to 3
 
Palette entries 1 & 2
DEMO
EXIT

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UFO GUIDE v8
7
Adjusting the Random range
The UFO Pattern Generator randomizes the colours it uses in different ways
depending on which Colour range is selected:
For the random Colour range   the RANDOM setting determines the rate at which
new colours appear in the pattern. The effects can be seen clearly in the Colour preview
(i.e. after selecting the random Colour range with the adjacent button pair and before
the preview times-out).
For the unlimited Colour range   the RANDOM setting determines the spacing
between successive colours picked from the spectrum. Lower Random settings result in
more evenly spaced colours being picked in turn from the rainbow, while higher settings
create less predictable steps.
For the user-defined palette Colour ranges   to   the Random setting only
applies to the order in which the palette entries are picked by the pattern generator and
is not demonstrated in the colour range preview.
Selecting an Accent colour
The pattern generator also makes use of an
Accent Colour – for example the colour of the
scanning ‘dot’ that appears in pattern three.
Setting the accent to the Inverse of the main
colour range   guarantees that the Accent
will stand out regardless of the latest colours
picked by the pattern generator.
Conversely, setting the Accent to the Latest
main colour   prevents the Accent from
being seen altogether.
Editing the palette colours
Every pattern (including the Lightning Strobe) has its own private palette of six user-
defined colours stored in RGB format. To change the palette colours for a particular
pattern , press and hold down the corresponding pattern button until   appears
on the remote display. This signals the fact that the UFO controller has switched into
Palette Edit mode
Throughout the editing process, all four ICELED the tubes show one palette entry at a
time to provide instant feedback on the colour as it is adjusted.
Step though each palette entry to be edited in turn using the SELECT buttons.
The remote display briefly flashes followed by a number from 1 to 6 indicating
which palette entry has been selected for editing.
Remote
display
Accent Colour
 
Frequency
 
Latest main colour
 
Inverse main colour
 
White
 
Cyan
 
Magenta
 
Blue
 
Yellow
 
Green
 
Red
 
Dark
SELECT

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UFO GUIDE v8
8
Palette Colour editing
Each palette entry can be edited to produce a new colour either by setting a pure
Hue or by adjusting individual RGB components to create a wider range of shades.
During editing the remote display confirms which colour component is being adjusted
by flashing for Hue or for red, green and blue respectively while
the values are changing.
Values entered in 10% steps with the numeric keypad affect the most recent component
edited by the RGB button group.
Obtaining a wider range of Colour shades
Unsaturated colours (e.g. pinks) are obtained by having non-zero intensities for all
three RGB components. In the extreme case, by raising all three RGB components
to their maximum intensities, white light will be produced. Conversely, darker shades
(including total blackout) may be created by reducing all three intensity levels to a
lesser or greater degree.
in order to maintain maximum brightness at least one primary RGB component must be
set to its maximum level. This is automatically taken care of when adjusting Hue by
shifting through the colour spectrum with the SET buttons.
Exiting from Palette Edit mode
To return to Pattern Play mode press the Exit button. The current pattern will be
resumed and make immediate use of its new palette colours (if the Colour Range is
set to two or more user-defined colours).
In common with all other UFO settings, all palettes are stored in non-volatile memory so
retain their colour programming even when power is removed from the UFO controller.
‘Factory reset’ Pattern
The original Factory settings for the six palette colours and the ten variations of each
individual pattern can be restored by exiting from Palette Edit mode using a long
press of the Lightning strike button. Press the button and hold it down until the
pattern number reappears.
All patterns can be restored to their Factory settings in a single operation detailed in the
following section.
SELECT
one of the
six palette
entries to
be edited
e.g:
SET a pure Hue
for the selected
palette entry
 
 
 
 
 
 
Edit the intensity of each
primary RGB component
to obtain a wider range
of colour shades
Enter exact values for the
RGB component currently
being edited from 0 to
100% in steps of 10%
using keypad buttons 0 to 9
Toggle between values of
0 and 100% with the 0
button
DEMO
EXIT

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UFO GUIDE v8
9
Custom Installation Functions
As supplied, the Factory Default settings are suited to the standard UFO kit and may
require no further adjustments, in which case the Custom sections of this guide may
be skipped entirely. However, as UFO may be used in a wide variety of applications,
a menu of options can be accessed to allow the controller to be customised for
different types of installation. A sub-menu of ICELED tube layout options is also
provided for non-standard tube lengths.
In order to select one or more of the required functions listed in the table below, the
controller must first be switched-on with a four-second long press of the power
button on the remote control handset.
After the initial unit switch-on, the power button must be kept pressed until the
remote display flashes   indicating that the controller is ready for a function
number to be entered on the numeric keypad. Once ><is flashing on the display,
the power button can be released and the controller waits for any of the following
number button presses to select the desired function:
Option
Button
Function
Default
Typical application
Factory defaults
0
Restore (!)
Re-installation
UFO state after
Power-up†
1
Standby mode
✓
Vehicle installation
2
Last mode in use
Domestic installation
Door activation
circuit D
3
Active low
✓
Switched to ground
4
Active high
Switched to +12V
Automatic
Power-saving
5
Disabled
✓
Vehicle installation
6
Enabled
Domestic installation
Strobe Program
in Demo mode
7
Exclude
✓
Public use
8
Include
Private use
Tube Layout
Enter Layout sub-menu
Non-standard tubes
†Power-up refers to the connection of a nominal 12V supply to the controller. In a domestic
installation, where the controller is powered from a 12VDC transformer, switched by a lighting circuit, it
may be desirable to have the controller automatically resume the last Pattern selected rather than wait
for remote control.
On pressing any of the numbered function buttons listed in the table above, the
controller briefly displays the number entered e.g.   before returning to the
flashing> < symbol in readiness for any further Functions to be entered.
The button switches to the Layout sub-menu described in the next section.
To finally execute and store any selection made from the option menu(s),
the power key must be pressed to confirm the operation. The controller will then
reset and return to standby mode.
To abandon the selection without making any changes at all, press the EXIT
button. In this case the controller ignores the selection and restarts in exactly the
same state as it was before.
(!) Restoring the Factory Defaults overwrites all Pattern colours and settings with
the factory defaults shipped with the controller - so please use with extreme caution.
DEMO
EXIT

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UFO GUIDE v8
10
Custom Lighting Layouts
The standard UFO kit is configured to drive four ICELED tubes arranged in a
rectangle with the pattern mirrored about the centre of the two shorter tubes. This
suits ground-lighting applications for all types of vehicle. Longer or shorter tubes may
also be added to change the pattern length for different kinds of vehicles or to suit
entirely different applications –for example where long, continuous patterns are
required for interior or for Architectural lighting.
The Layout menu is accessed from the Function menu (with the flashing > <
symbol described above) by pressing the button marked with a Lightning strike. The
display then changes to a flashing > < symbol and the tubes are lit with a special
identification pattern to assist with selecting the correct layout.
Option
Button
Layout
Default
Lighting application
Basic Layout
(No EXP†)
0
Mirrored
✓
Vehicle
1
Linear 4 x 4’
Architecture
2
2’ Side
Motorcycle
Front/Rear
tube lengths
3
3’
✓
Normal vehicle
4
4’
Wider vehicle
EXP†
Side tube
Expansion
5
5’ (4’ + 1’)
Larger vehicle
Truck, Van etc.
6
6’ (4’ + 2’)
7
7’ (4’ + 3’)
8
8’ (4’ + 4’)
Pattern Wrap
9
Rectangular 2 x 4’
Return to Function menu
†EXP refers to the integrated side-tube expansion facility introduced in UFO V7. Selecting any of the
four EXP layout options causes the pattern to be split across the two side channels. The Side channel
adjacent to the Rear channel always drives a full 4’ tube located at the rear-most position, while the
other Side channel drives a second tube with the remainder of the pattern for the total length selected.
’Denotes the standard three-pixel (34cm long) ICELED tube segment.
On pressing any of the numbered layout options listed in the table above, the
controller briefly displays the layout number entered e.g.  before returning to
the flashing> < symbol in readiness for any further Layout options to be entered.
The button switches back to the Function menu described in the previous section.
Layout examples Pattern ends
Front
Centre
Linear Layout Rear
Rear Front
Basic Mirrored Layout