Plecter labs Crystal focus saber core v10.0 User manual

Plecter Labs is in no way affiliated, associated, licensed or endorsed by Disney or Lucasfilm Ltd., Industrial Light and Magic

or any of their associates. All brands and trademarks listed are the exclusive property of their respective owners.

Crystal Focus Saber Core™ V10.0 (CF-X)

Advanced Illuminated Saber Controller –User’s manual

©Plecter Labs

February 17, 2022

Crystal_Focus_v10_rev1.13-GB.docx

Firmware v10.006H and up

[email protected]

http://www.plecterlabs.com

Important release information about CFX

New hardware platform, new processor

Some important changes in the parameter handling and configuration organization

compared with previous generations

We spent a lot of time writing this manual to ensure all the important information is provided for

proper use of that board. If you are new to saber building, to the use of Crystal Focus boards, or

simply to electronics in general, we highly recommend you print a copy of that document and keep

it with you during the whole process of installing CF in your hilt. And have FUN with your saber

project!

Plecter Labs is in no way affiliated, associated, licensed or endorsed by Disney or Lucasfilm Ltd., Industrial Light and Magic 
or any of their associates. All brands and trademarks listed are the exclusive property of their respective owners. 
 
 
2 
 
 
 
 
Index 
CRYSTAL FOCUS SABER CORE™ V10.0 (CF-X) 1 
IMPORTANT RELEASE INFORMATION ABOUT CFX 1 
TYPOGRAPHIC CONVENTIONS 11 
HIGH-BRIGHTNESS LEDS (AKA LUXEON™OR HB LEDS)MODE 12 
LEDSTRIP (AKA PIXEL BLADES)MODE 12 
SOUND SECTION 13 
FEATURES 14 
TOOLS AND PARTS REQUIRED TO INSTALL/OPERATE THE MODULE 17 
BEFORE YOU START OPERATING THE BOARD…17 
MOTION SENSING 19 
SD CARD CONTENTS,SOUND BANKS AND SOUND SLOTS 19 
SOUND FONT STRUCTURE 20 
USER INTERFACE SOUNDS 21 
SOUND FONT MONOPHONIC VS.POLYPHONIC MODE 21 
BOARD VARIANTS & REVISIONS 23 
BOARD LAYOUT & OVERVIEW 24 
PLACEMENT &INSTALLATION 25 
BOARD ORIENTATION 26 
RESONANT CHAMBER 27 
GETTING STARTED WITH CRYSTAL FOCUS 27 
POWERING AND OPERATING THE MODULE 27 
GENERAL POWER SWITCH &RECHARGE PORT 28 
GENERAL WIRING 30 
ANIMATED ACCENT LEDS31 
INVERTED POLARITY (COMMON ANODE LEDS) 32 
EXTERNAL ACCENT LEDS32 
ON-BOARD ACCENT LEDS (BARGRAPH) 32 
CALCULATING RESISTORS FOR LEDS33 
WIRING GUIDELINES 34 
AWG TO MM2CHART EQUIVALENCE 34 
VOLTAGE CHECKS &TEST-POINTS MAP 35 
HIGH-BRIGHTNESS (HB) LED WIRING 36 
HIGH POWER LED RESISTOR CALCULATIONS 36 

Plecter Labs is in no way affiliated, associated, licensed or endorsed by Disney or Lucasfilm Ltd., Industrial Light and Magic 
or any of their associates. All brands and trademarks listed are the exclusive property of their respective owners. 
 
 
3 
STUNT UPGRADE 37 
RESISTOR CALCULATION 37 
WATTAGE CALCULATION 37 
RESISTOR BARGAIN 38 
DRIVE ADJUSTMENTS 38 
BOARD CONFIGURATION SYSTEM 40 
CONFIGURATION OVERVIEW 40 
TIMINGS &UNITS: 41 
COMMENTS /CONFIGURATION DISABLING 41 
MAIN CONFIGURATION FILE 42 
GLOBAL PARAMETERS AND SABER FINE TUNING 42 
MOTION &GESTURE DETECTION PARAMETERS: 42 
GESTURE FLOWS &PRIORITIES: 43 
SOUND /INTERACTION PARAMETERS 44 
LEDSTRIP PARAMETERS 47 
BLADE PROFILES 47 
INTERACTION 47 
TRIDENT /STAGGERED IGNITION 48 
BLADE FX49 
ACCUBOLT PARAMETERS: 51 
LEDSTRIP FX PARAMETERS (MORE DETAILS IN THE DEDICATED PARAGRAPH): 51 
ADDITIONAL FX STYLE PARAMETERS 52 
COLOR CONFIGURATION FILE 53 
COLOR PROFILES (USING DRIVE NUMBERS) 53 
COLOR DICTIONARY 54 
RGB 55 
RGBW 58 
ONLINE COLOR PICKERS AND CHARTS 58 
PROFILES EDITING IN R.I.C.E. 58 
CRYSTAL CHAMBER COLOR PROFILES 58 
COLOR PROFILES AND FOCMIXING 59 
START COLOR PROFILE VS.STORED (LATEST)COLOR PROFILE 59 
FONT CONFIGURATION 59 
FONT BEHAVIOR 60 
SMOOTHSWING PARAMETERS,CONFIGURATION AND USE 60 
ACCUBOLT /MULTIBOLTS BLASTER BOLTS TIMELINES 61 
ADVANCED CONFIGURATION:OVERRIDES &THINGAMAJIG 61 
INTERACTING WITH THE BOARD 62 
UNDERSTANDING COLOR AND BLADE PROFILES 62 
PROFILES BROWSING &SPECTRUM 64 
MODES 64 
AUX.+ACT.METHOD 65 
AUX.+TWIST METHOD 65 
LEGACY BROWSING P+/- 66 
BROWSING B+/- 66 
SPECTRUM™66 

Plecter Labs is in no way affiliated, associated, licensed or endorsed by Disney or Lucasfilm Ltd., Industrial Light and Magic 
or any of their associates. All brands and trademarks listed are the exclusive property of their respective owners. 
 
 
4 
COLOR PROFILES VS.BLADE PROFILES 66 
KYBER DIAL (SPECTRUM COLOR DIAL) 66 
FILTERED PROFILE SELECTION 67 
SINGLE (ACTIVATION)SWITCH SUPPORT 67 
BROWSING THE SOUND BANKS –REBOOTING THE SABER 68 
INSTALLING A SOUND FONT ON THE SD CARD 69 
TO INSTALL A NEW FONT ON THE SD CARD: 69 
TO REPLACE A FONT ON THE SD CARD 69 
OPTIMIZE THE SD CARD 69 
TEST /BENCHMARK YOUR SD CARD 70 
AUDIO PLAYER –ISABER &LOCAL TRACKS 70 
ISABER 70 
LOCAL TRACKS 71 
DOUBLE CLICK TIMING 71 
ISABER CONFIGURATION 71 
ISABER &LEDSTRIP BLADES “DISPLAY”(MUSIC BEAT) 71 
SOUND FX SELECTION MODES 72 
ADVANCED WIRING & USAGE 73 
WIRING A TACTILE FEEDBACK MOTOR AND A PROGRESSIVE POWER ON LED (HB LED BLADE) 73 
CALCULATION OF THE POWER-ON LED RESISTOR 73 
CALCULATION OF THE FORCE-FEEDBACK MOTOR RESISTOR 74 
SPECIAL CASE WITH A LEDSTRIP 74 
CONTROLLING A MOTOR WITH AUDIO 74 
WIRING A GENERAL POWER-ON INDICATOR /ACCENT LED 75 
VISUAL FX IN DETAILS 76 
FLICKER 76 
SHIMMER 76 
PULSE 76 
FLASH ON CLASH™76 
FLASH ON CLASH™VS.SHIMMER 77 
FLASH ON CLASH™MIXING TECHNIQUES 77 
ORIENTATION CONTROL OF THE LOCKUP COLOR 79 
ADD A CRYSTAL CHAMBER TO YOUR SABER (USING PWM DRIVING SIGNALS) 79 
TRIDENT™ - CROSS-GUARD SUPPORT 81 
DEFINING THE QUILLON CHANNELS 81 
TRIDENT MODES 81 
TRIDENT™WIRING (SINGLE COLOR +FOC) 83 
TRIDENT™RGB WIRING (USING THE TRIDENTRGB ADD-ON BOARD) 84 
TRIDENT™FLICKERING AND SPECIAL EFFECTS 85 
TRIDENT™FOR LED STRIP BLADES (SINGLE DATA LINE) 86 
TRIDENT™FOR LED STRIP BLADES (DUAL DATA LINE) 87 
TANGIBLE FONT SELECTION 88 

Plecter Labs is in no way affiliated, associated, licensed or endorsed by Disney or Lucasfilm Ltd., Industrial Light and Magic 
or any of their associates. All brands and trademarks listed are the exclusive property of their respective owners. 
 
 
5 
WIRING REQUIRED 89 
RESISTOR TO FONT SELECTION CHART 89 
NEUTRAL SLOTS 90 
TANGIBLE ACTIONS (FEAT.BLADE DETECTION) 91 
BLADE DETECTION WIRING 92 
TCSS CONNECTOR 92 
NPXL CONNECTOR FROM SCW 93 
ACCENT LEDS SEQUENCER 94 
NOTABLE CHANGES 94 
ACCENT LEDS ROLE 94 
SEQUENCER SYNTAX 95 
STAGES &DELAYS 96 
REPEAT AND FOREVER LOOP BLOCKS 97 
CONTROLLING A PERIPHERAL WITH AN ACCENT LED. 97 
ACCENT LEDS AS A BARGRAPH /PLI 98 
SPECIAL ACCENT LEDS #2 AND #5 TO #9 98 
CRYSTAL PULSING ACCENTS (CRYSTAL CHAMBER OR LIT SWITCH) 98 
INVERTED POLARITY (COMMON ANODE LEDS) 98 
BOARD DIAGNOSTICS & DEBUGGING 100 
SERIAL PORTS 100 
USB 100 
TTL SERIAL /UART 100 
SERIAL MONITORING APPS 100 
BOOT STALLING FOR USB LOGS 101 
SLOWING DOWN BOOT TIME FOR DIAGNOSTICS 101 
SENDING COMMANDS TO THE BOARD 102 
SPECIAL COMMANDS (SPECIAL IN THE SENSE THOSE ARE NOT STUFF YOU FIND ON THE SD CARD) 102 
PROFILE,COLOR AND FONT CHANGE 103 
CONFIG EXPORT AND SAVING 103 
REMOTE CONTROL COMMANDS 104 
COMMAND LINE INTERFACE COMMANDS (CLI) 104 
SPECIAL SOUNDS & INTERACTION 106 
“FORCE PUSH”AND “FORCE CLASH”EFFECT 106 
MOTION ACTIVATED IGNITION:POWER ON MOVE /POWER ON FORCE 106 
MAGIC ACTIVATION &SABERLOCK™107
REFERENCE FIELD 107 
MAGIC ACTIVATION ITEMS 108 
SABERLOCK™108 
IGNITION SOUND ANGULAR SELECTION 109 
MULTIPLE POWER-OFF SOUNDS 109 
PRE POWER-ON AND POST POWER-OFF SOUNDS 110 
DRAG EFFECT 110 
STAB EFFECT 110 
POWER SAVING MODES &USAGE SCENARIOS 111 

Plecter Labs is in no way affiliated, associated, licensed or endorsed by Disney or Lucasfilm Ltd., Industrial Light and Magic 
or any of their associates. All brands and trademarks listed are the exclusive property of their respective owners. 
 
 
6 
MUTE-ON-THE-GO™113 
MUTE-ON-THE-BOOT™113 
USING R.I.C.E.(REAL-TIME INTERNAL CONFIGURATION EDITOR) 115 
RICE OVER USB 115 
LEGACY RICE WITH THE TTL SERIAL PORT /UART 116 
GETTING STARTED WITH RICE 117 
READING THE CURRENT SETTINGS 118 
CHANGING SETTINGS 118 
DISCARDING SETTINGS 119 
SAVING THE SETTINGS 119 
USING RICE AS A DEBUG TOOL 119 
BOARD DIAGNOSTIC:VOLTAGE AND TEMPERATURE 120 
BLADE AND COLOR PROFILE SELECTION 120 
COLOR SETUP &COLOR MIXING 121 
WIRELESS CONTROL AND CONFIGURATION USING BLUETOOTH 123 
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATIONS 123 
PARTS NEEDED 123 
CONFIGURATION WITH A HOST (COMPUTER) 123 
CONFIGURATION &WIRING USING THE CFX 125 
SSP CONFIGURATION ON A WINDOWS PC –WIRELESS RICE 126 
BOOTH / MANNEQUIN MODE AND WIRELESS REMOTE CONTROL 128 
POWER ON/OFF AUTOMATION 128 
AUTOMATIC SHUTOFF &DIMMING 128 
ACTIVATOR /AUXILIARY REMOTE CONTROL 128 
EXTENDED AUTOMATION OR CONTROL 130 
RECORDING OR TRANSMITTING SABER AUDIO 131 
WIRED RECORDING 131 
WIRELESS STREAMING 131 
LEDSTRIP BLADE SPECIFICS 133 
SUPPORTED LEDSTRIPS 133 
LEDSTRIP WIRING &WARNINGS 134 
THE PLECTERPIXEL™BLADE 134 
POWER SAVING -STRIPOFF™FEATURE 135 
LEDSTRIP HARDWARE PARAMETERS 136 
LEDSTRIP COLOR DEFINITION -COLOR ORDER 136 
LEDSTRIP COLOR SPACE 136 
DETACHABLE BLADE &QUICK (DIS)CONNECT 136 
WIRING TO THE TCSS SPRING-LOADED /PCB CONNECTOR 138 

Plecter Labs is in no way affiliated, associated, licensed or endorsed by Disney or Lucasfilm Ltd., Industrial Light and Magic 
or any of their associates. All brands and trademarks listed are the exclusive property of their respective owners. 
 
 
7 
WIRING TO THE SCW SPRING-LOADED /PCB CONNECTOR 138 
DIFFUSION AND BLADE TUBE INSTALL 139 
BATTERY REQUIREMENTS 140 
KNOWN LEDSTRIP ISSUES 140 
LEDSTRIP VISUAL FX PARTICULARS 140 
LEDSTRIP BLADE PLUG 141 
ADDING A PIXEL ACCENT LED(S)TO YOUR SABER 142 
BLADE PARALLEL ACCENTS 142 
BLADE SERIES ACCENTS 142 
LEDSTRIP BLADE SPECIAL EFFECTS 143 
LEDSTRIP EFFECT LAYERS AND LAYOUT 143 
SCROLLING AND SPECIAL FX 143 
COLOR CONFIGURATION 144 
BEHAVIOR MAPPING CONFIGURATION 144 
POWER ON/OFF TAKEOVER AND BLENDING 144 
EFFECT LIST (WIP –MORE EFFECTS ARE BEING ADDED) 145 
LEDSTRIP FX PARAMETERS 145 
POWER ON EFFECTS 146 
POWER OFF EFFECTS 147 
LEDSTRIP EFFECTS DESCRIPTION &CONFIGURATION EXAMPLES 147 
CLASH FX AND LOCKUP FX147 
LOCALIZED LOCKUP 148 
CLASH FX VARIANTS 148 
DRAG TIP FX VARIANTS 148 
STAB FX VARIANTS 149 
FLICKER FX VARIANTS 149 
SWINGBRIGHT FX VARIANTS 150 
LEDSTRIP +TRIDENT SPECIALS 150 
FIRE FX 150 
AGGRESSIVE UNSTABLE FX -VERY "BLINKY" 151 
SLOW-MO UNSTABLE FX -SMOOTHER -USE WITH DRIFT ON OR OFF 151 
RAIN SIZZLE FX-SLOW RAIN 151 
RAIN SIZZLE FX-FRAGILE BLADE 151 
RAINBOW -AUNICORN CASE STUDY FX152 
WAVE~ FX 152 
GRADIENT FX 153 
TFU UNSTABLE FX 154 
STARKILLER FX 154 
JEDI FALLEN ORDER FX 155 
SAURON'S EYE FX 155 
SAURON'S EYE II FX 155 
KNIGHT RIDER 155 
UNSTABLE FIRE 156 
BICOLOR PULSE FX156 
GRAFX BLADE 157 
VISION BLADE 158 
LEDSTRIP PLI 159 
ACCUBOLT™ AND MULTIBOLT™ BLASTER IMPACT SIMULATORS 161 

Plecter Labs is in no way affiliated, associated, licensed or endorsed by Disney or Lucasfilm Ltd., Industrial Light and Magic 
or any of their associates. All brands and trademarks listed are the exclusive property of their respective owners. 
 
 
8 
ACCUBOLT™(LEDSTRIP SPECIFIC) 161 
ACCUBOLT PARAMETERS 162 
BOLT STYLES 162 
MULTIBOLT™(HIGH POWER LEDS &LEDSTRIP COMPATIBLE) 163 
CONFIGURING MULTIBOLT™TIMELINES 163 
USE A SOUND EDITOR 163 
OPEN THE SOUND FILES IN THE EDITOR 163 
WRITE THE TIMING IN THE BOLT SEQUENCE 164 
SECONDARY, SIDE AND ACCENT AUXILIARY LEDSTRIP BLADES 165 
GRAFX BLADE FX & PIXEL ACCENTS SEQUENCER 166 
GRAFX ACCENTS &BLADES 166 
GRAFX SEQUENCER ORGANIZATION AND LINKING 167 
GRAFX PARAMETERS 168 
PIXEL SEQUENCER SPECIFICS 169 
GRAFX PIXEL ATTRIBUTES 169 
GRAFX TIMINGS &MORPHING 170 
GRAFX BMP SIZE AND SEQUENCE DURATION CONSIDERATIONS 171 
GRAFX ALPHA MASK BLENDING AND HUE CONTROL 172 
THE [FOREVER] SEQUENCE 172 
GRAFX /PIXIES PLI 172 
GLYPH (ACCENT PIXEL FONT SIGNATURE) 173 
GRAFX &PIXEL SEQUENCER DEMO /RESOURCES VIDEOS: 173 
OLED SCREEN SUPPORT 174 
WIRING 174 
CONFIGURATION &BOOT ACTION 174 
VISUAL SKINNING &SIMPLE BMP FILES 176 
ANIMATED BMP FILES 176 
VOCAL MENU &FONT SKINNING 177 
SCREEN SAVERS 178 
OLED IDLE SEQUENCE 179 
OLED PLI 180 
GRAPHICAL ELEMENTS 180 
CONFIGURATION &LOOK 181 
OLED ANIMATION WHILE THE BLADE IS ON182 
OLED BMP RESOURCES 182 
USER INTERFACE 183 
VOLTAGE /PLI ALERTS 183 
HIGH TEMPERATURE ALERT 183 
BLADE IN /BLADE OUT 184 
GENERAL DIAGNOSTICS &UI FILES 184 
GAMES GRAPHICAL AND SOUND ELEMENTS 185 
SPINNING 3D OBJECTS 185 

Plecter Labs is in no way affiliated, associated, licensed or endorsed by Disney or Lucasfilm Ltd., Industrial Light and Magic 
or any of their associates. All brands and trademarks listed are the exclusive property of their respective owners. 
 
 
9 
USB MASS STORAGE 186 
OPERATION 186 
PERFORMANCES 186 
AUTOMATIC LAUNCH 186 
MANUAL TRIGGERING 187 
LIVE SOUND VOLUME ADJUSTMENT 187 
ENHANCED VOCAL MENU 188 
VOLUME MENU 189 
BLADE POWER MENU 189 
COLOR SETUP MENU 189 
SPECIAL OPERATIONS 190 
LEDSTRIP +5V OPERATION 190 
BOOTH /DEMO MODE 190 
BOARD FIRMWARE UPDATE 191 
SWITCH COMBO ACCESS 191 
SERIAL COMMAND ACCESS 191 
UPDATING WITH MONITORING 192 
VIDEO TUTORIAL OF THE FIRMWARE UPDATE 193 
TRIGGERED UPDATE FROM RICE (OR SERIAL MONITOR) 193 
BOOT TIME (AUTOMATIC)TRIGGERED UPDATE 193 
FW UPDATING GUIDELINES 194 
BOARD BOOTLOADER UPDATE 194 
DISCLAIMER 194 
FIND OUT WHICH BOOTLOADER VERSION YOU HAVE 195 
WHY CONSIDERING UPGRADING? 195 
HOW THE BOOTLOADER UPDATE IS PERFORMED 196 
COLD FEET /ICHANGED MY MIND /STOP THE BOOTLOADER UPDATE PROCESS 196 
POSSIBLE ISSUES 197 
TROUBLESHOOTING AND CFX Q&A 198 
MY LEDSTRIP COME WHITE WHEN IBOOT THE BOARD: 198 
IGET STUCK IN THE VOCAL MENU (AKA FONT SELECTION MENU): 198 
IBUILT A HB LED SABER WITH CFX AND NOW MY BLADE LIGHTS UP WHITE: 198 
IGET MISSING SOUNDS OR “GAPS”. CERTAIN THINGS DON’T PLAY: 198 
IGET BEEPS WHEN ISELECT A FONT OR BOOT THE BOARD: 198 
ICAN’T LOG THE BOARD FROM THE BEGINNING,IT’S GOING TOO FAST: 198 
MY BOARD DOESN’T FINISH BOOTING.NO SOUND,STUCK IN LIMBO (ONBOARD LED STAYS ON): 199 
IGET SOUNDS LIKE “FOCUS PATH TEMPERATURE CRITICAL”OR “CELL ENERGY CRITICAL”: 199 
WHERE DO IGET MORE FONTS FOR MY SABER: 199 
IGET RAINBOW UNICORN RGB ON MY STRIP INSTEAD OF MY CONFIGURED COLOR.STRIP IS SCROLLING UP AND DOWN 
BUT PIXEL NUMBER IS WRONG. 199 
 