Enjoy the fun of an interesting and attractive pattern display

For many years the author has wondered if a bunch of l.e.d.s flashing at apparently random intervals might produce an interesting and attractive display. Occasionally consideration was given to the construction of a suitable circuit, but the project always foundered because of the complexity of the electronics required.

As with so many other ideas, the PIC microcontroller has changed this since much of the complexity can now be achieved at virtually no cost (other than time!) through software. Since the PIC outputs can supply sufficient current to drive l.e.d.s directly, the hardware consists of just a PIC, some clock components and the l.e.d.s with their current limiting resistors.