An arduino control thingy.

el_test.pde

// the pins for each connector on the el escudo
#define A  2
#define B  3
#define C  4
#define D  5
#define E  6
#define F  7
#define G  8
#define H  9

int currentGroup = 0;
int seconds = 2;
int sensorPin = 12;

// turn the given channel on
void el_on(int channel)
{
  pinMode(channel, OUTPUT);
  digitalWrite(channel, LOW); 
}

// turn the given channel off
void el_off(int channel)
{
  pinMode(channel, INPUT);
  digitalWrite(channel, HIGH);
}

void el_apply(int group, void (*func)(int))
{
  switch (group) {
    case 0:
      func(A);
      break;
    case 1:
      func(B);
      func(C);
      break;
    case 2:
      func(D);
      func(E);
      break;
    case 3:
      func(F);
      break;
  }
}

void setup()
{
  el_off(A);
  el_off(B);
  el_off(C);
  el_off(D);
  el_off(E);
  el_off(F);
}

void loop()
{
  // detect the pulse
  unsigned long dur = pulseIn(sensorPin, HIGH, seconds * 1000000);
  
  el_apply(currentGroup, el_on);
  delay(150);
  el_apply(currentGroup, el_off);
  
  currentGroup = (currentGroup + 1) % 4;
}