2770157 LED Matrix Kit User Guide

LinkSprite Technologies, Inc. Inc.

LinkSprite Technologies, Inc

Revision History
Number Doc Title 8*8 LED Matrix Shield User Guide Version 2.0

Version 1.0 2.0

Date 9/14/2012 11/28/2012

Description First Release

Author Jack Harry Zhang

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Content
1Description ...................... 2Hardware configuration and Connection methods ..... 7 2.1 Hardware configuration ......................... 7 2.2 Connection methods ............................ 11 3Code ............................................. 13

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1. Description

1.1 Production Features

This product is a serially driven 8x8 LED Matrix kit powered by MAX7219. It only needs three data lines and two power lines. The 8x8 LED Matrix is easy to use and compatible with Arduino, and its LED brightness adjustment can be implemented in software. This product comes in the form of a kit. It includes the following components: MAX7219 Electrolytic cpaacitor10uF/25V Resistor10K Capacitance0.1uF Headers and receptacles.

8x8 LED Matrix kit has many applications in real life, such as various types of electronic display panels. If the LED matrix is not driven by any peripherals, itll waste the interface of devices, and the LED
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brightness will be impaired due to insufficient power, so that we cannot get ideal display effect.

The LED matrix can be driven in two ways: parallel or serial. We usually drive it in the serial manner in order to save interface. The serial-driven LED matrix actually dynamically displays the LEDs, i.e., displays the LEDs row-by-row or column-by-column. The persistence of vision for humans is about 0.1s, so as long as we can serially display all 8 rows/columns within 0.1s, well see a complete character or pattern.

The 8*8 LED Matrix kit is arranged according to the rows and columns All the cathode pins of red LED connected together in each column, and each LEDs anode pin connected together with the anode pin in same row. In order to drive the LED matrix module, we use a driver chip Max7219 in the module. Set an on-off in a row of the LED matrix module every time by the proper frequency. As mentioned previously, to illumine all the LEDs at the same time visually, actually only 8 LEDs are lighted in each moment. The LED dot matrix has 16 PINs, and we use MAX7219 to drive all the PINs. The 8x8 LED Matrix Shield is controlled by the communication between MAX7219 and Arduino.

1.2 1.2 Dimensions

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1.3 1.3 Specifications

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2Hardware

Configurations onfigurations and Connection Methods

2.1 Hardware Preparation (Use Arduino as microcontroller)

(1) Soldering LED matrix kit

As this product is in a form of a kit, we will need to assemble it. In the following, we are going to show the assembly steps:

Step 1: Install resistor R1.

Step 2: Install capacitor C1.

Step 3: Install capacitor C2.

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Step 4: Install header J2.

Step 5: Install header J1.

Step 6: Install LED matrix receptacle.

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Step 7: Install LED MAX7219 receptacle.

Step 8: Lay down C2, and install the MAX7219 and LED matrix to their receptacles.

Finally, we get the finished LED matrix module:

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(2) Arduino

(3) USB Cable

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(4) Jumper Wires

(5) Power supply 5V/2A.

2.2 Connection Wires

The schematics of the LED matrix is attached below. Please follow the following instructions to connect hardwares. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) The 8x8 LED Matrix must be common-grounded with the Arduino module. Connect Arduino pin 8 to DIN on the LED Matrix; Connect Arduino pin 9 to CS on the LED Matrix Connect Arduino pin 10 to CLK on the LED Matrix Use independent power supply for the 8x8 LED Matrix Shield, and the supply voltage is 5V/2A.

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Schematics of the 8x8 LED Matrix 2.3 Testing Steps (1)ConnectingConnect Arduino pin8 to DIN on 8*8LED Matrix Connect Arduino pin9 to CS on 8*8LED Matrix Connect Arduino pin10 to CLK on 8*8LED Matrix

Attention8*8LED Matrix must be commoncommon-grounded with Arduino module.

(2) Check the corresponding interfaces are properly connected. (3) Powering up the Arduino demo board with AC adapter.
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(4) ObservationThe LED matrix should circularly display the digits 0 to 9 on LED screen first, then the characters A to Z, as shown in the above figure.

3Software
Software preparation The only necessary software is Arduino 1.0, as shown below.

The timing diagram for Max7219 and its Serial-Data Format are attached below with its Electronic Characteristics.

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3.2 Example code

unsigned char disp1[38][8]={ {0x3C,0x42,0x42,0x42,0x42,0x42,0x42,0x3C},//0 {0x10,0x18,0x14,0x10,0x10,0x10,0x10,0x10},//1 {0x7E,0x2,0x2,0x7E,0x40,0x40,0x40,0x7E},//2 {0x3E,0x2,0x2,0x3E,0x2,0x2,0x3E,0x0},//3 {0x8,0x18,0x28,0x48,0xFE,0x8,0x8,0x8},//4 {0x3C,0x20,0x20,0x3C,0x4,0x4,0x3C,0x0},//5 {0x3C,0x20,0x20,0x3C,0x24,0x24,0x3C,0x0},//6 {0x3E,0x22,0x4,0x8,0x8,0x8,0x8,0x8},//7 {0x0,0x3E,0x22,0x22,0x3E,0x22,0x22,0x3E},//8 {0x3E,0x22,0x22,0x3E,0x2,0x2,0x2,0x3E},//9 {0x8,0x14,0x22,0x3E,0x22,0x22,0x22,0x22},//A {0x3C,0x22,0x22,0x3E,0x22,0x22,0x3C,0x0},//B {0x3C,0x40,0x40,0x40,0x40,0x40,0x3C,0x0},//C {0x7C,0x42,0x42,0x42,0x42,0x42,0x7C,0x0},//D {0x7C,0x40,0x40,0x7C,0x40,0x40,0x40,0x7C},//E

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LinkSprite Technologies, Inc {0x7C,0x40,0x40,0x7C,0x40,0x40,0x40,0x40},//F {0x3C,0x40,0x40,0x40,0x40,0x44,0x44,0x3C},//G {0x44,0x44,0x44,0x7C,0x44,0x44,0x44,0x44},//H {0x7C,0x10,0x10,0x10,0x10,0x10,0x10,0x7C},//I {0x3C,0x8,0x8,0x8,0x8,0x8,0x48,0x30},//J {0x0,0x24,0x28,0x30,0x20,0x30,0x28,0x24},//K {0x40,0x40,0x40,0x40,0x40,0x40,0x40,0x7C},//L {0x81,0xC3,0xA5,0x99,0x81,0x81,0x81,0x81},//M {0x0,0x42,0x62,0x52,0x4A,0x46,0x42,0x0},//N {0x3C,0x42,0x42,0x42,0x42,0x42,0x42,0x3C},//O {0x3C,0x22,0x22,0x22,0x3C,0x20,0x20,0x20},//P {0x1C,0x22,0x22,0x22,0x22,0x26,0x22,0x1D},//Q {0x3C,0x22,0x22,0x22,0x3C,0x24,0x22,0x21},//R {0x0,0x1E,0x20,0x20,0x3E,0x2,0x2,0x3C},//S {0x0,0x3E,0x8,0x8,0x8,0x8,0x8,0x8},//T {0x42,0x42,0x42,0x42,0x42,0x42,0x22,0x1C},//U {0x42,0x42,0x42,0x42,0x42,0x42,0x24,0x18},//V {0x0,0x49,0x49,0x49,0x49,0x2A,0x1C,0x0},//W {0x0,0x41,0x22,0x14,0x8,0x14,0x22,0x41},//X {0x41,0x22,0x14,0x8,0x8,0x8,0x8,0x8},//Y {0x0,0x7F,0x2,0x4,0x8,0x10,0x20,0x7F},//Z };

void Write_Max7219_byte(unsigned char DATA) { unsigned char i; digitalWrite(Max7219_pinCS,LOW); for(i=8;i>=1;i--) { digitalWrite(Max7219_pinCLK,LOW); digitalWrite(Max7219_pinDIN,DATA&0x80);// Extracting a bit data DATA = DATA<<1; digitalWrite(Max7219_pinCLK,HIGH); } }

void Write_Max7219(unsigned char address,unsigned char dat) { digitalWrite(Max7219_pinCS,LOW); Write_Max7219_byte(address); Write_Max7219_byte(dat); //address //data

figure

code

of LED

on LED

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LinkSprite Technologies, Inc digitalWrite(Max7219_pinCS,HIGH); }

void Init_MAX7219(void) { Write_Max7219(0x09, 0x00); Write_Max7219(0x0a, 0x03); Write_Max7219(0x0b, 0x07); Write_Max7219(0x0c, 0x01); Write_Max7219(0x0f, 0x00); } //decoding

BCD 8
LEDs

//brightness //scanlimit

//power-down mode //test

0normal mode1 display1EOTdisplay0

void setup() {

pinMode(Max7219_pinCLK,OUTPUT); pinMode(Max7219_pinCS,OUTPUT); pinMode(Max7219_pinDIN,OUTPUT); delay(50); Init_MAX7219(); }

void loop() { for(j=0;j<38;j++) { for(i=1;i<9;i++) Write_Max7219(i,disp1[j][i-1]); delay(500); } }

4. Demo
(1) Open Arduino development environment.

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(2) Copy the source code we provide into Arduino compiler, and compile them.

(3) Select proper serial port and board.

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(4) Connect pins according to the schematics, and download codes into Arduino board. Youll see the LED matrix circularly display the digits 0-9 and the characters A-Z.

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LinkSprite Technologies, Inc.

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Add1067 S Hover St, Unit E-186,Longmont, CO 80501 Tel 720-204-8599 (MST: 9:00am-5:00pm) 720-279-0774 (MST: 6:00pm- 3:00am)

Support Systemwww.linksprite.com/support/ Technical [email protected] [email protected] Websitewww.linksprite.com

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