8x8 LED Matrix

Background

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The 8x8 LED Matrix is a set of 64 red LEDs that can be independently controlled. The part uses a MAX7219 chip to communicate and control the LEDs. The chip communicates using SPI or Serial Peripheral Interface which is a form of synchronous serial communication. It is synchronous because it uses a clock signal to "sync" the communication and serial because it sends the data down a single line as a stream of bits (0s and 1s). There are Data In and Data Out lines in addition to a chip select (CS) line which allows you to address various SPI devices.

 

Hardware Description

Arduino Uno Pin Out:

 

 

Software Description

To control the 8x8 LED Matrix, we will use the LEDMatrixDriver Library. To add libraries or see examples, select the Libraries tab on the left side of the Arduino Create Editor. Search for "LEDMatrixDriver". You can add it to your list of favorites to make it easier to find. You can view the documentation as well as see some example sketches.

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Below is an example I created that shows the basic functionality of setting up and controller the MAX7219 8x8 LED Matrix.

https://create.arduino.cc/editor/mjdargen_ravens/fefbb89e-101b-4b32-ac14-dfaff6d6c6a7/preview

 

Matrix Animation Designer

There is a great tool made by xantorohara to create the LED Matrix animations visually in our browser. We can easily export the animations as a program that we can upload to the Arduino. To use the project, go to this web address: http://xantorohara.github.io/led-matrix-editor/

You will design each individual frame of your animations. Organize them in the appropriate order in the bottom pane. Set the time delay between each frame. This cannot be adjusted, i.e. you can only have a single time delay for your entire animation. If you want one frame to remain in place longer, you will have to duplicate the frame.

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Copy and paste the Arduino Code in the top left window into the animation.h file in the example: https://create.arduino.cc/editor/mjdargen_ravens/adfd1c61-9213-43ae-9172-bb7b107a3f75/preview

 

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