M.V.P.
Published © GPL3+

Arduino Nano Clock with 4x64 LED Matrix (new version)

Small size code and simple hardware. Improved version now available.

BeginnerFull instructions provided30 minutes69,372
Arduino Nano Clock with 4x64 LED Matrix (new version)

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Arduino Nano R3
Arduino Nano R3
×1
LED matrix
×1
Photo resistor
Photo resistor
×1
Breadboard (generic)
Breadboard (generic)
×1
DS3231
×1

Software apps and online services

Arduino IDE
Arduino IDE

Story

Read more

Schematics

Inspired by Leonardo Sposina,but #define CS_PIN(Matrix)<--> 10(Nano)

The schematics is ALMOST the same for all Matrix projects. Here the photo-resistor is original. As mentioned in the code: #define CS_PIN(Matrix)<--> 10(Nano)

Code

OLD version - Arduino Nano Dot Matrix clock

Arduino
Since many libraries changed since the initial release, this code is obsolete. Use the new versionAll connections are described in the code. For small fonts, change a few lines in MD_MAX72xx_font.cpp, as explained in the code.
/* WARNING: Initial code is now obsolete. Use the new one (vesion 2)
 * Arduino Nano DS3231 clock with LED Matrix 4x(8x8) SPI
 *  
 *  Arduino Nano 5V logic - 32kB prog. space  
*  Tools:Board: Arduino Nano; Processor: ATmega328P (Old Bootloader)!!
*  LED Matrix 4x(8x8) SPI with connector on the right side (last module)
*  https://www.banggood.com/MAX7219-Dot-Matrix-Module-4-in-1-Display-For-Arduino-p-1072083.html?rmmds=myorder&cur_warehouse=CN
*  
*  CONNECTIONS:
*  >> LCD 4x64   -> Arduino Nano: (using Hardware SPI):   
*       5V            -> 5V pin
*       GND           -> GND pin
*     CLK_PIN        ->  13  // or SCK
*    DATA_PIN        ->  11  // or MOSI
*      CS_PIN        ->  10  // or SS    
*      
*  >> DS3231 RTC -> Arduino Nano:
*       SDA (DAT)     -> A4
*       SCL (CLK)     -> A5 
* Inspired by : 1) Arduino Clock by AnthoTRONICS Last edit: March 22,2019
* but without MD_parola because of its large footprint! New getdate function.
* 2) Simplest UNO Digital Clock Ever by plouc68000:
* https://create.arduino.cc/projecthub/plouc68000/simplest-uno-digital-clock-ever-4613aa?ref=user&ref_id=680368&offset=1
* 3) LEDDotMatrixClock.ino by Leonardo Sposina, but here without "Max72xxPanel.h"
* https://github.com/leonardosposina/arduino-led-dot-matrix-clock/blob/master/LEDDotMatrixClock/LEDDotMatrixClock.ino
* Not using Max72xxPanel.h, but small size digits are stll used. Small footprint code here.
* Replace in library MD_MAX72XX/src/MD_MAX72xx_font.cpp : 
* 1)  #define USE_NEW_FONT 1
* 2)  fonts #148 ... 158 must be replaced with 3x5 fonts:
  3, 248, 136, 248,   // 48 0
  3, 144, 248, 128,   // 49 1
  3, 200, 168, 184,   // 50 2
  3, 136, 168, 248,   // 51 3
  3, 112, 72, 224,    // 52 4
  3, 184, 168, 232,   // 53 5
  3, 248, 168, 232,   // 54 6 
  3, 8, 232, 24,      // 55 7
  3, 248, 168, 248,   // 56 8
  3, 184, 168, 248,   // 57 9
  1, 80,              // 58 :
* 
* project: 13790 bytes (44%); variables 361 bytes (17%)
* Author: MVP https://www.hackster.io/M-V-P
*/

#include <SPI.h>
#include "DS3231.h"
#include "MD_MAX72xx_lib.h"
//#include "Font_Data.h"

DS3231 rtc(SDA, SCL);     // Real time clock

const byte LDR_PIN = A2; // LDR Sensor pin

#define MAX_DEVICES  4
// Define pins
#define CLK_PIN   13  // or SCK
#define DATA_PIN  11  // or MOSI
#define CS_PIN    10  // or SS
#define HARDWARE_TYPE MD_MAX72XX::ICSTATION_HW

#define USE_NEW_FONT 1

#define BUF_SIZE      20  // text buffer size
#define CHAR_SPACING  1   // pixels between characters

char buf[BUF_SIZE], secs[4];
uint8_t dots;


// SPI hardware interface
// Max72xxPanel matrix = Max72xxPanel(CS_PIN, H_DISPLAYS, V_DISPLAYS);
MD_MAX72XX matrix = MD_MAX72XX(HARDWARE_TYPE, CS_PIN, MAX_DEVICES);

const byte WAIT = 100;
const byte SPACER = 1;
byte FONT_WIDTH;

bool timeset=false;

void adjustClock(String data) {
  byte _day = data.substring(0,2).toInt();
  byte _month = data.substring(3,5).toInt();
  int _year = data.substring(6,10).toInt();
  byte _hour = data.substring(11,13).toInt();
  byte _min = data.substring(14,16).toInt();
  byte _sec = data.substring(17,19).toInt();
  rtc.setTime(_hour, _min, _sec);
  rtc.setDate(_day, _month, _year);
  Serial.println(F(">> Datetime successfully set!"));
  timeset=true;
}

byte ledintensitySelect(int light) {
  byte _value = 0;
  if (light >= 0 && light <= 127) {
    _value = 12;
  } else if (light >= 128 && light <= 319) {
    _value = 3; 
  } else if (light >= 320 && light <= 512) {
    _value = 0;
  }
  return _value;
};




void printText(uint8_t modStart, uint8_t modEnd, char *pMsg)
// Print the text string to the LED matrix modules specified.
// Message area is padded with blank columns after printing.
{
  uint8_t   state = 0;
  uint8_t   curLen;
  uint16_t  showLen;
  uint8_t   cBuf[FONT_WIDTH];
  int16_t   col = ((modEnd + 1) * COL_SIZE) - 1;

  matrix.control(modStart, modEnd, MD_MAX72XX::UPDATE, MD_MAX72XX::OFF);

  do     // finite state machine to print the characters in the space available
  {
    switch(state)
    {
      case 0: // Load the next character from the font table
        // if we reached end of message, reset the message pointer
        if (*pMsg == '\0')
        {
          showLen = col - (modEnd * COL_SIZE);  // padding characters
          state = 2;
          break;
        }

        // retrieve the next character form the font file
        showLen = matrix.getChar(*pMsg++, sizeof(cBuf)/sizeof(cBuf[0]), cBuf);
        curLen = 0;
        state++;
        // !! deliberately fall through to next state to start displaying

      case 1: // display the next part of the character
        matrix.setColumn(col--, cBuf[curLen++]);

        // done with font character, now display the space between chars
        if (curLen == showLen)
        {
          showLen = CHAR_SPACING;
          state = 2;
        }
        break;

      case 2: // initialize state for displaying empty columns
        curLen = 0;
        state++;
        // fall through

      case 3:  // display inter-character spacing or end of message padding (blank columns)
        matrix.setColumn(col--, 0);
        curLen++;
        if (curLen == showLen)
          state = 0;
        break;

      default:
        col = -1;   // this definitely ends the do loop
    }
  } while (col >= (modStart * COL_SIZE));

  matrix.control(modStart, modEnd, MD_MAX72XX::UPDATE, MD_MAX72XX::ON);
}


void setup() {
  pinMode(LDR_PIN, INPUT_PULLUP);
  Serial.begin(9600);
  Serial.println(F(">> Arduino 32x8 LED Dot Matrix Clock!"));
  Serial.println(F(">> Use <dd/mm/yyyy hh:mm:ss> format to set clock's date and hour!"));
  rtc.begin();
  matrix.begin();
  matrix.clear();
  FONT_WIDTH= 5 + SPACER; // The font width is 5 pixels  
  matrix.control(MD_MAX72XX::INTENSITY, 2);; // Use a value between 0 and 15 for brightness
}

void getDate()
// Date Setup: Code for reading clock date
{ char*  months[]={"Jan","Feb","Mar","Apr","May","Jun","Jul","Aug","Sep","Oct","Nov","Dec"};

  String dts = rtc.getDateStr();    // Get dd/mm/yyyy string
  String dds=dts.substring(0,2);    // Extract date
  String mms=dts.substring(3,5);    // Extract month
  int mm=mms.toInt();               // Convert to month number
  dds.concat(" ");
  dds.concat(String(months[mm-1])); // Rebuild date string as "dd Mmm" 
  dds.toCharArray(buf,sizeof(buf)); // return buffer
}

void getHour()
// Date Setup: Code for reading clock date
{ String dts = rtc.getTimeStr();    // Get hh:mm:ss string
  String hhs=dts.substring(0,2);    // Extract hour
  int hh=hhs.toInt();               // Convert to number
  if (hh < 10) dots=7;
  if(hh > 19 && hh < 24)
    dots=13;
  if ((hh > 9 && hh < 20) || (hh == 21))
    dots=11;  
  if (hh == 1) dots=5;
  if (hh == 11) dots=10;
  //String outmsg=dts.substring(0,5);    // Extract hh:mm (optional)
  String outmsg=String(hh);              // Extract h if h<10
  outmsg.concat(":");                    // add :
  outmsg.concat(dts.substring(3,5));     // add mm
  outmsg.toCharArray(buf,BUF_SIZE);

}

void showsec()
{
  String dts = rtc.getTimeStr();    // Get hh:mm:ss string
  String scs1=dts.substring(6,7);
  String scs2=dts.substring(7);  
  char sc1=148+scs1.toInt();        // Convert to index of char
  char sc2=148+scs2.toInt();        // Convert to index of char
  matrix.setChar(6,sc1);
  matrix.setChar(2,sc2);
}



void loop() {
  byte ledIntensity = ledintensitySelect(analogRead(LDR_PIN));
  matrix.control(MD_MAX72XX::INTENSITY, ledIntensity);; // Use a value between 0 and 15 for brightness

  // Show hh:mm from buf
  getHour();
  printText(0,MAX_DEVICES-1,buf);
  delay(WAIT);

  // Blinking two dots: 
  for (uint8_t i=0; i<8; i++){
    matrix.setColumn(MAX_DEVICES*8-dots,36);
    showsec();
    delay(250);
    matrix.setColumn(MAX_DEVICES*8-dots,0);
    showsec();
    delay(250);
  }

  // Exit by scrolling upwards:
  for (uint8_t i=0; i<8; i++){
    matrix.transform(MD_MAX72XX::TSU); delay(2*WAIT);
    delay(WAIT);
  }
   
  getDate();
  printText(0,MAX_DEVICES-1,buf);
  delay(20*WAIT);

  int temp = rtc.getTemp();
  temp=temp-1;                             // Offset -1 C
  String outmsg=String(temp);
  outmsg.concat(" C"); 
  outmsg.toCharArray(buf,BUF_SIZE);
  printText(0,MAX_DEVICES-1,buf);
  delay(20*WAIT);
  
  // Time setting in RTC:
  if (Serial.available() > 0 && timeset==false) {
    adjustClock(Serial.readString());
  }

}

New version (v2) - Arduino Nano Dot Matrix clock

Arduino
Updated in accordance with new libraries.
/*  Arduino Nano DS3231 clock with LED Matrix 4x(8x8) SPI
 *  Version 2 - updated 15/05/2-21
 *  Arduino Nano 5V logic - 32kB prog. space  
*  Tools:Board: Arduino Nano; Processor: ATmega328P (Old Bootloader)!!
*  LED Matrix 4x(8x8) SPI with connector on the right side (last module)
*  https://www.banggood.com/MAX7219-Dot-Matrix-Module-4-in-1-Display-For-Arduino-p-1072083.html?rmmds=myorder&cur_warehouse=CN
*  
*  CONNECTIONS:
*  >> LCD 4x64   -> Arduino Nano: (using Hardware SPI):   
*       5V            -> 5V pin
*       GND           -> GND pin
*     CLK_PIN        ->  13  // or SCK
*    DATA_PIN        ->  11  // or MOSI
*      CS_PIN        ->  10  // or SS    
*      
*  >> DS3231 RTC -> Arduino Nano:
*       SDA (DAT)     -> A4
*       SCL (CLK)     -> A5 
* Inspired by : 1) Arduino Clock by AnthoTRONICS Last edit: March 22,2019
* but without MD_parola because of its large footprint! New getdate function.
* 2) Simplest UNO Digital Clock Ever by plouc68000:
* https://create.arduino.cc/projecthub/plouc68000/simplest-uno-digital-clock-ever-4613aa?ref=user&ref_id=680368&offset=1
* 3) LEDDotMatrixClock.ino by Leonardo Sposina, but here without "Max72xxPanel.h"
* https://github.com/leonardosposina/arduino-led-dot-matrix-clock/blob/master/LEDDotMatrixClock/LEDDotMatrixClock.ino
* Not using Max72xxPanel.h, but small size digits are stll used. Small footprint code here.
* 
* project: 113558 bytes (44%); variables 372 bytes (17%)
* Author: MVP https://www.hackster.io/M-V-P
*/

#include <SPI.h>
#include "DS3231.h"
#include "MD_MAX72xx_lib.h"
//#include "Font_Data.h"

DS3231 rtc(SDA, SCL);     // Real time clock

const byte LDR_PIN = A2; // LDR Sensor pin

#define MAX_DEVICES  4
// Define pins
#define CLK_PIN   13  // or SCK
#define DATA_PIN  11  // or MOSI
#define CS_PIN    10  // or SS
// Define below your LED matrix hardware model:
//#define HARDWARE_TYPE MD_MAX72XX::ICSTATION_HW
#define HARDWARE_TYPE MD_MAX72XX::FC16_HW

#define USE_NEW_FONT 1

#define BUF_SIZE      20  // text buffer size
#define CHAR_SPACING  1   // pixels between characters

char buf[BUF_SIZE], secs[4];
uint8_t hh, mm, ss, dots;

// Definition of the small fonts:
uint8_t Font3x5 [ 10 ][ 3 ]={ 
  { 248, 136, 248},   // 48 0
  {144, 248, 128},   // 49 1
  {200, 168, 184},   // 50 2
  {136, 168, 248},   // 51 3
  {112, 72, 224},    // 52 4
  {184, 168, 232},   // 53 5
  {248, 168, 232},   // 54 6 
  {8, 232, 24},      // 55 7
  {248, 168, 248},   // 56 8
  {184, 168, 248}};   // 57 9

char months[12][4]= {"Jan","Feb","Mar","Apr","May","Jun","Jul","Aug","Sep","Oct","Nov","Dec"};
char* wday;
// SPI hardware interface
// Max72xxPanel matrix = Max72xxPanel(CS_PIN, H_DISPLAYS, V_DISPLAYS);
MD_MAX72XX matrix = MD_MAX72XX(HARDWARE_TYPE, CS_PIN, MAX_DEVICES);

const byte WAIT = 100;
const byte SPACER = 1;
byte FONT_WIDTH;

bool timeset=false;

void adjustClock(String data) {
  byte _day = data.substring(0,2).toInt();
  byte _month = data.substring(3,5).toInt();
  int _year = data.substring(6,10).toInt();
  byte _hour = data.substring(11,13).toInt();
  byte _min = data.substring(14,16).toInt();
  byte _sec = data.substring(17,19).toInt();
  rtc.setTime(_hour, _min, _sec);
  rtc.setDate(_day, _month, _year);
  Serial.println(F(">> Datetime successfully set!"));
  timeset=true;
}

byte ledintensitySelect(int light) {
  byte _value = 0;
  if (light >= 0 && light <= 127) {
    _value = 12;
  } else if (light >= 128 && light <= 319) {
    _value = 3; 
  } else if (light >= 320 && light <= 512) {
    _value = 0;
  }
  return _value;
};

void printText(uint8_t modStart, uint8_t modEnd, char *pMsg)
// Print the text string to the LED matrix modules specified.
// Message area is padded with blank columns after printing.
{
  uint8_t   state = 0;
  uint8_t   curLen;
  uint16_t  showLen;
  uint8_t   cBuf[FONT_WIDTH];
  int16_t   col = ((modEnd + 1) * COL_SIZE) - 1;

  matrix.control(modStart, modEnd, MD_MAX72XX::UPDATE, MD_MAX72XX::OFF);

  do     // finite state machine to print the characters in the space available
  {
    switch(state)
    {
      case 0: // Load the next character from the font table
        // if we reached end of message, reset the message pointer
        if (*pMsg == '\0')
        {
          showLen = col - (modEnd * COL_SIZE);  // padding characters
          state = 2;
          break;
        }

        // retrieve the next character form the font file
        showLen = matrix.getChar(*pMsg++, sizeof(cBuf)/sizeof(cBuf[0]), cBuf);
        curLen = 0;
        state++;
        // !! deliberately fall through to next state to start displaying

      case 1: // display the next part of the character
        matrix.setColumn(col--, cBuf[curLen++]);

        // done with font character, now display the space between chars
        if (curLen == showLen)
        {
          showLen = CHAR_SPACING;
          state = 2;
        }
        break;

      case 2: // initialize state for displaying empty columns
        curLen = 0;
        state++;
        // fall through

      case 3:  // display inter-character spacing or end of message padding (blank columns)
        matrix.setColumn(col--, 0);
        curLen++;
        if (curLen == showLen)
          state = 0;
        break;

      default:
        col = -1;   // this definitely ends the do loop
    }
  } while (col >= (modStart * COL_SIZE));

  matrix.control(modStart, modEnd, MD_MAX72XX::UPDATE, MD_MAX72XX::ON);
}

void setup() {
  pinMode(LDR_PIN, INPUT_PULLUP);
  Serial.begin(9600);
  Serial.println(F(">> Arduino 32x8 LED Dot Matrix Clock!"));
  Serial.println(F(">> Use <dd/mm/yyyy hh:mm:ss> format to set clock's date and hour!"));
  rtc.begin();
  matrix.begin();
  matrix.clear();
  FONT_WIDTH= 5 + SPACER; // The font width is 5 pixels  
  matrix.control(MD_MAX72XX::INTENSITY, 2);; // Use a value between 0 and 15 for brightness
  rtc.setDOW();     // Required for a new RTC
}

void getDate()
// Date Setup: Code for reading clock date
{ 

  String dts = rtc.getDateStr();    // Get dd/mm/yyyy string
  String dds=dts.substring(0,2);    // Extract date
  String mms=dts.substring(3,5);    // Extract month
  int mm=mms.toInt();               // Convert to month number
  dds.concat(" ");
  dds.concat(String(months[mm-1])); // Rebuild date string as "dd Mmm" 
  dds.toCharArray(buf,sizeof(buf)); // return buffer
  wday = rtc.getDOWStr(2);
}

void getHour()
// Date Setup: Code for reading clock date
{ String dts = rtc.getTimeStr();    // Get hh:mm:ss string
  String hhs=dts.substring(0,2);    // Extract hour
  String mms=dts.substring(3,5);    // Extract minutes
  hh=hhs.toInt();               // Convert to number
  mm=mms.toInt();               // Convert to number mm
  ss=(dts.substring(6,8)).toInt();  // Extract seconds as number
  
  if (hh >= 0 && hh < 10)  dots=7;
  if (hh > 9 && hh < 20)  dots=11; 
  if (hh > 19 && hh < 25) dots=13;
  if (hh%10 == 1)         dots-=2; 
  
  //String outmsg=dts.substring(0,5);    // Extract hh:mm (optional)
  String outmsg=String(hh);              // Extract h if h<10
  // outmsg.concat(":");                    // add : but on 2 columns!!
  outmsg.concat(char(124));              // add 1 full column between numbers
  outmsg.concat(dts.substring(3,5));     // add mm
  outmsg.toCharArray(buf,BUF_SIZE);
}

// New version of function, using the small embedded fonts
void showsec(uint8_t secs)
{ uint8_t secs1=secs%10;
  uint8_t secs2=secs/10;
  for (uint8_t k=0; k<3; k++){
    matrix.setColumn(MAX_DEVICES*8-26-k,Font3x5 [secs2][k]); 
    matrix.setColumn(MAX_DEVICES*8-30-k,Font3x5 [secs1][k]);  
  }
}

void loop() {
  byte ledIntensity = ledintensitySelect(analogRead(LDR_PIN));
  matrix.control(MD_MAX72XX::INTENSITY, ledIntensity);; // Use a value between 0 and 15 for brightness
 
  getHour();                      // Read time from RTC
  printText(0,MAX_DEVICES-1,buf); // Show hh|mm from buf
  matrix.setColumn(MAX_DEVICES*8-dots,0); // Clear the |
  unsigned long inst =millis();   // mark this moment

  while (ss < 53){                // First 53 seconds of each minute show time
    while (millis() - inst > 1000){
      inst =millis();
      ss++;                       // Increase seconds
      showsec(ss);                // Show seconds
      for (uint8_t i = 0; i < 2; i++){
        matrix.setColumn(MAX_DEVICES*8-dots,36); // Blinking two dots: 
        delay(240);
        matrix.setColumn(MAX_DEVICES*8-dots,0);
        delay(240);
      }     
    }
  }

  // Then "time" is scrolling upwards:
  for (uint8_t i=0; i<8; i++){
    matrix.transform(MD_MAX72XX::TSU);
    delay(3*WAIT);
  }

  // Write the current date:
  getDate();
  printText(0,MAX_DEVICES-1,buf);
  delay(20*WAIT);

  // Write the week day (if uncommented):
  //printText(0,MAX_DEVICES-1,wday);
  //delay(20*WAIT);

  // Write the estimated room temperature from the RTC sensor
  int temp = rtc.getTemp();
  temp=temp-1;                             // Offset -1 C
  String outmsg=String(temp);
  outmsg.concat(" C"); 
  outmsg.toCharArray(buf,BUF_SIZE);
  printText(0,MAX_DEVICES-1,buf);
  delay(20*WAIT);
  
  // Time setting in RTC if Serial monitor is activated in Arduino IDE:
  if (Serial.available() > 0 && timeset==false) {
    adjustClock(Serial.readString());
  }
}

Credits

M.V.P.

M.V.P.

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