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semsemharaz
Published

Interfacing 8x8 LED Dot Matrix with Arduino

In this simple project, we are going to learn how to Interface 8x8 LED Dot Matrix with Arduino.

BeginnerProtip5,509
Interfacing 8x8 LED Dot Matrix with Arduino

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Arduino UNO
Arduino UNO
×1
LED Dot Matrix Display, Red
LED Dot Matrix Display, Red
×1
Jumper wires (generic)
Jumper wires (generic)
×1
Breadboard (generic)
Breadboard (generic)
×1

Software apps and online services

Arduino IDE
Arduino IDE

Story

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Schematics

Schematic for the project

Code

Code

C/C++
//We always have to include the library
#include "LedControl.h"

/*
 Now we need a LedControl to work with.
 ***** These pin numbers will probably not work with your hardware *****
 pin 12 is connected to the DataIn 
 pin 11 is connected to LOAD(CS)
 pin 10 is connected to the CLK 
 We have only a single MAX72XX.
 */
LedControl lc=LedControl(12,10,11,1);

/* image switching time */
unsigned long delaytime1=500;
unsigned long delaytime2=50;
void setup() {
  /*
   The MAX72XX is in power-saving mode on startup,
   we have to do a wakeup call
   */
  lc.shutdown(0,false);
  /* Set the brightness to a medium values */
  lc.setIntensity(0,8);
  /* and clear the display */
  lc.clearDisplay(0);
}

/*
 This method will display the characters for the
 word "Arduino" one after the other on the matrix. 
 (you need at least 5x7 leds to see the whole chars)
 */
void writeArduinoOnMatrix() {
  /* here is the data for the characters */
  byte a[5]={B01111110,B10001000,B10001000,B10001000,B01111110};
  byte r[5]={B00010000,B00100000,B00100000,B00010000,B00111110};
  byte d[5]={B11111110,B00010010,B00100010,B00100010,B00011100};
  byte u[5]={B00111110,B00000100,B00000010,B00000010,B00111100};
  byte i[5]={B00000000,B00000010,B10111110,B00100010,B00000000};
  byte n[5]={B00011110,B00100000,B00100000,B00010000,B00111110};
  byte o[5]={B00011100,B00100010,B00100010,B00100010,B00011100};

  /* now display them one by one with a small delay */
  lc.setRow(0,0,a[0]);
  lc.setRow(0,1,a[1]);
  lc.setRow(0,2,a[2]);
  lc.setRow(0,3,a[3]);
  lc.setRow(0,4,a[4]);
  delay(delaytime1);
  lc.setRow(0,0,r[0]);
  lc.setRow(0,1,r[1]);
  lc.setRow(0,2,r[2]);
  lc.setRow(0,3,r[3]);
  lc.setRow(0,4,r[4]);
  delay(delaytime1);
  lc.setRow(0,0,d[0]);
  lc.setRow(0,1,d[1]);
  lc.setRow(0,2,d[2]);
  lc.setRow(0,3,d[3]);
  lc.setRow(0,4,d[4]);
  delay(delaytime1);
  lc.setRow(0,0,u[0]);
  lc.setRow(0,1,u[1]);
  lc.setRow(0,2,u[2]);
  lc.setRow(0,3,u[3]);
  lc.setRow(0,4,u[4]);
  delay(delaytime1);
  lc.setRow(0,0,i[0]);
  lc.setRow(0,1,i[1]);
  lc.setRow(0,2,i[2]);
  lc.setRow(0,3,i[3]);
  lc.setRow(0,4,i[4]);
  delay(delaytime1);
  lc.setRow(0,0,n[0]);
  lc.setRow(0,1,n[1]);
  lc.setRow(0,2,n[2]);
  lc.setRow(0,3,n[3]);
  lc.setRow(0,4,n[4]);
  delay(delaytime1);
  lc.setRow(0,0,o[0]);
  lc.setRow(0,1,o[1]);
  lc.setRow(0,2,o[2]);
  lc.setRow(0,3,o[3]);
  lc.setRow(0,4,o[4]);
  delay(delaytime1);
  lc.setRow(0,0,0);
  lc.setRow(0,1,0);
  lc.setRow(0,2,0);
  lc.setRow(0,3,0);
  lc.setRow(0,4,0);
  delay(delaytime1);
}

/*
  This function lights up some Leds in a row.
 The pattern will be repeated on every row.
 The pattern will blink along with the row-number.
 row number 4 (index==3) will blink 4 times etc.
 */
void rows() {
  for(int row=0;row<8;row++) {
    delay(delaytime2);
    lc.setRow(0,row,B10100000);
    delay(delaytime2);
    lc.setRow(0,row,(byte)0);
    for(int i=0;i<row;i++) {
      delay(delaytime2);
      lc.setRow(0,row,B10100000);
      delay(delaytime2);
      lc.setRow(0,row,(byte)0);
    }
  }
}

/*
  This function lights up some Leds in a column.
 The pattern will be repeated on every column.
 The pattern will blink along with the column-number.
 column number 4 (index==3) will blink 4 times etc.
 */
void columns() {
  for(int col=0;col<8;col++) {
    delay(delaytime2);
    lc.setColumn(0,col,B10100000);
    delay(delaytime2);
    lc.setColumn(0,col,(byte)0);
    for(int i=0;i<col;i++) {
      delay(delaytime2);
      lc.setColumn(0,col,B10100000);
      delay(delaytime2);
      lc.setColumn(0,col,(byte)0);
    }
  }
}

/* 
 This function will light up every Led on the matrix.
 The led will blink along with the row-number.
 row number 4 (index==3) will blink 4 times etc.
 */
void single() {
  for(int row=0;row<8;row++) {
    for(int col=0;col<8;col++) {
      delay(delaytime2);
      lc.setLed(0,row,col,true);
      delay(delaytime2);
      for(int i=0;i<col;i++) {
        lc.setLed(0,row,col,false);
        delay(delaytime2);
        lc.setLed(0,row,col,true);
        delay(delaytime2);
      }
    }
  }
}

void loop() { 
  writeArduinoOnMatrix();
  rows();
  columns();
  single();
}

Credits

semsemharaz
6 projects • 1 follower

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