Published November 12, 2024

Heartbeat Light Effect on 8x8 LED Matrix with Arduino UNO

Visualize your heartbeat with an 8x8 LED Matrix using Arduino UNO—an engaging project blending tech and creativity.

BeginnerFull instructions provided135

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Arduino UNO

Adafruit 8x8 LED

Resistor 100 ohm

Software apps and online services

PCBX Online Simulation

Story

Introduction

This project showcases a heartbeat-flowing light effect on an 8x8 LED matrix using an Arduino UNO development board.

Simulate Online

Description

Components Used

Arduino UNO Development Board: The central processing unit controls the LED matrix.

LEDs (64): Arranged in an 8x8 grid to form the matrix display.

100Ω Resistors (8): Used to limit the current flowing through each LED, preventing damage and ensuring consistent brightness.

Code Analysis

The code is structured into several key sections: defining pin connections, setting up the Arduino board, the main loop for the heartbeat effect, and functions to control the LED matrix.

1. Pin Definitions:

led_row and led_col arrays define the pins connected to the rows and columns of the LED matrix, respectively.

2. LED Coordinates:

The code[] array stores the coordinates of the LEDs that need to be lit to create the heart shape. Each pair of numbers represents the (y, x) coordinates.

3. Setup Function:

Initializes all the row and column pins as outputs, setting the stage for controlling the LED matrix.

4. Loop Function:

The loop() function contains the logic for the heartbeat effect. It iterates through the code[] array in two directions: forward to create the heartbeat effect and backward to return to the initial state, creating a continuous loop.

5. Reset Function:

reset_all() turns off the entire LED matrix by setting all row pins low and all column pins high.

6. Display Function:

display() lights up the LED at the specified coordinates. It first calls reset_all() to ensure the matrix is clear before lighting up the specified LED.

7. Speed Adjustment:

The delay(50) in the display() function adjusts the speed of the heartbeat effect. This can be modified to make the effect faster or slower.

How It Works

When the Arduino board is powered and the code is executed, the loop() function continuously iterates through the code[] array, lighting up LEDs in a sequence that forms a heart shape. The forward and backward iteration through the array creates the effect of the heart "beating." The reset_all() function ensures that the matrix is cleared before each new heartbeat cycle, and the display() function manages the individual lighting of LEDs based on their coordinates.

Start your circuit simulation at PCBX -

https://www.pcbx.com/forum?mtm_campaign=E&mtm_kwd=hack

Get your first free PCB & PCBA prototyping here

Code

Untitled file

// Define the pins for the 8x8 LED matrix
int led_row[8] = {2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9};
int led_col[8] = {10, 11, 12, 13, A0, A1, A2, A3};

// Coordinates of the LED that need to be lit
const int coords_1[18] = {
    2, 4,
    1, 2,
    0, 1,
    1, 0,
    2, 0,
    3, 0,
    4, 1,
    5, 2,
    6, 3
};
const int coords_2[21] = {
    0, 1, 1,
    1, 0, 2,
    2, 0, 3,
    3, 0, 3,
    4, 1, 6,
    5, 2, 5,
    6, 3, 4
};

void setup() {
    for (int i = 0; i < 8; i++) {
        pinMode(led_row[i], OUTPUT);
        pinMode(led_col[i], OUTPUT);
    }
}

void loop() {
    for (int i = 0; i < 9; i++) {
        display(coords_1[i*2], coords_1[i*2+1]);     
    }
    for (int i = 9; i > 0; i--) {
        display(coords_1[i*2], coords_1[i*2+1]); 
    }
    for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
        for (int j = 0; j < 7; j++) {
            display_all(coords_2[j*3], coords_2[j*3+1], coords_2[j*3+2]); 
        }
    }
}

// Turn off the entire LED matrix
void reset_all() {
    for (int row = 0; row < 8; row++) {
        digitalWrite(led_row[row], LOW);
        for (int col = 0; col < 8; col++) {
            digitalWrite(led_col[col], HIGH);
        }
    }
}

// Light up the LED at the corresponding coordinates in the matrix
void display(int y, int x) {
    reset_all();
    for (int row = 0; row < 8; row++) {
        if (row == y) {
            digitalWrite(led_row[row], HIGH);
            for (int col = 0; col < 8; col++) {
                if (col == x) {
                    digitalWrite(led_col[col], LOW);
                    digitalWrite(led_col[7-col], LOW);
                }
            }
        }
    }
    delay(80); // Adjust the speed
}

// Light up all the LEDs within the area enclosed by the aforementioned coordinates
void display_all(int y, int x1, int x2) {
    reset_all();
    for (int row = 0; row < 8; row++) {
        if (row == y) {
            digitalWrite(led_row[row], HIGH);
            for (int col = 0; col < 8; col++) {
                if (col >= x1 && col <= x2) {
                    digitalWrite(led_col[col], LOW);
                    digitalWrite(led_col[7-col], LOW);
                }
            }
            delay(50); // Adjust the speed
        }
    }
}

Credits

Skylar Jones

11 projects • 0 followers

Customer Success: Your one-stop solution for PCB and PCBA services, plus component sourcing. Enjoy FREE online simulation and EDA.

Heartbeat Light Effect on 8x8 LED Matrix with Arduino UNO

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Story

Introduction

Description

Components Used

Code Analysis

How It Works

Schematics

111_trbid7rqso.png

Code

Untitled file

Credits

Skylar Jones

Comments

Embed the widget on your own site

Heartbeat Light Effect on 8x8 LED Matrix with Arduino UNO

Heartbeat Light Effect on 8x8 LED Matrix with Arduino UNO

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Story

Introduction

Description

Components Used

Code Analysis

How It Works

Schematics

111_trbid7rqso.png

Code

Untitled file

Credits

Skylar Jones

Comments

Related channels and tags