MAX6953 input

[AtomSoft]

im not as experienced as you and would love info on how you plan to do that.

Why RRGB? I Know why RBG but why another R?

 

[SMUGangsta]

Apparently the second R is something to do with 'Virtual Pixels' - but i dont really get it, but its on the system im trying to emulate so its best be in their.

I will post up a schematic - hopefully later today, but we have guests coming for dinner.

Im hoping to start with 4096 colours per pixel (which is 2R 1G and 1B)

Im not really experienced, I just love leds and led controllers, It was the first thing I learned to do so I have a bit played with it more than anything. I still cant build even basic analog circuits, and I cant get my head round op-amps at all.

 

[ericgibbs]

hi atom,

Seeing how you are getting lit up, I thought this link would be useful.

**broken link removed**

 

[AtomSoft]

Thanks Eric ill be sure to look at it right now.

Dude op-amps i have like 4 and not sure how and what they are for lol. I learn quick tho but no time lol.

 

[AtomSoft]

I like:
**broken link removed**

also:



EDIT: Forgot to show the back of the digits. Its like a PIE lol

 

[AtomSoft]

Ok need some help now lol

Trying to make a automatic scroll using 4 digits and is killing me. The below code scrolls the first 4 characters ok but then it just scrolls in another 4 without scrolling out the last 4. Any help please and thanks!

void dispStr(char *string){
    char tmp;
    char buff, buff2, buff3, buff4;
    char buffa, buffb, buffc, buffd;

    while(tmp != 0x60){
    buff  = *string++;
    buff2 = *string++;
    buff3 = *string++;
    buff4 = *string++;



        snft_write(Digit0,buff);
            Delay10KTCYx(200);
///////////////////////////////
        snft_write(Digit1,buff);
        snft_write(Digit0,buff2);
            Delay10KTCYx(200);
////////////////////////////////
        snft_write(Digit2,buff);
        snft_write(Digit1,buff2);
        snft_write(Digit0,buff3);
            Delay10KTCYx(200);
////////////////////////////////
        snft_write(Digit3,buff);
        snft_write(Digit2,buff2);
        snft_write(Digit1,buff3);
        snft_write(Digit0,buff4);
            Delay10KTCYx(200);
////////////////////////////////

    }

 

[SMUGangsta]

do you store your whats currently displayed anywhere?

Im assuming here, as im not great with c, but thats a routine that takes a string and outputs it to the display.

If your not storing whats currently on the display anywhere, the only thing i can think of is to scroll it off before you exit the routine.

snft_write(Digit0,buff);
Delay10KTCYx(200);
///////////////////////////////
snft_write(Digit1,buff);
snft_write(Digit0,buff2);
Delay10KTCYx(200);
////////////////////////////////
snft_write(Digit2,buff);
snft_write(Digit1,buff2);
snft_write(Digit0,buff3);
Delay10KTCYx(200);
////////////////////////////////
snft_write(Digit3,buff);
snft_write(Digit2,buff2);
snft_write(Digit1,buff3);
snft_write(Digit0,buff4);
Delay10KTCYx(200);
////////////////////////////////
snft_write(Digit3,buff2);
snft_write(Digit2,buff3);
snft_write(Digit1,buff4);
snft_write(Digit0,***BLANK***);
Delay10KTCYx(200);
////////////////////////////////
snft_write(Digit3,buff3);
snft_write(Digit2,buff4);
snft_write(Digit1,***BLANK***);
snft_write(Digit0,***BLANK***);
Delay10KTCYx(200);
////////////////////////////////
snft_write(Digit3,buff4);
snft_write(Digit2,***BLANK***);
snft_write(Digit1,***BLANK***);
snft_write(Digit0,***BLANK***);
Delay10KTCYx(200);
////////////////////////////////
snft_write(Digit3,***BLANK***);
snft_write(Digit2,***BLANK***);
snft_write(Digit1,***BLANK***);
snft_write(Digit0,***BLANK***);
Delay10KTCYx(200);
////////////////////////////////


What i tend to do in these circumstances is wrap the code that sends to the display, so that I can store anything that has been send to the display, that way I can do a smooth transistion from whatever is on the display to the new data.

hope that helps

 

[AtomSoft]

That scrolls it nice if the message is only 4 characters tho.

I call it like:

    char msg[] = {"ATOMSOFT Jason Lopez  `"};

    delay_500ms();

    dispStr(msg);

So its store in "msg" which is not global but can be if needed. The issue im having is scrolling the next 4 after the first 4 characters, My original code would scroll the first 4 ok but then instead of scrolling the in a new character 1 at a time it doesnt work. Im thinking of making it 2 loops. but not sure how.

Like loop1 would scroll first 1-4 characters in and loop2 scroll 1 new character in at a time while scrolling the other old ones out.

 

[AtomSoft]

not fully working but close!

    while(1){
        snft_write(Digit0,*string);
        Delay10KTCYx(dtime);
            if(*string == 0x60) break;

        snft_write(Digit1,*string++);
            if(*string == 0x60) break;
        snft_write(Digit0,*string--);
        Delay10KTCYx(dtime);

        snft_write(Digit2,*string++);
        snft_write(Digit1,*string++);
            if(*string == 0x60) break;
        snft_write(Digit0,*string--);
        string--;
        Delay10KTCYx(dtime);

        snft_write(Digit3,*string++);
        snft_write(Digit2,*string++);
        snft_write(Digit1,*string++);
            if(*string == 0x60) break;
        snft_write(Digit0,*string++);
        Delay10KTCYx(dtime);

/////////////// reverse
            if(*string == 0x60) break;
        snft_write(Digit0,*string--);
        snft_write(Digit1,*string--);
        snft_write(Digit2,*string--);
        snft_write(Digit3,*string);
        string += 3;
        Delay10KTCYx(dtime);

            if(*string == 0x60) break;
        snft_write(Digit0,*string--);
        snft_write(Digit1,*string--);
        snft_write(Digit2,*string--);
        snft_write(Digit3,*string);
        string += 4;
        Delay10KTCYx(dtime);   

            if(*string == 0x60) break;
        snft_write(Digit0,*string--);
        snft_write(Digit1,*string--);
        snft_write(Digit2,*string--);
        snft_write(Digit3,*string);
        string += 5;
        Delay10KTCYx(dtime); 

            if(*string == 0x60) break;
        snft_write(Digit0,*string--);
        snft_write(Digit1,*string--);
        snft_write(Digit2,*string--);
        snft_write(Digit3,*string);
        string += 6;
        Delay10KTCYx(dtime); 
  

 }

EDIT: Changed Code! Added end of msg check

 

[SMUGangsta]

what about some kind of pointer to its current position in the string - and work from that

as I said before C isnt my thing, I know what the string--, and string++ do but cant visualise it, if i come up with something before you do - i'll post it up

 

[SMUGangsta]

Just had a quick thought - it may be much easier to 'pad' the string

this is my thought in psudo basic

sub scrollText ( text as string )
  mytext = "    " & text & "    " ' pad the string
  for x=1 to len(mytext)-4
    stringout digit0, mytext[x]
    stringout digit1, mytext[x+1]
    stringout digit2, mytext[x+2]
    stringout digit3, mytext[x+3]
    delay200ms
  next x
end sub

let me know if its any use

NOTE: the counts may not be right - for example the '-4' etc as different compilers handle things differently - but hopefully the theory is good - i really need to get vB on my lappy top

This should also vastly reduce your code size if that matters too

 

[AtomSoft]

Dude you ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

void dispStr(char *string){
    char x;
    char tmp[50];

    strcpy(tmp,string);

    for(x=0;x<40;x++){

        if(tmp[x] == 0x60) break;
        snft_write(Digit3, tmp[x]);

        if(tmp[x+1] == 0x60) break;
        snft_write(Digit2, tmp[x+1]);

        if(tmp[x+2] == 0x60) break;
        snft_write(Digit1, tmp[x+2]);

        if(tmp[x+3] == 0x60) break;
        snft_write(Digit0, tmp[x+3]);

        delay_500ms();
    }

}

Seems to work great.
EDIT: DONE:
I will make it so a max of 50 character message and have checks for ESC char.

 

[SMUGangsta]

glad I could help, its nice watching how projects progress.

 

[AtomSoft]

Thank you very much. Even tho this is mainly for fun (as of now) it was surely something important to learn. Oh BTW i just got my Newark order in . I now have

10x 7805s (mc7805ctg)
30x tactile (b3f-4000)
40x 33pf (cap) (SR151A330JAATR1)

So my parts list is rising at least im still waiting from BGmicro now lol

 

[SMUGangsta]

I would sell you bits real cheap - i have boxes of 7805s, tactile switches in many configurations, linear and rotary pots, capacitors coming out my ears and about 1000000 resistors - but I think the postage would be a killer.

Im working on a small kit of parts to make something simple but useful - that I can sell on ebay to people just getting interested in electronics.

 

[AtomSoft]

UK .... hmmmm.... how much you think to ship to USA?

Here is my full code: (i hope its helpful to some)

#include <p18f2455.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <delays.h>
#include <string.h>
#pragma config WDT = OFF, LVP = OFF, FOSC = HS

#define SDA_PORT PORTCbits.RC7
#define SDA LATCbits.LATC7
#define SDA_TRIS TRISCbits.TRISC7
#define SCL LATBbits.LATB1
       
#define Digit0 0x63
#define Digit1 0x62
#define Digit2 0x61
#define Digit3 0x60

void main(void);
void i2c_byte(char addr);
void i2c_start(void);
void i2c_ack(void);
char i2c_input(void);
void i2c_clock(void);
void i2c_stop(void);
char snft_write(char offset, char data);
char snft_read(char offset);

void delay1x_ms(char ms);
void delay10x_ms(char ms);

void dispStr(char *string);

char MAX6953R = 0b10100001; //1 = READ
char MAX6953W = 0b10100000; //0 = WRITE

void main (void){
    char msg[] = {"    Jason Lopez  AtomSoftTech.com    `"};

    TRISB = 0;
    LATB = 0b00000100;

    snft_write(0x07,0x00);  //TEST OFF
    snft_write(0x04,0b00000101);
    snft_write(0x20,0x20);
    snft_write(0x21,0x20);

while(1){
    delay10x_ms(50);
    dispStr(msg);
    }
}

void dispStr(char *string){
    char x;
    char tmp[50];

    strcpy(tmp,string);

    for(x=0;x<40;x++){

        if(tmp[x] == 0x60) break;
        snft_write(Digit3, tmp[x]);

        if(tmp[x+1] == 0x60) break;
        snft_write(Digit2, tmp[x+1]);

        if(tmp[x+2] == 0x60) break;
        snft_write(Digit1, tmp[x+2]);

        if(tmp[x+3] == 0x60) break;
        snft_write(Digit0, tmp[x+3]);

        delay10x_ms(60);
    }

}


void delay10x_ms(char ms){
    char i;
    for(i=0;i<ms;i++){
        Delay10KTCYx(5);
    }
}
void delay1x_ms(char ms){
    char i;
    for(i=0;i<ms;i++){
        Delay1KTCYx(5);
    }
}
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
////            I2C FUNCTIONS
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
void i2c_clock(void)
{
    SCL = 1;
    Delay10TCY();
    SCL = 0;
}

void i2c_start(void){
    SDA_TRIS=0;   //SDA Output
    SCL=0;        //Clock Low
//Start - 5us
    SDA=1;        //SDA High
    SCL=1;        //Clock high
    Delay10TCY();
    SDA=0;        //SDA Low
    Delay10TCY();
    SCL=0;        //Clock Low
}

void i2c_byte(char addr){
    char bl;
    for(bl=0;bl<8;bl++){

        if((addr & 0x80) != 0)
            SDA = 1;
        else
            SDA = 0;

    i2c_clock();
    addr=addr<<1;
    }
}

void i2c_ack(void){
    SDA_TRIS = 1;   //SDA Input
    i2c_clock();
    Delay10TCY();
    //while(SDA);
    SDA_TRIS = 0;
}

char i2c_input(void){
    char temp;
    char i;

    SDA_TRIS = 1;

    temp=0;  
    i = 0;           
    for(i=0;i<8;i++){  
        temp=temp<<1;   

        if(SDA_PORT) 
            temp|=1;

        i2c_clock();
    }

    SDA_TRIS = 0;
    return temp;
}

void i2c_stop(void){
    SDA = 0;
    SCL = 1;
    Delay10TCY();
    SDA = 1;
    SCL = 0; 
}
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
////            MAX6953 FUNCTIONS
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
char snft_write(char offset, char data){ //snft = MAX (6953)

    char temp;
    i2c_start();                //Start
    i2c_byte(MAX6953W);          //Slave Byte
    i2c_ack();                  //ACK
    i2c_byte(offset);           //Address Offset
    i2c_ack();                  //ACK
    i2c_byte(data);          //Slave Byte
    i2c_ack();                  //ACK
    i2c_stop;                    //Stop
    return temp;
}
char snft_read(char offset){

    char temp;
    i2c_start();                //Start
    i2c_byte(MAX6953W);          //Slave Byte
    i2c_ack();                  //ACK
    i2c_byte(offset);           //Address Offset
    i2c_ack();                  //ACK
    i2c_start();                //Start
    i2c_byte(MAX6953R);          //Slave Byte    
    i2c_ack();                  //ACK
    temp = i2c_input();         //Get Data
    i2c_ack();                  //ACK
    i2c_stop;                    //Stop
    return temp;
}

 

[AtomSoft]

Updated the code: Cleaned out some garbage i had.

Wow .. (just seen the pics) Thats alot of stuff. How much to ship to USA? Well not all of it lol but a normal cost would be ?

EDIT: Just uploaded a video of it:

[embed]http://www.youtube.com/v/UM8ole2ZdvU[/embed]

 

[SMUGangsta]

looks awsome!!!!

I will ask at the post office next time im in how much it is to ship 500g to the US, then if your interested i'll give you a breif list of bits I have too many of, and you can let me know if your interested.

photos were just a small selection

 

[AtomSoft]

ok sounds cool. I had a feeling the photos where just a small sample of what you have.