AS1130 First attempt - working

It sure will... :wink:

URGENT probably for you guys anyway. :grin:

I've just discovered that pin18 (VDD) is NOT connected to the other VDD pins.

All the others are connected together as are the GND pins (all of 'em)

Okay

Please could you post here if you are interested in further developments with the AS1130 as I'm getting a bit frustrated with the Arduino method of development and debugging.

This is due to my lack of knowledge of the system, but I don't see any point in continuing with this if nobody is interested (I'll carry on but with a USB enabled PIC18F4550 happily on my own.)

Cheers. :wink:

I thought you were developing this on the PIC already. Please continue it on your preferred platform. I'll take care of porting it to the arduino.

I'm interested for future reference but not currently using the chips so don't have a lot of input.

the Arduino method of development and debugging.

What is this, and why is a PIC different? Are you referring to the neat-looking PICkit gadgets?


Rob

:grin: No...I don't have any gadgets other than a PicKit3 programmer/debugger.

I'ts mostly because I don't have to stumble every time I want to change something using the MPLAB IDE. I know how it works and am familiar with it.

Also I can set break points and step through code, look at timing cycles etc. etc.

The main thing that got to me this afternoon was I couldn't figure a way of moving the data array into another file and including it in the path of the compiler. I want to get on with programming the chips...not learning to do something that I can do without effort in the CCS C or PIC18 environment and it has frustrated me for a while now that I have to scroll past 380 lines of data to get from the defines to the main loop every minute or so. I can't even move it to the end of the file because the compiler complains... :roll_eyes:

Now that I have 2 chips on the go I will have a data array which is double the size and I don't want to wear out my middle mouse button or waste more of my precious time scrolling up and down like an idiot. :grin:

I will continue to learn the Arduino way...but at the moment I want to get on with my 24x11 LED matrix....

Yeah, learning a new tool set is a real pain, you just want to get on with the job but keep falling over stuff because you aren't familiar with it.

The standard IDE is way too frustrating to use IMO. That said you can split your code into multiple tabs, I've not done so (because I don't use the IDE :)) but that should allow you to move all the crap at the top of the file. Try clicking on the small down arrow at the right of the tab area, that gives a menu with a "New tab" option. I assume you do that and move code across but as I said I haven't done it myself.

I feel your pain re the lack of proper debugging tools. I've been using LPCs for a while now and it's fantastic to have a real debugging environment. Maybe you should try the Visual Micro IDE, that's based on VS2008/10/12 and it's pretty nice. It does have debugging although I've only just downloaded it and haven't got it working yet.

http://www.visualmicro.com/


Rob

Thanks for the comments guys. :smiley:

I've managed to get the data into another file now, so I'll stick with it I think.

Aparently the compiler goes through the files and headers in alphabetical order...so you have to make sure defines and declarations are in the right place!

Oh well...still here for the duration.... :wink:

PS the VS stuff looks useful.

Update:

I haven't given up... :grin:

I now have a board with 2 AS1130s and a 24 x 11 Matrix up and running.
Still waiting for the rest of the LEDs from China.
Sync works fine.

Interrupts now work...I'm currently coding an example.

I'll post a video and the code as soon as I have it in good shape. :wink:

Well...

Here's the video anyway...I've had so much trouble with the I2C on the Arduino, I've given up on it for the duration and written this for the PIC18F4550. :fearful:

My other 500 LEDs arrived today so I'll be getting on with the soldering and finalising the 24 x 22 Matrix code on the PIC, then if I can get it reliably working I'll port it to the AVR.

Sorry it's the usual crappy quality but at least you get the idea. :grin:

This is AS1130 #1 providing the clock for #2 and it works very well. IRQs are still a little strange but I've got a handle on it now I think. ]:slight_smile:

..still working on the code but I'll email it to you as soon as it's ready. :wink:

Hello,

could you please edit your last post and call me binarygod? i don't want that anybody knows my real name...
by the way: how do you know my real name?

done

change your youtube name to something that doesn't include your real name if you want to remain incognito... :roll_eyes:

Are you hiding for some reason? :grin: :stuck_out_tongue:

"AS1130.h" is an included file and not a library and I use it to get it out of my way.

It's just a way of splitting a file into 2 parts so that I don't have to scroll past all the defines etc. while I'm programming.

When you program in C, you create what are called "header" files. They contain all the class definitions for the methods used. You generally split the class definition and the class implementation parts of the class. Its just how it works. You can have the class implementation in the class definition file but it gets annoying to have to scroll past all the definitions.

Sorry I've been absent lately, I've been working on an FPGA and I've slowly been realizing how much more awesome it is.

All true and helpful....except :fearful: you can't have classes in C...that's why they invented the OOP version C++ :stuck_out_tongue:

Nice to see you back mate...what FPGA are you playing with?

Ah, well I'm learning c++ now in my defense! :smiley:

I'm working with a Spartan 6 FPGA on the Nexys-3 board from diligent.

Looks like anice bit of kit...did your Uni supply it or are you rich? :grin: :grin:

but I still have to scroll past all the defines because I'm using Dev-C++.

Are you saying that it doesn't allow include files? Yikes, what sort of compiler is that?


Rob