Combining DeadOn RTC and 16x32 LED Matrix

Projects Programming
1

Hello,
I am trying to display the time of the DeadOn RTC clock in the 16x32 RGB LED Matrix,
DeadOn RTC: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10160
16x32 RGB LED Matrix: Medium 16x32 RGB LED matrix panel - 6mm Pitch : ID 420 : $24.95 : Adafruit Industries, Unique & fun DIY electronics and kits

#include <SPI.h>
#include <Adafruit_GFX.h>   // Core graphics library
#include <RGBmatrixPanel.h> // Hardware-specific library

#define CLK 50  // MUST be on PORTB!
#define LAT A3
#define OE  51
#define A   A0
#define B   A1
#define C   A2

const int  cs=53; //chip select 

// Last parameter = 'true' enables double-buffering, for flicker-free,
// buttery smooth animation.  Note that NOTHING WILL SHOW ON THE DISPLAY
// until the first call to swapBuffers().  This is normal.
RGBmatrixPanel matrix(A, B, C, CLK, LAT, OE, true);
        
void setup () {
  Serial.begin(9600);
  
  RTC_init();
  //day(1-31), month(1-12), year(0-99), hour(0-23), minute(0-59), second(0-59)
  SetTimeDate(11,12,13,14,15,16); 
  
  matrix.begin();
  matrix.setTextSize(1);
}

void loop () {
  // Clear background
  matrix.fillScreen(0);
  
  Serial.println(ReadTimeDate());
  
  matrix.setCursor(0, 0);
  matrix.print(ReadTimeDate());
  
  // Update display
  matrix.swapBuffers(false);
  
  delay(1000);

}


//=====================================
int RTC_init(){ 
	  pinMode(cs,OUTPUT); // chip select
	  // start the SPI library:
	  SPI.begin();
	  SPI.setBitOrder(MSBFIRST); 
	  SPI.setDataMode(SPI_MODE1); // both mode 1 & 3 should work 
	  //set control register 
	  digitalWrite(cs, LOW);  
	  SPI.transfer(0x8E);
	  SPI.transfer(0x60); //60= disable Osciallator and Battery SQ wave @1hz, temp compensation, Alarms disabled
	  digitalWrite(cs, HIGH);
	  delay(10);
}
//=====================================
int SetTimeDate(int d, int mo, int y, int h, int mi, int s){ 
	int TimeDate [7]={s,mi,h,0,d,mo,y};
	for(int i=0; i<=6;i++){
		if(i==3)
			i++;
		int b= TimeDate[i]/10;
		int a= TimeDate[i]-b*10;
		if(i==2){
			if (b==2)
				b=B00000010;
			else if (b==1)
				b=B00000001;
		}	
		TimeDate[i]= a+(b<<4);
		  
		digitalWrite(cs, LOW);
		SPI.transfer(i+0x80); 
		SPI.transfer(TimeDate[i]);        
		digitalWrite(cs, HIGH);
  }
}
//=====================================
int ReadTimeDate(){
	int temp;
	int TimeDate [7]; //second,minute,hour,null,day,month,year		
	for(int i=0; i<=6;i++){
		if(i==3)
			i++;
		digitalWrite(cs, LOW);
		SPI.transfer(i+0x00); 
		unsigned int n = SPI.transfer(0x00);        
		digitalWrite(cs, HIGH);
		int a=n & B00001111;    
		if(i==2){	
			int b=(n & B00110000)>>4; //24 hour mode
			if(b==B00000010)
				b=20;        
			else if(b==B00000001)
				b=10;
			TimeDate[i]=a+b;
		}
		else if(i==4){
			int b=(n & B00110000)>>4;
			TimeDate[i]=a+b*10;
		}
		else if(i==5){
			int b=(n & B00010000)>>4;
			TimeDate[i]=a+b*10;
		}
		else if(i==6){
			int b=(n & B11110000)>>4;
			TimeDate[i]=a+b*10;
		}
		else{	
			int b=(n & B01110000)>>4;
			TimeDate[i]=a+b*10;	
			}
	}
//	temp.concat(TimeDate[4]);
//	temp.concat("/") ;
//	temp.concat(TimeDate[5]);
//	temp.concat("/") ;
//	temp.concat(TimeDate[6]);
//	temp.concat("     ") ;
//	temp.concat(TimeDate[2]);
//	temp.concat(":") ;
//	temp.concat(TimeDate[1]);
//	temp.concat(":") ;
//	temp.concat(TimeDate[0]);
        temp=TimeDate[0];
  return(temp);
}

But with this code the matrix does not show anything, what's the problem?

Thank you

2

what's the problem?

  matrix.print(ReadTimeDate());

So, this will show the value returned by the function:

int ReadTimeDate(){

which is:

        temp=TimeDate[0];
  return(temp);

So, what is in TimeDate[0] at this time?

3

In the serial monitor with this code:

Serial.println(ReadTimeDate());

prints the seconds.

4

Does RGBmatrixPanel derive from the Print class? If not, what kinds of variables does it know how to print()?

5

Matrix printing both variables of string type and integer type, the problem comes when I initialize the RTC:

RTC_init();
//day(1-31), month(1-12), year(0-99), hour(0-23), minute(0-59), second(0-59)
SetTimeDate(11,12,13,14,15,16);

The only common pins are MISO = 50, MOSI=51 (Arduino Mega ADK). Is that the problem?

Thank You

6

Is that the problem?

Those are the SPI pins.

Each SPI device needs a separate chip/slave select pin. It is not at all clear what value cs has in it, in the RTC_init() function. It is not clear if the matrix class properly diddles with its chip select pin.

7

i have same problem .
i want to make a wall clock with 16x32 LED Matrix
but it crash when i use
matrix.println(rtc.getTimeStr());
or
Serial.println(rtc.getTimeStr());

it works sperately. How can i combine .

8

but it crash when i use

What do?

Where is your code? Which Arduino are you using? Please feel free to volunteer any other information that you know that we don't.