Looking for help to show an image on LED Matrix using MAX7219

Other Hardware LEDs and Multiplexing
1

I am trying to integrate a matrix of 4 x 4 MAX 7219 based 8 x 8 led matrix display with an arduino. I want to see a image, basically outline of a thing or a person. Can anyone help me in getting started with this.

2

Where does the image come from?
Have you got any of the LED panels to work with example code from your chosen library?

3

Yes, I tried interfacing one panel with arduino to display a letter with library named Ledcontrol.h
For the image, i have to convert the image into a binary code and dump into arduino (as per Chat GPT).

4

Oh dear.
I wouldn't have mentioned that, if I were you.

5

Ooh. : )

6

Firstly, you will need to choose a different library. Ledcontrol.h can support up to 8 max7219 chips, but you want to use 16.

7

Thanks, i will try that. Any idea about showing the image ?

8

So, 16 7219's, eh? I'd start by

  • figuring out how to talk to one, displaying one corner of your chosen image on that 1 display
  • figuring out how to talk to 16(harder than just adding more, as they can't all sit on the same bus, without a fiddle)
  • figuring out how to scale that up to 4 rows and 4 columns of the same in your code
  • displaying one subarray on each display; start with the same sub image on all, then add the complication of individual images.

Early on, you're going to learn about power sources and limitations, good and bad wiring practices, and a bunch of other details you're not aware of yet. Suffice to say, don't use your Arduino's 5V output to power even one 7219. Just don't.

Will you be receiving the image from an external source, or will it be stored in your Arduino?
And yea, ChatGPT will help you with all of that, I'm sure, so take it from there.

9

This library may help you if you want to use the matrix panel as a display with x,y addressable pixels MD_MAXPanel (or access using the Arduino IDE). Easily works with big panels (larger than you are planning, anyway)

DIsplaying the bitmap will depend on the format of the bitmap...

10

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