Cascading Max7219

[espruino-discuss2]

Posted at 2014-03-19 by user6772

Hi,

i want to cascade multiple Max7219 8x8 LED like https://www.pjrc.com/teensy/td_libs_Matrix.html. Is this possible with the http://www.espruino.com/modules/MAX7219.js module?

[espruino-discuss2]

Posted at 2014-03-19 by Loop

By the looks of it, you could put them on different spi pins, and write some glue to make it look like a single 16x8 display

[gfwilliams]

Posted at 2014-03-19 by @gfwilliams

It doesn't do it right now, but the changes required are trivial. To cope with multiple drivers it seems that you just send the two different bits of data to the same address while keeping CS asserted.

Arduino's library here: https://github.com/lstoll/arduino-libraries/blob/master/Matrix/Matrix.cpp#L129

So it's probably as simple as changing:

raw : function(val) {
      spi.send ([0x9,0],cs); // output raw data
      for (var i=0;i<val.length;i++) {
        spi.send([i+1,val[i]],cs);
      }
      spi.send([0x0C,1],cs); // no shutdown
    },

to:

raw : function(val) {
      digitalWrite(cs,0);
      spi.send ([0x9,0]); // output raw data
      for (var i=0;i<val.length;i++) {
        spi.send([(i&7)+1,val[i]]);
      }
      spi.send([0x0C,1]); // no shutdown
      digitalWrite(cs,1);
    },

One nice extra is that you can actually use Espruino's built-in graphics library with it, so you can do something like...

var g = Graphics.createArrayBuffer(3*8,8,1,{vertical_byte:true});
g.drawString("Hello",0,0);
max.raw(g.buffer);

[gfwilliams]

Posted at 2014-03-19 by @gfwilliams

Having said that, you may need to send the same addresses to each chip. So:

[0,chip1row0,0,chip2row0,1,chip1row1,1,chip2row1, ...]

I don't have one here to play with and test but it should be pretty easy to get working.

[espruino-discuss2]

Posted at 2014-03-19 by user6772

Great. I will test it at the weekend.

[espruino-discuss2]

Posted at 2014-03-22 by user6772

Hi,

I tested it with the following code and it does not work.

var modules = {};

SPI2.setup({mosi:B15, sck:B13});

modules.connect = function(/*=SPI*/_spi,/*=PIN*/_cs) {
  var spi = _spi;
  var cs = _cs;
  spi.send ([0xA,0xF],cs);  // intensity  -full
  spi.send ([0xB,0x7],cs);  // scan limit - all 8 chars
  spi.send ([0xC,0],cs);    // shutdown
  return {

    raw : function(val) {
      digitalWrite(cs,0);
      spi.send ([0x9,0]); // output raw data
      for (var i=0;i<val.length;i++) {
        spi.send([(i&7)+1,val[i]]);
      }
      spi.send([0x0C,1]); // no shutdown
      digitalWrite(cs,1);
    },

    off : function() { spi.send([0xC,0],cs); },

    intensity : function(i) { spi.send([0xA,E.clip(i*15,0,15)],cs); }
  };
};

var count = 0;

function doSomerhingStupid() {
  if (count > 0)
    run();
  count ++;
}

function run () {
  var max = modules.connect (SPI2,B14);
  digitalWrite (LED3, 1);
  max.off();
  clearInterval();

  setInterval(function() {
    digitalWrite (LED2, on);
    var c1r0 = Math.random () * 255;
    var c1r1 = Math.random () * 255;
    var c2r0 = Math.random () * 255;
    var c2r1 = Math.random () * 255;
    var c3r0 = Math.random () * 255;
    var c3r1 = Math.random () * 255;
    var c4r0 = Math.random () * 255;
    var c4r1 = Math.random () * 255;
    max.raw([0,c1r0,0,c2r0,0,c3r0,0,c4r0,1,c1r1,1,c2r1,1,c2r1,1,c3r1]);
    max.intensity (Math.random ());

    on = !on;
  }, 200);
}

var on = 1;
digitalWrite (LED1, 1);
digitalWrite (LED2, 0);
digitalWrite (LED3, 0);
clearInterval();

setWatch(doSomerhingStupid, BTN1, {repeat:true,edge:"rising", debounce:1});

Here is a video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEmp9NjJuwM

Do you have any idea what I did wrong?

Regards
Michael

[gfwilliams]

Posted at 2014-03-24 by @gfwilliams

I think there might have been some misunderstanding about my last post... You probably need to send all of the row 0s, followed by all row 1s, etc. So more like:

    raw : function(val) {
      digitalWrite(cs,0);
      spi.send ([0x9,0]); // output raw data
      digitalWrite(cs,1);

      for (var row=0;row<val.length&7;row++) {
        digitalWrite(cs,0); 
        for (var i=row;i<val.length;i+=8)
          spi.send([row,val[i]]);
        spi.send([0x0C,1]); // no shutdown
        digitalWrite(cs,1);
      }
    },

I wonder if that'll be better?

By the way, when posting code, if you highlight it and click the 'code' button, it'll appear properly in the forum (i just changed yours).

[espruino-discuss2]

Posted at 2014-03-30 by user6772

Hi,

i took the new raw function and tested it again. It does not work at the moment.
Here is the actual code:

SPI2.setup({mosi:B15, sck:B13});

var max7219 = function(/*=SPI*/_spi,/*=PIN*/_cs) {
  var spi = _spi;
  var cs = _cs;
  spi.send ([0xA,0xF],cs);  // intensity  -full
  spi.send ([0xB,0x7],cs);  // scan limit - all 8 chars
  spi.send ([0xC,0],cs);    // shutdown
  return {

    raw1 : function(val) {
      digitalWrite(cs,0);
      spi.send ([0x9,0]); // output raw data
      for (var i=0;i<val.length;i++) {
        spi.send([(i&7)+1,val[i]]);
      }
      spi.send([0x0C,1]); // no shutdown
      digitalWrite(cs,1);
    },

    raw2 : function(val) {
      digitalWrite(cs,0);
      spi.send ([0x9,0]); // output raw data
      digitalWrite(cs,1);
      for (var row=0;row<val.length&7;row++) {
        print ("row " + row + " " + val.length + " " + (row<val.length&7));
        digitalWrite(cs,0);

        for (var i=row;i<val.length;i+=8) {
          spi.send([row,val[i]]);
          print ("val " + row + " " + val[i]);
        }
        spi.send([0x0C,1]); // no shutdown
        digitalWrite(cs,1);
      }
    },

    off : function() { spi.send([0xC,0],cs); },

    intensity : function(i) { spi.send([0xA,E.clip(i*15,0,15)],cs); }
  };
};

function doSomerhingStupid() {
  setData();
  if (count > 0)
    run();
  count ++;
}

function setData()
{
  for (var i = 0; i < 64; i ++)
  {
    data[i] = 0;
    if (i % 2 === 0)
    {
      if (i < 16) data[i] = 0;
      else if (i < 32) data[i] = 1;
      else if (i < 48)  data[i] = 2;
      else  data[i] = 3;
    } else {
      data[i] = (i * 4) - 1;
    }
    print ("data " + i + " " + data[i]);
  }
}

function run () {
  digitalWrite (LED3, 1);
  digitalWrite (LED2, on);
  max.raw2(data);
  on = !on;
}

var on = 1;
digitalWrite (LED1, 1);
digitalWrite (LED2, 0);
digitalWrite (LED3, 0);
clearInterval();

var count = 0;
var data = new Array (64);
var max = max7219 (SPI2,B14);
setWatch(doSomerhingStupid, BTN1, {repeat:true,edge:"rising", debounce:1});

To see more details about the send-data, i added some print statements.
The output looks like follows. I am not sure, but it doesn't look correct.

Connected
=undefined

=undefined
data 0 0
data 1 3
data 2 0
data 3 11
data 4 0
data 5 19
data 6 0
data 7 27
data 8 0
data 9 35
data 10 0
data 11 43
data 12 0
data 13 51
data 14 0
data 15 59
data 16 1
data 17 67
data 18 1
data 19 75
data 20 1
data 21 83
data 22 1
data 23 91
data 24 1
data 25 99
data 26 1
data 27 107
data 28 1
data 29 115
data 30 1
data 31 123
data 32 2
data 33 131
data 34 2
data 35 139
data 36 2
data 37 147
data 38 2
data 39 155
data 40 2
data 41 163
data 42 2
data 43 171
data 44 2
data 45 179
data 46 2
data 47 187
data 48 3
data 49 195
data 50 3
data 51 203
data 52 3
data 53 211
data 54 3
data 55 219
data 56 3
data 57 227
data 58 3
data 59 235
data 60 3
data 61 243
data 62 3
data 63 251
row 0 64 1
val 0 0
val 0 0
val 0 1
val 0 1
val 0 2
val 0 2
val 0 3
val 0 3
row 1 64 1
val 1 3
val 1 35
val 1 67
val 1 99
val 1 131
val 1 163
val 1 195
val 1 227
row 2 64 1
val 2 0
val 2 0
val 2 1
val 2 1
val 2 2
val 2 2
val 2 3
val 2 3
row 3 64 1
val 3 11
val 3 43
val 3 75
val 3 107
val 3 139
val 3 171
val 3 203
val 3 235
row 4 64 1
val 4 0
val 4 0
val 4 1
val 4 1
val 4 2
val 4 2
val 4 3
val 4 3
row 5 64 1
val 5 19
val 5 51
val 5 83
val 5 115
val 5 147
val 5 179
val 5 211
val 5 243
row 6 64 1
val 6 0
val 6 0
val 6 1
val 6 1
val 6 2
val 6 2
val 6 3
val 6 3
row 7 64 1
val 7 27
val 7 59
val 7 91
val 7 123
val 7 155
val 7 187
val 7 219
val 7 251
row 8 64 1
val 8 0
val 8 1
val 8 1
val 8 2
val 8 2
val 8 3
val 8 3
row 9 64 1
val 9 35
val 9 67
val 9 99
val 9 131
val 9 163
val 9 195
val 9 227
row 10 64 1
val 10 0
val 10 1
val 10 1
val 10 2
val 10 2
val 10 3
val 10 3
row 11 64 1
val 11 43
val 11 75
val 11 107
val 11 139
val 11 171
val 11 203
val 11 235
row 12 64 1
val 12 0
val 12 1
val 12 1
val 12 2
val 12 2
val 12 3
val 12 3
row 13 64 1
val 13 51
val 13 83
val 13 115
val 13 147
val 13 179
val 13 211
val 13 243
row 14 64 1
val 14 0
val 14 1
val 14 1
val 14 2
val 14 2
val 14 3
val 14 3
row 15 64 1
val 15 59
val 15 91
val 15 123
val 15 155
val 15 187
val 15 219
val 15 251
row 16 64 1
val 16 1
val 16 1
val 16 2
val 16 2
val 16 3
val 16 3
row 17 64 1
val 17 67
val 17 99
val 17 131
val 17 163
val 17 195
val 17 227
row 18 64 1
val 18 1
val 18 1
val 18 2
val 18 2
val 18 3
val 18 3
row 19 64 1
val 19 75
val 19 107
val 19 139
val 19 171
val 19 203
val 19 235
row 20 64 1
val 20 1
val 20 1
val 20 2
val 20 2
val 20 3
val 20 3
row 21 64 1
val 21 83
val 21 115
val 21 147
val 21 179
val 21 211
val 21 243
row 22 64 1
val 22 1
val 22 1
val 22 2
val 22 2
val 22 3
val 22 3
row 23 64 1
val 23 91
val 23 123
val 23 155
val 23 187
val 23 219
val 23 251
row 24 64 1
val 24 1
val 24 2
val 24 2
val 24 3
val 24 3
row 25 64 1
val 25 99
val 25 131
val 25 163
val 25 195
val 25 227
row 26 64 1
val 26 1
val 26 2
val 26 2
val 26 3
val 26 3
row 27 64 1
val 27 107
val 27 139
val 27 171
val 27 203
val 27 235
row 28 64 1
val 28 1
val 28 2
val 28 2
val 28 3
val 28 3
row 29 64 1
val 29 115
val 29 147
val 29 179
val 29 211
val 29 243
row 30 64 1
val 30 1
val 30 2
val 30 2
val 30 3
val 30 3
row 31 64 1
val 31 123
val 31 155
val 31 187
val 31 219
val 31 251
row 32 64 1
val 32 2
val 32 2
val 32 3
val 32 3
row 33 64 1
val 33 131
val 33 163
val 33 195
val 33 227
row 34 64 1
val 34 2
val 34 2
val 34 3
val 34 3
row 35 64 1
val 35 139
val 35 171
val 35 203
val 35 235
row 36 64 1
val 36 2
val 36 2
val 36 3
val 36 3
row 37 64 1
val 37 147
val 37 179
val 37 211
val 37 243
row 38 64 1
val 38 2
val 38 2
val 38 3
val 38 3
row 39 64 1
val 39 155
val 39 187
val 39 219
val 39 251
row 40 64 1
val 40 2
val 40 3
val 40 3
row 41 64 1
val 41 163
val 41 195
val 41 227
row 42 64 1
val 42 2
val 42 3
val 42 3
row 43 64 1
val 43 171
val 43 203
val 43 235
row 44 64 1
val 44 2
val 44 3
val 44 3
row 45 64 1
val 45 179
val 45 211
val 45 243
row 46 64 1
val 46 2
val 46 3
val 46 3
row 47 64 1
val 47 187
val 47 219
val 47 251
row 48 64 1
val 48 3
val 48 3
row 49 64 1
val 49 195
val 49 227
row 50 64 1
val 50 3
val 50 3
row 51 64 1
val 51 203
val 51 235
row 52 64 1
val 52 3
val 52 3
row 53 64 1
val 53 211
val 53 243
row 54 64 1
val 54 3
val 54 3
row 55 64 1
val 55 219
val 55 251
row 56 64 1
val 56 3
row 57 64 1
val 57 227
row 58 64 1
val 58 3
row 59 64 1
val 59 235
row 60 64 1
val 60 3
row 61 64 1
val 61 243
row 62 64 1
val 62 3
row 63 64 1
val 63 251

[gfwilliams]

Posted at 2014-03-31 by @gfwilliams

Yes, it's not quite right. It should stop after row 7. I think what you want is:

row 0 64 1
val 0 0
val 0 0
val 0 1
val 0 1
val 0 2
val 0 2
val 0 3
val 0 3
row 1 64 1
val 1 3
val 1 35
val 1 67
val 1 99
val 1 131
val 1 163
val 1 195
val 1 227
row 2 64 1
val 2 0
val 2 0
val 2 1
val 2 1
val 2 2
val 2 2
val 2 3
val 2 3
row 3 64 1
val 3 11
val 3 43
val 3 75
val 3 107
val 3 139
val 3 171
val 3 203
val 3 235
row 4 64 1
val 4 0
val 4 0
val 4 1
val 4 1
val 4 2
val 4 2
val 4 3
val 4 3
row 5 64 1
val 5 19
val 5 51
val 5 83
val 5 115
val 5 147
val 5 179
val 5 211
val 5 243
row 6 64 1
val 6 0
val 6 0
val 6 1
val 6 1
val 6 2
val 6 2
val 6 3
val 6 3
row 7 64 1
val 7 27
val 7 59
val 7 91
val 7 123
val 7 155
val 7 187
val 7 219
val 7 251

Try:

    raw2 : function(val) {
      digitalWrite(cs,0);
      spi.send ([0x9,0]); // output raw data
      digitalWrite(cs,1);
      for (var row=0;row<8;row++) {
        print ("row " + row + " " + val.length + " " + (row<val.length&7));
        digitalWrite(cs,0);
        for (var i=row;i<val.length;i+=8) {
          spi.send([row,val[i]]);
          print ("val " + row + " " + val[i]);
        }
        spi.send([0x0C,1]); // no shutdown
        digitalWrite(cs,1);
      }
    },

[gfwilliams]

Posted at 2016-05-14 by @gfwilliams

Just to add that I (finally) added support for multiple displays, now I have one to test with.

All documented here: http://www.espruino.com/MAX7219

Under 'Multiple chained MAX7219 (bigger than 8x8)'

[espruino-discuss2]

Posted at 2021-02-24 by Sigma

I got a big Matrix LED : 32 x 16
Can I draw it use module MAX7219 ?

How to set the device count ?

SPI2.setup({mosi:B15, sck:B13});
var disp = require("MAX7219").connect(SPI2, B14, 8); //  8 seems not work

var g = Graphics.createArrayBuffer(32, 16, 1);
g.flip = function() { disp.raw(g.buffer); };

g.drawString("Hello!", 0, 0, 1);
g.flip();

[gfwilliams]

Posted at 2021-02-24 by @gfwilliams

Does this work:

SPI2.setup({mosi:B15, sck:B13});
var disp = require("MAX7219").connect(SPI2, B14, 8);
var g = Graphics.createArrayBuffer(64, 8, 1);
g.flip = function() { disp.raw(g.buffer); };
g.drawString("Hello this is a very long string of text");
g.flip();

The issue may be that Espruino isn't aware that you want a 4x2 stack of matrices, and just assumes it is 8x1. I don't see anything in the module that would be limited to just 4 matrices.

If the code above does work then it's not a big problem - it's relatively easy to add some code that will rearrange things into the format that you want.

[espruino-discuss2]

Posted at 2021-02-25 by Sigma

Yeah，I have got it. Thx!
The long string tells out the order LED Matrix rendering.
Like this:

treat as a 8 x 8 x 16 scrren:

[gfwilliams]

Posted at 2021-02-25 by @gfwilliams

Great! Did you figure out how to sort the ordering?

Something like this should do it...

SPI2.setup({mosi:B15, sck:B13});
var disp = require("MAX7219").connect(SPI2, B14, 8);
var gdisp = Graphics.createArrayBuffer(64, 8, 1);
var g = Graphics.createArrayBuffer(32, 16, 1, {msb:true});
g.flip = function() {
  var im = new Uint8Array(35);
  im.set([32,8,1]);
  im.set(new Uint8Array(g.buffer), 3);
  gdisp.clear();
  gdisp.drawImage(im,0,0);
  im.set(new Uint8Array(g.buffer,32), 3);
  gdisp.drawImage(im,32,0);
  disp.raw(gdisp.buffer);
};
g.drawLine(0,0,32,16);
g.flip();

[espruino-discuss2]

Posted at 2022-05-10 by Sigma

SPI2.setup({
  mosi: B15,
  sck: B13
});
var disp = require("MAX7219").connect(SPI2, B14, 16);

/** 呼吸灯效 */
function breath() {
  var light = 0.01;
  var increase = true;

  setInterval(function () {
    if (increase) {
      light += 0.01;
    } else {
      light -= 0.01;
    }

    if (light > 0.99) {
      increase = false;
    } else if (light < 0.01) {
      increase = true;
    }
    disp.intensity(light); // 亮度
  }, 30);
}

function onInit() {
  var data = [
  0, 0, 0, 0, 96, 2, 36, 0,
  0, 0, 0, 0, 72, 2, 200, 33,
  0, 14, 0, 0, 32, 2, 36, 8,
  128, 0, 0, 0, 160, 1, 72, 41, 224, 15, 0, 0, 32, 2, 70, 16, 0, 28, 0, 30, 144, 7, 72, 40, 96, 2, 0, 0, 16, 2, 128, 63, 248, 49, 248, 48, 96, 121, 40, 46, 64, 2, 192, 0, 8, 2, 0, 30, 12, 0, 8, 34, 16, 49, 8, 32, 64, 50, 128, 49, 4, 2, 0, 0, 228, 3, 200, 33, 132, 1, 248, 63, 192, 63, 0, 33, 0, 2, 0, 0, 192, 4, 8, 38, 192, 1, 0, 0, 126, 2, 4, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 96, 4, 232, 33, 128, 0, 0, 0 ];
  disp.raw(new Uint8Array(data).buffer);

  breath();
}

onInit();