18 replies to this topic

[Jonny Wire]

Hi,

second post, first question...
I bought a 4-digit-shield and its a great device.

I want to set single LEDs. Its not so simple because the only way to do this are custom fonts.
OK, i wrote the .NET code after i read the arduino code.

Arduino:

                Wire.beginTransmission(_address); // transmit to device
                Wire.send(0x05);
                Wire.send(0x80);  //this is the address of the first custom character.  There are 24 of these.

                //each digit is 5x7
                Wire.send(B1000000);  //col1  show only 1 led this is what the 1 is for
                Wire.send(B0000000); //col2
                Wire.send(B0000000);
                Wire.send(B0000000);
                Wire.send(B0000000);//col5 all leds off

Netduino:

                byte[] fontA = new byte[]
                                        {
                                            0x05,
                                            0x80,
                                            40,

                                        };
                ds.device.Execute(new I2CDevice.I2CTransaction[] {
                I2CDevice.CreateWriteTransaction(fontA)
            }, ds.i2ctimeout);

                ds.device.Execute(new I2CDevice.I2CTransaction[] 
                                {
                                    I2CDevice.CreateWriteTransaction(new byte[] { (byte)MatrixUnit.A, 0x80 })
                                }, ds.i2ctimeout);

The Problem is, i dont know how to send the binary code-command.

Have anyone ideas?
Here a few examples using the 4-digit-shield:
dennisdel.com
Channel9

Thanks.

Greets Jonny

[Stefan W.]

You just need to translate the binary literals to decimal or hex literals - B1000000 is 0x40/64 (as you already have), the rest are zero, add those to the data array that you have (although i don't see the reason for your second execute - that doesn't have an analogy in the arduino part).

[Jonny Wire]

thx.

i found the same way, but i think its not the best...
i use a mapping table for hex <> binary. I wrote down the 7 (!) values of the state of the column.

byte[] font = new byte[]
                    {
                        0x05, // set font
                        0x80, // font RAM
                        0x63, // col 1
                        0x5D, // col 2 
                        0x3B, // col 3
                        0x5D, // col 4
                        0x63  // col 5
                    };

// set font
ds.device.Execute(new I2CDevice.I2CTransaction[]
                        {
                            I2CDevice.CreateWriteTransaction(font)
                        }, ds.i2ctimeout);

// set font to Unit
ds.device.Execute(new I2CDevice.I2CTransaction[]
                        {
                            I2CDevice.CreateWriteTransaction(new byte[] {(byte) MatrixUnit.A, 0x80})
                        }, ds.i2ctimeout);

Is there anyway to convert binary to hex? in this case its simpler.

But i got it to work to show my girlfriend hearts on the 4-digit at 2am ... :/

Hearts

Attached Files

•  4digit mapping.txt   3.5KB   5 downloads

[Stefan W.]

binary<->hex conversion is pretty simple, you take groups of 4 binary digits and convert them - you don't need to make a table for the whole byte - 0x78 is 0111 1000 in binary (you can convert the 7 and 8 seperately - works because 16 is a power of 2).

[Jonny Wire]

yes thats true and i know that ... but i dont know how to write down binary digits (bits) in C# and send to the driver.
I dont want to use hex ... because the digits have binary states.

for example, i want this arduino code in C#

Wire.send(B0000000);

thx.

Jonny

[CW2]

but i dont know how to write down binary digits (bits) in C# and send to the driver.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to write binary numbers in C# directly - if you don't want to use hex, you can define constants like const byte B000000 = 0, const byte B00001111 = 0x0F etc. (or you can use enum).

[Jonny Wire]

ok, i write a mapping class thx, i will post my result.

[Jonny Wire]

I got it to run... for one digit I set one custom font for each digit... and then i set the custom font to the digit... But only the custom digit with adress 0x80 (first) runs. Set the 0x80 to an other digit it runs for this digit. I attached the project. Thx for response. Greets Jonny

Attached Files

•  4-digit Shield_0.1.zip   173.97KB   3 downloads

[Jonny Wire]

I don't get it to work. Only the first custom font is correct. All others shows single digits when i send 1111111. Anyone who have a 4-digit-shild? Thx Jonny

[ShieldStudio]

Your loading of custom characters seem correct. The problems when you display the newly created characters the address is not 0x80, 0x85, 0x8A and 0x8F but rather RAM0x00 to RAM0x03 or to display the inverse use 0x80 to 0x83. The reason address 0x80 works because it is displaying your custom character at Font Address 0x00 with inverse set. For your code when you write 0x85 it displays junk in RAM05 - actually the inverse graphic of this. Same for 0x8A will display RAM10 which is a default font character. Let me know how it goes

[Jonny Wire]

Thx for your help. But i dont know how to set the RAM for the Shield. I know only the way to set hex-adress which is not the font-adress. Have you a little samplecode how to load the font ram correctly? Greets from Bavaria/Germany. Jonny

[ShieldStudio]

Jonny, Modify your ledmatrix.cs to look like this. I've added RAMAddres in the code below. So now RAM0 will write to MatrixUnit.Am RAM1 will write to MatrixUnit.B etc... public void WriteCustomFont(BinaryCode col1, BinaryCode col2, BinaryCode col3, BinaryCode col4, BinaryCode col5, MatrixUnit panel) { // select font for panel byte fontRam = new byte(); byte RAMAddress = 0; switch(panel) { case MatrixUnit.A: fontRam = 0x80; // custom font 1 RAMAddress = 0x00; break; case MatrixUnit.B: fontRam = 0x85; // custom font 2 RAMAddress = 0x01; break; case MatrixUnit.C: fontRam = 0x8A; // custom font 3 RAMAddress = 0x02; break; case MatrixUnit.D: fontRam = 0x8F; // custom font 4 RAMAddress = 0x03; break; } byte[] buffer = new byte[7]; buffer[0] = 0x05; // set font buffer[1] = fontRam; // font RAM buffer[2] = (byte)col1; // col 1 buffer[3] = (byte)col2; // col 2 buffer[4] = (byte)col3; // col 3 buffer[5] = (byte)col4; // col 4 buffer[6] = (byte)col5; // col 5 // initialisize font device.Execute(new I2CDevice.I2CTransaction[] { I2CDevice.CreateWriteTransaction(buffer) }, i2ctimeout); // set font device.Execute(new I2CDevice.I2CTransaction[] { I2CDevice.CreateWriteTransaction(new byte[] {(byte) panel, RAMAddress}) }, i2ctimeout); }

[Jonny Wire]

Hi, thx a lot. Its looking to easy to be true I test it in the evening and give you feedback. thx. greets Jonny

[Jonny Wire]

Hi,

sorry, its not working. i use your methode and set matrix A to:

ds.WriteCustomFont(BinaryCode.B1010101, BinaryCode.B1010101, BinaryCode.B1010101, BinaryCode.B1010101, BinaryCode.B1010101, MatrixUnit.A);

The shield is off.

When i read the documentation i understand it the other way (my first way to initialisize.
Driver documentation
--> page 18: this table i dont understand how i use it.

I hope i (we) get it to work.

Thx
Greets
Jonny

[ShieldStudio]

I've posted a quick(not pretty) example for you to demonstrate how to use the Custom Font RAM. Please go the the download section on ShieldStudio.com Under the heading "ShieldStudio 4-digit Shield with Netduino" you will find "How to create custom characters using Netduino" Please let me know how it goes?

[Jonny Wire]

Big THX. Its working with my code. I write a class to use it. I want to donate but you have no flattr/paypal. So i buy another 4-digit-shield Greets Jonny

[Jonny Wire]

First example with animations

[ShieldStudio]

Big THX.
Its working with my code.
I write a class to use it.

I want to donate but you have no flattr/paypal. So i buy another 4-digit-shield

Greets
Jonny

Glad I could help.

[Jonny Wire]

I finished the first (quick n dirty) version of my Class.
Can be found here with example video --> Suplanus.de

I have few more ideas for coming versions

Greets
Johann