Hi,
What do i need to do if i want to add more LEDs? Do i need a better microcontroller?
And how about using RGB LEDs, so we can get a picture or something colourful ?
Thanks a lot...
More LEDs and Different colours ???
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Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.
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Re: More LEDs and Different colours ???
yes you'd need a bigger microcontroller like the one in an arduino. the minipov3 doesnt have that many pins!
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Re: More LEDs and Different colours ???
Alternatively you can run quite a few LED's with the attiny2313 (the micro-controller used in the kit), the two possible methods are multiplexing and charlieplexing.
With multiplexing you can run up to N*M led's off of N+M pins. (that makes 72 leds, the limit on the attiny2313 if you dont use the reset pin)
With charliplexing you can run n*(n-1) led's off n pins. (that makes 272 led's, also limited by not using the reset pin)
One thing to take into account is that with either of these methods, the code to light individual leds is more complex and you have to alternate led's on and off very quickly to be able to animate or anything of that sort. There are some good instructables on the topic if you want to learn more.
Hope that helps.
With multiplexing you can run up to N*M led's off of N+M pins. (that makes 72 leds, the limit on the attiny2313 if you dont use the reset pin)
With charliplexing you can run n*(n-1) led's off n pins. (that makes 272 led's, also limited by not using the reset pin)
One thing to take into account is that with either of these methods, the code to light individual leds is more complex and you have to alternate led's on and off very quickly to be able to animate or anything of that sort. There are some good instructables on the topic if you want to learn more.
Hope that helps.
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- Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2008 5:21 pm
Re: More LEDs and Different colours ???
A third option is to use a shift register, so that you send the data out one byte at a time. This allows you to run infinitely many LEDs from 3-4 pins, at the cost of slower refresh (you have to send out the entire 'list' of LEDs to change one of them).
Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.