[simpits-tech] Solid-state LED matrix help

[dabigboy at cox.net]

Alright, it's decided, I'm buying myself an Arduino. I'm starting to understand this stuff well enough that I think I could tackle the Arduino......I love my Phidgets, but I think an Arduino would just open up a lot more possibilities, plus it wouldn't be too costly (ergo, not having to buy a separate $80+ board for something that only does a fairly narrow set of thing, plus not having any way to interface air core motors to Phidgets at all).

Thanks for the input....now to research "bit-banging"......do I need to put Google in NSFW mode? :)

Matt

---- Jim Sturcbecher <jimsturs at xs4all.nl> wrote: 
> Yes, an Arduino or any small microcontroller would work. You
> use a process called "bit-banging". (No this is not any reference
> to chance adult encounters in the night). Anyone who does micro
> programming on this list should be able to help. Unfortunately,
> I am heavily involved with another project at the moment and don't
> have any spare time.
> 
> Oh yes, you need to find the pinouts of the display. Given the
> choice, I would probably use the Arduino.
> 
> Good luck,
> Jim.
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: simpits-tech-bounces at simpits.org
> [mailto:simpits-tech-bounces at simpits.org] On Behalf Of dabigboy at cox.net
> Sent: 19 July 2011 06:37
> To: simpits-tech at simpits.org
> Subject: [simpits-tech] Solid-state LED matrix help
> 
> Just wondering if anyone could offer some advice here. I scored an old
> Apollo 612b Loran a while back, to build into a generic GPS for X-Plane
> (since I can't see spending $5k+ on a nice KLN-94 to interface directly,
> though that would be awesome...) Handily, the dual-concentric rotary
> encoder, push buttons, LED matrix panels, and LED annunciators are all on
> their own easily-detached panel. Interfacing the encoder, buttons, and
> annuciators should be fairly straighforward, but I'm stuck on the
> solid-state LED matrices.
> 
> This seems to be what I have:
> http://www.decadecounter.com/vta/articleview.php?item=750
> 
> Specifically, mine is the QDSP-2007. Unfortunately I have pretty much zero
> experience when it comes to making microcontrollers and writing assembly
> code, but it sounds like this may be fairly straightforward (if a bit
> tedious to actually use) for someone with a little more experience to wire
> up.
> 
> Does anyone know of an existing microcontroller card of some sort that would
> talk to this little guy? Is it something an Arduino might be able to drive
> without any special intermediary circuits (just using the data pins)?
> 
> If anyone could offer advice or just point me in the right direction, I
> would appreciate it. My next plan is to hack one of those little 1.5"
> keychain photo frames (already found a solution for this that will probably
> work OK) and put it in place of the matrices, but they sure do have a cool
> retro appeal. Even if I stick with the 1.5" photo frame, it would be nice to
> use the LED matrices somewhere else.
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> Matt
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