The MAX6953 from Dallas Maxim is a compact cathode-row display driver that interfaces a microprocessor (like PIC or AVR) to four 5×7 dot matrix LED display trough an I2C compatible serial interface. The Max chip includes some nice features like:
- low-power shutdown mode
- segment blinking
- test mode that forces all LEDs on
- 16-Step digital brightness control
This project can be considered both a led matrix controller and a development board for MAX6953. The project presents only the max6953 and the led matrix, if you want it to display anything, you’ll also need to stick a microcontroller in there and write some code. You might want to check this other article 50×7 LED Matrix which has everything included.
MAX6953 LED Matrix or development board: [Link]
The most significant part used in this project is Texas Instruments’ TLC5940 LED PWM driver. It uses a clocked serial data input, and provides 12 bits of PWM resolution on each of 16 outputs.
Normally, the TLC5940 would require one output for each LED element. Since there are three elements per RGB LED, this would add up very quickly; the planned array would require 3 * 24 or 72 TLC5940 chips.
16×24 RGB LED Matrix: [Via] - [Link]
Wow, this is the biggest LED matrix display i ever seen made in a DIY project. Seven 74ABT574s provide the row drive and 10 column transistors with the whole display refreshed 100 times a second. If you consider starting this project, you have to have some experience, its not suitable for beginners because of it’s complexity and lack of information about building it
560 LED matrix display: [Via] - [Link]
Member Spikenzie etched his own 8×8 LED matrix PCB. He’s also posted helpful instructions and artwork used in his process -
The 8×8 LED matrix is a building block. There is no processor or circuitry other then then LEDs and the copper traces. It is simply an eight by eight 64-LED matrix on a PCB. The 8×8 has 16 pins on one edge, 8 connect to the rows and the other 8 to the columns. This allows the maker to use their preference of controlling circuitry.
The way a matrix works can be a bit mysterious at first. Of course building one yourself is the best way to learn
[VIA] - [LINK]