GUI Controlled LED Matrix

I recently got an Arduino Uno, and it quickly became my favorite toy. After learning the basics of how the platform operates, I became interested in interfacing the Arduino with personal computers. After seeing a large number of LED matrix projects on Instructables and the rest of the web, the LED matrix seemed like a perfect project to attempt to interface with a computer.

I chose to build a 3 x 3 matrix, because I thought it would be best to start small (and I did not have enough LED's for a larger one). Also, 3 x 3 is about the largest size it is safe to power directly from the Arduino, without using an external power supply. However, the design for the matrix and the software in this Instructable should be fairly easy to scale up to 8 x 8 or so, by using an external 5V power supply and some transistors.



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Step 1 Tools, Materials and Resources

Unlike most of my projects, this one is not very hardware focused, so the materials list is not too long.  If you have played with an Arduino before, you will likely have all of these parts on hand.

To build the matrix, you will need:

• Arduino microcontroller:  I used an Arduino Uno, but pretty much any will work.
• 9 LED's:  Any sort should work.  I had some left over from my bicycle's spoke lights
• 3 resistors:  These are to prevent the pins/LED's from burning out.  I used the 330 Ohm variety, but anything around there should work
• A breadboard
• 1 Foot of thin gauge electrical wire:  To connect the negative ends of the matrix to the breadboard
• 6 breadboard jumpers
• Soldering materials

To run the software:

• A Mac or PC with the Arduino IDE and Python 2.6/2.7.  Unfortunately, I could not get Python 3 to talk to the Arduino, so you'll have to use python 2.

Comments

[jchant]

Hi, just thought i would tell you that you could control more than 64 LEDs on a Uno if you use some fancy charlieplexing. although a control circuit would probably be easier!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlieplexing

http://www.instructables.com/id/CharliePlexed-LED-string-for-the-Arduino/

[GugaTampa]

Jchant Hello, I am layman in the field of electronics and I'm trying to mount a curtain of RGB LEDs, the project is much larger q this, will have 30 rows by 48 columns with tri-color RGB LEDs. I would like your help to put the project into practice stating what I'll need for this, the components and how to connect them. I'll have the help of an electronics technician to assist me in the project. I thank your attention.

[Technochicken]

Thanks for the correction. That's a really clever way of expanding an LED array.