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Add support for chained panels #4

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seattleandrew opened this issue Mar 14, 2013 · 51 comments
Open

Add support for chained panels #4

seattleandrew opened this issue Mar 14, 2013 · 51 comments

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@seattleandrew
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Now that the Arduino Due is out, I think it should be possible to update the code to support chained displays since previous Arduino's lacked the CPU speed and RAM to support more than one display.
@ellensundh
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I think so too!

@protonmaster
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I have almost updated the driver to support multiple panels.
Currently tested up to 3 panels on a Mega 2560.

The driver currently has AVR specific assembly code in it which will need to be updated to support the Due. As the project I am working on may require the Dues speed, I may update the driver to support the Due as well.

Thanks

@seattleandrew
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Hey @protonmaster any news on the support for chainable code + Due Support? I'm willing to create a bounty to update the public code to support those features :)

@protonmaster
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Hi @seattleandrew thanks for reminding me to get back to this.
I have pushed the AVR code for chaining multiple of the 16x32 panels. The code expects the panels to be chained in a long line. That is 1x2, 1x3, 1x4 etc. It cannot be used to make a square for example.
You will find that you will run out of RAM pretty quickly with this. On the Mega2560 with 1x4 configuration, it uses most of the RAM.
I tried allowing this to work on the Due, but I do not know enough about the ARM to proceed, and will therefore not be adding this functionality.

The main difference to the user is the constructor. It has an other parameter to say how many panels wide the system is.
RGBmatrixPanel(uint8_t a, uint8_t b, uint8_t c, uint8_t sclk, uint8_t latch, uint8_t oe, boolean dbuf, uint8_t pwidth);

Let me know how it goes, and I will fix any issues you find.

Thanks

@seattleandrew
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Hey again @protonmaster the panels I was hoping to chain up were two 32x32 and one of the main reasons why I was going with the ARM (Due) was to get extra power to run other lights/functions. I'm really hoping that I can just toss money at this until it gets solved.

@protonmaster
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Hey @seattleandrew
I have not had a chance to use the 32x32 panels nor do I plan to do any projects with them.
At the moment the AVR Mega has the power I require and I am not familiar enough with the ARM (Due) to port the lower level code over.
I found with the Mega running 4x 16x32 panels that I was able to have a number of other lights/buttons and other functions running with out issue.

What is the problem/project that you are trying to complete?

@seattleandrew
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I'm upgrading a costume piece (helmet) from using two red 16x24 LED displays to a helmet that uses two large RGB panels, the red panels will become a mouth, I'll also be running a microphone, a small OLED display, and two RGB LED strips (neopixel). It's a large project since it's an upgrade for a costume I use during shows I perform at.

I'm okay with getting a Mega, I just assumed that with all of the hardware I was running that ARM would be better... I'm starting to think that ARM is a hassle in the Arduino world.

@protonmaster
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Hey, sounds like a really interesting project @seattleandrew
I think you may need to use multiple Megas (just for the RAM and speed) or use the ARM.

At the moment the ARM is not well supported by 3rd party drivers (as you are finding out)

How many 32x32 panels will you be using? And what sorts of patterns would you show on them?
I ask, as it might be possible to use 2x 16x32 in place of a 32x32 but you will need to be more careful when writing your patterns to be pixel buffers.

@seattleandrew
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@protonmaster I'm just planning to use two of the 32x32 and I typically create eyes with animations. I'll share a video of some of my stuff: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bg1WKvRFk10

@protonmaster
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@seattleandrew thanks for the video clip, I now have a reasonable idea of what you are trying to do. Very cool.

When are you wanting to complete this new costume by? (Date?)

Thanks

@seattleandrew
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@protonmaster I'd love to get this done by New Years (I have all the parts), but if that date slips-- then before September 2014 (Penny Arcade Expo) would be good

@protonmaster
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Sept 2014 I can do.
Christmas/New Years is getting a little soon.
I will look in to the AVR and the 32x32 matrix
I already have the DUE, I will get in some 32x32 panels and see what I can do, when I have a spare minute.

Thanks

@protonmaster
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BTW, the RGB panels pull quit a lot of current when they are displaying a bright image.
How are you planning on powering this?

Thanks

@protonmaster
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Depending on my work load (day job) an other commitments I might be able to get this done by Christmas, but I do not promise anything.

@seattleandrew
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@protonmaster I'm going to power it via several chained 8AA Battery Packs, this is to both acquire high amperage as well as 12v to power some potential components (EL wire/tape). I don't plan to engage all the LEDs ALL the time, so it's a concern but not as bad as you think. No promises, totally understood. Like I said before, I am willing to compensate you for your work for the community.

@protonmaster
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@seattleandrew lets get this thing working before we worry about any conpensation. I just enjoy working on this stuff, so I am not too worried about it.
I also do electronics, so I could work out some power solutions for you as well if we find that the AAs are not enough.

Thanks

@seattleandrew
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@protonmaster that sounds good to me :) In the meantime, I'll try to pick up a Mega just so I can Proof-Of-Concept the helmet until the Due code is ready.

@Scott216
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Scott216 commented Dec 4, 2013

I tried to setup two 16x32 panels with a Mega, but I can't get it working. I posted details in the Adafruit forum:
http://forums.adafruit.com/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=22521&sid=70f7a86a884ac928fea34dd3f518b357&start=30#p234271

@protonmaster
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Hi @Scott216, I have tried your sketch with this version of the RGB matrix with out issue.
I hope you are able to get your project going. Cable length to the display should be short as possible, and the port connections must be correct.
The graphics frame buffer uses a lot of RAM, if all the RAM is used the project may just crash.

@protonmaster
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Hi @seattleandrew, I have only just ordered the 32x32 Panels. Things have been pretty busy at work and I also had an awesome weekend climbing. Its Summer here in New Zealand, so not so inclined to sit inside working on this.
But the Christmas break is coming up, so some project time is always nice.

@seattleandrew
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@protonmaster that's super cool. It's winter here in Seattle and it's freezing cold. I hope you enjoy your summer. I'm still hoping to do Something with the 32x32 panels. I think the end result will look awesome if we ever get it done.

@Scott216
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Scott216 commented Dec 7, 2013

I got it working. I was using the version of RGBmatrixPanel.cpp in this repository. It worked when I downloaded the version from this forum post: http://bit.ly/1gMEJ4h

Have you thought about forking this repository to hold your version?

Also, it doesn't work with double buffering turned on. Is that expected with your version. I'm using two panels on an Arduino Mega.

@protonmaster
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Hi @Scott216
Double buffering on my version works fine with up to four panels on a Mega2560. Though the RAM is almost completely used. Using double buffering on the Mega (which has 4kB RAM) should use ~3kB of RAM for the frame buffer, leaving 1kB for other things.

I thought I had forked my version, I will have a look in to that.

As for the version at http://bit.ly/1gMEJ4h it looks like he made similar changes to what I did.

@protonmaster
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My fork of the code is here: https://github.com/protonmaster/RGB-matrix-Panel

@NetForces
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@protonmaster I picked-up some outdoor high brightness panels from China. Those are apparently 1/4 scanning compared to 1/8 scanning. Any quick clue on how the library could be modified to use those ?

@protonmaster
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Hi,

I no longer support this software.
I put it in the public domain as I had modified it for my work and thought
I should give something back.

I will have a quick look to see what is required for 1/4 vs 1/8 scanning
for feasibility.

Thanks

Quantum Entanglement; Faster than light Information Transfer, Experiment
http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080813/full/news.2008.1038.html:

The experiment shows that in quantum mechanics at least, some things
transcend space-time, says Terence Rudolph, a theorist at Imperial College
London. It also shows that humans have attached undue importance to the
three dimensions of space and one of time we live in, he argues. “We think
space and time are important because that’s the kind of monkeys we are.”

Nature Magazine
http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080813/full/news.2008.1038.html

On Thu, Jun 26, 2014 at 4:14 AM, NetForces [email protected] wrote:

@protonmaster https://github.com/protonmaster I picked-up some outdoor
high brightness panels from China. Those are apparently 1/4 scanning
compared to 1/8 scanning. Any quick clue on how the library could be
modified to use those ?

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Reply to this email directly or view it on GitHub
#4 (comment)
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@NetForces
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Great thanks.

Sent from my iPhone

On Jun 25, 2014, at 5:42 PM, protonmaster [email protected] wrote:

Hi,

I no longer support this software.
I put it in the public domain as I had modified it for my work and thought
I should give something back.

I will have a quick look to see what is required for 1/4 vs 1/8 scanning
for feasibility.

Thanks

Quantum Entanglement; Faster than light Information Transfer, Experiment
http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080813/full/news.2008.1038.html:

The experiment shows that in quantum mechanics at least, some things
transcend space-time, says Terence Rudolph, a theorist at Imperial College
London. It also shows that humans have attached undue importance to the
three dimensions of space and one of time we live in, he argues. “We think
space and time are important because that’s the kind of monkeys we are.”

Nature Magazine
http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080813/full/news.2008.1038.html

On Thu, Jun 26, 2014 at 4:14 AM, NetForces [email protected] wrote:

@protonmaster https://github.com/protonmaster I picked-up some outdoor
high brightness panels from China. Those are apparently 1/4 scanning
compared to 1/8 scanning. Any quick clue on how the library could be
modified to use those ?

—
Reply to this email directly or view it on GitHub
#4 (comment)
.

—
Reply to this email directly or view it on GitHub.

@pshanischara
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i have an problem with displaying the data in a chain. i have connected the display using spi but they are displaying the same content at a time instead of sliding of data please help me with it

@Therolon
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Any luck with the 1/4 scan RGB led's matrix?

@pshanischara
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not yet

On Wed, Aug 24, 2016 at 2:39 AM, Therolon [email protected] wrote:

Any luck with the 1/4 scan RGB led's matrix?

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@laundryjuara2016
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hi,

anyone can tell me how to wire rgb p10 scan 1/4 to arduino uno?

thank u

@pshanischara
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pshanischara commented Feb 27, 2017 via email

@laundryjuara2016
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I have to do that, but its no succes. I used wire from github adafruit , but its for 1:8 not for 1:4 scan, so my experiment not succes.

Can you send me where is the link?
Thanks u

@pshanischara
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pshanischara commented Feb 27, 2017 via email

@laundryjuara2016
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Or you have other refference link?

@FabriTEA
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FabriTEA commented May 2, 2017

if anyone is still interested i've forked the libraries to support multiple inline 16x32 panels.
https://github.com/FabriTEA/RGB_Matrix_Panel_16xMultiple

@casaservice
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hello FabriTEA your code won't work for 3 led matrix the maximum is two led matrix of 16 * 32 when i connecte three led matrix and i change the n constant to 3 the code won't work for me

@FabriTEA
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FabriTEA commented May 5, 2017

@casaservice i'll look into it today! ;) Thanks!

@Sab78
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Sab78 commented Dec 15, 2017 •
edited
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Hello FabriTEA your code work for 2 led matrix of 64 * 32 1/16 scan?
And 16 * 32 matrices with scanning 1/4 are supported?

@protonmaster
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protonmaster commented Dec 15, 2017 via email

@yoeckoe
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yoeckoe commented Mar 19, 2018

for 16*32 matrices with 1/4 scan rate you can use this mod RgbPanelMatrix library
https://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=503416.0

@marcmerlin
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If you can run on Teensy or ESP32, you can chain panels with SmartMatrix all the way to 128x128.
https://github.com/marcmerlin/SmartMatrix_GFX offers a GFX compat layer on top of SmartMatrix so that you don't have to change your code.

@jtejeda1
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for 16*32 matrices with 1/4 scan rate you can use this mod RgbPanelMatrix library
https://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=503416.0

Hey i would like to know how can i change the library to support 32*32 chained matrices
please if you can tell me or edit it

@protonmaster
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protonmaster commented Jan 27, 2019 via email

@marcmerlin
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marcmerlin commented Jan 27, 2019 •
edited
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@jtejeda1 please look at https://github.com/marcmerlin/SmartMatrix_GFX and https://github.com/pixelmatix/SmartMatrix for a library that supports chained panels

@PaintYourDragon
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@jtejeda1 You can chain two 32x32 panels by passing a width value of 64 to the constructor (a 64x32 panel is functionally the same as two 32x32 panels). But that's as far as it goes. More flexible chaining support is theoretically possible but would require a complete do-over of the library, it's an extremely non-trivial change.

I'll second the recommendation to use the SmartMatrix library if you're able to work with Teensy. It really wrings every bit of performance out of that device!

@luftaquila
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@FabriTEA Hello I'm getting same issue that your code doesn't works more than two panels. Is there any solution for this? Thank you a lot.

@marcmerlin
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@PaintYourDragon SmartMatrix also works well enough with ESP32 nowadays. I currently use it for 64x32x3 (i.e 64x96) without issues.
https://community.pixelmatix.com/t/new-smartmatrix-gfx-based-shirt/405/2 for an example
It is pretty memory hungry on ESP32 though due to multiple buffers used for DMA pushes, so if you need much higher resolution, teensy 3.6 is indeed the best chip (it will go all the way to 128x128 although with a slightly compromised refresh rate).

@vydarenyj
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Some library for Arduino uno chain, pleas more than two pannels , works only two 32x16 (64x16) chained from @FabriTEA if i try use more panel is black Thanx

@luftaquila
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@vydarenyj I see that the problem is lack of UNO's memory. Since the flash memory of UNO is usually 32KB, it is not enough to control more than 2 panels. You can check it by print free memory through serial monitor.

@marcmerlin
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@vydarenyj you need both RAM and horsepower to run more RGBPanels, and uno has neither. Arduino Mega has more RAM but it still lacks the horsepower (i.e. raw CPU speed to update bits at higher rate).
By the time you are running 64x32 or above, you really need a faster 32bit CPU.
This library now has support for ESP32 which will run much higher resolutions.

That said, if you do want 64x64 and above, you should indeed consider the SmartMatrix library with teensy 3.6 or ESP32: https://github.com/pixelmatix/SmartMatrix

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