#299 TheMatrix

Building The Matrix (Boldport Club project #11) is an I²C-controlled 24x5 LED matrix display, powered by an AMS AS1130 LED driver.

Build

Notes

The Matrix is an I²C-controlled 24x5 LED matrix display, powered by an AMS AS1130 LED driver. It’s made of 0.2mm thick circuit board so it can slightly bend. A few can be chained together for a larger display.

The project was made possible by the kind support of AMS who donated the LED drivers, and Eurocircuits who subsidised the cost of the PCBs.

Now I have one built, time to test it out. So far

LedTest - first check under Arduino control
Firecracker - a firecracker simulacrum running on the Matrix
GameOfLife - Conway’s Game of Life running on the Matrix
KeypadControl - use a 20-button keypad to write a scrolling message on the Matrix

Parts

Ref	Item	Qty
IC1	AS1130 LED matrix driver IC, AMS AS1130	x1
C1	0.1µF 0805 SMD ceramic capacitor, Multicomp MC0805B104K500CT	x1
C2	10µF 0805 SMD ceramic capacitor, Multicomp MC0805X106K160CT (clear casing)	x1
R1-4	4.7KΩ 0805 SMD resistor, Multicomp 2446989	x4
J1	8 contacts 1 row 2.54 mm SMD header, Samtec TSM-108-01-T-SH	x1
LED1-120	red 0805 LEDs, Kingbright KPT-2012EC	x121 (1 spare)

kit_unboxing

Construction

The Matrix is laid out in a 5x24 matrix as described in the datasheet (Figure 54). This allows for using the AS1130 scrolling feature for scrolling without the need of communication with a microprocessor.

Schematic

Assembly

I used the Matrix stencil from OSHStencils and a hot-air gun for the assembly.

kit_stencil

I first did the LEDs on one side then the AMS1130 and supporting components on the reverse side with hot air. Then finally hand-soldered the pin connector.

kit_assembly_start

kit_assembly_led_placement

kit_assembly_connector

After an initial inspection, I only had a couple of manual fixups required:

two LEDs not connected properly after reflow
a solder bridge between two pins on the AMS1130 that wouldn’t clear under hot air