Ethernet Controlled LED Matrix

Overview

There are 10 SLM1608/1606 LED matrix display units used to create the Ethernet controlled LED matrix.

Explanation

The entire device could be easily built with standard wired components if there was no Ethernet controller which is available in SMD technology only. The 10 displays are mounted in 2 rows with 5 displays each. The main control signals consisting of red, green, bright, clock and reset are being shared by the 5 displays of one row while the 5 columns share the select signal. Both rows have separate red and green signals so that both displays can be updated in a column at once and one column after the other.

The LED matrix software consists of two parts including the firmware and a network client application for the PC. The basic hardware functionality is provided by the firmware while the actual images to be displayed are calculated by the PC application. The entire display can be updated 50 times a second from the PC allowing smooth scrolling. The PC client application is available for Linux and Windows.

The power supply of LED matrix needs to source all ten displays by providing a total current of 2A.