tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17487316.post3028571643254807024..comments2024-01-13T09:14:12.131+00:00Comments on The life of a Games Programmer: More hardware fun!Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15958965170878448339noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17487316.post-19632583910656919902007-01-16T13:05:00.000+00:002007-01-16T13:05:00.000+00:00The PIC isn't just for shifting it has to "scan" t...The PIC isn't just for shifting it has to "scan" the LED matrix as you can't just "set" them all at once.<br /><br />The PIC's will not only drive the LED MATRIX but also comunicate with a master controller which speaks to a PC; its not to be connected to the P4, just a PC.<br /><br />Since I need a PIC anyway, I'd rather try and to keep it as the only chip "if" possible... if not.. .they I'll use at least one to help drive the LED MATRIXMikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15958965170878448339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17487316.post-83822002013419678992007-01-16T10:28:00.000+00:002007-01-16T10:28:00.000+00:00Regardless what chip you use shift register would ...Regardless what chip you use shift register would be the most sensible solution IMHO. At the contoller end it takes only ten pins for driving LEDs (2 for column, 8 for row) which leaves couple of free pins even after RS232 to update the text. Bit-banging interface for C16 parallel port? :)<br /><br />If you decide to use TTL chips instead of PIC as shift registers, check out 74HC594/595 for 0.30-0.40 euros each.<br /><br />-- <br />TNTAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17487316.post-40243743610110710812007-01-15T21:02:00.000+00:002007-01-15T21:02:00.000+00:00Ooooo yeah... could do. Im trying to keep the chip...Ooooo yeah... could do. Im trying to keep the chip count down for power reasons, I want to run as many segments as I can from each PSU so each chip I add will cost. <br /><br />But if I can't manage, then yeah... these will be great, cheers.<br /><br />Its funny, Electronics reminds me of learning "C", its not the langauge thats the problem, its knowing all the functions in the C runtime; and electronics isn't the issue, its knowing all the chips you can get to do certain jobs.<br /><br />Ta!Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15958965170878448339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17487316.post-66127181328389752082007-01-15T13:14:00.000+00:002007-01-15T13:14:00.000+00:00You could use bunch of serial shift registers (e.g...You could use bunch of serial shift registers (e.g. 74164) for column selection. That way you need only two pins to control as many columns as you want, just add another '164 to the chain :)<br /><br />-- <br />TNTAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com