I want to know the best way to display ASCII binary code to a 7×5 LED matrix (cathode). The way I'm thinking to approach right now involves an decoder for each column (containing 7 bits, regarding the lines), and a multiplexer that receives the 35 decoded entries and outputs 7 bits. There is also a shift register in the same clock as the MUX to set HIGH in the columns the multiplexer set LOW the lines that are supposed to light. I wonder if that is the best way to do this, considering that the column decoder would be huge. Thanks for your time!
PS. Also, I forgot to mention, I am using a FPGA for this project
Electronic – Displaying ASCII codes to an 7×5 LED Matrix
decoderledled-matrixmultiplexer
Best Answer
Normally, LED matrix displays such as these are not all tied to 1 common cathode. Rather, they are arranged in a matrix:
Most embedded processors have enough programmable GPIO pins to drive such a display. Here is a project in which an Atmel embedded processor (Arduino) is used to drive an 8 x 8 LED matrix.
Once built, you can program the embedded processor to display your ASCII data in any number of ways. As 5 binary 7 bit numbers in each of the 5 vertical columns. As a graphical character as defined by this table:
Since an embedded processor is being used, you imagination is free to create any pattern to represent your data.