32x8 Dot Matrix Arduino Code

5 min read Jul 25, 2024

32x8 Dot Matrix Arduino Code

In this article, we will explore how to control a 32x8 dot matrix display using Arduino. We will provide a step-by-step guide on how to connect the display to your Arduino board and provide the necessary code to get you started.

Hardware Requirements

32x8 Dot Matrix Display
Arduino Board (any type)
Breadboard
Jumper Wires
Power Supply (optional)

Connecting the Display to Arduino

Before we dive into the code, let's connect the display to our Arduino board. The 32x8 dot matrix display typically has the following pins:

VCC: Connect to Arduino's 5V pin
GND: Connect to Arduino's GND pin
DIN: Connect to Arduino's digital pin (we will use pin 12 in this example)
CLK: Connect to Arduino's digital pin (we will use pin 13 in this example)
CS: Connect to Arduino's digital pin (we will use pin 11 in this example)

The Code

Here is the Arduino code to control the 32x8 dot matrix display:

#include 

#define CS_PIN 11 // Connect to CS pin on the display
#define DIN_PIN 12 // Connect to DIN pin on the display
#define CLK_PIN 13 // Connect to CLK pin on the display

MAX7219 mx(CS_PIN, DIN_PIN, CLK_PIN);

void setup() {
  mx.begin();
}

void loop() {
  mx.clear();
  mx.println("Hello, World!");
  mx.update();
  delay(1000);
}

In this code, we include the MAX7219 library, which is a popular library for controlling dot matrix displays. We define the pins we connected the display to, and create an instance of the MAX7219 class.

In the setup() function, we call the begin() function to initialize the display. In the loop() function, we clear the display using the clear() function, print the text "Hello, World!" using the println() function, and update the display using the update() function. We also add a 1-second delay using the delay() function.

Customizing the Code

You can customize the code to display your own text or images on the display. You can use the println() function to display text, or use the drawBitmap() function to display images.

For example, to display a custom image, you can use the following code:

#include 

// Define the image data
byte image[] = {
  0x01, 0x02, 0x04, 0x08, 0x10,
  0x20, 0x40, 0x80, 0x00, 0x00,
  0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
  0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
};

void setup() {
  mx.begin();
}

void loop() {
  mx.clear();
  mx.drawBitmap(0, 0, image, 8, 8);
  mx.update();
  delay(1000);
}

This code defines an image data array and uses the drawBitmap() function to display the image on the display.

Conclusion

In this article, we have learned how to control a 32x8 dot matrix display using Arduino. We have provided a step-by-step guide on how to connect the display to your Arduino board and provided the necessary code to get you started. With this code, you can customize the display to show your own text or images.

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any questions or need further assistance.

32x8 Dot Matrix Arduino Code