Tutorial 12cm 12V 7segments gear indicator with GameDash

Hi guys!

I have got a 4 inches 7-segment LED and arduino: let's start a Gear Indicator!


12cm x 7cm

The closer specs are these :
http://www.led-display.cc/Single-Di...4-Inch-Single-Digit-7-Segment-LED-Display.htm

I bought TPIC6c595 : a power logic 8-bit shift register

This works with common anode and can sink high voltage (50V and 150mA) http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/tpic6b595.pdf
It will need only one resistor per segment (less soldering! than transistor + 2 resistors)

Here is the schematic between arduino and 6c595


Some pictures of the protoboard:


the board lost in the middle of the giant LCD



Here is a video of the arduino driving the display:

- no Simtools connection yet at this stage
- only a simple counter
- using SPI library (faster than ShifOut library)​

Here is the arduino code

Code:

/*
Shift Register Example for 74HC595 shift register by Tom Igoe
Digital Pot Control by Tom Igoe
Thanks to Heather Dewey-Hagborg for the original tutorial, 2005
Thanks to CrossRoads!
by RacingMat 09-2014
*/
// include the SPI library:
#include <SPI.h>

byte fontArray[] = {
// dp-a-b-c-d-e-f-g
0b11101110, // 0
0b00101000, // 1
0b11001101, // 2
0b01101101, // 3
0b00101011, // 4
0b01100111, // 5
0b11100111, // 6
0b00101100, // 7
0b11101111, // 8
0b01101111, // 9
0b00010000, // DP
};

//Pin connected to Data in SER IN pin 2 of 6c595
const int dataPin = 11;
//Pin connected to latch pin (SRCK)pin 15 of 6c595
const int latchPin = 13;
//Pin connected to clock pin (RCK) pin 10 of 6c595 as the slave select
const int slaveSelectPin = 10;

void setup() {
// set the Pins as output:
pinMode(dataPin, OUTPUT);
pinMode(latchPin, OUTPUT);
pinMode (slaveSelectPin, OUTPUT);
Serial.begin(9600);
// initialize SPI:
SPI.begin();
// take the SS pin low to select the chip:
digitalWrite(slaveSelectPin,LOW);

}

void loop() {
for (int i=0; i <= 10; i++){
delay(500);
digitalWrite (slaveSelectPin, LOW); // << RCLK line goes low
SPI.transfer (fontArray[i]); // << SRCLK goes high-low 8 times to output 8 bits of data
digitalWrite (slaveSelectPin, HIGH); // data outputs change on this rising edge << RCLK line goes high to move data into output register
}
}

Arduino
What Arduino do you need?
a small arduino nano v3 is enough
3€ on ebay
or on dx.com http://www.dx.com/fr/p/nano-3-0-atmel-atme...-arduino-152052

Any model fits, you only have to check that there is a USB socket.

For example, Pro Mini Arduino at 2€ doesn't fit
as it has no USB port and requires a FDTI cable...
Pro Mini atmega328 Board 5V 16M Arduino​

1/ Final arduino code
I'm using a trick to speed up the reading of serial information
As i'm sending only 2 informations Shift light and Gear,
i'm not adding 'S' or 'G' in front of data.
I'm just reading data and if it's below let's say 12, it's a gear value (0 to 9)
if it's above 12 it's the shift light data.
that's why I conveniently choose @ and ? ascii characters in GameDash formulaes.
Let's read this arduino code to figure it out !

Code:

/*
Shift Register Example for 74HC595 shift register by Tom Igoe
Digital Pot Control  by Tom Igoe
Thanks to Heather Dewey-Hagborg for the original tutorial, 2005
Thanks to CrossRoads!
by RacingMat 09-2014
*/
// include the SPI library:
#include <SPI.h>

byte fontArray[] = {
  // dp-a-b-c-d-e-f-g
  0b11101110, // 0        
  0b00101000, // 1            
  0b11001101, // 2
  0b01101101, // 3
  0b00101011, // 4
  0b01100111, // 5
  0b11100111, // 6
  0b00101100, // 7
  0b00000000, // OFF empty
  0b00000001, // REVERSE SPEED
};
byte LEDarray; //computed order that will be sent to the LED display

//Pin connected to Data in SER IN pin 2 of 6c595
const int dataPin = 11;
//Pin connected to latch pin (SRCK)pin 15 of 6c595
const int latchPin = 13;
//Pin connected to clock pin (RCK) pin 10 of 6c595 as the slave select
const int slaveSelectPin = 10;

void setup() {
  // set the Pins as output:
  pinMode(dataPin, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(latchPin, OUTPUT);
  pinMode (slaveSelectPin, OUTPUT);
  Serial.begin(115200);
  // initialize SPI:
  SPI.begin();
  // take the SS pin low to select the chip:
    digitalWrite (slaveSelectPin, LOW); // << RCLK line goes low
    SPI.transfer (fontArray[9]);  //  << SRCLK goes  high-low 8 times to output 8 bits of data
    digitalWrite (slaveSelectPin, HIGH); // data outputs change on this rising edge << RCLK line goes high to move data into output register

}

void loop() {
int Gear;
int RpmMax;
int Temp; // used if data (Gear and RPMMax) need to be switched

if (Serial.available() > 1)  {
//RpmMax indicates if RPM is over the maximum
//GameDash calculates if RPM is > RpmMax -> false -> GameDash sent ? -> ascii 63 -> minus 48 = 15
//if RPM > RpmMax is true -> GameDash sent @ -> ascii 64 -> minus 48 = 16
//hence RpmMax is always > 12
//and gear is always < 12
// GameDash sends value from 0 to 8 and replaces Reverse (GTLegend = -1) by 9
         RpmMax = Serial.read()-48;
         Gear = Serial.read()-48;
         Serial.flush();
        if (RpmMax < 12) { Temp=Gear; Gear=RpmMax; RpmMax=Temp;}// data are switched
//If RpmMax is true, then combine the gear number array plus Dot segment by a logical operation
//else display only the gear digit
        if (RpmMax==16) {LEDarray = fontArray[Gear] | 0b00010000;} else {LEDarray = fontArray[Gear];}

    digitalWrite (slaveSelectPin, LOW); // << RCLK line goes low
    SPI.transfer (LEDarray);  //  << SRCLK goes  high-low 8 times to output 8 bits of data
    digitalWrite (slaveSelectPin, HIGH); // data outputs change on this rising edge << RCLK line goes high to move data into output register
  }
}

2/ setting up GameDash




Screenshot of GTL plugin showing what each data represents in the game
I'm using only Gear and RPM in this tutorial


gear : just replacing reverse which is "'-1' in GTL by a single character '9'


RPM : math calculation to determine if RPM is over a limit or not
then replacing 0 or 1 by other ascii characters to fit to the simple arduino code


Now you have everything available to do exactly the same!

I put some useful links about GameDash in this FAQ
http://www.xsimulator.net/community/faq/game-dash-app-beta.29/

3/ Video
Here is a video showing how well synchronized it is between GT Legends and the LDC display

Thanks @value1 for the plugin and @yobuddy for GameDash !



__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

Can someone help me to setup a "giant" gear indicator ?

I have got a 4 inches 7-segment LED and arduino
but the LED are 12v driven...

I have googled some links but too old: some components are no longuer available...
Do you know how to drive a common anode 12v 7-segment with Arduino ?

Thanks!!
Mat

have you consider to use a big square 8x8 led matrix link this ? -->

Thansk! but I already have the 7-segments shown in picture...

I have to deal with its common anode and 12V supply!

for matrix code, look here http://www.xsimulator.net/community/threads/arduino-uno-matrix-scripture-caution-blinking.6389/

@RacingMat , you can try this schematics - one npn and two resistors for any LED segment

Thanks @prilad !
Good, it's rather cheap: BC547CG 0,11€ + resistors

I have read that ULN2803 darlington array could work but not sure...

you can use a transistor array like ULN2003 for single display (http://www.microcontroller.it/T&T/PIC/interfaces/interface_04.htm)



or --> http://www.re-innovation.co.uk/web1...LED7segment/7 Segment LED Instructions_v1.pdf

Hi!

The closer specs are these :
http://www.led-display.cc/Single-Di...4-Inch-Single-Digit-7-Segment-LED-Display.htm

Thanks to @prilad, I have bought the NPN and resistors from eBay
http://www.nxp.com/documents/data_sheet/2N4401.pdf

but waiting was too long, so I bought TPIC6c595 : a power logic 8-bit shift register

This works with common anode and can sink high voltage (50V and 150mA) http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/tpic6b595.pdf
It will need only one resistor per segment (less soldering!)

Here is the schematic between arduino and 6c595

Hi!

Some pictures of the protoboard:


the board lost in the middle of the giant LCD


Next steps :
1/ coding arduino
2/ testing with GameDash

where did you buy these giant led segment dislays?

Here is a video of the arduino driving the display:

- no Simtools connection yet at this stage
- only a simple counter
- using SPI library (faster than ShifOut library)​

Here is the arduino code

Code:

/*
Shift Register Example for 74HC595 shift register by Tom Igoe
Digital Pot Control by Tom Igoe
Thanks to Heather Dewey-Hagborg for the original tutorial, 2005
Thanks to CrossRoads!
by RacingMat 09-2014
*/
// include the SPI library:
#include <SPI.h>

byte fontArray[] = {
// dp-a-b-c-d-e-f-g
0b11101110, // 0
0b00101000, // 1
0b11001101, // 2
0b01101101, // 3
0b00101011, // 4
0b01100111, // 5
0b11100111, // 6
0b00101100, // 7
0b11101111, // 8
0b01101111, // 9
0b00010000, // DP
};

//Pin connected to Data in SER IN pin 2 of 6c595
const int dataPin = 11;
//Pin connected to latch pin (SRCK)pin 15 of 6c595
const int latchPin = 13;
//Pin connected to clock pin (RCK) pin 10 of 6c595 as the slave select
const int slaveSelectPin = 10;

void setup() {
// set the Pins as output:
pinMode(dataPin, OUTPUT);
pinMode(latchPin, OUTPUT);
pinMode (slaveSelectPin, OUTPUT);
Serial.begin(9600);
// initialize SPI:
SPI.begin();
// take the SS pin low to select the chip:
digitalWrite(slaveSelectPin,LOW);

}

void loop() {
for (int i=0; i <= 10; i++){
delay(500);
digitalWrite (slaveSelectPin, LOW); // << RCLK line goes low
SPI.transfer (fontArray[i]); // << SRCLK goes high-low 8 times to output 8 bits of data
digitalWrite (slaveSelectPin, HIGH); // data outputs change on this rising edge << RCLK line goes high to move data into output register
}
}

@tadythefish : I got several of them from junk... you can PM me

Here is a video showing how well synchronized it is between GT Legends and the LDC display

Thanks @value1 for the plugin and @yobuddy for GameDash !

Yes, indeed, it's great to see that they all work nicely together!
Well done, @RacingMat!

Setting up GameDash





Screenshot of GTL plugin showing what each data represents in the game
I'm using only Gear and RPM in this tutorial


gear : just replacing reverse which is "'-1' in GTL by a single character '9'


RPM : math calculation to determine if RPM is over a limit or not
then replacing 0 or 1 by other ascii characters to fit to the simple arduino code

Nice tutorial RacingMat, as usual.
Is there a list of plugin compatible or we should browse each plugin in the libraryfor get the information ?

I have added the arduino: the tutorial is complete now
Thanks for the compliment! Hope this help

Final arduino code
I'm using a trick to speed up the reading of serial information
As i'm sending only 2 informations Shift light and Gear,
i'm not adding 'S' or 'G' in front of data.
I'm just reading data and if it's below 12, it's a gear value (from 0 to 9)
if it's above 12 it's the shift light data.
that's why I conveniently choose @ and ? ascii characters.
Let's read this arduino code to figure it out !

Code:

/*
Shift Register Example for 74HC595 shift register by Tom Igoe
Digital Pot Control  by Tom Igoe
Thanks to Heather Dewey-Hagborg for the original tutorial, 2005
Thanks to CrossRoads!
by RacingMat 09-2014
*/
// include the SPI library:
#include <SPI.h>

byte fontArray[] = {
  // dp-a-b-c-d-e-f-g
  0b11101110, // 0        
  0b00101000, // 1            
  0b11001101, // 2
  0b01101101, // 3
  0b00101011, // 4
  0b01100111, // 5
  0b11100111, // 6
  0b00101100, // 7
  0b00000000, // OFF empty
  0b00000001, // REVERSE SPEED
};
byte LEDarray; //computed order that will be sent to the LED display

//Pin connected to Data in SER IN pin 2 of 6c595
const int dataPin = 11;
//Pin connected to latch pin (SRCK)pin 15 of 6c595
const int latchPin = 13;
//Pin connected to clock pin (RCK) pin 10 of 6c595 as the slave select
const int slaveSelectPin = 10;

void setup() {
  // set the Pins as output:
  pinMode(dataPin, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(latchPin, OUTPUT);
  pinMode (slaveSelectPin, OUTPUT);
  Serial.begin(115200);
  // initialize SPI:
  SPI.begin();
  // take the SS pin low to select the chip:
    digitalWrite (slaveSelectPin, LOW); // << RCLK line goes low
    SPI.transfer (fontArray[9]);  //  << SRCLK goes  high-low 8 times to output 8 bits of data
    digitalWrite (slaveSelectPin, HIGH); // data outputs change on this rising edge << RCLK line goes high to move data into output register

}

void loop() {
int Gear;
int RpmMax;
int Temp; // used if data (Gear and RPMMax) need to be switched

if (Serial.available() > 1)  {
//RpmMax indicates if RPM is over the maximum
//GameDash calculates if RPM is > RpmMax -> false -> GameDash sent ? -> ascii 63 -> minus 48 = 15
//if RPM > RpmMax is true -> GameDash sent @ -> ascii 64 -> minus 48 = 16
//hence RpmMax is always > 12
//and gear is always < 12
// GameDash sends value from 0 to 8 and replaces Reverse (GTLegend = -1) by 9
         RpmMax = Serial.read()-48;
         Gear = Serial.read()-48;
         Serial.flush();
        if (RpmMax < 12) { Temp=Gear; Gear=RpmMax; RpmMax=Temp;}// data are switched
//If RpmMax is true, then combine the gear number array plus Dot segment by a logical operation
//else display only the gear digit
        if (RpmMax==16) {LEDarray = fontArray[Gear] | 0b00010000;} else {LEDarray = fontArray[Gear];}

    digitalWrite (slaveSelectPin, LOW); // << RCLK line goes low
    SPI.transfer (LEDarray);  //  << SRCLK goes  high-low 8 times to output 8 bits of data
    digitalWrite (slaveSelectPin, HIGH); // data outputs change on this rising edge << RCLK line goes high to move data into output register
  }
}

I dunno
Maybe @value1 @prilad @eaorobbie could answer to this?
I could add the list in the FAQ maybe...

Well, anyone volunteering to compile such a list?

Whats this Giant display worth ? ?

And what are Arduino boards and all the accessories needed worth ?

I'll do the job ;-)