Preface
Adapt is easily defined as the process of making something suitable for a different purpose. Adaptations often result from the repurposing of seemingly unrelated processes and materials in achieving a specific objective. The objective of this guide is related to the adapting of available processes and materials for the purpose of simplifying the programmed illumination of addressable LED nodes, pixels, and pixel matrix panels.
Motivation and Objective of the Guide
Curiosity was certainly among the motivations for pursuing an understanding of the colorful addressable light emitting diode nodes, pixels and pixel matrix panels. The desire is that the understanding conveyed in this writing will diminish the challenges of programming addressable LED’s for the experienced programmer as well as for the hobbyist pursuing knowledge of the subject.
The objective of this guide is not to supersede any existing addressable LED protocol applications. Rather, this guide offers an alternative protocol approach which simplifies the processes and procedures associated with programming the illumination of the addressable LED. Consider this guide to be as close to a definitive reference source as has been composed towards conveying an understanding of those colorful nodes of light, as well as providing an alternative protocol option for their programming.
This guide delivers a guided progression of sections focused on the development and application of an adapted protocol version from its basics in composing addressable LED display programs. The progression results in the actual programming of a microcontroller with the adapted addressable LED protocol by the least time-consuming path possible. The comments accompanying the composed display sequences are detailed in the initial display program compositions. This detail is intended to provide point of use information and clarifications. However, the detail of the comments diminishes as proficiency in programming the adapted protocol is achieved.
Simplicity and Visualizing Displays
The objective of simplicity is achieved with this adapted addressable LED protocol version. An understanding of the adapted protocol programming allows a programmer to have a vision of the expectations from the programmed addressable LED displays. Numerous colorful and animated addressable LED displays applicable to a range of addressable LED types operating in different modes are demonstrated.
The Joy of Creativity
At LOGOSPARC, the pleasure has been in answering the question of “Can these LEDs be programmed to display this?” What is revealed is that if an addressable LED display sequence can be visualized, it is very likely that it can be created with the adapted protocol version presented herein. The creativity only increases with experience and imagination. Enjoy this journey!