Arduino MKR RGB Shield / ASX00010

TheArduino MKR RGB Shield/LED Panel is an expansion board for displaying graphics and messages. A ready-made library with examples and methods is available for it, making it easy to write static and scrolling text. There is no need for soldering or special adapters, just plug the RGB dot matrix screen on top of your favorite MKR board and you are ready to go!

The installed LEDs are very tight and bright, with full RGB colors!

This screen was designed to be a multi-purpose display based on RGB pixels. The design of MKR RGB Shield allows you to install it as the last in a stack or as the only screen installed. It has a matrix of 84 RGB Smart APA102 LEDs organized in 12 columns and 7 rows. Each LED covers an area of 2x2 mm, and the total size of the matrix is 36 x 21 mm. These hardware characteristics make the matrix suitable for graphics, icons, or scrolling text messages. Each pixel can be illuminated with a color selected from a palette of 16 million.

SOFTWARE

To help you take advantage of the matrix, the Arduino_MKRRGB library has been developed to link the hardware to the new high-level ArduinoGraphics graphics library. With these two libraries, you can quickly create visual content effortlessly.

HARDWARE

The 84 APA 102 LEDs are connected in series: you start only the first one, and all the others receive commands one by one. The interface is similar to SPI with CLK and DataIn pins connected to A4 and A3. The Arduino_MKRRGB library has already taken care of this, but you can use any other SmartLED library by simply defining the CLK and DATA pins on A4 and A3.

Each RGB SMD LED can consume up to 40 mA. If we multiply the maximum current by the number of LEDs, we get a value close to 4A. This is the peak current with all LEDs set to white and full brightness. The standard USB port of a PC cannot support the MKR regulator, so the board has a separate power connector capable of handling loads up to 4A. Be sure to connect a proper 5V power supply to the board if you plan to create dense graphics with high brightness.

The board has two output pads for cascading other boards or other APA102 LEDs arranged in a strip pattern. The library will only work with one matrix, and for cascaded and more complex designs you should use other libraries. The output data of the first board labeled CKO and SDO should go to the A4 and A3 pins of the next board's connectors. The power supply must be equipped with a common ground for all power supplies connected to the MKR board, the first board, and other cascaded power supplies.

EXAMPLE.
This example demonstrates how to display and scroll text on the MKR RGB Shield. It continuously scrolls the current millisecond value on the display.

/*
MKR RGB - Scroll Text

This example demonstrates how to display and scroll text
on the MKR RGB shield. It continuously scrolls the
current millis() value on the display.

The circuit:
- Arduino MKR board
- Arduino MKR RGB shield attached

This example code is in the public domain.
*/

#include // Arduino_MKRRGB depends on ArduinoGraphics
#include

void setup() {
// initialize the display
MATRIX.begin();

// set the brightness, supported values are 0 - 255
MATRIX.brightness(10);

// configure the text scroll speed
MATRIX.textScrollSpeed(125);

// display some short text without scrolling
MATRIX.beginText(0, 0, 127, 0, 0); // X, Y, then R, G, B
MATRIX.print("Hi");
MATRIX.endText();

delay(2000);
}

void loop() {
MATRIX.beginText(MATRIX.width() - 1, 0); // use the same color as before, start text at the right edge
MATRIX.print("millis=");
MATRIX.println(millis());
MATRIX.endText(SCROLL_LEFT); // SCROLL_LEFT parameter here to configure scrolling left
}