This is a basic project to do animated pixel art on an Adafruit RGB LED 64x32 screen using an Arduino Mega 2560 board as a driver.
The included firmware is extremely simple and blits XBM graphics onto the display. To reduce potential flicker, an easy optimisation would be to use a "delta update" mechanism where only changed pixels are updated, i.e., already on stay on, already off stay off.
In its current state, the firmware generates reasonably flicker-free rendering.
The included sample data is the Sabreman animation from Knight Lore on the ZX Spectrum in a single colour. The Adafruit board is capable of per-pixel colour so this can be easily adapted for other graphics types such as C64, etc.
You can do what you want with the firmware and PCB. If you manufacture PCBs from the included Eagle schematics/layout PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE THE COPYRIGHT ATTRIBUTION. That's the only rule. You can charge for this PCB but please consider donating any profits to a charity of your choice.
The entire package is Copyright (c) Hermit Retro Products.
The firmware is designed to be uploaded via platformio.
A schematic and layout is included for Eagle. Gerbers for manufacture via JLCPCB, or similar, is straightforward from here.
You will need a 5V DC/4A output power supply to power this project.
There are guidance images in the img folder.
- Solder the connectors onto the underside of the PCB
- Solder the DC barrel jack onto the PCB upper surface
- Solder the IDC connector onto the PCB upper surface
- Solder the Adafruit LCD spade connectors onto the PCB
- Plug the Hermit Retro PCB into the Arduino Mega
- Power the Arduino Mega directly via USB and flash the firmware
- Unplug the USB power from the Arduino Mega
- Connect the IDC ribbon cable to the appropriate connector on the Hermit Retro PCB and the Adafruit LCD
- Connect one of the Adafruit power connectors to the Adafruit LCD
- Plug the adapter in and connect it to the DC barrel jack on the Hermit Retro PCB. Sabreman should appear