Mikroelektronika d.o.o.
SKU: MIKROE-47718800 Retro Click Board
8800 Retro Click Board
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Do you remember the most famous early computer, the legendary Altair 8800, that was programmed by flicking switches that display small lights?
The 8800 Retro Click Board™ is a compact add-on board that simplifies the control of multiple LEDs. This board features the AS1115, compact LED driver for an 8x8 display screen programmed via a compatible 2-wire I2C interface from ASM-AG. The AS1115 includes an integrated BCD code-B/HEX decoder, multiplex scan circuitry, segment and display drivers, and 64-bit memory. Internal memory stores the shift register settings, eliminating the need for continuous device reprogramming. All outputs of the AS1115 can be configured for key-readback, where key-switch status is obtained by polling for up to 64 keys, while 16 keys can be used to trigger an interrupt. This Click Board™ is suitable for seven-segment or dot matrix user-interface displays and other white goods or personal electronic applications.
The 8800 Retro Click Board™ is supported by a mikroSDK compliant library, which includes functions that simplify software development. This Click Board™ comes as a fully tested product, ready to be used on a system equipped with the mikroBUS™ socket.
How Does The 8800 Retro Click Board™ Work?
The 8800 Retro Click Board™ as its foundation uses the AS1115, a compact dot-matrix 8x8 LED driver from AMS-AG. It includes a 4-bit PWM for each segment and only one resistor for LED current adjustment (LED brightness). The AS1115 consists of an integrated BCD code-B/HEX decoder, multiplex scan circuitry, segment and display drivers, and 64-bit memory. Internal memory stores the shift register settings, eliminating the need for continuous device reprogramming. That's why this board is ideal for seven-segment or dot matrix user-interface displays and other white goods or personal electronic applications.
The LED columns have common cathodes connected to the digit-drive lines, where each of the 64 LEDs can be addressed separately. On initial Power-Up, the AS1115 registers are reset to their default values, the display is blanked, and the device goes into Shutdown mode. At this time, all registers should be programmed for Normal operation. The AS1115 features a low Shutdown current of typically 200nA and an operational current of typically 350μA.
8800 Retro Click communicates with MCU using standard I2C 2-Wire interface, with a clock frequency up to 1MHz in the Fast Mode Plus. In addition, the AS1115 can read back 16 buttons and offers a detailed short/open LED error diagnostic. Therefore, to get a valid readback of buttons, it is recommended to read out the keyscan registers immediately after the IRQ interrupt pin, available on the INT pin of the mikroBUS™ socket, is triggered. In addition to the number-digits programming, this Click board™ can also be reset by software.
The 8800 Retro Click Board™ can be operated only with a 3.3V logic voltage level. The board must perform appropriate logic voltage level conversion before use with MCUs with different logic levels. However, the Click board™ comes equipped with a library containing functions and an example code that can be used, as a reference, for further development.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Type | LED Matrix, Pushbutton/Switches |
| Applications | Can be used for seven-segment or dot matrix user-interface displays and other white goods or personal electronic applications |
| On-board modules | AS1115 - compact LED driver for 8x8 display screen programmed via a compatible 2-wire I2C interface from ASM-AG |
| Key Features | Low power consumption, individual LED segment control, readback for 16 buttons, interrupt feature, LED error detection, low power shutdown current, software reset, and more |
| Interface | I2C |
| Compatibility | mikroBUS |
| Click board size | L (57.15 x 25.4 mm) |
| Input Voltage | 3.3V |
PINOUT DIAGRAM
This table shows how the pinout on 8800 Retro Click corresponds to the pinout on the mikroBUS™ socket (the latter shown in the two middle columns).
| Notes | Pin |  |
Pin | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NC | 1 | AN | PWM | 16 | NC | ||
| NC | 2 | RST | INT | 15 | INT | Interrupt | |
| NC | 3 | CS | RX | 14 | NC | ||
| NC | 4 | SCK | TX | 13 | NC | ||
| NC | 5 | MISO | SCL | 12 | SCL | I2C Clock | |
| NC | 6 | MOSI | SDA | 11 | SDA | I2C Data | |
| Power Supply | 3.3V | 7 | 3.3V | 5V | 10 | NC | |
| Ground | GND | 8 | GND | GND | 9 | GND | Ground |
ONBOARD SETTINGS AND INDICATORS
| Label | Name | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| LD1 | PWR | - | Power LED Indicator |
| LD2-LD65 | - | - | 8x8 LED Display |
| T1-T16 | - | - | LED Addressing Buttons |
8800 RETRO CLICK ELECTRICAL SPECIFICATIONS
| Description | Min | Typ | Max | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supply Voltage | - | 3.3 | - | V |
| Digit Drive Sink Current | 320 | - | - | mA |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 | +25 | +85 | °C |
Software Support
We provide a library for the 8800 Retro Click as well as a demo application (example), developed using MikroElektronika compilers. The demo can run on all the main MikroElektronika development boards.
The package can be downloaded/installed directly from NECTO Studio Package Manager(recommended way), downloaded from our LibStock™ or found on Mikroe GitHub account.
Library Description
This library contains API for the 8800 Retro Click driver.
Key Functions
c8800retro_cfg_setup- Config Object Initialization function.c8800retro_init- Initialization function.c8800retro_default_cfg- Click Default Configuration function.
Example Description
This example demonstrates the use of the 8800 Retro Click Board™.
void application_task ( void )
{
switch ( demo_example )
{
case DEMO_KEYPAD4x4:
{
c8800retro_demo_keypad4x4 ( &c8800retro );
break;
}
case DEMO_FULL_CHARSET:
{
c8800retro_demo_full_charset ( &c8800retro );
break;
}
case DEMO_TEXT:
{
c8800retro_demo_text ( &c8800retro, C8800RETRO_SCROLL_HORIZONTAL_LEFT,
C8800RETRO_SCROLL_SPEED_MEDIUM,
c8800retro_demo_string );
break;
}
case DEMO_IMAGE:
{
c8800retro_demo_image ( &c8800retro, c8800retro_demo_logo_mikroe );
break;
}
default:
{
break;
}
}
}
The full application code, and ready to use projects can be installed directly from NECTO Studio Package Manager(recommended way), downloaded from our LibStock™ or found on Mikroe GitHub account.
Other mikroE Libraries used in the example:
- MikroSDK.Board
- MikroSDK.Log
- Click.8800Retro
Additional Notes and Information
Depending on the development board you are using, you may need a USB UART click, USB UART 2 click or RS232 click to connect to your PC, for development systems with no UART to USB interface available on the board. The terminal available in all MikroElektronika compilers, or any other terminal application of your choice, can be used to read the message.
MIKROSDK
This Click board™ is supported with mikroSDK - MikroElektronika Software Development Kit. To ensure proper operation of mikroSDK compliant Click board™ demo applications, mikroSDK should be downloaded from the LibStock and installed for the compiler you are using.
8800 Retro Click Board
Frequently Asked Questions
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