Do I need to buy hardware for this tutorial?

No. Everything runs in the browser: Circuitly simulates the board, the components and the code. Real hardware is optional if you want to rebuild the circuit afterwards.

Which components are used?

Arduino UNO board, 5 mm LED, 220 Ω resistor, Matrice 8x8 (MAX7219). They are already available in the simulator library.

How long does it take?

About 30 minutes, expert level, in 4 guided steps.

What should I know before starting?

The previous tutorial in the series, “Expand outputs (74HC595)”, is enough preparation. No software install is required.

Is the code provided and checked?

The simulator checks your wiring and your code automatically at every step, and shows the commented solution if you get stuck.

All tutorials

3 · Outputs & actuators

8×8 LED matrix

Expert30 min

Goal

Display a pattern by scanning row by row.

Why it matters

Persistence of vision lets you show 64 pixels with only 16 pins.

What you need

Arduino UNO board
5 mm LED
220 Ω resistor
Matrice 8x8 (MAX7219)

Nothing to buy: every component below is simulated in the browser.

Steps

01Add the LED matrix to the canvas.
02Store the pattern in an array of 8 bytes.
03Scan the rows very fast (~1 ms per row).
04Check that the image looks stable.

This tutorial runs inside the Circuitly simulator: your wiring and your code are checked automatically at every step.

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Frequently asked questions

Do I need to buy hardware for this tutorial?: No. Everything runs in the browser: Circuitly simulates the board, the components and the code. Real hardware is optional if you want to rebuild the circuit afterwards.
Which components are used?: Arduino UNO board, 5 mm LED, 220 Ω resistor, Matrice 8x8 (MAX7219). They are already available in the simulator library.
How long does it take?: About 30 minutes, expert level, in 4 guided steps.
What should I know before starting?: The previous tutorial in the series, “Expand outputs (74HC595)”, is enough preparation. No software install is required.
Is the code provided and checked?: The simulator checks your wiring and your code automatically at every step, and shows the commented solution if you get stuck.

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