7 segment display

[Bartlomiej]

Is there any way to connect 7 segment display,I mean for example if you use OpenCockpit you have to have master card,display card and expension card if you want to use USB.
This set alone is 100 pounds,and it's sems a bit expensive if you want to connect 7 segment display only.

So i'm looking for somthing simpler,let's say just a board that you connect 7 segment display to and straight to USB,without any master cards or mother cards.

Is there a chance for any think like it out there?

[Mike.Powell]

Take a look at the Arduino family of open source tools. arduino.cc The basic arduino board like the Uno provides a microcontroller with a USB interface.

There are many open source projects that build on the basic board. See, for example http://www.arduino.cc/playground/Mai...thHardware#LED Scroll down to the "Multiplex7Seg" entry.

[JMeller]

Hi. I noticed your post in the sidebar. JimNZ has been giving me valuable info on the Arduino and has a forum dedicated to the microcontroller. Below is the post he is helping me with:
http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/show...ED-display-FSX

Charlie-PlexJPG.jpg

Hope this is of use.
-James

[Bartlomiej]

Ok sems like a good idea,but I don't know anything about coding.
and how to connect it to a flight som?

[JMeller]

What is the display for? Currently, JimNZ has few releases of software that tie the Arduino to FSX via SimConnect. His latest work in progress is found here (which is helpful to me since I want to build a NAV/COM LED display):

http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/show...y-Hi-What-ever

Once he releases it, I will have to modify my Aurdunio code to coincide with the software's output. Afterwhich, I can throw the Arduino code your way (via post on JimNZ's thread). This also assumes the software has the needed output(s) you specifically want and you are using FSX.

-James

[Bartlomiej]

I want to build NAV/COM module for A340 ,I'm runing it on FS2004

So how many 7 segment displays displays I could drive on Arduino Uno

[JMeller]

The Arduino Mega has 16 analog I/Os and 51 Digital I/Os. Using the Charlie-plexed method mentioned above, one can drive COM1, COM1 stby, NAV1, & NAV1 stby using 44 of the 51 I/Os (or simply stated, 11 outputs per radio freq display).

I must disclose that this is theoretical - I have built a single COM display with success. Adding the remaining 3 displays will affect the speed of the program, but I also expect it to be insignifcant so as not to have the display "flicker" while charlieplexing the displays.

The Arduino coupled with JimNZ's software will add an entire new paradigm of infacing hardware to the FS.

-James

[Bartlomiej]

I sure would want to see it working.
Any chance that you might build it any time soon?

[Bartlomiej]

What about this
http://spiffie.org/kits/usb7/
can this be connected somehow tho FS
it would be perfect for radio?

[mrmaster]

Hi, I am also busy with my Arduino right now. My plan I am working on is to write a C# program running on an external Computer (works) that connects to my IOCP Server (via telnet and that is a real pain with C#) and writes the value to the Serial Port (works). The Arduino is using an IC (the MAX7221 but you can also use the 7219) to control the 7 Segment displays. I will get them in approx. 4 weeks and can sell you some (real orange or white, 0.3 inch common cathode) for 50 cent (0,50€) I think that is a fair price.

I hope my ideas are useful!

cheers, marc