144 LED Games Console Project

[Art]

In the last version, the text message is stored plainly in the on-chip eeprom area of the 16F877.

[Harrie]

Hai
Yes i found the version 3. And it says that data can be put in internal memory.
But with proton ide or mplab i can not compile the .bas-file. There are many many errors.
I tried to rewrite but i am not experience enough.
So i only want a simply massage scroller working with the 144 led display.
The most simply one is enough.
Greatings Harrie

[mackrackit]

Problem found... This forum is for PicBasic not Proton.

[Art]

Don't have to compile it, there's a hex file to use. Just change the values in the on-chip eeprom area with your pic programming software. Also you can use a serial terminal program to send the message to the unit. You would need Picbasic to change any way the program works, but not the message.

[Harrie]

Hai
i tried to use the serial posability. But i can not change anyting.
I use the max232. With this i can read and write to a 16f628a, s the com and max232 are working.
I first tried the original rx and tx ports but later i saw i had to use port e.1.
No result.
i push porta.1 when startup. The screen is blank.
sending text
restart
no result.
What dont i see??

greatings Harrie

[Art]

To Harrie & anyone else who has the hardware working,
but cannot, for whatever reason, change the message stored in on-chip EEPROM.
Here's something you can try:

Download ICprog Windows pic programming software for free from here:
http://www.ic-prog.com/download.html

Start the exe program, and select the 16F877A pic from the drop down menu of supported pic chips.
Then you should be able to open the pic HEX file, and it should look like this:




Bear in mind that if you manually edit the message this way,
you also have to manually edit the message length.

note the "non message" locations at the bottom end of on-chip EEPROM

DATA @$FC,12                            'text message length
DATA @$FD,49 : DATA @$FE,125 : DATA @$FF,0            'set initial high scores for games

Now you can edit the individual message locations, update the message length, cheat on hi scores if u have to, and save the hex file!
Now open the hex file in your own pic programming software and write to the 16F877A.

Cheers, Art.

[aberco]

Just found this great project and was really excited!

I have just finished drawing a PCB for it, with two possible versions: one with 5mm leds and the other with large 10mm leds. It's all using surface mount components, but they are not that hard to solder (in fact it is easier!).

The matrix is now driven my a pair of PNP/NPN or P/N channel mosfet in order to boost the brightness. Since the multiplexing routine slice the display in 18 increments, it is possible to boost the brightness by feeding more intensity in the LEDs this way. For simplified rooting of the board, I also changed the pin allocations for the PIC. The program will need to be modified a bit to account for that, and for the inverted signal needed to drive the base of the PNP transistors.

The board has an integrated regulator (7805) and also an optional DB9 for serial communication with voltage converter (using a simple transistor, not a full MAX232). It also feature an ICSP connector, so it can be easily reprogrammed for other projects.

Need to check a few things, but I'll be happy to release the gerber files here. Also I'm planning to make an order from my PCB manufacturer, so if anyone is interested I can sell spares for a reasonable price.