Have you built a project using any of the ideas posted in this blog?
I'd like to showcase what you've done. I am most interested in projects that have used creative and innovative adaptations of my ideas- especially if they have improved upon the originals!
This blog is all about sharing. Hope to hear from you, so please post a comment or leave me the means to contact you.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Thursday, September 1, 2011
ASCII to Seven-Segment table
With all the fun we have been having with Seven-Segment displays, lately, I decided to create a semi-automated ASCII to Seven Segment table using MS Excel (yeah, yeah... I know!)
You still have to enter the patterns yourself, but the Hex value and a handy string for inclusion in your lookup table are generated automatically.
You can use this chart to display more than just numerals, although some ASCII characters just cannot be rendered in seven segments, and some might be a bit of a stretch, but do with it what you will.
(Note: This chart will have to be modified slightly if you want to use it with the Vane Display example in an earlier blog-post, because the segments a-g are mapped to bits 1-7, instead of the more conventional 0-6. You can change the chart, or wire the circuits differently. Your choice)
If you want to make your own spreadsheet, here are the formulae used in the different columns:
Note: In the image below, the first cell containing data (32) is Cell B5
Cell B5: No formula. Just input the ASCII code
Cell C5: =DEC2HEX(B5)
Cell D5: =CHAR(B5) (Note- sometimes I substitute text)
Cells E5 to L5: No formula, enter a "1" for segment ON, and a "0" for segment off
Cell M5: =BIN2HEX(VALUE(5&F5&G5&H5&I5&J5&K5&L5),2)
Cell N5: ="0x"&M5&", // "&D5&IF(HEX2DEC(M5)=0," (npr)","") (Note- you can cut and paste the result directly into your IDE when you build your lookup table)
Have fun!
You still have to enter the patterns yourself, but the Hex value and a handy string for inclusion in your lookup table are generated automatically.
You can use this chart to display more than just numerals, although some ASCII characters just cannot be rendered in seven segments, and some might be a bit of a stretch, but do with it what you will.
(Note: This chart will have to be modified slightly if you want to use it with the Vane Display example in an earlier blog-post, because the segments a-g are mapped to bits 1-7, instead of the more conventional 0-6. You can change the chart, or wire the circuits differently. Your choice)
If you want to make your own spreadsheet, here are the formulae used in the different columns:
Note: In the image below, the first cell containing data (32) is Cell B5
Cell B5: No formula. Just input the ASCII code
Cell C5: =DEC2HEX(B5)
Cell D5: =CHAR(B5) (Note- sometimes I substitute text)
Cells E5 to L5: No formula, enter a "1" for segment ON, and a "0" for segment off
Cell M5: =BIN2HEX(VALUE(5&F5&G5&H5&I5&J5&K5&L5),2)
Cell N5: ="0x"&M5&", // "&D5&IF(HEX2DEC(M5)=0," (npr)","") (Note- you can cut and paste the result directly into your IDE when you build your lookup table)
Have fun!
Adafruit Industries: A happy Customer Service story!
Dear Readers:
I have purchased from adafruit industries numerous times since the end of last year, and I am happy to say that it has always been a very satisfying experience.
Recently, however, there were a series of unfortunate glitches with an order.
While I don't expect anyone, including my vendors, to be perfect, I do expect them to fix problems quickly, professionally and equitably.
I am happy to report that adafruit industries understands and practices these principles of Excellent Customer Service! So friends, help support them. They are thorough, nice, professional folks to deal with, and their heart is in the right place. May it always be so.
(Brava, Lady Ada!)
I have purchased from adafruit industries numerous times since the end of last year, and I am happy to say that it has always been a very satisfying experience.
Recently, however, there were a series of unfortunate glitches with an order.
While I don't expect anyone, including my vendors, to be perfect, I do expect them to fix problems quickly, professionally and equitably.
I am happy to report that adafruit industries understands and practices these principles of Excellent Customer Service! So friends, help support them. They are thorough, nice, professional folks to deal with, and their heart is in the right place. May it always be so.
(Brava, Lady Ada!)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)