Thanks to all who replied on this. I came away with clear options: the parallel port port ; and other ways.
It could be done with a serial port or keyboard, but either lacks the ability to change more than 1 cell rapidly. They will be 1-32, and 33-64 in the output groupings with probably a common anode, so any X-Y approach will require (admittedly simple) decoding. Another benefit of the parallel port is that the spacers who want this can put together large files of random patterns which could be printed out and display various shapes or patterns at their leisure. The parallel port, IIRC also has a 'ready for next character' type control, which alleviates the need for buffering serial info. Was it Mircea Coman who wrote on Wednesday 25 September 2002 09:33: > Hello Declan, > > If you can�t use 8x8 matrix control, then a serial > approach it�s the way to go. It�s a good idea to use > PC for remote control and has the advantage of > flexibility and spare you the effort of building a > remote transmitter. If I remember correct I saw this > in Electronique Pratique magazine. They use a simple > long serial register with a lot of parallel outputs. > I�ll check this article when I get home if you are > interested. > > Regards, > Mircea Coman > > --- Declan Moriarty <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I have a need to switch a 64 way exhibition piece in > > an 8 x 8 matrix. We are > > farting about here to impress. The output stage I > > can manage. It's the > > control strategy I am wondering about. Due to design > > considerations I cannot > > multiplex outputs, so driving with 16 switches (8 > > columns and 8 rows) isn't > > practical . > > > > It has to be controllable by a demonstrator, and > > they're not printing > > characters or any standard shape; what is wanted is > > an efficient and humanly > > usable interface to address these. I looked at > > remote control ics, but the > > interface is too well integrated into a tv. Ditto > > serial connections. I > > haven't multiplied out the combinations, but it is > > daunting(zillions). There > > will be a pic(16f877) based pcb I can attack and > > alter if needs be, but my > > coding skills are primitive. Mind you, the pic16f877 > > isn't. > > > > The very basic would be addressing the cells > > individually via a pc & serial > > port. Anyone got a better plan? > > > > > > -- > > Regards, > > > > > > Declan Moriarty > > > > > > > > > > Applied Researches - Ireland's Foremost Electronic > > Hardware Genius > > > > A Slightly Serious(TM) Company > > > > Experience is like a comb, > > that Life gives you - AFTER all your hair has fallen > > out! > > -- > > Author: Declan Moriarty > > INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > Fat City Network Services -- 858-538-5051 > > http://www.fatcity.com > > San Diego, California -- Mailing list and web > > hosting services > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an > > E-Mail message > > to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of > > 'ListGuru') and in > > the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB > > CHIPDIR-L > > (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed > > from). You may > > also send the HELP command for other information > > (like subscribing). > > __________________________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > New DSL Internet Access from SBC & Yahoo! > http://sbc.yahoo.com -- Regards, Declan Moriarty Applied Researches - Ireland's Foremost Electronic Hardware Genius A Slightly Serious(TM) Company Experience is like a comb, that Life gives you - AFTER all your hair has fallen out! -- Author: Declan Moriarty INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fat City Network Services -- 858-538-5051 http://www.fatcity.com San Diego, California -- Mailing list and web hosting services --------------------------------------------------------------------- To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB CHIPDIR-L (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing).
