// Arduino "bridge" code between host computer and WS2801-based digital // RGB LED pixels (e.g. Adafruit product ID #322). Intended for use // with USB-native boards such as Teensy or Adafruit 32u4 Breakout; // works on normal serial Arduinos, but throughput is severely limited. // LED data is streamed, not buffered, making this suitable for larger // installations (e.g. video wall, etc.) than could otherwise be held // in the Arduino's limited RAM. // Some effort is put into avoiding buffer underruns (where the output // side becomes starved of data). The WS2801 latch protocol, being // delay-based, could be inadvertently triggered if the USB bus or CPU // is swamped with other tasks. This code buffers incoming serial data // and introduces intentional pauses if there's a threat of the buffer // draining prematurely. The cost of this complexity is somewhat // reduced throughput, the gain is that most visual glitches are // avoided (though ultimately a function of the load on the USB bus and // host CPU, and out of our control). // LED data and clock lines are connected to the Arduino's SPI output. // On traditional Arduino boards, SPI data out is digital pin 11 and // clock is digital pin 13. On both Teensy and the 32u4 Breakout, // data out is pin B2, clock is B1. LEDs should be externally // powered -- trying to run any more than just a few off the Arduino's // 5V line is generally a Bad Idea. LED ground should also be // connected to Arduino ground. #include // LED pin for Adafruit 32u4 Breakout Board: //#define LED_DDR DDRE //#define LED_PORT PORTE //#define LED_PIN _BV(PORTE6) // LED pin for Teensy: //#define LED_DDR DDRD //#define LED_PORT PORTD //#define LED_PIN _BV(PORTD6) // LED pin for Arduino: #define LED_DDR DDRB #define LED_PORT PORTB #define LED_PIN _BV(PORTB5) // A 'magic word' (along with LED count & checksum) precedes each block // of LED data; this assists the microcontroller in syncing up with the // host-side software and properly issuing the latch (host I/O is // likely buffered, making usleep() unreliable for latch). You may see // an initial glitchy frame or two until the two come into alignment. // The magic word can be whatever sequence you like, but each character // should be unique, and frequent pixel values like 0 and 255 are // avoided -- fewer false positives. The host software will need to // generate a compatible header: immediately following the magic word // are three bytes: a 16-bit count of the number of LEDs (high byte // first) followed by a simple checksum value (high byte XOR low byte // XOR 0x55). LED data follows, 3 bytes per LED, in order R, G, B, // where 0 = off and 255 = max brightness. static const uint8_t magic[] = {0xff,0x00,0x00}; #define MAGICSIZE sizeof(magic) #define HEADERSIZE (MAGICSIZE + 1) #define MODE_HEADER 0 #define MODE_HOLD 1 #define MODE_DATA 2 void setup() { // Dirty trick: the circular buffer for serial data is 256 bytes, // and the "in" and "out" indices are unsigned 8-bit types -- this // much simplifies the cases where in/out need to "wrap around" the // beginning/end of the buffer. Otherwise there'd be a ton of bit- // masking and/or conditional code every time one of these indices // needs to change, slowing things down tremendously. uint8_t buffer[256], indexIn = 0, indexOut = 0, mode = MODE_HEADER, hi, lo, chk, i, spiFlag; int16_t bytesBuffered = 0, hold = 0, c; int32_t bytesRemaining; unsigned long startTime = micros(); LED_DDR |= LED_PIN; // Enable output for LED LED_PORT &= ~LED_PIN; // LED off Serial.begin(115200); // Teensy/32u4 disregards baud rate; is OK! SPI.begin(); SPI.setBitOrder(MSBFIRST); SPI.setDataMode(SPI_MODE0); SPI.setClockDivider(SPI_CLOCK_DIV8); // 2 MHz // WS2801 datasheet recommends max SPI clock of 2 MHz, and 50 Ohm // resistors on SPI lines for impedance matching. In practice and // at short distances, 2 MHz seemed to work reliably enough without // resistors, and 4 MHz was possible with a 220 Ohm resistor on the // SPI clock line only. Your mileage may vary. Experiment! // SPI.setClockDivider(SPI_CLOCK_DIV4); // 4 MHz // Issue test pattern to LEDs on startup. This helps verify that // wiring between the Arduino and LEDs is correct. Not knowing the // actual number of LEDs connected, this sets all of them (well, up // to the first 25,000, so as not to be TOO time consuming) to red, // green, blue, then off. Once you're confident everything is working // end-to-end, it's OK to comment this out and reprogram the Arduino. uint8_t testcolor[] = { 0, 0, 0, 255, 0, 0 }; for(char n=3; n>=0; n--) { for(c=0; c<25000; c++) { for(i=0; i<3; i++) { for(SPDR = testcolor[n + i]; !(SPSR & _BV(SPIF)); ); } } delay(1); // One millisecond pause = latch } // loop() is avoided as even that small bit of function overhead // has a measurable impact on this code's overall throughput. for(;;) { // Implementation is a simple finite-state machine. // Regardless of mode, check for serial input each time: if((bytesBuffered < 256) && ((c = Serial.read()) >= 0)) { buffer[indexIn++] = c; bytesBuffered++; } switch(mode) { case MODE_HEADER: // In header-seeking mode. Is there enough data to check? if(bytesBuffered >= HEADERSIZE) { // Indeed. Check for a 'magic word' match. for(i=0; (i 0) and multiply by 3 for R,G,B. bytesRemaining = buffer[indexOut++];//3L * (256L * (long)hi + (long)lo + 1L); bytesBuffered -= 1; spiFlag = 0; // No data out yet mode = MODE_HOLD; // Proceed to latch wait mode //} else { // Checksum didn't match; search resumes after magic word. // indexOut -= 1; // Rewind //} } // else no header match. Resume at first mismatched byte. bytesBuffered -= i; } break; case MODE_HOLD: // Ostensibly "waiting for the latch from the prior frame // to complete" mode, but may also revert to this mode when // underrun prevention necessitates a delay. if((micros() - startTime) < hold) break; // Still holding; keep buffering // Latch/delay complete. Advance to data-issuing mode... LED_PORT &= ~LED_PIN; // LED off mode = MODE_DATA; // ...and fall through (no break): case MODE_DATA: while(spiFlag && !(SPSR & _BV(SPIF))); // Wait for prior byte if(bytesRemaining > 0) { if(bytesBuffered > 0) { SPDR = buffer[indexOut++]; // Issue next byte bytesBuffered--; bytesRemaining--; spiFlag = 1; } // If serial buffer is threatening to underrun, start // introducing progressively longer pauses to allow more // data to arrive (up to a point). if((bytesBuffered < 32) && (bytesRemaining > bytesBuffered)) { startTime = micros(); hold = 100 + (32 - bytesBuffered) * 10; mode = MODE_HOLD; } } else { // End of data -- issue latch: startTime = micros(); hold = 1000; // Latch duration = 1000 uS LED_PORT |= LED_PIN; // LED on mode = MODE_HEADER; // Begin next header search } } // end switch } // end for(;;) } void loop() { // Not used. See note in setup() function. }