8800 Retro Click

How does it work?

8800 Retro Click as its foundation uses the AS1115, a compact dot-matrix 8×8 LED driver from AMS-AG. It includes a 4-bit PWM for each segment and only one resistor for LED current adjustment (LED brightness). The AS1115 consists of an integrated BCD code-B/HEX decoder, multiplex scan circuitry, segment and display drivers, and 64-bit memory. Internal memory stores the shift register settings, eliminating the need for continuous device reprogramming. That‘s why this board is ideal for seven-segment or dot matrix user-interface displays and other white goods or personal electronic applications.

The LED columns have common cathodes connected to the digit-drive lines, where each of the 64 LEDs can be addressed separately. On initial Power-Up, the AS1115 registers are reset to their default values, the display is blanked, and the device goes into Shutdown mode. At this time, all registers should be programmed for Normal operation. The AS1115 features a low Shutdown current of typically 200nA and an operational current of typically 350μA.

8800 Retro Click communicates with MCU using standard I2C 2-Wire interface, with a clock frequency up to 1MHz in the Fast Mode Plus. In addition, the AS1115 can read back 16 buttons and offers a detailed short/open LED error diagnostic. Therefore, to get a valid readback of buttons, it is recommended to read out the keyscan registers immediately after the IRQ interrupt pin, available on the INT pin of the mikroBUS™ socket, is triggered. In addition to the number-digits programming, this Click board™ can also be reset by software.

This Click board™ can be operated only with a 3.3V logic voltage level. The board must perform appropriate logic voltage level conversion before use with MCUs with different logic levels. However, the Click board™ comes equipped with a library containing functions and an example code that can be used, as a reference, for further development.

Specifications

Pinout diagram

This table shows how the pinout on 8800 Retro Click corresponds to the pinout on the mikroBUS™ socket (the latter shown in the two middle columns).

Notes	Pin					Pin	Notes
	NC	1	AN	PWM	16	NC
	NC	2	RST	INT	15	INT	Interrupt
	NC	3	CS	RX	14	NC
	NC	4	SCK	TX	13	NC
	NC	5	MISO	SCL	12	SCL	I2C Clock
	NC	6	MOSI	SDA	11	SDA	I2C Data
Power Supply	3.3V	7	3.3V	5V	10	NC
Ground	GND	8	GND	GND	9	GND	Ground

Onboard settings and indicators

8800 Retro Click electrical specifications

Software Support

We provide a library for the 8800 Retro Click as well as a demo application (example), developed using MikroElektronika compilers. The demo can run on all the main MikroElektronika development boards.

Package can be downloaded/installed directly from NECTO Studio Package Manager(recommended way), downloaded from our LibStock™ or found on Mikroe github account.

Library Description

This library contains API for 8800 Retro Click driver.

Key functions:

• c8800retro_cfg_setup – Config Object Initialization function.
• c8800retro_init – Initialization function.
• c8800retro_default_cfg – Click Default Configuration function.

Examples description

This example demonstrates the use of 8800 Retro click board.

void application_task ( void )
{
    switch ( demo_example )
    {
        case DEMO_KEYPAD4x4:
        {
            c8800retro_demo_keypad4x4 ( &c8800retro );
            break;
        }
        case DEMO_FULL_CHARSET:
        {
            c8800retro_demo_full_charset ( &c8800retro );
            break;
        }
        case DEMO_TEXT:
        {
            c8800retro_demo_text ( &c8800retro, C8800RETRO_SCROLL_HORIZONTAL_LEFT, 
                                                C8800RETRO_SCROLL_SPEED_MEDIUM, 
                                                c8800retro_demo_string );
            break;
        }
        case DEMO_IMAGE:
        {
            c8800retro_demo_image ( &c8800retro, c8800retro_demo_logo_mikroe );
            break;
        }
        default:
        {
            break;
        }
    }
}

The full application code, and ready to use projects can be installed directly from NECTO Studio Package Manager(recommended way), downloaded from our LibStock™ or found on Mikroe github account.

Other mikroE Libraries used in the example:

• MikroSDK.Board
• MikroSDK.Log
• Click.8800Retro

Additional notes and informations

Depending on the development board you are using, you may need USB UART click, USB UART 2 click or RS232 click to connect to your PC, for development systems with no UART to USB interface available on the board. The terminal available in all MikroElektronika compilers, or any other terminal application of your choice, can be used to read the message.

mikroSDK

This Click board™ is supported with mikroSDK – MikroElektronika Software Development Kit. To ensure proper operation of mikroSDK compliant Click board™ demo applications, mikroSDK should be downloaded from the LibStock and installed for the compiler you are using.

For more information about mikroSDK, visit the official page.