On the project page about using LED matrix displays of the type HDSP-212x, I also showed an example setup with a Raspberry Pi. Now that I still have some of these displays, I would like to use them to build a real device in its own case.
Soldering the whole thing by hand on a perfboard would theoretically be possible, but is prone to errors and in the end you have only one copy. Nowadays there is a better solution for this: you design a circuit board with a program like KiCad and have it produced as a small series for comparatively little money.
My first draft for a board on which you can put four HDSP-211x next to each other already looks quite promising:
At AISLER, the production of three copies would cost around EUR 25 and would be ready in about a week. But before I actually do this, I’ll have to check the circuit diagram again and check whether adjustments are required for the power supply, since four modules together can have a power consumption of more than 1.6 A.
Revision 2
After taking a closer look at KiCad, I created a revised revision 2 of the layout:
- The total size of the board is a bit smaller.
- The mounting holes are now inserted as footprints and without soldier mask.
