MAXREFDES99 : MAX7219 Display Driver Shield Overview Maxims MAXREFDES99 is an Arduino form-factor shield which drives a 16x16 LED array for signage applications. This design is ideal for anyone developing a display application. The board features Maxims MAX7219, a legendary LED driver that simplifies the process of controlling multiple LEDs in matrix or numeric display form. In MAXREFDES99 , four MAX7219 ICs are daisy chained to drive a full 256- LED array, which can display any international alpha numeric symbol. The board arrives complete with four 8x8 LED displays. Code for the MAXREFDES99 is available on both Arduino and ARM mbed platforms for quick prototyping with multiple platform boards. System demonstrations include the display of ASCII characters SPACE through ~ and writing/scrolling string messages. Developers are encouraged to build upon and enhance the code base. Features Flexible 16x16 Dot Matrix Display mbed.org library Arduino library Arduino form-factor shield Competitive Advantages Portable Compact Flexible Cost Effective Applications Displays Consumers Robotics Introduction LEDs, both low cost and available in many configurations, continue to dramatically transform signage and lighting. The MAX7219 has long been the developers best friend in LED driving, offering both simplicity and flexibility. Most systems, however, drive 8x8 arrays, limiting the amount of communication, specifically character size, and not utilizing the daisy chain feature of the MAX7219. 16x16 displays, in contrast, provide the capability to display most international alpha-numeric characters. Enter the MAXREFDES99 , which drives a 16x16 display, making it a powerful tool for prototyping and developing applications. The MAXREFDES99 is mbed and Arduino compatible, allowing fast development for both platforms. The shield contains four daisy-chained MAX7219s that drive four 8x8 red LED dot-matrix displays installed on the top arranged to make a 16x16- matrix display.