Digital dashboard with TM1638 and Arduino Nano v3

[prodigy]

Yesterday I've managed to get the buttons in function on this board. So far I have this data displayed:

Button 1 - Gear and Speed
Button 2 - Fuel amount
Button 3 - Water and Oil Temperature
Button 4 - Current position
Button 5 - Current lap

I have tested it with rFactor 2 and Project Cars because those 2 games are supporting those data in X-Sim, where rFactor2 is missing position data and pCars is missing Fuel data. Most other games I've tried like LFS, Dirt3, F12012, Assetto Corsa are also missing some of those, while Gear, Speed and RPM are available in all games.

I was hoping to get Lap times too, but neither of the games didn't support it in X-sim.
For the last 3 buttons on display I will probably make them to change the RPM LEDs, to have three different combinations.

This display board has on back side possibility to add/solder own external buttons, which is great option to install an rotary switch for simpler change of display data.

This is a short video of my test with rFactor 2



I have some occasional numbers poping out for a split second on the screen, which can be noticed around 0:36 in the video. I am gonna test and check my code to see if I done something wrong and as soon as it's ready, I will post the Arduino code and instructions for setting all up.

Cheers

[ferslash]

woooooooooow that is magical!

my nanos havent arrived yet... but the more they are delayed, the more uses they would have :D:D:D:D

well done!!!

[vicpopo]

Hi Prodigy,

Looks great ! Impatient to,watchnyour code and maybe upgrade my code.

[sliversgyj]

Yesterday I've managed to get the buttons in function on this board. So far I have this data displayed:

Button 1 - Gear and Speed
Button 2 - Fuel amount
Button 3 - Water and Oil Temperature
Button 4 - Current position
Button 5 - Current lap

I have tested it with rFactor 2 and Project Cars because those 2 games are supporting those data in X-Sim, where rFactor2 is missing position data and pCars is missing Fuel data. Most other games I've tried like LFS, Dirt3, F12012, Assetto Corsa are also missing some of those, while Gear, Speed and RPM are available in all games.

I was hoping to get Lap times too, but neither of the games didn't support it in X-sim.
For the last 3 buttons on display I will probably make them to change the RPM LEDs, to have three different combinations.

This display board has on back side possibility to add/solder own external buttons, which is great option to install an rotary switch for simpler change of display data.

This is a short video of my test with rFactor 2



I have some occasional numbers poping out for a split second on the screen, which can be noticed around 0:36 in the video. I am gonna test and check my code to see if I done something wrong and as soon as it's ready, I will post the Arduino code and instructions for setting all up.

Cheers

About the RPM LEDs,I use 2 keys to increase and decrease the max RPM value(the max RPM from COM just use as default value). So that you can adjust it freely to match all kind of cars.

[nycuser]

After a lot of messing around with that Nano, restarting computer 100 times, reinstalling drivers, X-Sim, soldering pins, I even put a capacitor and successfully disabled auto-reset but that didn't help with comport error in X-Sim. Then I went to my brother's place and tried the dashboard on his computer and of course, everything worked just fine there and then I went crazy

At the end, it was a FTDI driver problem, even I have uninstalled them several times from Device Manager that didn't help. For completely removing the drivers, an FTDI uninstaller tool must be used, so here is the process how to make it work:

1. Unplug Arduino Nano
2. Download this CDM Uninstaller tool
3. After removing drivers restart your PC.
4. Download latest FTDI drivers - 2.08.28 WHQL Certified - executable Setup and install them
5. Plug in Nano, wait to see if they will get recognized by windows and drivers installed automatically
6. After installation restart PC

Simple as that

Prodigy, I'm having the same issue as you. A question: Can you tell me how to identify both vendor's ID & product ID?

Edit.
Already done the whole procces with no success. Nano works fine until tm1638 is plugged in it. Just then, com5 port disappears and device manager shows an "unknown device".

[prodigy]

A few days ago friend of mine had same problem after reinstalling windows, even my procedure didn't work at first until I've downloaded and installed older drivers. On this page http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm those are drivers at bottom, version 2.08.24.

Then try following my procedure, remove drivers with tool, usually the tool automatically founds vendorID nad productID, and then you need to press ADD and Remove Devices. But if you want to know your VendorID go to Device Manager, find USB Serial Port and double click it, see this

vendorID.gif (35.95 KiB) Viewed 8234 times

Also try plugin it in back side USB slots of your PC, or try another USB cable, sometimes the cable can be problem.

[nycuser]

Hi Prodigy. I've done like you said and installed 2.08.24 driver version.tm1638 is now working fine. Tnx so much.

[ferslash]

Yesterday I've managed to get the buttons in function on this board. So far I have this data displayed:

Button 1 - Gear and Speed
Button 2 - Fuel amount
Button 3 - Water and Oil Temperature
Button 4 - Current position
Button 5 - Current lap

I have tested it with rFactor 2 and Project Cars because those 2 games are supporting those data in X-Sim, where rFactor2 is missing position data and pCars is missing Fuel data. Most other games I've tried like LFS, Dirt3, F12012, Assetto Corsa are also missing some of those, while Gear, Speed and RPM are available in all games.

I was hoping to get Lap times too, but neither of the games didn't support it in X-sim.
For the last 3 buttons on display I will probably make them to change the RPM LEDs, to have three different combinations.

This display board has on back side possibility to add/solder own external buttons, which is great option to install an rotary switch for simpler change of display data.

This is a short video of my test with rFactor 2



I have some occasional numbers poping out for a split second on the screen, which can be noticed around 0:36 in the video. I am gonna test and check my code to see if I done something wrong and as soon as it's ready, I will post the Arduino code and instructions for setting all up.

Cheers

man, if posible upload your code :D:D i just got my arduinos from dx ;D

[ferslash]

guys i finnaly receibed my parts from dx.com almost 2 months later...

i got a display version 1.2 but it seams to work with the same libraries since the chip is the same...

i did everything just as depicted in the tutorial by thanos... but...

i cant get any information, just the tachometer with the rpm... when i push the bottons nothing happens...

i am using rfactor... is it the problem???

should i re-write the firmware to use rfactor...

or what could i am doing wrong?

--- when i move the slider value in the math part of converter, choosing the gear axis, i got the leds working but that is all..
any ideas??

best regards fer

[prodigy]

Hi, I'm on another trip till Sunday and I will post my code as soon as I can, probably Monday. I've actually already started to write a tutorial, but didn't have time to finish it.

Until that you can try and test Bob's version and let him know if it works. I didn't have time to test his setup either..

Thanos tutorial doesn't include working buttons, so it won't do anything when you press them.

As for sliders, I think that all axis must have calibration slider at -100%