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https://github.com/againpsychox/p4matrix64x32fun

Playing around with P4 Matrix 64x32 LED display with thermometer and internet access (for time, weather) controlled by ESP8266 platform. Created for my dad.
https://github.com/againpsychox/p4matrix64x32fun

64x32 esp8266 led p4 p4-matrix

Last synced: 3 days ago
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Playing around with P4 Matrix 64x32 LED display with thermometer and internet access (for time, weather) controlled by ESP8266 platform. Created for my dad.

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README 

        

# Fun with P4 Matrix 64x32 LED display



Project uses P4 Matrix 64x32 LED display with thermometer and internet access (for time, weather) controlled by ESP8266 platform. Created for my dad.



##### Features



+ Time synchronization using minimalistic NTP.

+ Digital clock.

+ Thermometer reading and display.

+ Portal website hosted over Wi-Fi with status and configuration.

+ Most of UI uses Polish language.



## Hardware



+ [P4 Matrix 64x32 LED display (`P4-1921-64x32-8S-S1`)](https://vi.aliexpress.com/item/1005005293054289.html)

+ [NodeMCU v3 board with ESP-12E (ESP8266) microcontroller](https://mischianti.org/2022/02/09/nodemcu-v3-high-resolution-pinout-and-specs/)

+ [Thermometer: DS18B20 (via OneWire on PIN D3)](https://www.analog.com/media/en/technical-documentation/data-sheets/DS18B20.pdf)



## Software



[Platform IO](https://platformio.org/platformio-ide) is used with Arduino framework for development.



### Modules



* Web server (serving static content, status & assets; handling config & uploaded assets re-encoding);

* Network code (connect to configured network, incl. IP configuration; or host AP);

* NTP code;

* Display code



### 



### Configuration



Configuration is divided between EEPROM and file-system based. EEPROM contains configuration related to basic operation, including networking, timezones, weather location and more. File system contains pages configurations and assets (including bitmaps for backgrounds).



#### EEPROM



EEPROM settings can be set by accessing HTTP `/config` endpoint (GET/POST) and are saved only if `save=true` is provided along the overridden settings. Detailed EEPROM in-memory layout is defined in [`config.hpp`](src/config.hpp) file. Some settings of `/config` are missing in the layout due being saved by internal platform code, i.e. network SSID & password.



```json

"_ TODO: add pretty-printed example /config"

```



#### Page configuration



Each page is configured via binary file at `/pages/0/config` where `0` is page ID/number. Each page can have analog clock and have up to 7 sprites that can be text,  special character, time (formatted as text), image or animation. Exact format is defined in [`pages.hpp`](src/pages.hpp) file. For example, time-based text sprite that uses `strftime` with custom extensions (`%o` or `%O` for Roman numeral month) can be used to create digital clock and/or display dates.



+ All file-system names are lower-case only.

+ Weather types for file names:

	+ `unknown` (default/secondary fallback)

	+ `sunny`

	+ `moony` (sunny at night)

	+ `a-bit-cloudy`

	+ `cloudy`

	+ `rainy` (high chance for rain)

	+ `rain` (heavy rain)

	+ `rainbow` (raining, but sunny)

	+ `snowy`

	+ `snow`

	+ `storm` (very windy with heavy rain)

	+ `thunder` (little rain)

	+ `thunderstorm`

	+ `blizzard` (snow storm)

	+ `windy`

+ Months file names use english full names.

+ Season names: `spring`, `summer`, `fall`, `winter`.



#### Bitmaps encoding



Bitmaps can be used as assets for backgrounds/animations/sprites. Stored bitmaps should be encoded as simple [BMP file](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMP_file_format) with standard `BITMAPINFOHEADER`, with 16 bits per pixel (confirm to RGB565 used by the display PxMatrix library; as opposed to default 24 bits), with mask specified, with no compression. The encoding is assured by re-encoding when handling uploads by web server and when [uploading file-system image by PlatformIO](https://docs.platformio.org/en/latest/platforms/espressif8266.html#using-filesystem) `pre` script.



Bitmaps can be "soft" symlinked, if the file contains path (content starting with `/` instead `BM` of regular BMP file header). Bitmaps can be used for animations, if so, often frame duration can be specified from inside file by reusing file header reserved fields (`uint16_t` right after file size).



## Notes



+ A lot of code (and directly many issues & possible improvements) shared with [my other project: AquariumController](https://github.com/AgainPsychoX/AquariumController). 

+ Display-related code based on PxMatrix examples, including [Aurora Demo](https://github.com/2dom/PxMatrix/blob/0c7c63c0248321a31dedcefcdaebc87df4624141/examples/Aurora_Demo/Aurora_Demo.ino). Specific library version from GitHub is used, PlatformIO registry has old version (with same internal version number XD)

+ C/C++ compiler used is quite old and includes decade old known GCC bug related to `struct`s aggregate initializers. See [discussion on StackOverflow about "C99 designator member outside of aggregate initializer" error.](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/70172941/c99-designator-member-outside-of-aggregate-initializer). As solution I found out is easiest it's to use `strncpy` which gets inlined/optimized away.

+ [Interesting thing I found while working on project is you can use unsigned integer form of IPv4 addresses](https://www.browserling.com/tools/ip-to-dec).

+ Some WiFi names/passwords (incl. `$` or `-`?`) seems not work for some reason.

+ Problems using `GPIO9` and `GPIO10` for OneWire (constant crashes or upload errors)

	+ [Some people](https://www.letscontrolit.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1462) suggest using [DIO](https://hackaday.com/2017/10/01/trouble-flashing-your-esp8266-meet-dio-and-qio/) [flashing mode](https://docs.platformio.org/en/stable/platforms/espressif8266.html#flash-mode).



### To-do



+ Solve Sprites construction issues



+ Implement pages system as described in README above ;)

	+ Load initial page

	+ Function to change page

	+ Schedule next page changes

	+ Should all time be spent on updating the display? Or some smart subscribing mechanism for temperature/time updates?

	+ Upload example config & BMP file https://docs.platformio.org/en/latest/platforms/espressif8266.html#using-filesystem

	+ Debug & test simple image background

	+ Soft symlinking paths in pages config

	+ Read frame durations from `Animation` struct

+ Analog clock

	- Background buffer

	- Clearing as replacing stuff with buffer

	- Temporary code to setup temporary monochromatic buffer

	- Draw 3 lines from center as the time goes

	- Start the lines from center 2x2 pixels?

+ HTTP server

	+ Get current state as image

		- Access display buffer

		- Define request handler with right response type

		- Encode the buffer into BMP for output

	+ Filesystem? (instead embedding bytes into code)

+ Weather info

	+ Find service/API

	+ Show as text

	+ Show with icon

	+ Show with animated icon

	+ Configurable location

+ Clock background

	+ Configurable by image file (BMP)

	+ Download from external (periodic; from configured address)

	+ [WEBP for animations](https://discuss.tidbyt.com/t/gif-vs-webp/694/3) 

+ Themed mini-clocks (nice images/animations with small digital clock)

	+ Day (sun & clouds)

	+ Night (moon & stars)

	+ Snow

	+ Aquarium

+ Drawable canvas (via web)

	+ Upload file

	+ Color pick and drawing

	+ Live preview

	+ Fill by color

	+ Undo/redo

+ Rewrite the display library? Low code quality, draw pixel optimizations possible?

+ Use [better library for web server](https://github.com/me-no-dev/ESPAsyncWebServer).

+ Snake game? ;)

+ Curious...

	+ Does `std::setlocale` from `` works?