{"product_id":"adafruit-small-1-2-8x8-led-matrix-w-i2c-backpack","title":"Adafruit Small 1.2\" 8x8 LED Matrix w\/I2C Backpack","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhat's better than a single LED? Lots of LEDs!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA fun way to make a small display is to use an 8x8 matrix or a 4-digit 7-segment display. Matrices like these are 'multiplexed' - so to control 64 LEDs you need 16 pins. That's a lot of pins, and there are driver chips like the MAX7219 that can control a matrix for you but there's a lot of wiring to set up and they take up a ton of space.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt Adafruit they feel your pain! After all, wouldn't it be awesome if you could control a matrix without tons of wiring? That's where these lovely LED matrix backpacks come in. We have them in three flavors - \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/shop.pimoroni.com\/products\/adafruit-mini-8x8-led-matrix-w-i2c-backpack\"\u003ea mini 0.7\" 8x8\u003c\/a\u003e, these small 1.2\" 8x8 and a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/shop.pimoroni.com\/products\/adafruit-mini-8x8-led-matrix-w-i2c-backpack\"\u003e4-digit 0.56\" 7-segment\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe matrices use a driver chip that does all the heavy lifting for you: They have a built in clock so they multiplex the display. They use constant-current drivers for ultra-bright, consistent colour (\u003cstrong\u003ethe images are photographed at the dimmest setting to avoid overloading the camera!\u003c\/strong\u003e), 1\/16 step display dimming, all via a simple I2C interface. These 1.2\" matrix backpacks come with three address-selection jumpers so you can connect up to eight 1.2\" 8x8's together (or a combination, such as four 1.2\" 8x8's and four 7-segments, etc) on a single I2C bus.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe product kit comes with:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA fully tested and assembled 1.2\" LED backpack\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.adafruit.com\/product\/1046\"\u003eUltra-bright 1.2\" 8x8 matrix\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e4-pin header\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA bit of soldering is required to attach the matrix onto the backpack but its very easy to do and only takes about 5 minutes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOf course, in classic Adafruit fashion, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/learn.adafruit.com\/adafruit-led-backpack\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ethey also have a detailed tutorial showing you how to solder, wire and control the display\u003c\/a\u003e. They even wrote \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/adafruit\/Adafruit-LED-Backpack-Library\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ea very nice library for the backpacks so you can get running in under half an hour, displaying images on the matrix or numbers on the 7-segment\u003c\/a\u003e. If you've been eying matrix displays but hesitated because of the complexity, this is the solution you've been looking for!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTECHNICAL DETAILS\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis board\/chip uses I2C 7-bit addresses between 0x70-0x77, selectable with jumpers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/learn.adafruit.com\/adafruit-led-backpack\/downloads\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eDatasheets, Fritzing object, EagleCAD PCB files and more in the tutorial!\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Adafruit","offers":[{"title":"Red","offer_id":388736256,"sku":"ADA1049","price":9.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false},{"title":"Yellow","offer_id":388736258,"sku":"ADA1050","price":10.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false},{"title":"Green","offer_id":388736260,"sku":"ADA1051","price":10.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false},{"title":"Blue","offer_id":778807509,"sku":"ADA1052","price":11.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false},{"title":"Pure Green","offer_id":778831105,"sku":"ADA1632","price":10.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false},{"title":"Ultra Bright White","offer_id":860917721,"sku":"ADA1614","price":13.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0174\/1800\/products\/1051_34438969-8571-4cf5-a049-5fd3c8aec44b.jpg?v=1597226810","url":"https:\/\/shop.pimoroni.com\/en-eu\/products\/adafruit-small-1-2-8x8-led-matrix-w-i2c-backpack","provider":"Pimoroni Ltd","version":"1.0","type":"link"}