SparkFun
SparkFun LED Driver Breakout - TLC5940 (16 Channel)
The TLC5940 is a 16 channel PWM unit with 12 bit duty cycle control (0-4095), 6 bit current limit control (0-63), and a daisy chainable serial interface. Thi...
The TLC5940 is a 16 channel PWM unit with 12 bit duty cycle control (0-4095), 6 bit current limit control (0-63), and a daisy chainable serial interface. This breakout board is a good way to take full advantage of this useful IC. All 16 PWM channels are broken out to standard 0.1" headers, which run alongside convenient voltage and ground rails. Also, because the TLC5940 can be daisy-chained, the breakout is designed to support that feature. On the left-hand side of the board all serial inputs are broken out to 0.1" headers and likewise with output on the right-hand side.
Use this board to increase the number of PWM pins available to your microcontroller for applications such as Monocolor, Multicolor or Full-Color LED Displays, LED Signboards, Display Backlighting, Servo control, or any other project where a large number of PWM drivers are necessary.
Note: While each 3-pin PWM header is 0.1" spaced, the space between each header is slightly larger in order to accommodate servo connections. In order to make this board suitable for use with servos, 2.2k pull-up resistors have been included on each output as well. Finally, the 2.2k resistor on the Iref pin sets the output current to 17.8mA but a parallel through-hole connection is provided for an additional resistor to increase the current if necessary. To determine the resistor value you need for a given output check the equations provided on the schematic.
Documents:
- Schematic
- Eagle Files
- Datasheet (TLC5940)
- Interactive Hanging LED Array
- GitHub (Design Files & Example Code)
- GitHub (Library)
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- breakout
- A breakout is a small circuit board that makes a tiny or hard-to-solder component easier to connect to with standard pins. It matters because this OLED module can be wired into a microcontroller project without needing to solder directly to the display’s fine contacts.
- duty cycle
- The fraction of time a signal or light source is switched on during a repeating cycle. On a proximity sensor, changing the duty cycle can affect detection range, response speed, accuracy and power use.
- Headers
- Rows of metal pins used to plug a module into a breadboard or connect it with jumper wires. Pre-soldered headers make the module easier to use straight away without needing to solder the pins yourself.
- LED
- A light-emitting diode is a small electronic component that lights up when current flows through it in the correct direction. In this kit, LEDs create the flashing effect, so polarity and correct soldering matter for the project to work.
- microcontroller
- A microcontroller is a small computer on a chip that runs your program and controls connected inputs and outputs. For this product, it is the part that reads buttons and sensors, drives the display and speaker, and communicates over Bluetooth.
- PWM
- Pulse Width Modulation is a way for a digital pin to simulate variable output power by switching on and off very quickly. It matters for controlling things like LED brightness, motor speed, or servo-style signals from a microcontroller pin.
- servo
- A servo is a motor with built-in position control, usually told to move to a specific angle by a control signal. It matters when you need repeatable movement, such as steering, arms, flaps, or linkages, rather than continuous spinning.
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SparkFun TLC5940 Breakout Schematic
Schematic · 44.2 KB · Click any page to view full size
TLC5940 Datasheet
Datasheet · 1.2 MB · Click any page to view full size
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