Microcontroller-Based Moving Message Display Powered by Photovoltaic Energy

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to design a textual display

system, based on a light emitting diode (LED) dot matrix

array powered by solar energy. The paper involves taking

the device from an initial concept, through a design phase,

to constructing a prototype of the product. The system

consists of the display unit, which is powered from a

photovoltaic ( PV) module and a solar sealed lead acid

battery.. The self-contained nature of the intended design

will allow the display to be mounted almost anywhere it is

needed. Therefore, the main purpose of this paper is to

utilize the solar energy and a rechargeable battery to

power a universal self-contained characters display unit.

This display unit is useful for creating attention-getting

messages, location identifiers such as maps and address

identification display modules. The implementation of a

moving message display panel which displays a text

containing 22 characters (i.e., PHOTOVOLTAIC

DEPARTMENT), and is powered by a PV module has

been achieved. The control of this panel is based on an

Atmega 8515 a Microcontroller. The used Atmel

Microcontroller is programmed using Assembly language,

through using AVR studio software and STK500 kit. The

photovoltaic module charges the battery during the day

and the battery is continuously feeds the display panel.

The system consists of a single PV module that produces

75 watt, a rechargeable battery (12 V, 100 Ah), a charging

battery controller with an extra regulator circuit (that can

produce 5 V , 1.5 A to feed the display panel and

microcontroller ) and moving message dot matrix

display panel with its rows and columns drivers.

(Atmega8515 microcontroller, dot-matrices, rows and

columns drivers). The advantages of the designed display

system is easy to set up, program and handle, it also

allows the outlet to simply and clearly present the scrolled

text. Finally, it is found that the designed system is suited

to be used for many other applications