Many In- & Outputs - Small Controller

[vebba]

Hey There, I am Planning a Project, where I have 24 Buttons, 6 Faders (linear potentiometer) & 1 3-Way Potentiometer as Inputs. As Output I want 1 OLED Display, and 24 LED's.

But Importantly, per module. In the End there Should be like up to 7 Of Similar Modules all communicating with eachother.

Furthermore it should Communicate with an Connected PC.

One Module should have one Arduino Nano. How can I do that with so many In and output?

Pleease ask if anything is unclear.

[Manon_Chaboud · Accepted solution]

Hello @vebba 

t sounds like you're planning a complex and exciting project! To handle the numerous inputs and outputs, as well as communication between multiple modules and a connected PC, you can consider using a combination of microcontrollers, communication protocols, and proper interfacing methods.

Here's a basic approach to achieve this:

1. Microcontrollers: Use Arduino Nano for each module to handle the inputs (buttons, faders, potentiometers) and outputs (OLED display, LEDs).
2. Communication between Modules: Implement a communication protocol (e.g., I2C, SPI, or UART) to allow the Arduino Nanos in each module to communicate with each other. This enables them to exchange data and synchronize actions.
3. Communication with PC: You can use a serial communication protocol (e.g., UART) to establish communication between the modules and the connected PC. This allows the PC to send/receive data to/from the modules.
4. Input/Output Handling: Utilize multiplexing techniques for handling multiple inputs and outputs, such as using shift registers for managing numerous LEDs or button inputs efficiently.
5. Code Organization: Implement modular and structured programming on the Arduino Nanos to handle the inputs, process the data, and control the outputs. This will help in managing the complexity of the system.

For the hardware interfacing, you may need to consider level shifting, buffering, and proper wiring to ensure reliable and robust communication and operation.

Given the complexity and scope of your project, detailed schematics, code organization, and careful consideration of power requirements will be crucial.