read_serial_LED_data.txt

//***************************************************************
// Untested code
// For reading R,G,B serial data sent from computer to LED controller.
//
//***************************************************************

//serial read of data to feed to FastLED
#include "FastLED.h"
     
//setup LEDs
#define NUM_LEDS 8
#define DATA_PIN 15
CRGB leds[NUM_LEDS];
     
//setup software serial buffer
char buff[NUM_LEDS*3];
int buffPos = 0;
char buffChar;
     
void setup () 
  {
    Serial.begin (115200);
    FastLED.addLeds<NEOPIXEL, DATA_PIN>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
  }
     
void loop()
  {
    while (Serial.available() > 0) {
      buffChar = Serial.read();
      if (buffPos < NUM_LEDS*3) {
        buff[buffPos] = buffChar;
        buffPos++;
        if (buffPos == (NUM_LEDS*3)) {
          //clear leds and overwrite with buffer
          memset(leds, 0, sizeof(leds));  
          memcpy(leds, buff, sizeof(leds));
          //clear buffer and reset position
          memset(buff, 0, sizeof(buff));
          buffPos = 0;
        }
      }
    }
    //update LEDs
    FastLED.show();
  }