7 Segment Display Array
Intro: 7 Segment Display Array
I've build an led display made out of 144 7 segment displays controlled by an arduino nano. The segments are controlled by 18 MAX7219 ic's which can control up to 64 individual leds or 8 7 segment displays. The array has 144 displays made each up of 8 individual leds so the array has an total off 1152 leds you can control.
STEP 1: Get Your Components
1 x Arduino Nano
1 x PCB
144 x Common Cathode 7 segment 1 digit displays
18 x MAX7219
18 x 10uf Capacitor (0603)
18 x 100nf Capacitor (0603)
19 x 12k Resistor (0603)
1 x Female Micro usb
42 x Female header
1 x Tiny RTC (optional)
1 x 2A Powersupply
STEP 2: Order Your PCB
Here you can download the Gerber files for the PCB of the display. Upload them through https://jlcpcb.com/quote#/ or a different manufacturer to order them.
STEP 3: Solder the Components
Solder all the components on to the PCB as shown in the schematics. If u have little or no experience in SMD soldering I suggest u watch this tutorial on SMD soldering first.
If u are going to use the display as a clock solder the headers of the Tiny RTC on de side of the battery.
STEP 4: Display As a Clock
When you finished soldering all the components download the code and upload it to the arduino before putting it into the display. If u want to display something custom have a look at Step 5.
STEP 5: Make Custom Code
If u want to show something custom you need to code it by by hand. In the example code different segements aka pixels are shown in bytes with each bit one segment: 0bDP-A-B-C-D-E-F-G e.g. 0b01011011 will show a 5.
The example code has 3 different ways to show pixels. The first way is to use the putPixel(x, y, byte); function to replace one pixel of the display at the location x, y (0, 0 is top left 5, 23 is bottom right).
The second way is to use the addPixel(x, y, byte); function it works almost the same as the putPixel() function but instead of replacing the pixel it adds the pixel to the original one.
The last way is to use the fillPixel(x1, y1, x2, y2, byte); funtion to fill a rectangle from x1,y1 to x2,y2 with the same pixels.
STEP 6: You're Done!
Congratulations you're done! Now you can program the display the way you like it. And if u made the display dont forget to share it :)
30 Comments
RonaldB1989 1 year ago
I'm about to solder up the display onto the boards.
TAGood827 3 years ago
Message me if you are interested obtaining a board.
shaunjay 1 year ago
TAGood827 3 years ago
TAGood827 3 years ago
Anyone else see something like this on their display?
frarugi87 3 years ago
frarugi87 3 years ago
TAGood827 3 years ago
TAGood827 3 years ago
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4731089
I'm also working on a bezel to capture a piece of 20% film but that takes a big printer I don't get much time with.
TAGood827 3 years ago
TAGood827 3 years ago
TAGood827 3 years ago
Looking forward to putting this together.
TAGood827 3 years ago
Thanks!
Frugha 3 years ago
TAGood827 3 years ago
ajoyraman 3 years ago
kiwigrinder 3 years ago
ajoyraman 3 years ago
kiwigrinder 3 years ago
ajoyraman 3 years ago