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The seven segment displays are one of the oldest & efficient types of display used in electronics applications. These displays have 8 LEDs inside it arranged in a manner. These 8 LEDs are separated into each segment which can be named as a, b, c, d, e, f, g, DP (decimal point) as shown in the picture below.
These entire 8 LEDs have one end of their pins pulled out of the module as shown below and the other ends are connected together and pulled out as the Common pin. So to make patterns like numbers (0 – 9) or alphabets we just need to power common along with the other segment pin, see in the diagram below.
The eighth segment (using the DP pin) allows us to show a decimal point.
7 SEGMENTs DISPLAY PIN-CONFIGURATION
| PIN NUMBER | PIN NAME | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | E | Controls the left bottom LED of the 7-segment display |
| 2 | D | Controls the bottom most LED of the 7-segment display |
| 3 | COM | Connected to Ground/VCC based on type of display |
| 4 | C | Controls the right bottom LED of the 7-segment display |
| 5 | DP | Controls the decimal point LED of the 7-segment display |
| 6 | B | Controls the top right LED of the 7-segment display |
| 7 | A | Controls the top most LED of the 7-segment display |
| 8 | COM | Connected to Ground/VCC based on type of display |
| 9 | F | Controls the top left LED of the 7-segment display |
| 10 | G | Controls the middle LED of the 7-segment display |
SELECTING YOUR 7-SEGMENT DISPLAY
7 Segment is either a Common Anode display or a Common Cathode display. Circuit/program designed for Common Anode display cannot be used for Common Cathode or vice versa.
COMMON CATHODE (CC) 7 SEGMENT DISPLAY
The common cathode display is also known as CC display. In this type, the cathode pins of all eight segments/LEDs are connected (short-circuited) together. So In order to make this type of display work, we should connect the Com pin to the Ground pin and need to power the other pins with Vcc (+5V typically).
COMMON ANODE (CA) 7 SEGMENT DISPLAY
The common anode display is also known as CA display. In this type, anode pins of all eight segments/LEDs are connected (short-circuited) together. So In order to make this type of 7-segment display work, we should connect the Com pin to the Vcc (+5V typically) and need to ground the required segment pin to turn it on (in simple words give a LOW signal from the Arduino pin to any segment of LED you want to turn it on and +5V to com pin).
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HOW TO USE 7-SEGMENT DISPLAY
What’s that? Amazing, Carl Kingsley
What’s that? Amazing, Carl Kingsley
That’s famous…