7-segment displays and segment-based displays are commonly used in many applications involving Arduino boards, providing a simple and low-cost way to display numeric and alphanumeric characters. Here’s an overview of how to use 7-segment displays and segment-based displays with an Arduino board:
1. 7-segment display: To use a 7-segment display with an Arduino board, you need a 7-segment display module, such as the common cathode or common anode 7-segment display, which can be interfaced with the Arduino board using the digital output pins. The 7-segment display module provides the physical interface for the display, including the 7-segment LED segments and the common cathode or common anode pins.
2. 7-segment library: To display digits and characters on a 7-segment display, you need to use a 7-segment library, such as the SevSeg library, which provides functions for initializing the 7-segment display, displaying digits and characters, and controlling the display settings such as the brightness and the digit ordering. The SevSeg library can be installed using the Arduino IDE’s library manager.
Here’s an example code to display a number on a common cathode 7-segment display using the SevSeg library:
#include "SevSeg.h"
SevSeg sevseg; // 7-segment display object
byte digits[] = {0, 0, 0, 0}; // Digits to display
void setup() {
byte numDigits = 4; // Number of digits in the 7-segment display
byte digitPins[] = {2, 3, 4, 5}; // Digital output pins for the digit selection
byte segmentPins[] = {6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13}; // Digital output pins for the segment control
bool resistorsOnSegments = false; // Set to true if the resistors are on the segment pins
bool updateWithDelays = false; // Set to true if the display should update with delays
bool leadingZeros = false; // Set to true if leading zeros should be displayed
bool disableDecPoint = true; // Set to true if the decimal point should be disabled
sevseg.begin(COMMON_CATHODE, numDigits, digitPins, segmentPins, resistorsOnSegments, updateWithDelays, leadingZeros, disableDecPoint); // Initialize the 7-segment display
sevseg.setBrightness(100); // Set the brightness of the display (0-100%)
digits[0] = 1; // Set the first digit to 1
digits[1] = 2; // Set the second digit to 2
digits[2] = 3; // Set the third digit to 3
digits[3] = 4; // Set the fourth digit to 4
sevseg.setChars(digits); // Display the digits on the 7-segment display
}
void loop() {
// Do nothing
}
3. Segment-based display: To use a segment-based display with an Arduino board, you need a segment-based display module, such as the 8×8 LED matrix or the MAX7219 display driver, which can be interfaced with the Arduino board using the SPI or I2C communication protocol. The segment-based display module provides the physical interface for the display, including the LED segments and the control pins.
4. Segment-based library: To display graphics and animations on a segment-based display, you need to use a segment-based library, such as the LedControl library, which provides functions for initializing the segment-based display, setting the LED matrix, and controlling the display settings such as the brightness and the scrolling. The LedControl library can be installed using the Arduino IDE’s library manager.
Here’s an example code to display a graphic on an 8×8 LED matrix using the LedControl library:
#includeLedControl lc(12, 11, 10, 1); // DIN, CLK, CS, number of devices for the LED matrix byte graphic[] = { // Graphic to display B00000000, B00011000, B00111100, B01100110, B01100110, B01100110, B01111110, B01111110 }; void setup() { lc.shutdown(0, false); // Turn on the LED matrix lc.setIntensity(0, 8); // Set the brightness of the LED matrix (0-15) lc.clearDisplay(0); // Clear the LED matrix lc.setRow(0, 0, graphic[0]); // Set the first row of the LED matrix lc.setRow(0, 1, graphic[1]); // Set the second row of the LED matrix lc.setRow(0, 2, graphic[2]); // Set the third row of the LED matrix lc.setRow(0, 3, graphic[3]); // Set the fourth row of the LED matrix lc.setRow(0, 4, graphic[4]); // Set the fifth row of the LED matrix lc.setRow(0, 5, graphic[5]); // Set the sixth row of the LED matrix lc.setRow(0, 6, graphic[6]); // Set the seventh row of the LED matrix lc.setRow(0, 7, graphic[7]); // Set the eighth row of the LED matrix } void loop() { // Do nothing }
Overall, 7-segment displays and segment-based displays are versatile and easy-to-use tools for displaying numeric and alphanumeric characters, as well as graphics and animations, using an Arduino board, and enable a variety of applications that involve data visualization, user interfaces, and feedback.