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Interface a Seven Segment LED display to an Arduino Uno R3

Interface a Seven Segment LED display to an Arduino Uno R3

For many Embedded system applications, there is no need to use an expensive LCD for display purposes, even a simple Seven Segment display can do the work.

Yes, for many Arduino and Embedded system applications if your aim is to display just the numbers, then you should most probably use a Cheaper 7 segment display. 

You can lower down the cost of your project by using a 7 Segment display instead of an LCD display.
Moreover, Using a 7 segment display is much easier than an LCD.

Fig.1 and 2 displays the image of a Seven 7 segment LED display.


                                   Fig. 1 Front view of 7 Segment Display                             
           


   Fig.2 Side View of 7 Segment display

7 Segment LED displays are of two types: Common Cathode and Common Anode. The structure of both types of LEDs is the same, the only difference is in the Polarity of LEDs and the common terminal in the LED displays.

 In the common cathode display (generally used) the cathodes of all seven LEDs and the DP (decimal point) are made common and connected to pin 3 and 8 of the LED display. In order to use the LED display effectively, we will have to connect ground to pin 3 and pin 8 and connect +5v supply to other pins to light up the LED of the corresponding pin i.e to light up the individual LEDs.

 Fig. 3 shows the internal structure of the common cathode LED display.
 Fig. 3 Internal Structure Common Cathode 7 Segment LED Display

The common anode display is obtained by reversing the polarity, it is the complete opposite of common cathode display. In the common anode display, the anodes of all seven LEDs and the DP (decimal point) are made common and connected to pin 3 and 8 of the LED display. In order to use the LED display effectively, we will have to connect +5v to pin 3 and pin 8 and connect Ground to other pins to light up the LED of the corresponding pin i.e to light up the individual LEDs.

 Fig. 4 shows the internal structure of the common anode LED display.


Fig. 4 Internal Structure of Common Anode 7 Segment LED Display


Fig. 5 SSD Configuration of 7 Segment LED Display

Table representing which LED should be ON and which should be OFF for a particular Digit in case of the common cathode display.


Digit
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
dp
0
On
On
On
On
On
On
Off
Off
1
Off
On
On
Off
Off
Off
Off
Off
2
On
On
Off
On
On
Off
On
Off
3
On
On
On
On
Off
Off
On
Off
4
Off
On
On
Off
Off
On
On
Off
5
 On
Off
 On
On 
Off 
 On
On 
Off 
6
 On
Off 
On 
 On
On 
On 
 On
Off
7
 On
On 
On 
Off 
Off 
Off 
Off 
Off 
8
On 
On 
On 
On 
On 
On 
On 
 Off
9
 On
On 
On 
On 
Off 
On 
On 
Off 
A
 On
On 
On 
Off 
On 
On 
On 
Off 
B
 Off
Off 
 On
On 
On 
On 
On 
Off 
C
 On
 Off
Off 
On 
On 
On 
Off 
Off 
D
 Off
 On
On 
On 
On 
 Off
On 
Off 
E
 On
Off 
 Off
On 
On 
On 
On 
Off 
F
 On
Off 
Off 
Off 
On 
On 
On 
Off 


Table 1. Shows the states of the LEDs for representing a digit
You can determine these states by the image shown below.

Fig. 6 shows the LED structure of 7 Segment LED Display.

Experiment No. 1

In Experiment No. 1 we will simply turn on and off the LEDs to get familiar with the working of a 7 segment display.

Components Required:

1. Arduino Uno R3 Board x 1
2. 7 Segment LED Display x 1 (Common Cathode)
3. 220 Ohm Resistors x 7
4. Jumper Wires
5. BreadBoard x 1

Circuit Diagram:

Fig. 7 Pin Diagram of 7 Segment Display


Fig. 8 Circuit Diagram for Experiment 1

Video Tutorial:



How to Use 7 segment display with Arduino - YouTube

Code: 
Download the Code from the Link Below:
Experiment 1 - 7 segment LED 

Experiment No. 2

In Experiment No. 2 we will display all the hexadecimal numbers on our 7 Segment LED Display by making an Up Counter.

Components Required:

1. Arduino Uno R3 Board x 1
2. 7 Segment LED Display x 1 (Common Cathode)

3. 220 Ohm Resistors x 7

4. Jumper Wires

5. BreadBoard x 1

Circuit Diagram:


Fig. 9 Pin Diagram of 7 Segment Display





Fig. 10 Circuit Diagram for Experiment 1

Code:

Download the code from the link below.

Also, If you have any queries, feel free to comment down below and I will try my best to solve, or you can directly DM me at my social media accounts.

Twitter    

Content Creator: Vivek Garg

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Location: India

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