Experiment

Fundamentals Digital Display System.

I - Objectives

Make the student be able to understand the Fundamentals of digital display

systems which is the main part of digital instrumentation.

II - Discussions

One method of digital display is the 7-segment display; another method is

the liquid crystal display. The 7-segment display is a Chip contains 7-LEDs and
another LED for indicating the decimal point, see the appendix.

The binary coded decimal code (BCD) must be converted to the 7-segment
code to display the corresponding digit. For example, in case of common
cathode 7-segment display the (0000) BCD must be converted to (1111110)
7-segment Code (a = b= c= d =e =f =1, and g = 0) such that the digit O is
displayed. The digit 8 which is represented by (1000) BCD code is converted to
(1111111) 7-segment code (a = b = c = d = e = t = g = 1).

Figure 1 shows the circuit diagram of this connection, in which the

switches (S1, S2, S3, and S4) are used to input the BCD code to the BCD to
7-segment decoder (4511), the outputs of 4511 are connected to the common
cathode 7-segment display. In this circuit all segments may be lit or dimmed in
the same time, irrespective to the input code, as a test by setting lightening (L̅T̅)
̅̅̅̅) inputs of 4511 true respectively. Also, the display can be hold
or blanking (BL
unchanged irrespective to the input code by connecting the LE to V CC (its true
value).

Figure 2 shows how the digital display can be controlled automatically,

which displays digits 0,1,2..to 9 then repeating this sequence again till you
disconnect power supply or press the reset button of the BCD counter (40192),

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in the last case a zero is displayed on the 7-segment display. Also, an octal base
counting can be displayed, by connecting QD (pin 7) of the BCD counter to its
reset pin (Pin 14). In this case the counting will be 0, 1, … to 7 then this
sequence will be repeated.

The circuit Also is equipped with a switch which enables a reverse

counting (Down counting) of the counter, i.e., the display will be 9, 8, 7, …,0 in
case of BCD counting and 7, 6, …,0 in case of octal system.

III - Connection diagram

Figure 1. Manual controlled digital display system

Figure 2. Automatically controlled digital display

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IV - Apparatus

1 - Common cathode 7-segment display (SC05-11).

2 - BCD to 7-segment decoder (4511).

3 - BCD-counter (40192).

4 - 4-NAND chip (4011).

5 – 555 timers, set of capacitors, and resisters.

6 - Set of resistors.

7 - Set of switches, and a push button.

V - Procedure

1 - Test the 7-segment display chip.

2 - Connect the circuit diagram of Figure 1; see the appendix for the pinout
connections of the used 7-segment display, BCD to 7-segment
decoder (4511).

3 - Compose the BCD digital combinations (from 0000 to 1001) sequentially

by the switches (SA to SD) writing down the display of the
7-segment of each case. Also measure the inputs (from a through g)
of the 7-segment display in each case; then complete the table of
results.

4 - Connect the circuit diagram of Figure 2; see the appendix for the pinout
connections of the used 7-segment display, BCD to 7-segment
decoder (4511), BCD counter (40192), NAND Gates (4011),
555-timer as astable multivibrator.

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 5 - Make all segments Lit (irrespective to the BCD digital combinations
inputs to the 7-segment decoder (4511)) by asserting its L̅T̅ input
TRUE (connected to zero) using switch S1.

6 - Make all segments blanked (irrespective to the BCD digital combinations

inputs to the 7-segment decoder (4511)) by asserting its̅̅̅̅
BL input
TRUE (connected to zero) using switch S2.

7 – Hold the displayed figure unchanged (irrespective to input BCD digital

combinations to the 7-segment decoder (4511)) by asserting its LE
input TRUE (connected to VCC) using switch S3.

8 – Push the RESET switch S5 and notice the displayed figure.

9 - Let 40192 (BCD counter) to count from 0 to 9 (BCD digits) or from

0 to 7 (octal digits); using switch S4 in an ascending and then in a
descending order using switch S6.

VI - Comments

Comment on the obtained results:

The design-procedure of the system (555-timer, NAND gates), and good

operation checking of the digital display systems.

VII - Reviewing Questions

1- What is the difference between common anode 7-segment display system and
the used system?

2 - What is the function of the pull-down resisters (10 KΩ) in the inputs of 4511.

3 - Draw the truth table of the 3-NAND gates which are used to convert the
sequence of counting.

4 – Propose simplified circuit diagram of a digital voltmeter.

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VIII - Table of Results

BCD input 7-segement display inputs Displayed

digit
D C B A a b c d e f g

0 0 0 0

0 0 0 1

0 0 1 0

0 0 1 1

0 1 0 0

0 1 0 1

0 1 1 0

0 1 1 1

1 0 0 0

1 0 0 1

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If (S1 on pos. 12V, S2 on pos. 12V, S3 on pos. 0V, S4 on pos. BCD, S5 is
released, S6 on pos. Up).

Switch position Displayed digit

on pos. 12V
S1
on pos. 0V

on pos. 12V
S2
on pos. 0V

on pos. 12V
S3
on pos. 0V

Pushed
S5
Released

on pos. Up Displaying is (Ascend or descend) order.

S6
on pos. Down Displaying is (Ascend or Descend) order.

on pos. BCD Display is. (BCD or Octal)

S4

on pos. Octal Display is. (BCD Or Octal)

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Your proposal of a simplified circuit diagram of a digital voltmeter: