BCD to 7-Segment Decoder/Driver

In Binary Coded Decimal (BCD) encoding scheme each of the decimal

numbers(0-9) is represented by its equivalent binary pattern(which is
generally of 4-bits).

Whereas, Seven segment display is an electronic device which

consists of seven Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) arranged in a some
definite pattern (common cathode or common anode type), which is
used to display Hexadecimal numerals(in this case decimal numbers,
as input is BCD i.e., 0-9).

BCD to 7-Segment Decoder/Driver

Two types of seven segment LED display:

1. Common Cathode Type: In this type of display all cathodes of the seven LEDs are
connected together to the ground or –Vcc (hence, common cathode) and LED displays
digits when some ‘HIGH’ signal is supplied to the individual anodes.

2. Common Anode Type: In this type of display all the anodes of the seven LEDs are
connected to battery or +Vcc and LED displays digits when some ‘LOW’ signal is
supplied to the individual cathodes.

But, seven segment display does not work by directly supplying voltage to different
segments of LEDs. First, our decimal number is changed to its BCD equivalent signal
then BCD to seven segment decoder converts that signals to the form which is fed to
seven segment display.

BCD to 7-Segment Decoder/Driver

This BCD to seven segment decoder has
four input lines (A, B, C and D) and 7
output lines (a, b, c, d, e, f and g), this
output is given to seven segment LED
display which displays the decimal
number depending upon inputs.
 BCD to 7-Segment Decoder/Driver
Truth Table – For common cathode type BCD to seven segment decoder:

BCD to 7-Segment Decoder/Driver

Note –
•For Common Anode type seven segment LED display, we only have to interchange all
‘0s’ and ‘1s’ in the output side i.e., (for a, b, c, d, e, f, and g replace all ‘1’ by ‘0’ and
vice versa) and solve using K-map.
•Output for first combination of inputs (A, B, C and D) in Truth Table corresponds to ‘0’
and last combination corresponds to ‘9’. Similarly rest corresponds from 2 to 8 from
top to bottom.
•BCD numbers only range from 0 to 9,thus rest inputs from 10-F are invalid inputs.

BCD to 7-Segment Decoder/Driver

Example –

Explanation –
For combination where all the inputs (A, B, C and D) are zero (see Truth Table), our
output lines are a = 1, b = 1, c = 1, d = 1, e = 1, f = 1 and g = 0. So 7 segment display
shows ‘zero’ as output.
Similarly, for combination where one of the input is one (D = 1) and rest are zero,our
output lines are a = 0, b = 1, c = 1, d = 0, e = 0, f = 0 and g = 0. So only LEDs ‘b’ and ‘c’
(see diagram above) will glow and 7 segment display shows ‘one’ as output.
 Encoder
An Encoder is a combinational circuit that performs the reverse operation of
Decoder. It has maximum of 2n input lines and ‘n’ output lines. It will produce a
binary code equivalent to the input, which is active High. Therefore, the encoder
encodes 2n input lines with ‘n’ bits. It is optional to represent the enable signal in
encoders.
4 to 2 Encoder
Let 4 to 2 Encoder has four inputs Y3, Y2,
Y1 & Y0 and two outputs A1 & A0. The block
diagram of 4 to 2 Encoder is shown in the
following figure.
At any time, only one of these 4 inputs can
be ‘1’ in order to get the respective binary
code at the output.

The Truth table of 4 to 2 encoder is shown below.

Inputs Outputs
Y3 Y2 Y1 Y0 A1 A0
0 0 0 1 0 0
0 0 1 0 0 1
0 1 0 0 1 0
1 0 0 0 1 1

From Truth table, we can write the Boolean functions for each output as
A1=Y3+Y2
A0=Y3+Y1
We can implement the above two Boolean functions by using two input OR
gates.

The circuit diagram of 4 to 2 encoder is shown in the following figure.

The above circuit diagram contains two OR gates. These OR gates encode the four
inputs with two bits
Octal to Binary Encoder
Octal to binary Encoder has eight inputs, Y7 to Y0 and three outputs A2, A1 & A0. Octal
to binary encoder is nothing but 8 to 3 encoder. The block diagram of octal to binary
Encoder is shown in the following figure.

At any time, only one of these eight inputs

can be ‘1’ in order to get the respective
binary code.

The Truth table of octal to binary encoder is shown below.

Inputs Outputs

Y7 Y6 Y5 Y4 Y3 Y2 Y1 Y0 A2 A1 A0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1

0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0

0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1

0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0

0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1

0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0

1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1
 From Truth table, we can write the Boolean functions for each output as
A2=Y7+Y6+Y5+Y4
A1=Y7+Y6+Y3+Y2
A0=Y7+Y5+Y3+Y1

We can implement the above Boolean functions by using four input OR gates. The circuit
diagram of octal to binary encoder is shown in the following figure.

The circuit diagram

contains three 4-input
OR gates. These OR
gates encode the
eight inputs with three
bits.

Drawbacks of Encoder
Following are the drawbacks of normal encoder.
•There is an ambiguity, when all outputs of encoder are equal to zero. Because, it
could be the code corresponding to the inputs, when only least significant input is
one or when all inputs are zero.
•If more than one input is active High, then the encoder produces an output, which
may not be the correct code. For example, if both Y3 and Y6 are ‘1’, then the encoder
produces 111 at the output. This is neither equivalent code corresponding to Y3,
when it is ‘1’ nor the equivalent code corresponding to Y6, when it is ‘1’.
So, to overcome these difficulties, we should assign priorities to each input of
encoder. Then, the output of encoder will be the binary code corresponding to the
active High inputs, which has higher priority. This encoder is called as priority
encoder.