ECE 2030

Arduino Based System

Design

Daw Khaing Su Wai

 Experiment 10

7 segment Display
 7 segment Display
• The 7-segment display, also written as “seven segment display”, consists of seven LEDs (hence
its name) arranged in a rectangular fashion .
• Each of the seven LEDs is called a segment because when illuminated the segment forms part
of a numerical digit (both Decimal and Hex) to be displayed.
• An additional 8th LED is sometimes used within the same package thus allowing the indication
of a decimal point, (DP) when two or more 7-segment displays are connected together to
display numbers greater than ten.
• Some segments will be light and others will be dark allowing the desired character pattern of
the number to be generated on the display.
• This then allows us to display each of the ten decimal digits 0 through to 9 on the same 7-
segment display.
7 segment Display Pin Diagram
 How 7-segment display works?
Depending upon the decimal digit to be displayed, the particular set of LEDs is illuminated.
• For instance, to display the numerical digit 4, we will need to light up four of the LED segments
corresponding to b, c, f and g.
• Thus the various digits from ‘0 through 9’ and characters from ‘A through F’ can be displayed
using a 7-segment display as shown.
 7 segment Display Types
Types of seven segments
• Common Anode (CA)
• Common Cathode (CC)
 Common Cathode 7-segment Display
Common Cathode (CC)
• All the cathode connections of the LED segments are joined together to logic “0” or ground.
• The individual segments are illuminated by application of a “HIGH”, or logic “1” signal via a
current limiting resistor to forward bias the individual Anode terminals (a-g).
 Truth Table of 7-segment display for common cathode

• Above truth table shows the data to be applied to the seven segments to display the digits.
• In order to display digit‘0’ on seven segment , segments a , b , c , d , e and f are applied with logic
high and segment g is applied with logic low.
 Common Anode 7-segment Display
• In common anode type, all the anodes of 8 LED’s are connected to the common terminal and
cathodes are left free.
• Thus, in order to glow the LED, these cathodes have to be connected to the logic ‘0’ and anode to
the logic ‘1’.
 Truth Table of 7-segment display for common anode

• In order to display zero on this segment one should enable logic high on a, b, c, d, e and f
segments and logic low on segment ‘g’.
• Thus, the above table provides data on seven segments for displaying numerals from 0-9.
 Applications of 7-segment display
• The applications of seven segments are mostly in digital calculators, electronic meters, digital
clocks, clock radios, etc.
• Today most of the 7 segment applications are using LCDs, because of low current consumption.