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1.1.4 7-segment Display

Introduction

Let’s try to drive a 7-segment display to show a figure from 0 to 9 and A to F.

Required Components

In this project, we need the following components.

../_images/list_7_segment1.png

It’s definitely convenient to buy a whole kit, here’s the link:

Name

ITEMS IN THIS KIT

LINK

Raphael Kit

337

Raphael Kit

You can also buy them separately from the links below.

COMPONENT INTRODUCTION

PURCHASE LINK

GPIO Extension Board

BUY

Breadboard

BUY

Jumper Wires

BUY

Resistor

BUY

7-segment Display

BUY

74HC595

BUY

Schematic Diagram

Connect pin ST_CP of 74HC595 to Raspberry Pi GPIO18, SH_CP to GPIO27, DS to GPIO17, parallel output ports to 8 segments of the LED segment display. Input data in DS pin to shift register when SH_CP (the clock input of the shift register) is at the rising edge, and to the memory register when ST_CP (the clock input of the memory) is at the rising edge. Then you can control the states of SH_CP and ST_CP via the Raspberry Pi GPIOs to transform serial data input into parallel data output so as to save Raspberry Pi GPIOs and drive the display.

../_images/schematic_7_segment1.png

Experimental Procedures

Step 1: Build the circuit.

../_images/image731.png

Step 2: Go to the folder of the code.

cd ~/raphael-kit/nodejs/

Step 3: Run the code.

sudo node 7-segment_display.js

After the code runs, you’ll see the 7-segment display display 0-9, A-F.

Code

const Gpio = require('pigpio').Gpio;

const segCode = [0x3f, 0x06, 0x5b, 0x4f, 0x66, 0x6d, 0x7d, 0x07, 0x7f, 0x6f, 0x77, 0x7c, 0x39, 0x5e, 0x79, 0x71];

const SDI = new Gpio(17, { mode: Gpio.OUTPUT });
const RCLK = new Gpio(18, { mode: Gpio.OUTPUT });
const SRCLK = new Gpio(27, { mode: Gpio.OUTPUT });

function hc595_shift(dat) {
    for (let j = 0; j < 8; j++) {
        let code = 0x80 & (dat << j);
        if (code != 0) {
            code = 1;
        }
        SDI.digitalWrite(code);
        SRCLK.trigger(1,1);
    }
    RCLK.trigger(1,1);
}

let index = -1;
setInterval(() => {
    index = (index+1)%16;
    hc595_shift(segCode[index]);
}, 1000);

Code Explanation

const segCode = [0x3f,0x06,0x5b,0x4f,0x66,0x6d,0x7d,0x07,0x7f,0x6f,0x77,0x7c,0x39,0x5e,0x79,0x71];

Define a hexadecimal (common cathode) segment code array from 0 to F.

const SDI = new Gpio(17, { mode: Gpio.OUTPUT });
const RCLK = new Gpio(18, { mode: Gpio.OUTPUT });
const SRCLK = new Gpio(27, { mode: Gpio.OUTPUT });

Initialize pins 17, 18, and 27 as output mode, and copy them to SDI, RCLK, and SRCLK respectively.

function hc595_shift(dat) {
    for (let j = 0; j < 8; j++) {
        let code = 0x80 & (dat << j);
        if (code != 0) {
            code = 1;
        }
        SDI.digitalWrite(code);
        SRCLK.trigger(1,1);
    }
    RCLK.trigger(1,1);
}

Implement a hc595_shift function to convert the fields in the array segCode into numbers and display them on the digital tube.

let code = 0x80 & (dat << j);
if (code != 0) {
    code = 1;
}
SDI.digitalWrite(code);

Assign the dat data to SDI(DS) by bits. Here we assume dat=0x3f(0011 1111, when j=2, 0x3f will shift right(<<) 2 bits. 1111 1100 (0x3f << 2) & 1000 0000 (0x80) = 1000 0000, is true. At this time, 1 is written to SDI.

SRCLK.trigger(1,1);

Generate a rising edge pulse and move the DS data to the shift register.

trigger(pulseLen, level)

  • pulseLen - pulse length in microseconds (1 - 100)

  • level - 0 or 1

Sends a trigger pulse to the GPIO. The GPIO is set to level for pulseLen microseconds and then reset to not level.

RCLK.trigger(1,1);

Generate a rising edge pulse and move the data from the shift register to the storage register.

let index = -1;
setInterval(() => {
    index = (index+1)%16;
    hc595_shift(segCode[index]);
}, 1000);

Finally, use the function hc595_shift() to convert the fields in segCode and display them through the digital tube.

Phenomenon Picture

../_images/image741.jpeg