Chipkit and 7 segment display module

In this example, we will use the chipKIT Uno32 board and connect this to a  MAX7219-driven 8-digit seven segment LED display.

The MAX7219/MAX7221 are compact, serial input/output common-cathode display drivers that interface microprocessors (µPs) to 7-segment numeric LED displays of up to 8 digits, bar-graph displays, or 64 individual LEDs. Included on-chip are a BCD code-B decoder, multiplex scan circuitry, segment and digit drivers, and an 8×8 static RAM that stores each digit. Only one external resistor is required to set the segment current for all LEDs.

The MAX7221 is compatible with SPI™, QSPI™, and MICROWIRE™, and has slewrate-limited segment drivers to reduce EMI.
A convenient 4-wire serial interface connects to all common µPs. Individual digits may be addressed and updated without rewriting the entire display. The MAX7219/MAX7221 also allow the user to select codeB decoding or no-decode for each digit.

Here is a picture of the module used

Code

You will need the LedControl library – http://wayoda.github.io/LedControl/pages/software.html

[codesyntax lang=”cpp”]

#include "LedControl.h"

/*
 Now we need a LedControl to work with.
 ***** These pin numbers will probably not work with your hardware *****
 pin 7 is connected to the DataIn 
 pin 6 is connected to the CLK 
 pin 5 is connected to LOAD 
 We have only a single MAX72XX.
 */
LedControl mydisplay=LedControl(7,6,5,1);


void setup() {
  mydisplay.shutdown(0, false);  // turns on display
  mydisplay.setIntensity(0, 15); // 15 = brightest
  mydisplay.setDigit(0, 0, 9, false);
  mydisplay.setDigit(0, 1, 8, false);
  mydisplay.setDigit(0, 2, 7, false);
  mydisplay.setDigit(0, 3, 6, false);
  mydisplay.setDigit(0, 4, 5, true);
  mydisplay.setDigit(0, 5, 4, false);
  mydisplay.setDigit(0, 6, 3, false);
  mydisplay.setDigit(0, 7, 2, false);
}

void loop() {
}

[/codesyntax]

Links
MAX7219 8-Digit LED Display Module Digital Tube for Arduino SPI Control