2-Digit Seven Segment Display Counter (myRIO)

[Michellly]

Hi,

I am working on making a stopwatch that displays the time elapsed on an external seven-segment LED display. I am confused on how to control two digits of a seven-segment LED display.

I know that for the seven segments, there are the following connections to the myRIO 1900:

Segment 'a' --> B/DIO0 (pin 11)

Segment 'b' --> B/DIO1 (pin 13)

etc.

But that is for one digit. If I have two digits, how can I, for instance, turn on segment 'a' of the first digit, whilst keeping it turned off for the second digit (simultaneously)? 

[Michellly]

Hi RavensFans,

I have a question about the 2D array that you talked about.

You said that one row will contain the digits 0-9 and then the second row will contain true or false associated with the segment of the seven-segment display. I am a bit confused about the second row of this 2D array. 

If I consider the digit '8', it requires digits a, b, c, d, e, f and g to be turned on. Then in the column of '8' of the 2D array, would I wire "true" to all of the Digital Output pins of the myRIO microcontroller? ie. True to B/DIO0, DIO1, DIO2, ..., DIO6? Then, would the index array pick the columns that are required? 

Thank you for your time.

[GerdW]

Hi Michellly,

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@Michellly wrote:

But that is for one digit. If I have two digits, how can I, for instance, turn on segment 'a' of the first digit, whilst keeping it turned off for the second digit (simultaneously)? 

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Please read a book which explains such 7-digits display with all details. I guess books about electronics from the late 70's or early 80's do this…

You may also study the electronic schematics of an old alarm clock with such 7-digits display: here you will find hints on how to display 4 digits (and the colon in between) with less than 16 digital outputs!

Edit:

Please keep related questions in one thread. Don't spread the discussion over several threads…