2.3" Common Anode Seven Segment Display Driver

This is a 74LS192 based up and down counter driver module for driving 2.3 inches seven segment display. The module has headers on two sides to receive up/down count signals and to concatenate with another driver module.

The module can be triggered with NE555, flashing LED, and Arduino. It can also be triggered by anything that generates a clock pulse.

Limitation:

This is basically an UP and DOWN counter module. It either counts up or down, that's it. Though it can be used with Arduino, please be mindful of its limitation, it is not like any other drivers which display any specific number. However, there are some possibilities also. Suppose, to display a number, let's say, 95, you need to send count pulse for 95 times to the module and it takes less than 1 second to count from 00 to 95. You won't even notice that the Arduino counted 95 times.

However, if you want to display, for example, 886, it will take around 5 seconds to count from 000 to 886. Therefore, the module may become impractical for more than 3 displays.

Applications:

• Events Counter.
• Objects counter
• Scoreboard
• Queueing system

Why did I make it?

This is just a by-product of a digital Scoreboard that I had previously built. I was designing a table tennis scoreboard and I noticed that there are no 2.3" seven segment display drivers available. So, I derived the idea of this product from the scoreboard.

What makes it special?

• The size of the seven-segment display makes it special. The display is large enough to be seen from 100 meters.
• You can concatenate as many displays as you want.
• It can be used with NE555, Arduino, flasher LED, Scoreduino-A, basic trigger module, or anything that can generate a count pulse.
• There is no extra complicated wiring or programming to make it work. Just get your common anode seven segment display and solder it on the driver board and power it up, it just starts counting.
• You can at least use it to test your own displays. When you buy a seven-segment display from any store, the first struggle most people face is to find a reliable circuit to test it. This driver does the hard work. We have included the schematic also, so, you can get some ideas on driving the displays.

List of components used:

1. 1 x PCB
2. 1 x 2.3″ common anode seven segment display
3. 2 x 6 pins male angle header
4. 1 x 6 pins male header
5. 1 x 2 pins male header
6. 2 x 6 pins female angle header
7. 3 x 16 pin DIL socket
8. 7 x 100 Ohm resistors (if depends upon the color of the seven segments display, how much current it draws and the power supplied to it)
9. 1 x CD4511
10. 1 x 74LS192
11. 1 x ULN2003
12. 2 x 1K
13. 2 x 10K
14. 1 x tactile switch

See all the images on Flickr

Can the driver increase or decrease a count for any specific sensor value? Yes, it does. I have made a video that clearly shows how you can use one button to increase the count and the other decreases the count.

You cannot make a temperature display board using this module. It is just a counter that counts up or down

Pinouts on one side:

• 9V: The module works strictly with a 9V power supply.
• 5V: Connect the 5V of Arduino
• GND: Connect GND pin of Arduino
• 5: Give pulse to this pin from Arduino in order to count UP
• 4: Give pulse to this pin from Arduino in order to count down
• 14: Reset pin. Give pulse for to reset the count

Pinouts on the other side:

• 12: This connects to pin 5 of another module
• 13: This connects to pin 4 of another module
• 14: Pin 14 on both sides are connected together

Package includes:

• 1 x Driver module
• 1 x 2.3" common anode seven segment display

It works ‘strictly’ with 9V power supply. Do not exceed more than 9V.