How Shift Registers Work

Shift registers are an easy way to extend the number of I/O pins available to you with a microcontroller. With as few as 3 pins you can expand to an almost limitless number of outputs. The most common type of shift register is a 595, but these concepts are universal.

This video shows how a shift register is operated. There are description slides that explain what is happening in each demonstration segment. Note that when data is being shifted in, the "Input Data:" box shows the current bit in red.

What you see on the slides is the state of the external pin on a 595 chip. The internal shift register and storage register data is not show. A great way to learn what is happening with those is to use a piece of paper to keep track of the state as data is shifted into the device. (hint: be ready to use the pause button!)

For more information on how to shift registers work visit:
http://jumptuck.com/2011/11/02/how-shift-registers-work/

Music used under a CC-BY license:
Bad Day by Triplefox
http://www.jamendo.com/en/track/491876

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• shift register
• 595
• led
• microcontroller
• electronics