PIC 7-segment text: Happy Birthday, Bill!

This a Happy Birthday message for my Dad, Bill, with an extra-special message regarding my Mom, Dianne, also. The circuit is a PIC 16F88 microcontroller programmed to run the 3-digit, 7-segment display. Unfortunately, the display component was not wired in parallel, hence the abundant mass of wires connecting each segment of each digit to the mcu.

FYI:
If I built this again, I'd use a parallel pre-wired display, and a common-cathode (using NPN transistors for each display) one at that. The display used here is common-anode (with PNP transistors), which required me to invert my interpretation of "STATUS.C" at some point in my code if I wanted to keep the code non-inverted relative to the LEDs switched on or off at any given time e.g. so that 11111111 = all LEDs on, and 00000000 = all LEDs off, as opposed to the other way around.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• PIC
• 16F88
• LED
• seven
• segment
• display
• mcu
• microcontroller
• happy
• birthday
• programming
• embedded
• systems
• hank
• fletcher
• robot
• electronics
• diy
• gadget
• computer

[toastasteron]

is that 3 different 7segment or just 1 3digit 7segment??

[hankfletcher]

It's one component: 3 digits. I got this one discounted surplus. You can get better ones, with less pins (which makes wiring easier).

Less pins = less wires = less work. Pick your components carefully!

[toastasteron]

Where can I find the pin configuration for it? I just got my 3 digit 7 segment from a scrap. so :/

[hankfletcher]

Hm... that's a tricky one, because I'm not sure if there is a standard pin configuration, even for single digit 7-segment displays.

Is there any identification marks on the component? There are datasheets for just about every component existing somewhere on the internet. Alternatively, count the pins, and try a google search for "3 digit 7-segment display." Look for datasheets with the same amount of pins as your display. Compare them, and see if you can find something similar.

[wadejoshua1]

Nice going with the display but i was just wondering? can u perhaps give me your coding used for this display. Was it done in MpLab?

[hankfletcher]

Since I did this project ages ago, I've since lost the code, I think. I compiled it into mplab before burning it to the chip, but since I was (and still am, really) a noob at coding, I actually wrote the program in Great Cow BASIC. Just google for "great cow basic."

It is what it is, but at least the price is right (free)! And, in many ways GCBASIC, and understanding how it works/codes in certain ways, is a good place to get started understanding coding.

[toastasteron]

thanks man :)

[toastasteron]

These are the marks I saw in the component. "E2" , "AG-15A" , "RB102" , "JSQI" , and "CJZ.820.253". I tried searching these tags together with 3 digit 7 segment IC but I just don't have a clue to what I'm looking at.

[ChaoticMatters]

wow you know your tech stuff