What's cooler than a single LED? A bunch of them! A super - fun way to create a small display is by using an 8x8 matrix or a 4 - digit 7 - segment display. These matrices are multiplexed, which means you'd need 14 pins to control all the seven - segment LEDs. That's a hassle, and driver chips like the MAX7219, while helpful, require a lot of wiring and take up a lot of space. Adafruit gets your pain! Imagine being able to control a matrix without all that wiring. That's where our cute LED matrix backpacks come in. We offer two types: a mini 8x8 and a 4 - digit 0.56' 7 - segment. They work great with the matrices in our Adafruit shop, making it a breeze to add a bright little display. The matrices use a driver chip that does all the hard work. They have a built - in clock for multiplexing the display, use constant - current drivers for ultra - bright and consistent color (the images are taken at the dimmest setting to avoid overloading the camera!), and offer 1/16 step display dimming, all through a simple I2C interface. The backpacks come with address - selection jumpers, allowing you to connect up to four mini 8x8's or eight 7 - segments (or a mix) on a single I2C bus. The product kit includes a fully tested and assembled LED backpack, an ultra - bright 4 - digit 0.56' tall white seven - segment display, and a 4 - pin header. A bit of soldering is needed to attach the matrix to the backpack, but it's easy and only takes about 5 minutes. We also have a detailed tutorial on soldering, wiring, and controlling the display, plus a great library for the backpacks, so you can start using it in under half an hour, showing images on the matrix or numbers on the 7 - segment. If you've been hesitant about matrix displays due to complexity, this is your answer!
Using this product is a piece of cake. First, you'll need to do a bit of soldering to attach the 4 - digit 7 - segment display to the LED backpack. It's simple and should only take around 5 minutes. After that, you can connect the backpack to your device using the 4 - pin header. Thanks to the address - selection jumpers on the backpack, you can connect multiple displays on a single I2C bus. To control the display, use the library we've provided. You'll be showing images on the matrix or numbers on the 7 - segment in under half an hour. As for maintenance, keep the display away from excessive heat and moisture. If it gets dirty, you can use a soft, dry cloth to gently wipe it. And always refer to our detailed tutorial if you run into any issues.
