Looking for a great way to create a numeric display? Multiple LEDs are way cooler than a single one! A 4-digit 7-segment display is a fun choice. These LED matrices are multiplexed, which usually means you need 14 pins to control all the seven-segment LEDs. That's a lot of pins! There are driver chips like the MAX7219, but they require a lot of wiring and take up much space. At Adafruit, we understand your hassle! Imagine controlling a matrix without all that messy wiring. That's where our cute LED matrix backpacks come in. We offer them for various 8x8 and 7-segment displays. They work perfectly with the displays in our Adafruit shop, making it super easy to add a bright display. The backpacks use a driver chip that does all the hard work. They have a built-in clock for display multiplexing. With constant-current drivers, they provide ultra-bright, consistent color (the photos are taken at the dimmest setting to avoid overloading our camera). You can also adjust the display brightness in 1/16 steps via a simple I2C interface. The backpacks come with address-selection jumpers, allowing you to connect up to eight 7-segments or a combination like four mini 8x8's and four 7-segments on a single I2C bus. The product kit includes a fully tested and assembled LED backpack, an ultra-bright 4-digit 1.2-inch tall red seven-segment display, and a 5-pin header. You'll need to do a bit of soldering to attach the matrix to the backpack, but it's really easy and only takes about 5 minutes. As always, we have a detailed tutorial on soldering, wiring, and controlling the display. We've also written great libraries for the backpacks, so you can start displaying numbers on the 7-segment for Arduino or Raspberry Pi in under half an hour. If you've been hesitant about matrix displays due to complexity, this is the perfect solution for you!
Using this Adafruit 4-digit 7-segment display is a breeze. First, you'll need to do a little soldering to attach the display matrix to the backpack. Don't worry, it's easy and only takes about 5 minutes. Once it's soldered, you can connect it to your Arduino or Raspberry Pi. You can use the libraries we've written to start displaying numbers right away. It should take less than half an hour to get up and running. The backpack has address-selection jumpers, so you can connect multiple displays on a single I2C bus if you want. When it comes to brightness, you can adjust it in 1/16 steps via the I2C interface. For maintenance, keep the display clean and avoid exposing it to extreme temperatures or moisture. If you have any issues, refer to our detailed tutorial for troubleshooting.
