[sdiy] 7 Segment Display Driver?

[MBEDTOM at aol.com]

Maybe this is too obvious, but I have used a TIL311.  This very old device is 
still available but do shop for the best price.  There is a new manufacturer 
for these parts.  I think it is "Taos" or something to that effect.  These new 
ones are really pricey, though, but can be had from Mouser.  Jameco has them 
cheaper.  I swear that somebody was selling these for about $6 but I'll be 
darned if I can remember who it was.

A TIL311 is a hex display with decoder and constant-current drivers.  Give it 
+5V, ground, and a 4-bit binary code ... done!  No resistors, no logic, no 90 
minutes worth of wiring to get wrong.  Is a chip with a clear, red tinted 
body and itsy-bitsy LEDs inside which form the digits.  Very cute but a bit power 
hungry.  A pair of these are really handy for getting an instant read on an 
8-bit port value, for example.  Since the logic and display itself is all in 
the same package, simpler is not possible.  Cheaper, yes.  Simpler?  No.

Peace.
Tom Farrand
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