[sdiy] 7 Segment Display Driver?

[xamboldt]

Wow. The TIL311 wins the prize for the funkiest appearance. Somehow it looks
like it's from both the future and the past.

http://www.computerkasten.de/TIL311.jpg
http://transfer-elektronik.com/sklep/grafika/TIL311.jpg

As tempting as it is to geek out and make a hex display, I'm still leaning
towards making a 1.5 digit decimal display - just because I think it would
be cooler, I guess. I believe I've also worked out the logic to hack Ken
Stone's display adapter
(http://www.cgs.synth.net/modules/cgs12_displayadapter.html) so I can have
my display show 1-16 instead of 0-15.

However, the strange look of the TIL311 is making me reconsider...

Also, thanks to everyone else for all their suggestions - all very helpful
and all very seriously considered... I'm glad to see that there are still
some alternatives out there.

By the by, I'm considering using this display for a 16 step sequencer
(hacking the EFM SEQ2 to be more like a Milton), or to display the Bank and
Wave of the Miniwave I'll be buying soon.

-Chris

On 10/20/05 9:30 PM, "MBEDTOM at aol.com" <MBEDTOM at aol.com> wrote:

> 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
>