Experiment No.

04

Seven Segment display interfacing with Microcontroller.

Introduction
The main aim of this lab is to interface seven segment display with microcontroller (Arduino)
and observe their functionalities. The display counts from 0-9 and resets itself to zero.

Objectives
 Understand the functionality of Seven Segment Display
 Understand the code of Arduino and its working.
Outcomes
By the end of this experiment, student will have basic understanding of how to interface the
seven segment display with microcontroller and will also understand the working principle of
seven segment display.

Theory Overview
Seven segment displays are the output display devices that provide a way to display information
in the form of image or text. For displaying the images or text in a proper manner, some types
of displays can show only alphanumeric characters and digits. A seven segment display got its
name from the very fact that it got seven illuminating segments. Each of these segments has a
LED (Light Emitting Diode), hence the lighting. The LEDs are so fabricated that lighting of
each LED is contained to its own segment as shown in figure 4.1

Figure 4.1: Seven Segment Display

 Figure 4.2: Pin diagram of Seven Segment Display

Types of 7-Segment Displays

There are two types of seven segment displays available in the market. According to the type of
application, these displays can be used as shown in figure 4.3. The two configurations of seven
segment displays are discussed below.
 Common Anode Display
 Common Cathode Display

Figure 4.1 internal connection of seven segment display

Figure 4.3: Types of Seven Segment Display

 1) Common Anode Seven Segment Display
In common anode type, all the anodes of 8 LED’s are connected to the common terminal and
cathodes are left free as shown in figure 4.4. Thus, in order to glow the LED, these cathodes have
to be connected to the logic ‘0’ and anode to the logic ‘1’.

Figure 4.4: Common Anode Seven Segment Display

Below truth table gives the information required for driving the common anode seven segments.

Table 4.1: Truth Table of common anode seven segment display

In order to display zero on this segment one should enable logic high on a, b, c, d, e and f
segments and logic low on segment ‘g’. Thus, the above table provides data on seven segments
for displaying numerals from 0-9.

2. Common Cathode Seven Segment Display

As the name indicates cathode is the common pin for this type of seven segments and remaining
8 pins are left free as shown in figure 4.5. Here, logic low is applied to the common pin and logic
high to the remaining pins.

Figure 4.5: Common Cathode Seven Segment Display

Truth Table: The truth table of seven segment display is shown below.
 Table 4.2: Truth Table of common cathode seven segment display

Above truth table shows the data to be applied to the seven segments to display the digits. In
order to display digit‘0’ on seven segment , segments a , b , c , d , e and f are applied with logic
high and segment g is applied with logic low.

To test the 7-segment use your Digital multi-meter and set it in the ohmmeter, connect
the red probe to pin 3 or 8 (com pins) of the 7-segment and run the black probe on pins
1,2,4,5,6,7,9,10 (a,b,c,d,e,f,g,dp).When the meter is set to ohmmeter it acts as a voltage
source as the positive terminal is the positive of the source and the negative terminal is
the negative of the source.
 LAB Exercise 1
Make a project to display a number 0 to 9 on seven segment display by using Arduino
microcontroller also create a circuit diagram and develop a code.

Required Hardware
 Arduino board
 Adjustable DC Power Supply
 HDSP5503 seven segment display (common cathode)
 Resistors 220Ω
 Digital Multimeter
 Breadboard
 Probes
 Wires

Circuit Diagram

Figure 4.6 Circuit diagram of Seven Segment Display with Arduino

Procedure
Each segment of display can be checked by using multimeter in diode mode. Each
segment should not be power with a voltage greater than 4v, if did the display will be
damaged permanently. For avoiding this a common resistor can be provider at common
terminal, as shown in circuit diagram. Now, if we want to display a “0” in this display
as shown in figure 4.7.1

Figure 4.7.1 display of ‘0’ on seven segment display

We need to turn the LEDs of segments “A, B, C, D, E F”, so we need to power PIN0,
PIN1, PIN2, PIN3, PIN4 and PIN5. So every time we need a “0”, we need to power all
the pins mentioned. Now, if we want “1” on display as shown in figure 4.7.2

Figure 4.7.2 Display of ‘1’ on seven segment display

We need to power segments “B, C”, for segment B, C to turn ON we need to power
PIN1, PIN2. With both the pins high we get “1” on display. So as seen above we are
going to power pins corresponding to the digit that to be shown on display.
There are sequence of steps to make this project are listed below
Step1: Prepare the circuit diagram according to figure 4.6
Step 2: Make a program to interface seven segment display with Arduino
Step 3: Connect the Arduino board to the computer using USB cable. Launch
Arduino IDE and ensure correct USB port number and board name for establishing
the connection.
Step 4: Once the program is uploaded and running on Arduino, open serial monitor
Step 5: You can verify the output of seven segment digits shows 0 to 9 and repeated
the sequence again and again.

Figure 4.8: connection diagram

Arduino Pin Seven Segment Pin

2 a7
3 b6
4 c4
5 d2
6 e1
7 f9
8 g 10
Code

#define segA 2//connecting segment A to PIN2

#define segB 3// connecting segment B to PIN3
#define segC 4// connecting segment C to PIN4
#define segD 5// connecting segment D to PIN5
#define segE 6// connecting segment E to PIN6
#define segF 7// connecting segment F to PIN7
#define segG 8// connecting segment G to PIN8

int COUNT=0;//count integer for 0-9 increment

void setup()
{

for (int i=2;i<9;i++)

pinMode(i, OUTPUT);// taking all pins from 2-8 as output

void loop()

switch (COUNT)

case 0://when count value is zero show”0” on display

digitalWrite(segA, HIGH);
digitalWrite(segB, HIGH);
digitalWrite(segC, HIGH);
digitalWrite(segD, HIGH);
digitalWrite(segE, HIGH);
digitalWrite(segF, HIGH);
digitalWrite(segG, LOW);
break;

case 1:// when count value is 1 show”1” on display

digitalWrite(segA, LOW);
digitalWrite(segB, HIGH);
digitalWrite(segC, HIGH);
digitalWrite(segD, LOW);
digitalWrite(segE, LOW);
digitalWrite(segF, LOW);
digitalWrite(segG, LOW);
break;

case 2:// when count value is 2 show”2” on disp

digitalWrite(segA, HIGH);
digitalWrite(segB, HIGH);
digitalWrite(segC, LOW);
digitalWrite(segD, HIGH);
digitalWrite(segE, HIGH);
digitalWrite(segF, LOW);
digitalWrite(segG, HIGH);
break;

case 3:// when count value is 3 show”3” on disp

digitalWrite(segA, HIGH);
digitalWrite(segB, HIGH);
digitalWrite(segC, HIGH);
digitalWrite(segD, HIGH);
digitalWrite(segE, LOW);
digitalWrite(segF, LOW);
digitalWrite(segG, HIGH);
break;

case 4:// when count value is 4 show”4” on disp

digitalWrite(segA, LOW);
digitalWrite(segB, HIGH);

digitalWrite(segC, HIGH);
digitalWrite(segD, LOW);
digitalWrite(segE, LOW);
digitalWrite(segF, HIGH);
digitalWrite(segG, HIGH);
break;

case 5:// when count value is 5 show”5” on disp

digitalWrite(segA, HIGH);
digitalWrite(segB, LOW);
digitalWrite(segC, HIGH);
digitalWrite(segD, HIGH);
digitalWrite(segE, LOW);
digitalWrite(segF, HIGH);
digitalWrite(segG, HIGH);
break;

case 6:// when count value is 6 show”6” on disp

digitalWrite(segA, HIGH);
digitalWrite(segB, LOW);
digitalWrite(segC, HIGH);
digitalWrite(segD, HIGH);

digitalWrite(segE, HIGH);
digitalWrite(segF, HIGH);
digitalWrite(segG, HIGH);
break;

case 7:// when count value is 7 show”7” on disp

digitalWrite(segA, HIGH);
digitalWrite(segB, HIGH);
digitalWrite(segC, HIGH);
digitalWrite(segD, LOW);
digitalWrite(segE, LOW);
digitalWrite(segF, LOW);
digitalWrite(segG, LOW);
break;

case 8:// when count value is 8 show”8” on display

digitalWrite(segA, HIGH);
digitalWrite(segB, HIGH);
digitalWrite(segC, HIGH);
digitalWrite(segD, HIGH);
digitalWrite(segE, HIGH);
digitalWrite(segF, HIGH);

digitalWrite(segG, HIGH);
break;

case 9:// when count value is 9 show”9” on

disp digitalWrite(segA, HIGH);
digitalWrite(segB, HIGH);
digitalWrite(segC, HIGH);
digitalWrite(segD, HIGH);
 digitalWrite(segE, LOW);
digitalWrite(segF, HIGH);
digitalWrite(segG, HIGH);
break;

break;

if (COUNT<10)

COUNT++;

delay(1000);///increment count integer for every second

if (COUNT==10)

{
COUNT=0;// if count integer value is equal to 10, reset it to zero.
delay(1000);
}

}
 LAB Exercise 2
Make a project to display the numbers from 00 to 99 on two Seven-Segment. Create a circuit
diagram an develop code in Arduino IDE.

Required Hardware

 Arduino Uno - 1
 Programmer Cable - 1
 Seven-Segment Display - 2
 Bread Board - 1
 Male-Male Jumper Wires

Figure 4.8: Pin diagram of common anode seven segment

Attach the pins 3 and 8 on both the SSD's to 3.3V.(Use resistors)

Since this is for Common Anode SSD, the LED glows when it is LOW/0.

If you are using a Common Cathode SSD, attach pins 3 and 8 to ground and then the LEDs glow
when attached to HIGH/1.

Do not let 5 V pass through any of your LEDs, You must use resistors.
 Table 4.5 connection table of Arduino uno with seven segment display
Arduino Pin SSD 1 Arduino Pin SSD 2
0 7 7 7
1 6 8 6
2 4 9 4
3 2 10 2
4 1 11 1
5 9 12 9
6 10 13 10

Project Circuit Diagram

Figure 4.9: Circuit diagram of counter display 00 to 99

Code
//SSD is Seven-Segment Display

void setup()
{
for (int
i = 0; i <= 13; i++)
pinMode(i, OUTPUT); //Set all pins from 0 to 13 as OUTPUT
}
//The line below is the array containing all the binary numbers
for the digits on a SSD from 0 to 9

const int number[11] = {0b1000000, 0b1111001, 0b0100100,

0b0110000,
0b0011001, 0b0010010, 0b0000010, 0b1111000, 0b0000000,
0b0010000};

void loop()
{

for (int tens = 0; tens < 10; tens++)

{
display_tens(tens);

}
}

void display_tens(const int tens)

{
int pin1, a, ones;

//pin1 is just used to deal with pins of the 1st SSD which
displays the tens digit

for (pin1 = 0, a = 0; pin1 < 7; pin1++, a++)

{
digitalWrite(pin1, bitRead(number[tens], a));
}
for (ones = 0; ones < 10; ones++)
{

display_ones(ones);
delay(300);
//I have given a delay of 300 milliseconds. You can put your
own Time!!
}
}

void display_ones(const int x)

{
int pin2, b;

//pin2 is just used to deal with pins of the 2nd SSD which
desplays the ones digit

for (pin2 = 7, b = 0; pin2 <= 13; pin2++, b++)

{
digitalWrite(pin2, bitRead(number[x], b));

bitRead()

Examples // sets x to 33 (00100001 in binary)

byte x = 33;
// Sets a = 1, since bitRead returns the value of the
5th bit of variable x
byte a = bitRead(x, 5);

Description The bitRead command returns the bit value of the bit index
requested

Syntax var = bitRead(byteValue, bitIndex)

Parameters byteValue byte: the byte from which read the bit

bitIndex int: the bit to read

Returns the bit value 0 or 1

Precautions

Before you start to mess with a computer there are basic guidelines to be aware of, such as turn
the power off and watch out for static electricity. The three kind of activity that requires
touching the Arduino

 Setting up wire, component layout or breadboard.

 Debugging a running setup.
 Moving, mounting up the board somewhere.
 Review Questions

Question 1
 Solve the LAB Exercise 1
 Develop the code
 Sketch the circuit diagram
 Attached the hardware running picture in color

Question 2
 Solve the LAB Exercise 2
 Develop the code
 Sketch the circuit diagram
 Attached the hardware running picture in color

LAB Assessment

Student Name LAB Rubrics CLO3 , P5, PLO3

Total Marks 10
Registration No Obtained Marks

Teacher Name Syed M Hamedoon

Date Signature