Nexus Machines Ltd reserves the right to alter or withdraw the product specification and characteristics without prior notice at any time in line
with product development. Nexus Machines Ltd sole and exclusive warranty is that stated in the warranty article of the conditions of sale.
Although every effort is made to ensure this data is accurate no liability is accepted for errors or omissions that may affect the end product.
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LED display characteristics
The Led display provides excellent output brightness verses forward current with intensity
matching of better than 10% and a long operating life with minimal display degradation. The
LED’s on the driver PCB are termed “Internal” LED’s, whilst those that can be attached to the
driver chip via a cable (not longer than 10 inches) are termed external. Note that additional
LED displays may require greater supply decoupling. It is recommended that 10uf of capacitance
be added for every additional LED digit. A 10 volt electrolytic is suitable.
EMC:
The displays are designed with slew limited drivers to ensure minimal EMC emmissions.
However the cable that is wired to the display is a large source of unwanted emissions. Care
should be taken to ensure minimal cable lengths are used where ever possible and a ferrite ring
should be added to the cable to provide additional attenuation. The LED’s draw quite a high
instantaneous current and the power supply and its wiring should be designed to carry the current
whilst providing a low impedance path. Additional capacitance may be required at the display.
The end product must be complient with the relevant criteria and the user should check that the
display is connected such that it is so.
Display LED format
Digit 7
Ext LHS
Digit 6
Ext LHM
Digit5
Ext RHM
Digit 4
Ext RHS
Digit 3
Int LHS
Digit 2
Int LHM
Digit 1
Int RHM
Digit 0
Int RHS
LED brightness Min/Typ (mCd)
Color
Green
HE Red
Yellow
14mm 20mm
0.9 / 2.4
0.9 / 2.4
0.9 / 2.4
25mm
1.3 / 3.3
1.4 / 3.6
1.3 / 3.2
38mm
1.3 / 3.6
1.4 / 3.6
1.3 / 3.2
1.0 / 2.55
1.0 / 2.55
1.0 / 2.55
Cascading displays:
The displays are cascadable by connecting the Dout pin from the first
display to the Din pin on the next display in line. The other signals (chip enable and clock) are
common to all displays. The number of data bits remains the same for each display hence if 4
displays are cascaded then 64 bits are required to alter the displayed value ON ANY DISPLAY.
The command set allows for a NO OPERATION which leaves the addressed display with the
previous register values.
MAXIMUM RATINGS
: THE USER IS DIRECTED TOWARDS THE MAXIMUM VALUES
OUTLINED IN THE ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS. OPERATION OUTSIDE OF
THESE LIMITS MAY AFFECT PERMANENT DAMAGE TO THE LED DISPLAY OR THE
DRIVER CHIP.
Additional Information:
The user is directed towards the Maxim Integrated Products data sheet
for the MAX7219/MAX7221 for information regarding the serial interface and further display
driver commands.
All Trade marks acknowledged.