Hey there! Want to make a cool numeric display? Instead of a single LED, why not use lots of them in a 4-digit 7-segment display? These LED matrices are multiplexed, which usually means you need 14 pins to control all the seven-segment LEDs. That's a hassle, right? Driver chips like the MAX7219 can help, but they involve a lot of wiring and take up too much space. Well, Adafruit has a great solution - these cute LED matrix backpacks! They're available for various 8x8 and 7-segment displays and work perfectly with the ones in our shop, making it super easy to add a bright display. The backpacks have a built-in driver chip that does all the hard work. They have an internal clock for multiplexing the display, use constant-current drivers for ultra-bright and consistent color, and offer 1/16 step display dimming, all through a simple I2C interface. You can connect up to eight 7-segments (or a combination) on a single I2C bus using the address-selection jumpers. The product kit includes a fully tested and assembled LED backpack, an ultra-bright 1.2' tall green four-digit 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. And as always, we have a detailed tutorial to show you how to solder, wire, and control 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 because of the complexity, this is the answer you've been waiting for!
Using this product is quite simple. First, you'll need to do a bit of soldering to attach the 4-digit 7-segment display matrix onto the LED backpack. Don't worry, it's easy and only takes about 5 minutes. Once it's soldered, you can connect the backpack to your Arduino or Raspberry Pi using the 5-pin header. Use the I2C interface to communicate with the backpack. You can adjust the brightness of the display with 1/16 step dimming. There are address-selection jumpers on the backpack, which allow you to connect multiple displays on a single I2C bus. Just make sure to set the addresses correctly. As for maintenance, keep the display and backpack away from dust and moisture. If there's any dirt on the display, you can gently clean it with a soft, dry cloth. And don't forget to check our detailed tutorial and the libraries we've written. They'll help you get the most out of your display in no time.
