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Home Product Categories General ICs COM-09622
LED Display Driver (8-Digit) - MAX7219CNG
sku: COM-09622
Description: The MAX7219CNG is a compact, serial input/output common-cathode display driver that can interface microprocessors to 7-segment numeric LED displays of up to 8 digits, bar-graph displays, or 64 individual LEDs. Included on-chip are a BCD code-B decoder, multiplex scan circuitry, segment and digit drivers, and an 8x8 static RAM that stores each digit.
Communication with the MAX7219 is achieved through a convenient 4-wire serial interface (supports SPI). Individual digits may be addressed and updated without rewriting the entire display. Only one external resistor is required to set the segment current for all LEDs.
The IC also includes a 150μA low-power shutdown mode, analog and digital brightness control, a scanlimit register that allows the user to display from 1 to 8 digits, and a test mode that forces all LEDs on.
This device comes in a 24-pin DIP package.
Features:
- 10MHz Serial Interface
- Individual LED Segment Control
- Decode/No-Decode Digit Selection
- 150μA Low-Power Shutdown (Data Retained)
- Digital and Analog Brightness Control
- Display Blanked on Power-Up
- Drive Common-Cathode LED Display
- Slew-Rate Limited Segment Drivers for Lower EMI (MAX7221)
- SPI, QSPI, MICROWIRE Serial Interface (MAX7221)
- 24-Pin DIP package
Documents:
Pricing
images are 
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Comments 31 comments
Will we be seeing a right to left breakout board for this chip using your 4 digit 7 segment displays? 8 digit board with connector on ends to link them together.
Pity that this device is for common cathode and the 7 segment displays (here, anyway) are common anode. I’d love to hook something like this up to the 4 digit 7 seg I bought a couple weeks ago. But seems like all the drivers are for common cathode.
You can drive common anode displays with this chip just fine. It has 8 cathode outputs and 8 anode outputs. The only thing you lose is the BCD-7 segment decoder, which would work strangely hooked up to a common anode 7 segment display. But if you’re just telling the chip which segments to light directly, it’ll work just fine either way.
Can you give some details on how to wire the chip. Would DIG-0 on the chip goto SEG-A on the display. And SEG-A on the chip to DIG-0 on the display?
Since the chip is common cathode and the LED is common anode.
Thanks
Update: I did get it to work with a common anode LED display. Here’s are the connections.
(MAX7219-LED)
DP-CA
D0-DP
D1-Seg-A
D2-Seg-B
D3-Seg-C
D4-Seg-D
D5-Seg-E
D6-Seg-F
D7-Seg-G
Second LED would use be:
(MAX7219-LED)
SEG-A-CA
D0-DP
D1-Seg-A
D2-Seg-B
D3-Seg-C
D4-Seg-D
D5-Seg-E
D6-Seg-F
D7-Seg-G
and so on !!
just use an inverter.
could you link to an inverter that i could use?? thanks
The inverter (logical inverter or NOT gate as opposed to a power inverter), that is required depends on how many outputs you are going to use and the logic level. For example, to drive a few 7-segs with this 5V IC, a 7404 Hex inverter will do the job (6 inverters in one 14pin DIP or whatever package ya like). If you plan to use all 64 outputs, that would be 11 7404 ICs with a few gates to spare.
There may be a better driver out there, but the suggestion of using an Inverter to change a common cathode output to a common anode output, or vice-verse can be an efficient option in digital.
grab a book of digital fundamentals
I didn’t notice these were common-cathode at first. There is a common-anode chip, the ICM7228. I just ordered some from Jameco to drive displays I got here.
The ICM7228 and MAX7219 have a huge difference: ICM7228 is parallel input, while MAX7219 is SERIAL input. That makes the ICM7228 impractical for the PICAXE-08M.
There is an article in Nuts & Volts Feb 2010 page 56 describing this chip and interfacing it to a PICAXE-08M.
this IC is also used to drive a 8x8 led matrix display (most people already guessed that tough) and there is a Arduino library available. very good IC if your planning to work with 7 segment displays or Matrix displays.
When you hook these up, dont forget which pin you wired to the +5V and which you wired to ground.
When you switch them, the chip makes a neat crackling noise then heats up enough to blister your finger when you touch it.
Pow! $10 gone! :)
(I know thats standard for just about any component – make sure you dont switch the leads, but this was the first time I burnt out a $10 component with a crackle and some heat. Was fun!)
7219 is a cool little chip. I wrote a complete demo program for it on the Basic Stamp platform that is freely available at
http://forums.parallax.com/forums/default.aspx?f=5&m=308913
One program exercises all the features, the other program is just a “driver” for basic functionality.
This is exactly what I need, but I need something with a max V+ of 12V. I checked Maxim and I don’t think they have such a thing. Any ideas on an alternate supplier of a similar chip?
use the chip to control n and p channel mosfets, that might (stressed) might work.
Use the old ULN2003 or ULN2803 to use those voltages. ULNs are hi-output current, open collector darlington drivers. They might work.
Nice… I’ve been working on a project with the Philips SAA1064, but this one will drive double the segments (albeit likely at a lower maximum current).
Would this be a good choice for the development of a 4X4X4 LED cube?
It will work, the LEDs will be split into groups of 8. You may go crazy visualizing which individual LED in each group of eight is turns on by which SEG pin, I know I would.
It might be easier for you to simply use a MUX. Unless you want the LEDs split into groups of eight.
Make sure you use current limiting resistors so you don’t burn out the LEDs.
This thing is a lifesaver, makes using LEDs and matrix displays effortless with arduino. For more information please visit: http://wp.me/pQmjR-BK
Thanks! Cool demos.
Great LED displays driver you introduced. I normally buy 6 digits driver for my LED signs. Now I will try this as its features are awesome and probably it is also most advance than others.
An amazing chip, and hard to find any cheaper then here. Mouser stocks it at $11.18 for one, with straight from Maxim price at $12.61. They do have free samples of both the DIP and SOIC style chips. Just takes about 2 weeks to get them.
At first I thought this was a ridiculously expensive chip, but for what it offers… I’m thinking of getting a couple. :]
I agree – really good price for what it does
The chip has some neat features if you need them; however, if all you need is a cheap ol common-anode driver (to use the sexy 4 digit displays sold here) then the MAX6957 is a good choice. Sadly not sold here :)
Hi,
I wrote a C# driver for the MAX7219/MAX7221 LED driver targeting the netduino. You can find the details and the code here: http://fabienroyer.wordpress.com/2011/03/13/using-a-max7219max7221-led-display-driver-with-a-netduino/
Cheers,
-Fabien.
Austria Semiconductor makes the pin and code compatible AS1107 which costs roughly half of the MAX7219. Only problem is: no one seems to sell them…
Would it be possible to (also) sell these??
Arduino info here:
http://www.arduino.cc/playground/Main/LedControl
Here’s my dumb question – if I want to use this to drive a COM-00682 dual color 8x8 matrix, do I need 2 (one for each color), or just one? IIRC, there’s 24 pins on the matrix. I’m talking individual LED control, not text.
Ultimately, I need to figure out how to use 4 of those COM-00682s for 256 dual color LEDs, but fine getting started w/ one. Using an Arduino. Thanks.