Multiplexing dual 7segment diplays

Using Arduino LEDs and Multiplexing
8

I've seen loads of different ways to drive 7 segment displays

They are all quite simple and can be written in a way that is completely transparent to the user.

The simplest is just 8 segment pins and four digit pins. The flow looks like this:

  turn off all digits;
  load segment pins with the segment information;
  turn on the desired digit;

All you need to do is to run that routine periodically (for example, insert it into a timer handler).

Your HC595 comes into in two areas:

  1. You can serially load the 8 segment information.
  2. You can serially load the digit pin information.
  3. or the combination of the two.

But the basic execution flow remains the same.