I am a total noobie here but i was wondering if it would be possible to use an output that drives a 7 segment led digital read out display and use an arduino to convert that signal to display it on a miniture oled screen ? Has anyone done this ?
Questions :
How many digits are we talking about here ?
Do you have any details of the output to the 7 segment display ?
What voltage is output to the 7 segment display ?
How many wires from the device to the display ?
Is there any obvious sign of separate wires connecting to each digit of the 7 segment display ?
A 7 segment display is usually driven by multiplexing. A digit is selected by connecting one end of each segment to either a voltage or GND and a voltage or GND is connected to the other end of any segment or decimal point to be lit. The selected digit is then changed to the next one, the segment signals changed accordingly and so on.
In principle it may be possible to read the digit select signals, decode the 8 signals to the selected digit and use the data to decide which digit should be displayed on the OLED.
Depending on your point of view this is either an interesting or impossible challenge
What is the device that uses the 7 segment display ?
Thanks for the reply, the project is a CB radio which has a 2 digit 7 segment display which displays channel numbers 1 to 40, it has a n code encoder to change the channels on the PLL, the encoder is also connected to the LED display board which has 14 terminals connected to the two 7 segment displays, it also has 14 diodes and 12 resistors. I also have a frequency counter board which has a 6 digit 7 segment LED display, ultimately my idea was to have the channel number and the frequency from the counter both displayed on a small oled screen. I would like to know if this might be possible with an arduino. Or possibly could the arduino itself be used as the frequency counter and and convert just the 2 digit LED to display channel numbers 1 to 40 on the same oled screen?
This is what is called an "XY Problem".
You are asking the wrong question!
The correct approach to this is to post here, the circuit diagram of each of the devices you have and which you wish to interface to the OLED display for which you have also posted the Web link to its description and specification.
Then - and only then - we can advise as to how to interface the two - or three - devices.
A lot of the CB displays I worked with were actually driven by some sort of BCD or similar input. The Arduino understands that if you can get the data from the display. It cannot however capture it at multiplex speed but the data to the display controller should be stable and only change when the display does. This is the best I can do with all of the information you gave.
Ok, thanks you for the replies, I apologize for not going about this the correct way, I have been giving this some further thought and came up with a totally different approach.
Instead of interfacing with the 7 segment display.. I could take it away altogether.
Would it be possible to program an arduino to read the base frequency (intermediate freq in the radio) and then display this on an oled or LCD with a fixed offset added to the actual frequency ?
I would need 3 fixed offsets depending on which mode the radio was set to.
Ok here are the actual frequency offsets for the 3 modes, lets call the modes A,B and C.
I need to be able to switch between modes at any time. I will use the radio`s channel 19 as an example
In mode A ch.19 I would be reading a frequency of 4.900000 Mhz but need the display to show 27.185000 Mhz, so Mode A would read the base frequency but add 10.695000
In mode B ch.19 I would be reading a frequency of 4.925000 Mhz but need the display to show 27.185000 Mhz, so Mode B would read the base frequency but add 10.692500
In mode C ch.19 I would be reading a frequency of 4.875000 Mhz but need the display to show 27.185000 Mhz, so Mode C would read the base frequency but add 10.697500
These offsets A, B and C would be the same for every channel, only the actual base frequency would change for each channel. Would this be possible with an Arduino.
I have no programming experience whatsoever but my son is doing a masters degree in computer science at university and he is keen and willing to help in any way he can. I just need to know if it may be possible !
gt390:
Would it be possible to program an arduino to read the base frequency (intermediate freq in the radio) and then display this on an oled or LCD with a fixed offset added to the actual frequency ?
The IF frequency is fixed, usually 455kHz. It's the local oscillator frequency that varies.
aarg:
The IF frequency is fixed, usually 455kHz. It's the local oscillator frequency that varies.
Yes thank-you. I am aware how the radio works, I had attempted to simplfy the radio description as this is not a radio forum. My question is simply can the arduino be coded to read a frequency and display it with 3 different pre set offsets