# and ♭ display options

Using Arduino LEDs and Multiplexing
#1

Hello!

I'm working on musical board game that runs on an arduino and a couple of shift register chains.

I use daisy chained 7 segment LEDS to shift out players' scores as the games goes on. I would like to add a component that displays the chord and key in play at a given time.

A 16 segment display seems suitable for the letter component (A-G), but I'm not sure how I can display the sharp and flat symbols. Do you have any suggestions?

I'm not married to LED display if there is a better alternative, practically and aesthetically.

#2

Before I suggest, cite the actual “starburst” display you propose to use and its segment denotations.

#3

I haven't bought any 16 segment displays yet. Probably something like this:

http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/08-Inch-16-Segment-LED-Green-Common-Anode-p-2004.html

Common anode 10x13mm if possible. I'll control it with two shift registers and shift out integer equivalents of the binary that lines up with its segment denotations.

#4

Hi, how do you display "#" with those 16-seg displays? Won't that note symbol look just like a "b"?

have you considered lcd displays? 16x2 character are the most common and cheapest. Each character is made up of a 5x7 grid of dots, and I'm pretty sure you can define your own characters if you can't find suitable ones built-in.

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If you want to stick with led, perhaps some combination of 7-seg and 5x7 led matrix driven by max7219 chips?

A single max7219 could drive a 5x7 plus 3 7-seg displays. Max7219 can be daisy-chained so that multiple chips can be driven with 3 Arduino pins.

Paul

#5

peterbradley:
I haven't bought any 16 segment displays yet. Probably something like this.

Well, I imagine that "#" could be JBG1G2CMD1D2 and "♭" could be FEG1N (or possibly FEG1MD1).

PaulRB:

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Funny - why did that not appear in your post the first time around?

#6