LED control: alternatives to MAXIM 7219/7221?

Forum 2005-2010 (read only) Hardware Interfacing
1

Hi - I've used the MAXIM 7219/7221 chips quite a bit and they are good but I haven't looked much at alternatives. Heard of another chip (forget the name/number) that apparently has the same functionality as 7219 but is cheaper.

Basically wondering about control of 1024 LEDs - if there are better chip options out there designed for control of more than 64 LEDs or would I just be looking at daisy chaining 7219/7221s together.

2

Hi,
this is the company that makes 7221 replacement chips

I never tried them but other people reported to have successfully used them.

Eberhard

3

Thanks - yeah, that was the chip I'd read about.
Hope they are as generous with samples as Maxim :slight_smile:

4

The MAX6954 will drive 128 LEDs in a charilplexing arrangement. Not cheap though but you can get them in a DIL package.

5

Thanks - hadn't known of that chip. Quick search at digikey: $24. yikes.

(chip does a lot though).

6

Yes it looks promising.
128 LEDs and 32 debounced switches with brightness control on 4X4 arrays in the 128 LED array.

I am looking for a way to expand the number of debounced switches.

I have got one but haven't had time to play with it yet.