number of PIC pins & 7-seg display

[revelator]

I'm looking at maxim 7219 which I believe can drive up to 8 digits, 8 segments using only 3 pins (load,Din,clk) from a pic say RB0-Rb2 on a
16f84

http://www.maxim-ic.com/quick_view2.cfm/qv_pk/1339

[Archangel]

I'm looking at maxim 7219 which I believe can drive up to 8 digits, 8 segments using only 3 pins (load,Din,clk) from a pic say RB0-Rb2 on a
16f84

http://www.maxim-ic.com/quick_view2.cfm/qv_pk/1339

Hi archendekta,
You can buy an LED display that uses SPI or Shiftout commands on 3 pins from BRUCE at RENTRON, and others . . . http://www.rentron.com/SLED-C4.htm Or just buy the driver chip from him.Here is another brand from China.http://cgi.ebay.com/1-5-Character-He...3A7%7C294%3A50
and they can be daisy chained.

[archendekta]

wow, a lot of great input here to keep me thinking and tinkering. my display looks like the one in "Byte_Butcher's" post.

my display: ltc-4727jr
my pic: 18f2620 i/sp #although i don't [have] to use this model

a friend dropped by a cd74hct138e 3-to-8 decoder saying it would help my pin usage issue. we'll see...

many thanks to all for your input. i'll study all the suggestions and links and see what i can do. thanks again for your time.