Using a MAX7219 (LED digit multiplexer) with a 16F88

[Archangel]

I have to wonder why you aren't using a PIC to handle this job instead of the MAX7219 (besides having to develop a 2nd PIC application in addition to the one you're working on in the 1st place)?

I can think of a couple of reasons, 1. learn something new, 2. possible free sample

[skimask]

I can think of a couple of reasons, 1. learn something new, 2. possible free sample

I like the 2. the best.

[flotulopex]

I already thought about using my PIC to pilot the display. Isn't the MAX7219 a kind of µc itself, after all?

But, due to my poor knowledge, I have problems to understand how I would do the MAX job's directly myself since I don't clearly understand how it exactly does the job; I just assume how it works.

I have drawn the LED display matrix and then I noticed that I would have to adress each Digit (not segment) one by one and then display it for a very short period of time (maybe ns) and then adress the next Digit and so on.

If this is correct, yes, I should do it with my PIC ("don't let others do what you can do yourself if you can do it at least as good as the other one"). This means, I'm ready to do all with my PIC if somebody can confirm my assumings.

And NO, I paid CHF 16,25 (around $13.-) for my MAX7219. Sometimes people do silly things; I do often... Sorry.

[TimV]

Hi:

I can provide some help with the MAX7219 if this thread is still active.

I have used this chip in most of my 7 segment project since it is quite flexible.

Let me know

TimV

[flotulopex]

Hello TimV,

I have made my project without the use of the MAX7219.

But if you have any code example involving this chip, it would be nice.

I still want to make my MAX7219 work...

Thanks in advance.