Is there a digital chip that reads in binary and outputs for digital LED displays?

Question

I realize this is a shot in the dark, but I am looking to read in binary information from a microcontroller. Either a string of bits or 8 pins of the microcontroller will each be a bit of the number. Either way works. I need a chip that can read in that info and take care of all the logic behind turning the binary number into a LED display. ANY help or points would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

While the chips tlbs101 suggests would work they are designed to display the decimal equivalent of the binary data they receive. The problem with them is that any binary inputs with a decimal equivalent greater than 9 are displayed as a random pattern of lit segments. In order for the displayed information to be useful for interpreting the data in all cases these patterns would have to be memorized. What I think you're really looking for is a chip that will decode the binary into the proper outputs to produce a hexidecimal display. With a hex display the binary equivalents of decimal 10 - 15 are represented by the letters A - F and not some hard to remember pattern of segments. This way all 16 possible combinations of 4 bit binary will have a unique and easy to interpret alpha numeric representation. Unfortunately chips that perform that function are hard to find. The one chip I know of that does this job is the Motorola MC14495. This chip has some cool features such as built in current limiting resistors to protect the display led's. It also has a built in data storage latch. To display the hex equivalent of the data on a 8 bit buss you will of course need two 14495's and two 7 segment displays. May I also suggest connecting the data buss to the inputs of an octal buffer and use the outputs to drive 8 discrete led's in a row. This will be a good supplement to the hexidecimal display and will help you to visualize and memorize the counting patterns of binary and at the same time see it's hexidecimal equivalents.

Answer 2

These chips have existed since the 1960s. The TTL family 7446, 7447, 7448 and 7449 are all variants on what you seek:
http://focus.ti.com/docs/prod/folders/print/sn74ls47.html
On the same website, search for the 74LS247 as well for improved features.

There is also a CMOS version, the CD4543
http://focus.ti.com/docs/prod/folders/print/cd4543b.html

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