The 7-segment display and the 16-segment display are commonly used in everyday life. They are used to represent information in Arabic numbers and English letters. However, the 16-segment display is capable of displaying complete Arabic numbers, capital letters, and lowercase English letters. The 7-segment display, although primarily used for Arabic numbers, can also represent a portion of the English alphabet. In practical product applications, these letters are often utilized for product settings and information display.

Use a 7-segment display to represent information

Example and Truth Tables for Arabic Numbers 0-9 on a 7-Segment Display.

　　 The most common application of a 7-segment display is to represent numbers. The example below shows the usage of a 0.56″ diamond-shaped 7-segment display ( 0.56″ Single SMD LED 7-Segment Display | Diamond Seg.) to describe Arabic numbers 0-9 (PDF). Additionally, there is a 7-segment display that represents the actual values of Arabic numbers (PDF). Engineers can utilize these resources to code an Arabic Numbers Truth Table and create a program. By referring to these materials, readers can design their own products, such as a running machine’s information moving sign, and determine the numbers to be represented on a 7-segment display.

Example and Truth Tables for various formations of upper and lower case English letters and 7-segment display words on a 7-Segment Display.

　　 Apart from displaying Arabic Numbers, the 7-segment display can also represent some uppercase letters. When cost is a consideration and a 16-segment display is not used to represent information, products often utilize 7-segment displays to represent English characters. This is achieved by assembling the necessary segments to form individual words or abbreviations. The mixing of uppercase and lowercase letters is a characteristic of single-word displays. The tables below provide examples of 7-segment displays representing English letters (PDF) and the alphabet in uppercase and lowercase (PDF) using the segments of the 7-segment display.

　　 As with the 7-segment display number, engineers need a truth table to make a program that lets 7-segment displays represent a single word, the following drawing is same the example of using a 0.56” diamond shape 7-segment display  0.56″ Single SMD LED 7-Segment Display | Diamond Seg.to represent case English letters Truth Table for engineer to design products.

Just like representing numbers on a 7-segment display, engineers need a truth table to develop a program that allows 7-segment displays to show individual words. The provided illustration demonstrates the use of a 0.56″ diamond-shaped 7-segment display (0.56″ Single SMD LED 7-Segment Display | Diamond Seg..) and presents a truth table for representing uppercase and lowercase English letters. This valuable resource assists engineers in product design.

Display Arabic numbers using an alphanumeric display.

　　 Alphanumeric display are primarily categorized into 14-segment displays and 16-segment displays, both capable of displaying complete uppercase and lowercase English characters. In this article, we will use the more intricate 16-segment display as an example to represent a wide range of numbers and letters.

The 16-segment display represents the various formations of Arabic numbers from 0 to 9..

　　 Both 16-segment displays and 7-segment displays can represent Arabic numbers from 0 to 9. However, the 16-segment display can provide more detailed representations of Arabic numbers. The following illustration shows various deformation tables for representing Arabic numbers using a 16-segment display. The top row displays the 7-segment representations of numbers, while the row below shows the corresponding deformations of the same Arabic numbers using the 16-segment display. Designers can select digital fonts based on the specific application of the product.

Example and Truth Tables for Capital English Letters on a 16-Segment Display

　　 The 16-segment display is designed to represent the English alphabet. The following illustration provides an example of using a 16-segment display to represent capital letters of the English alphabet. It also includes a corresponding truth table indicating the values assigned to each letter.

The 16-segment display represents the various formations of Capital English letters.

　　 In addition to the previous example of capital English alphabets, the 16-segment display provides various English text styles to accommodate a wide range of product applications or information representation. The following illustration presents several common variations of capital letters, enabling readers to select the appropriate style according to their specific needs.

Example and Truth Tables for Lowercase English Letters on a 16-Segment Display

　　 The 16-segment display is designed to represent the English alphabet. The following illustration showcases an example of lowercase English alphabets using a 16-segment display, along with a truth table indicating the corresponding representations of each lowercase letter.

The 16-segment display represents the various formations of Lowercase English letters.

　　 In addition to the aforementioned examples of lowercase English letters, the 16-segment display offers a variety of different lowercase English text styles to accommodate various product applications or information representation needs. The following illustration showcases several common deformations of lowercase English letters, allowing readers to choose based on their specific requirements.

Examples of LED Display products in real life.

Gogoro S2 dash board｜7-segment display

　　The Gogoro S2 electric scooter features three different sizes of 7-segment displays on its dashboard: large, medium, and small. These displays are used to represent various information. Additionally, the 7-segment display is utilized to showcase three English words: HELLO, GO, and SEE YA.

Timesbirds Count down meter timers｜7-Segment Display

　　Timebirds is a movement countdown timer designed by an Australian team. It is used for various activities like weight training and cycle training, where it represents numbers in countdowns. The product features buttons that allow users to adjust the mode. The left side of the timer has a 7-segment display used for information display. For example, it can show various modes such as 「ＵＰ」， 「ｄＮ」 ， 「ｄＮ」 ， 「ｎｔ」 ， 「ｔＡＢＡｔＡ」 ， 「Ｆｇ－ｂＡｄ」 ， 「ｃＬ」” For more information, you can refer to the Timebirds product page, which introduces nine different workout modes.

Running machine’s information moving sign｜14-segment display

　　In the figure below, there is a treadmill with a row of numbers indicating running time, distance, speed, and inclination. When the running mode is activated, these characters are displayed on a row of numbers. However, when theAlphanumeric display is selected, this string of characters can be represented using a 14-segment display as a moving sign. It can display complete Arabic numbers and English letters in non-running mode. Product designers also have the option to choose different fonts to present information according to their needs.

　　When the running machine is unused, these 14 segment displays serve as moving sign to indicate how the user should activate the running machine to use it.

Microwave Oven｜7-Segment display

　　Microwave ovens use a four-digit 7-segment display, as shown in the photo for size comparison. It can be replaced with Opto Plus P/N OPS-Q4011YG (0.4″ Quad THT LED 7-Segment Display | Colon & Diamond Seg.(OPS-Q4011YG). The 7-segment display is primarily used to indicate the microwave time, such as “2:10”. Additionally, it is used to display English information when setting the mode. For example, “dEF1” and “dEF2” are used to select the thaw mode, “100P” is used to adjust the microwave strength, and the weight thaw mode represents the current thawing with “0.5” kg weight. The 7-segment display, integrated into the overall product design, enables users to easily understand the current state of the microwave oven. The following describes the actual operation process of the product, which can serve as a reference for design.

The 7-segment display represents an example application in English｜A simple Microwave oven operation flow chart.

Conclusion

　　Both the 7-segment display and the alphanumeric display are capable of representing Arabic numbers. However, the 7-segment display can only represent a portion of the English letters, while the alphanumeric display can represent all uppercase and lowercase English letters. Additionally, different English fonts can be chosen based on the product application. It should be noted that the 14-segment display and 16-segment display, which are types of alphanumeric displays, have higher costs. If the product does not require a large amount of information representation, using the 7-segment display to display English, along with appropriate design, can provide users with an intuitive product experience while also saving production costs.

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