SparkFun Forums

[mbrown9412]

Which would be easier to use to drive some segment Led's:
the LED display driver: http://www.sparkfun.com/products/9622
or several shift registers wired together: http://www.sparkfun.com/products/733

I'm looking for simplicity, more mainly in the coding than the hardware.

I'm making a clock, so i'd be using the RTC module as well

[coyote20000]

If you are looking for simplicity, perhaps look for a bcd to 7-segment decoder.
It works in parallel using four bits. To display a '5' give it binary B0101. It also decodes hex characters.

If you need a string of displays then it would make more sense to go with the other chips.

I would go with the driver IMO. It looks like it controls more with less wires. I just noticed it has some sorta built-in bcd decoder like what I mentioned before.

Dave

[westfw]

The shift registers will require substantial additional hardware components to correctly drive several displays. (one shift register per digit for a non-multiplexed display. Additional transistor row-drivers for a multiplexed display. Current limiting resistors in either case.) Additional software to do multiplexing, if you go that route.

OTOH, I find the Maxim display drivers to be sorta horribly overpriced...