Electronic enthusiasts, makers, developers, and hobbyists searching for a versatile LED Backpack may be interested to know that Adafruit is now stocking both 7 and 14 segment LED Backpack boards without the LEDs. This allows you to customize your setup by adding your exact configuration depending on your specific application needs. Whether you’re working on a digital clock, a scoreboard, or any other project requiring numerical or alphabetical displays, these LED backpacks offer a flexible and efficient solution.
Features and Benefits
The LED backpacks feature an HT16K33 I2C LED driver, making them simple and easy to use. Adafruit offers a comprehensive library for the backpacks, enabling you to get up and running in under half an hour with numbers and letters displaying. This is particularly beneficial for those who may have been eyeing matrix displays but hesitated due to their complexity. Adafruit explains, “if you’ve been eyeing matrix displays but hesitated because of the complexity, this is the solution you’ve been looking for!”
One of the standout features of these LED backpacks is their end-to-end stackability. By soldering the address jumpers on the back, you can have up to 8 backpacks all sharing the same two I2C wires. This makes it incredibly easy to expand your display setup without needing additional wiring or complex configurations. Each backpack comes with a fully tested and assembled LED backpack and a 4-pin header. Some light soldering is required to attach the header and, of course, the display.
Applications and Use Cases
These LED backpacks are incredibly versatile and can be used in a wide range of applications. For instance, they are perfect for creating digital clocks, where you can display hours, minutes, and seconds with ease. They are also ideal for scoreboards in sports events, where you need to display scores dynamically. Additionally, these backpacks can be used in industrial settings for displaying machine statuses or in retail environments for price displays.
The flexibility of choosing between 7-segment and 14-segment displays allows you to tailor your project to your specific needs. The 7-segment displays are excellent for numerical data, while the 14-segment displays can handle both numbers and letters, making them suitable for more complex information displays.
The new LED backpack boards are now available to purchase for $6 directly from the online Adafruit store via the link below. This affordable pricing makes it accessible for hobbyists and professionals alike to incorporate these versatile displays into their projects.
In summary, Adafruit’s new LED backpacks offer a simple, flexible, and cost-effective solution for anyone needing to display numerical or alphabetical data. With their easy-to-use library, stackable design, and affordable price, these LED backpacks are a valuable addition to any electronic toolkit.
Source: Adafruit
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