We are quite familiar with seven-segment displays. We see them on our alarm clocks, ovens, and microwaves. But what happens if you add more segments to each digit? All of a sudden you can display more than just numbers! Introducing the brand new Alphanumeric Display from your friends at SparkX. These fourteen-segment digits allow you display all sorts of numbers, characters, and symbols.
The SparkFun Alphanumeric Display Arduino library makes printing strings to the display as easy as calling the print() function. Use the library to send I2C commands to the HT16K33 LED driver chip to light up segments (including the decimal point or colon) and even scroll your string across the display. You can download the library through the Arduino library manager by searching 'SparkFun Alphanumeric Display' or you can get the GitHub repo as a .zip file and install the library from there.
The HT16K33 also supports I2C address configuration. Simply close a combination of the address jumpers on the back and you can communicate with up to four displays on the same bus. Our slim board design also features detachable stand off holes, vertical Qwiic connectors, and internal mounting holes.
This board is one of our many Qwiic compatible boards! Simply plug and go. No soldering, no figuring out which is SDA or SCL, and no voltage regulation or translation required!
We do not plan to regularly produce SparkX products so get them while they’re hot!
We welcome your comments and suggestions below. However, if you are looking for solutions to technical questions please see our Technical Assistance page.
No reviews yet.
Tried to use 4 in a project. Could only get 1 to work long term. All four might work for a few minutes then lose communication. Do not recommend.
Will this display work with a 3.3V Arduino board such as the Adafruit Metro M4 Express using the Sparkfun Qwiic Shield? Or does it require 5V?
Yes it works - I have run this with circuitpython on an adafruit Feather M0. In case this is helpful, the ht16k33 wiring differs from how adafruit does things. So if you want to use circuitpython you will have to reverse engineer which pixels map to what segments. I did this but it would probably have been easier to use the Arduino programming language.
Answering my own question, it DOES work on 3.3V, even though the HT16K33 IC is designed for 5V. However, you can NOT use the Qwiic Shield with a modern ARM based Arduino board without modification. The Qwiic Shield, as shipped, only works with the Uno, which has its SDA and SCL signals on the A4 and A5 pins.
What are the dimensions of this display? The Datasheet under Documents is for the chip on the board, not the display itself. Does anyone know?
Hi where can find the dimensions of the display and the board it attached too?