The Electronics Hobbyist

The third and final Arduino sketch uses bits to represent each segment and is a reduced code version of the previous sketch (1,210 bytes for sketch #3 instead of 1,852 bytes for sketch #2). A ten element array holds a byte for each number 0-9 that specifies what segments should be lit (pin low). Bit 0 corresponds to segment A, bit 1 to segment B and so on. In order to display the number 1, segments B and C need to be lit, so that is represented by the value 0b1111001. Function “lightSegments” reads these bits in sequence and sets the corresponding segments accordingly.

Sketch #3:

// www.TheElectronicsHobbyist.com/blog
// Natalia Fargasch Norman
// Seven-segment LED Display
// Common Anode pins 3 and 8

//   G F + A B
//   | | | | |   -> pins and segments they control
//   ---------
//  F|   A   |B
//   |---G---|   -> segments
//  E|   D   |C
//   ---------
//   | | | | |   -> pins and segments they control
//   E D + C DP

// Segments that make each number when lit:
// 0 => -FEDCBA
// 1 => ----BC-
// 2 => G-ED-BA
// 3 => G--DCBA
// 4 => GF--CB-
// 5 => GF-DC-A
// 6 => GFEDC-A
// 7 => ----CBA
// 8 => GFEDCBA
// 9 => GF-DCBA

// Arduino digital pins used to light up
// corresponding segments on the LED display
#define A 2
#define B 3
#define C 4
#define D 5
#define E 6
#define F 7
#define G 8

// Pushbutton connected to pin 9
#define BUTTON 9

int count = 0; // current display count

const byte numbers[10] = { 0b1000000, 0b1111001, 0b0100100, 0b0110000, 0b0011001, 0b0010010,
0b0000010, 0b1111000, 0b0000000, 0b0010000 };

void setup() {
  pinMode(A, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(B, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(C, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(D, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(E, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(F, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(G, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(BUTTON, INPUT);
  lightSegments(0b1000000);
}

void loop() {
  int val = digitalRead(BUTTON);
  if (val == HIGH) {
    count++;
    if (count == 10) count = 0;
    delay(200);
    lightSegments(numbers[count]);
  }
}

void lightSegments(byte number) {
  for (int i = 0; i < 7; i++) {
    int bit = bitRead(number, i);
    // segments connected to Arduino pins 2-8
    digitalWrite(i+2, bit);
  }
}

Watch a short video of this project in action.

You might also enjoy:

1. Controlling a Seven-Segment Display Using Arduino Part 3
2. Arduino 2-Digit 7-Segment Display with Buttons
3. Controlling a Seven-Segment Display Using Arduino Part 2
4. Arduino 2-Digit 7-Segment Display Counter