LED

Digit

1

Discrete

LED anode

(cathode to

CC0)

CC1

SEG g

SEG f

SEG e

SEG d

SEG c

SEG b

SEG

a

LED

Digit

2

SEG f

SEG g

CC2

Discrete

LED anode

(cathode to

CC3)

SEG e

SEG d

SEG c

SEG b

SEG

a

LED

Digit

3

SEG f

SEG g

Discrete

LED anode

(cathode to

CC2)

CC3

SEG e

SEG d

SEG c

SEG b

SEG

a

LED

Digit

4

SEG d

SEG g

SEG f

SEG e

CC4

Discrete

LED anode

(cathode to

CC5)

SEG c

SEG b

SEG

a

LED

Digit

5*

SEG d

SEG g

SEG f

SEG e

Discrete

LED anode

(cathode to

CC4)

CC5

SEG c

SEG b

SEG

a

LED

Digit

6*

SEG b

SEG g

SEG f

SEG e

SEG d

SEG c

CC6

Discrete

LED anode

(cathode to

CC7 )

SEG

a

LED

Digit

7*

SEG b

SEG g

SEG f

SEG e

SEG d

SEG c

Discrete

LED anode

(cathode to

CC6)

CC7

SEG

a

*These digits are not available for the MAX6950.

The second solution can be used if all digits' segments are required. This time, hexadecimal-decode

operation can be selected because the standard segment connection pattern is used (Table 4). The

penalty for this configuration is that one diode is required per digit (Figure 2). Each diode is passing

only one segment's current, so it can be a low-cost single signal diode like 1N4148, BAS16 (silicon), or

BAT54, BAR43 (Schottky). Better still, use surface mount dual common-cathode diodes like BAV70

(silicon) and BAT54C (Schottky). The minimum supply voltage to the MAX6950/MAX6951 must also be

raised by the selected diode's forward voltage drop: typically 1.0V for a silicon signal diode or 0.4V for

a Schottky signal diode at 50mA.