LED-BASED
Fig. 2: Circuit diagram of LED-based message display
230V AC
N
L
50Hz
X1 = 230V AC PRIMARY TO 9V AC, 2A
R9-R15 = 220W, 0.5W
R2-R8 = 470W
D5-D33 = 1N4148
T1-T7 = SL100
SECONDARY TRANSFORMER
MESSAGE
X1
DISPLAY
D1
D4
D1-D4 = 1N5402
Narendra Sharma
D2
D3 C1
1000µ
LEDs are advantageous due to their
25V
smaller size and low current consumption.
+
Here is a running message display circuit EM
IN
wherein the letters formed by LED arrange- N. SHARMA
1
ment light up progressively. Once all the TESTED
7806
IC1
2
letters of the message have been lit up, the
COM
circuit gets reset. This message display
3
100µ
25V
C2
OUT
circuit is built around readily available, low
+
cost components. It is easy to fabricate and
makes use of 3mm red LEDs. A total of 80
16V
10µ
C3 +
LEDs have been used to display the mes-
sage “WELCOME”.
100K
10K
VR
The arrangement of LED1 through LED15
R1
is used to display 'W' as shown in Fig. 1.
2
6
The anodes of LED1 through LED15 are
7
NE555
4
1
0.01µ
connected to point A and the cathodes of
IC2 3
C4
these LEDs are connected to point B.
8
Similarly, Other letters can also be built. 5
Two ICs, the timer 555 (IC2) and decade
counter CD4017 (IC3), are used to build
the display circuit.
The timer IC NE555 (IC2) is wired as a
D5
astable multivibrator that produces 1Hz R2
13
14
82
clock at its output pin 3. This output is T1
Q1
D13
connected to clock pin (pin 14) of the
R9
decade counter (IC3), which clocks the
IC3 for sequencing operations.
R
15 11
D6
One of the IC CD4017's features is its D18 R3
R10
T2
4
Q2
provision of ten fully decoded outputs,
Q9
D19
making the IC ideal for use in a whole
R11
D7
D23 R4
T3
1 11 A
Q3
D24
CD4017
R12
IC3
D8
D27 R5
2 8 12
10
T4
Q4
D28
R13
7
D9
3 13 D30 R6
9
T5
1
Q5
D31
D10
R14
D32 R7
4 6 10 14
T6
5
Q6
D11
D33 R8
T7
R15
6 9
5 15 B
Q7 Q8
D12
Fig.1:LED arrangement for word ‘W’
range of sequencing operations. In the preceding letter 'W' also remains the LED arrangement for two seconds
circuit only one of the outputs remains lighted because of forward biasing of (because the output Q7 and Q8 are
high and the output advances by one transistor T1 via diode D13. driving the transistor T7).
count every second (depending on the Next, when Q3 output goes high, tran- On the following clock pulse output Q9
time period of astable multivibrator sistor T3 conducts and the letter 'L' lights goes high, and IC3 is reset and the
IC2). When Q1 output of IC3 goes up. The preceding letters 'W' and 'E' display is turned off for one second.
high, transistor T1 conducts and the also remain lighted because of forward Therefore the cycle repeats. The fre-
current flows through LED1 through biasing of transistor T1 and T2 via quency of sequencing operations is
LED15 via resistor R9. Now the letter diode D14 and D19 respectively. controlled with the help of VR.
'W' built around LED1 through LED15 is In a similar fashion, on the arrival of The power supply for the circuit com-
illuminated on the LED arrangement each successive pulse, the preceding prises a 0-9V, 2A step-down trans-
board. letters of the display are also remain former (X1), bridge rectifier comprising
On the arrival of next clock pulse, Q1 lighted and finally the complete word diodes D1 through D4, and a filter
goes low and Q2 goes high. Transistor becomes visible. Now the complete capacitor (C1). IC 7806 (IC1) provides
T2 conducts and letter 'E' lights up. The message “WELCOME” is displayed on regulated 6V DC to the circuit.