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The article offers a clear, step‑by‑step guide to connecting and programming a TM1637-based 4-digit 7-segment display with Arduino. Using this module simplifies display control by reducing wiring complexity and offloading refresh duties to the TM1637 chip
Why Use a TM1637 Module?Fewer pins: Unlike raw 7-segment displays that need ~12 pins, the TM1637 chip handles multiplexing and display refresh, letting you control four digits (plus colon/decimal points) using just 2 digital pins for data (DIO) and clock (CLK), plus power rails
- Fewer pins: Unlike raw 7-segment displays that need ~12 pins, the TM1637 chip handles multiplexing and display refresh, letting you control four digits (plus colon/decimal points) using just 2 digital pins for data (DIO) and clock (CLK), plus power rails
Brightness control: Adjustable in software, supporting multiple luminance levels.
- Brightness control: Adjustable in software, supporting multiple luminance levels.
Independent refresh: The chip maintains the display, freeing up Arduino cycles.
- Independent refresh: The chip maintains the display, freeing up Arduino cycles.
Module features: Consists of a 4-digit 7-segment display and TM1637 driver chip, with 4 pins—CLK, DIO, VCC, and GND
Module features: Consists of a 4-digit 7-segment display and TM1637 driver chip, with 4 pins—CLK, DIO, VCC, and GND
Voltage: Operates from 3.3 V to 5 V, making it compatible with both 5 V and 3.3 V boards.
- Voltage: Operates from 3.3 V to 5 V, making it compatible with both 5 V and 3.3 V boards.
Wiring: VCC to Arduino 5V, GND to GND, CLK and DIO to any digital pins (e.g., 3 and 4 on Mega, or 2 and 3 on Uno)
- Wiring: VCC to Arduino 5V, GND to GND, CLK and DIO to any digital pins (e.g., 3 and 4 on Mega, or 2 and 3 on Uno)
Library recommendation: TM1637Display library by Avishay Orpaz—installable via Arduino IDE’s Library Manager
- Library recommendation: TM1637Display library by Avishay Orpaz—installable via Arduino IDE’s Library Manage
Basic usage:
cpp
CopyEdit
#include <TM1637Display.h>
#define CLK 3
#define DIO 4
TM1637Display display(CLK, DIO);
void setup() {
display.setBrightness(5);
}
void loop() {
display.showNumberDec(1234, true);
delay(1000);
}
cpp
CopyEdit
#include <TM1637Display.h>
#define CLK 3
#define DIO 4
TM1637Display display(CLK, DIO);
void setup() {
display.setBrightness(5);
}
void loop() {
display.showNumberDec(1234, true);
delay(1000);
}
This sketch initializes the display, sets brightness (0–7), and shows a number with optional leading zero
- Basic usage:cppCopyEdit
#include <TM1637Display.h>This sketch initializes the display, sets brightness (0–7), and shows a number with optional leading zero
#define CLK 3
#define DIO 4
TM1637Display display(CLK, DIO);
void setup() {
display.setBrightness(5);
}
void loop() {
display.showNumberDec(1234, true);
delay(1000);
}
showNumberDec() – Displays decimal numbers.
showNumberDec()– Displays decimal numbers.
showNumberDecEx() – Adds decimal point/colon positioning and control
showNumberDecEx() – Adds decimal point/colon positioning and control
setSegments() – Shows custom bitmaps (for animations or words).
setSegments()– Shows custom bitmaps (for animations or words).
clear(), display.clear() – Clears content.
clear(),display.clear()– Clears content.
setBrightness(level, onOff) – Controls intensity and power state
setBrightness(level, onOff) – Controls intensity and power state
Beyond basics, Techatronic and other sources show common projects:
Animations:(segment all on/off, brightness fades)
- Animations:(segment all on/off, brightness fades)
Counters: Looping through values with delays.
- Counters: Looping through values with delays.
Clock: Paired with RTC (e.g. DS3231) to display time with blinking colon
- Clock: Paired with RTC (e.g. DS3231) to display time with blinking colon
Sensor display: Temperature readings (e.g. with DHT11) showing °C/°F symbols using setSegments()
Sensor display: Temperature readings (e.g. with DHT11) showing °C/°F symbols using setSegments()
Compact interface: Perfect for timers, counters, clocks, numeric readouts such as temperature, voltage, etc.
- Compact interface: Perfect for timers, counters, clocks, numeric readouts such as temperature, voltage, etc.
Low pin usage: Leaves many I/O free for other components.
- Low pin usage: Leaves many I/O free for other components.
Versatile display control: Easily use multiple modules—each with its own CLK/DIO pair.
- Versatile display control: Easily use multiple modules—each with its own CLK/DIO pair.
User experience: Smooth brightness levels and independent refresh make for polished, flicker-free output.
- User experience: Smooth brightness levels and independent refresh make for polished, flicker-free output.
Check wiring: Power (3.3–5 V), GND, and proper CLK/DIO connections.
- Check wiring: Power (3.3–5 V), GND, and proper CLK/DIO connections.
Voltage compatibility: Ensure module voltage matches microcontroller logic.
- Voltage compatibility: Ensure module voltage matches microcontroller logic.
Library selection: Multiple libraries exist; Orpaz’s TM1637Display is commonly used.
- Library selection: Multiple libraries exist; Orpaz’s TM1637Display is commonly used.
Custom patterns: setSegments() allows creating characters beyond numbers (e.g. “dOnE”)
Custom patterns: setSegments() allows creating characters beyond numbers (e.g. “dOnE”)
Summary
Techatronic’s guide demystifies using a TM1637 4-digit display with Arduino. It highlights:
Minimal wiring
- Minimal wiring
Easy installation of a well-documented library
- Easy installation of a well-documented library
Rich display functionality
- Rich display functionality
Wide-ranging applications from clocks to sensor interfacesIt’s a highly accessible and scalable project for beginners and advance
- Wide-ranging applications from clocks to sensor interfacesIt’s a highly accessible and scalable project for beginners and advance
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