Beginner Concepts: Binary-coded Decimal

A rudimentary understanding of digital logic and simple integrated circuits is critical if you’re ever going to pull off some really gnarly hacks. [Daniel] put together an explanation about the use of 4511 BCD 7-segment drivers. These chips take binary data in and output decimal data to a 7-segment LED display. In short, they can read 0b1001 from input pins and light the numeral ‘9’ on the display. The best part is that you can build this example circuit in the Atanua logic simulator without ordering parts. We love zero-cost learning!

13 thoughts on “Beginner Concepts: Binary-coded Decimal

  1. This was what got me into digital electronics and then computers more than 30 years ago. I built a 3-digit counter, and was completely shocked when it worked. My experiences with analog (ham radio) circuits had not been good, partly because my parents had little spare money so I made many poor parts substitutions from things like discarded TV sets. But the digital circuit was cheap, worked, and performed a surprisingly (back then) complex function.

  2. 1×1 plus 0x2 plus 0x4 plus 1×8 equals 9!

    Rember there are 10 types of people in this world those who understand binary and those that don’t !

    Sorry couldn’t resist ! Lol !

  3. Ahh yes! I guess I was fairly sleepy when I posted ! Of course 0x means that a hex number string follows so the correct way to describe 9 is 0b1001 ! Blame it on C ! I think a correction is due soon :-p

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