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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →A 14-segment display is an LED character display whose fourteen independently controlled elements can form numerals and many Latin letters. It offers more letter shapes than a seven-segment display, but the characters it can show depend on the segment layout, wiring, and controller.
What is a 14-segment display?
Each character position is built from fourteen fixed segments—horizontal, vertical, and diagonal elements. Switching selected segments on and off draws a character. The added diagonal strokes make many letters easier to recognize than they are on a conventional seven-segment numeric display, though the display still cannot draw arbitrary fonts or shapes.
There is no universal character set for every 14-segment display. Some controllers translate character codes through a built-in font; others expect the host to provide segment patterns. Analog Devices documents a 104-character ASCII-oriented font, plus common symbols, for the MAX6954’s 14- and 16-segment modes. That is a feature of this controller, not a guarantee for all displays.
How does a 14-segment display work?
A controller energizes the combination of segments needed for each character. In a multi-digit display, the controller can use multiplex scanning: it activates digit positions one after another quickly, reducing the number of control connections needed compared with directly wiring every segment in every digit. The module and driver must use compatible wiring and scanning; pin assignments and segment maps are not universal.
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- This version of the LED backpack is designed for two dual 14-segment "Alphanumeric" displays. These 14-segment displays normally require 18 pins (4 'characters' and 14 total segments each)
- This module solves the annoyance of using 18 pins or a bunch of chips by having an I2C constant-current matrix controller sit neatly on the back of the PCB
- The controller chip takes care of everything, drawing all the LEDs in the background. All you have to do is write data to it using the 2-pin I2C interface
- There are three address select pins so you can select one of 8 addresses to control up to 8 of these on a single 2-pin I2C bus (as well as whatever other I2C chips or sensors you like)
- The driver chip can 'dim' the entire display from 1/16 brightness up to full brightness in 1/16th steps. It cannot dim individual LEDs, only the entire display at once
A concrete example: MAX6954
Analog Devices says the MAX6954 can drive up to eight 14-segment digits over a four-wire SPI-, QSPI-, or MICROWIRE-compatible interface. It includes multiplex scanning, digit memory, brightness adjustment, and a font. In its documented 14-segment mode, the lower seven bits of digit data select a font character and the highest bit controls the decimal point. This encoding applies to the MAX6954 implementation, not to 14-segment displays generally. See the MAX6954 product page and datasheet information and Analog Devices’ MAX6954 14-segment quick-start for its specific font and mapping.
Analog Devices currently marks the MAX6954 “LAST TIME BUY.” Because that lifecycle status can change, check the product page before choosing it for a new design.
Rank #2
- This version of backpack is designed for two dual 14-segment "Alphanumeric" displays.
- This backpack solves the annoyance of using 18 pins or a bunch of chips by having an I2C constant-current matrix controller sit neatly on the back of the PCB.
- These 14-segment displays normally require 18 pins (4 'characters' and 14 total segments each) .
- The controller chip takes care of everything, drawing all s in the background.
What characters can a 14-segment display show?
It can show the digits 0–9 and many Latin letters, as well as symbols supported by the controller or by a custom segment map. The exact result depends on the available strokes: some letters are clearer than on seven-segment displays, while others may still look stylized or ambiguous. Check the character table for the specific module and controller rather than assuming that a character code will render identically across products.
How do you control a 14-segment display with Arduino?
There is no single Arduino wiring diagram or code sample that applies to every 14-segment display. A ready-made module with a driver board is usually the more direct route: connect it using the interface specified by its guide, then use the matching library or examples. A bare display requires a compatible driver, suitable wiring, and software that maps characters to the driver’s font or segment bitmaps.
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- Features: White display; Operating Voltage: 3.3V; Integrated RC oscillator; Maximum display segment numbers: 128 patterns; 13×3 matrix key scan circuit; 16-step dimming circuit; I2C Addresses: 0x70 (0x71, 0x72, 0x73); 2x Qwiic connectors; 2x Wall Mounting Points
- Introducing the brand new SparkFun Qwiic Alphanumeric Display. These white fourteen-segment digits allow you to display all sorts of numbers, characters, and symbols.
- The VK16K33 also supports I2C address configuration. Simply close a combination of the address jumpers on the back and you can communicate with up to four displays on the same bus.
- Our slim board design also features detachable standoff holes, vertical Qwiic connectors, and internal mounting holes. Note: Display only. Microcontroller and cables sold separately.
- With Qwiic, simply plug it in and go. No soldering, no figuring out which is SDA or SCL, and no voltage regulation or translation required!
- Choose the display and driver together. Confirm the digit count, interface, driver inclusion, character support, and wiring compatibility. Do not assume that a bare display can connect directly to an Arduino or that two modules share a pin map.
- Follow the product’s wiring guide. Use the documented interface and connections for the exact board. For example, Adafruit’s 14-Segment Alpha-numeric LED FeatherWing guide provides usage information for that FeatherWing; its instructions should not be treated as a generic wiring standard.
- Use the matching software path. Start with the library or examples documented for the chosen module and controller. Check how that implementation represents characters and decimal points, since a font lookup and a raw segment bitmap are different approaches.
- Test a few characters and the decimal point. Compare what appears with the controller’s character map. If output is wrong, check the module-to-driver wiring and the selected mapping before assuming the display itself is faulty.
Ready-made module or custom build?
A complete module combines display digits with a driver board; a custom build pairs bare digits with a compatible controller. The right choice depends on whether a documented assembly and software path or flexibility over the circuit matters more.
| Option | What it includes | Useful consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Adafruit Quad Alphanumeric Display with I²C Backpack | Quad alphanumeric display with an I²C backpack, as described by Adafruit | Check the product page for current module details and software guidance: product 1911. |
| Adafruit 14-Segment Alphanumeric LED FeatherWing | Four-digit 14-segment display with its driver board | Its guide documents use of this specific board: product 3089 and the FeatherWing guide. |
| Bare digits plus a separate driver | Discrete display digits and a separately selected compatible controller | Allows a custom circuit, but you must verify digit wiring, driver capability, character mapping, and software support. The MAX6954 is one example; its current lifecycle label is on the manufacturer’s product page. |
Before selecting a part, compare the number and size of digits, display color, interface (such as I²C or four-wire serial), whether the driver is included, the supported character set, wiring compatibility, and examples or library support. Product details and availability can change, so verify them on the linked manufacturer pages.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Features: Blue display; Operating Voltage: 3.3V; Integrated RC oscillator; Maximum display segment numbers: 128 patterns; 13×3 matrix key scan circuit; 16-step dimming circuit; I2C Addresses: 0x70 (0x71, 0x72, 0x73); 2x Qwiic connectors; 2x Wall Mounting Points
- Introducing the brand new SparkFun Qwiic Alphanumeric Display. These blue fourteen-segment digits allow you to display all sorts of numbers, characters, and symbols.
- The VK16K33 also supports I2C address configuration. Simply close a combination of the address jumpers on the back and you can communicate with up to four displays on the same bus.
- Our slim board design also features detachable standoff holes, vertical Qwiic connectors, and internal mounting holes. Note: Display only. Microcontroller and cables sold separately.
- With Qwiic, simply plug it in and go. No soldering, no figuring out which is SDA or SCL, and no voltage regulation or translation required!
Rank #4
- Features: Red display; Operating Voltage: 3.3V; Integrated RC oscillator; Maximum display segment numbers: 128 patterns; 13×3 matrix key scan circuit; 16-step dimming circuit; I2C Addresses: 0x70 (0x71, 0x72, 0x73); 2x Qwiic connectors; 2x Wall Mounting Points
- Introducing the brand new SparkFun Qwiic Alphanumeric Display. These red fourteen-segment digits allow you to display all sorts of numbers, characters, and symbols.
- The VK16K33 also supports I2C address configuration. Simply close a combination of the address jumpers on the back and you can communicate with up to four displays on the same bus.
- Our slim board design also features detachable standoff holes, vertical Qwiic connectors, and internal mounting holes. Note: Display only. Microcontroller and cables sold separately.
- With Qwiic, simply plug it in and go. No soldering, no figuring out which is SDA or SCL, and no voltage regulation or translation required!
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
