MAX6950:Serially Interfaced, +2.7V to +5.5V, 5- and 8-Digit LED Display Drivers

The MAX6950/MAX6951 are compact common-cathode display drivers that interface microprocessors to individual 7-segment numeric LED digits, bar graph, or discrete LEDs through an SPI™-, QSPI™-, MICROWIRE™-compatible serial interface. The supply voltage can be as low as 2.7V. The MAX6950 drives up to five 7-segment digits or 40 discrete LEDs. The MAX6951 drives up to eight 7-segment digits or 64 discrete LEDs. Included on-chip are hexadecimal character decoders (0-9, A-F), multiplex scan circuitry, segment and digit drivers, and a static RAM that stores each digit. The user may select hexadecimal decoding or no-decode for each digit to allow any mix of 7-segment digits, bar graph, or discrete LEDs to be driven. The segment current for the LEDs is set by an internal digital brightness control. The segment drivers are slew-rate limited to reduce EMI. Individual digits may be addressed and updated without rewriting the entire display. The devices include a low-power shutdown mode, digital brightness control, a scan-limit register that allows the user to display from one to eight digits, segment blinking that can be synchronized across drivers, and a test mode that forces all LEDs on.

Key Features
  • High-speed 26MHz SPI-, QSPI-, MICROWIRE-Compatible Serial Interface
  • +2.7V to +5.5V Operation
  • Individual LED Segment Control
  • Segment Blinking Control that Can Be Synchronized Across Multiple Drivers
  • Hexadecimal Decode/No-Decode Digit Selection
  • Digital Brightness Control
  • Display Blanked on Power-Up
  • Drives Common-Cathode LED Digits
  • Multiplex Clock Syncronizable to External Clock
  • Slew-Rate Limited Segment Drivers for Low EMI
  • 75µA Low-Power Shutdown (Data Retained)
  • Small 16-Pin QSOP Package
MAX6950, MAX6951: Typical Application Circuit
MAX6950, MAX6951: Typical Application Circuit
Applications/Uses
  • Bar Graphs and Matrix Displays
  • Industrial Controllers and Instrumentation
  • Medical Equipment
  • Panel Meters
  • Professional Audio Equipment
  • Set-Top Boxes
  • White Goods
DataSheet
titleDownload file
MAX6950-MAX6951 Data SheetMAX6950-MAX6951.pdf
Parametrics
Part NumberLCD or LEDDigits or Char.Output FormatDisplay TypeInterfaceFontsSegment BlinkingVSUPPLY
(V)
VSUPPLY
(V)
Package/PinsBudgetary
Price
minmaxSee Notes
MAX6950LED5-Digit7 segment + DPCommon CathodeSerial SPI 26MbitHexadecimalYes2.75.5QSOP-EP/16$5.62 @1k
MAX69518-DigitQSOP-EP/16$5.75 @1k
Design kits & evaluation modules
Quality and Environmental Data
Related Products
  • MAX6958:2-Wire Interfaced, 3V to 5.5V, 4-Digit, 9-Segment LED Display Drivers with Keyscan
  • MAX6959:2-Wire Interfaced, 3V to 5.5V, 4-Digit, 9-Segment LED Display Drivers with Keyscan
  • MAX6956:2-Wire-Interfaced, 2.5V to 5.5V, 20-Port or 28-Port LED Display Driver and I/O Expander
  • MAX6954:4-Wire Interfaced, 2.7V to 5.5V LED Display Driver with I/O Expander and Key Scan
  • MAX6952:4-Wire Interfaced, 2.7V to 5.5V, 4-Digit 5 x 7 Matrix LED Display Driver
  • MAX6957:4-Wire-Interfaced, 2.5V to 5.5V, 20-Port and 28-Port LED Display Driver and I/O Expander
  • MAX6953:2-Wire Interfaced, 2.7V to 5.5V, 4-Digit 5 x 7 Matrix LED Display Driver
  • MAX7221:Serially Interfaced, 8-Digit, LED Display Drivers
  • MAX7219:Serially Interfaced, 8-Digit, LED Display Drivers
Ordering Information
Part NumberStatusRecommended ReplacementPackageTempRoHS
MAX6950CEENo Longer AvailableMAX6950CEE+QSOP-EP,;16 pin;30.9 mm²0°C to +70°CNo
MAX6950CEE+ActiveQSOP-EP,;16 pin;30.9 mm²0°C to +70°CLead Free
MAX6950CEE+TActiveQSOP-EP,;16 pin;30.9 mm²0°C to +70°CLead Free
MAX6950CEE-TNo Longer AvailableMAX6950CEE+TQSOP;16 pin0°C to +70°CSee data sheet
MAX6950EEENo Longer AvailableMAX6950EEE+QSOP-EP,;16 pin;30.9 mm²-40°C to +85°CNo
MAX6950EEE+ActiveQSOP-EP,;16 pin;30.9 mm²-40°C to +85°CLead Free
MAX6950EEE+TActiveQSOP-EP,;16 pin;30.9 mm²-40°C to +85°CLead Free
MAX6950EEE-TNo Longer AvailableMAX6950EEE+TQSOP;16 pin-40°C to +85°CSee data sheet
MAX6950-MAX6951.pdf MAX6951
MAX6950-MAX6951_cn.pdf MAX6951
Improve Sensor Performance and SNR in Pulse Oximeter Designs MAXQ622
LEDs Are Still Popular (and Improving) after All These Years MAX6966
Charlieplexing - Reduced Pin-Count LED Display Multiplexing MAX6959
Using Maxim SPI-compatible Display Drivers with other SPI Peripherals MAX7317
Electronic Displays Comparison MAX6966
Migrating from the MAX7219 and MAX7221 to the MAX6950 and MAX6951 LED Drivers MAX7221
Experimenting with the MAX6950 and the MAX6951 SPI LED Display Drivers from a PC MAX6951
Using the MAX6950 and the MAX6951 LED Display Drivers with Multiplex Dual-Digit Displays MAX6951
MAX6950.pdf MAX6950
MAX6950-MAX6951_cn.pdf MAX6951