Hello.
My current project uses a PIC16F873A to output to an already multiplexed LED Display (Fairchild MSQ6441, 4 digit, 7-segment numeric display).
I would like to relieve some work from the PIC, so I've been looking into LED Display Drivers to pick up the slack. I came across the MAX7221, a nice chip from Maxim... common cathode LED Display Driver that does the multiplexing for you, SPI compatible..easy to use. It supports all 8 digits, so I don't need the extra pins.
Now, Ideally I would like a LED Display Driver that is I2C (not SPI) compatible and drives up to 4 digits. I came across the MAX6958, it looked perfect.. I2C compatible, drives 4 digits, 16 pin PDIP. BUT, you cannot hook up a multiplexed LED Dispaly to it because of it's special multiplexing method (Charlieplexing). You have to connect individual digits to the chip...the chip needs access to each segment (a,b,c,d,e,f) of each digit. I would really like to stick with already multiplexed LED Displays (ie, common cathodes and all segments tied to each other). Anyone know of such a chip that could hook up multiplexed display which is I2C compatible. Thanks for any input.