A 14-segment display uses fourteen individually controlled elements for each character position. That gives it more flexibility for showing letters than a conventional seven-segment digit, while keeping the output in a simple, fixed-segment format. The exact characters and control method depend on the display and its driver.
What is a 14-segment display?
It is an alphanumeric display built from fixed segments, usually LED elements arranged as horizontal, vertical, and diagonal strokes. A controller lights selected segments to form each numeral, letter, or supported symbol. Because the strokes are fixed, the display can show many recognizable Latin letters, but it cannot draw arbitrary shapes or every letter equally clearly.
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The term describes the number of controllable segments in each character position, not a universal font. The available characters depend on the physical wiring and on whether the driver uses a built-in font or accepts segment patterns.
How does a 14-segment display work?
For each character, a controller selects a combination of the fourteen segments. In a raw-segment design, software or hardware provides the on/off pattern. Some drivers instead map character codes to a built-in font and handle the segment pattern internally.
#1 Best Overall
- 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
Multi-digit displays commonly use multiplex scanning: the driver activates digit positions in sequence, refreshing them quickly enough to appear lit together. Scanning reduces the number of control connections compared with controlling every segment of every digit independently. The digit wiring and scan scheme are specific to the hardware, so a driver and display must be compatible; there is no universal 14-segment pin map.
One example: the MAX6954
Analog Devices says its 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 104-character ASCII-oriented font for its 14- and 16-segment modes, plus common symbols. In the documented 14-segment mode, the lower seven bits of digit data select a font character and the highest bit controls the decimal point. Those encoding details apply to the MAX6954 implementation, not to all displays. See the MAX6954 product page and Analog Devices’ 14-segment quick-start note.
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.
Analog Devices currently labels the MAX6954 “LAST TIME BUY.” That lifecycle status can change, so check the manufacturer’s product page before selecting it for a new design.
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What characters can a 14-segment display show?
It can show numerals and many uppercase and lowercase Latin letters, along with punctuation or other symbols when the module and controller support them. Fourteen segments make many letters more legible than seven-segment forms, but the result remains a compromise: each character must be approximated using the available strokes.
Rank #3
- 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!
There is no single character list for all 14-segment displays. A driver may offer a font table, as the MAX6954 does, while another controller may expect raw segment bitmaps or use a different mapping. Check the module’s character table and examples before assuming it supports a particular symbol or code.
How do you control a 14-segment display with Arduino?
There is no single wiring diagram or Arduino library that applies to every 14-segment display. The practical route is to choose a module with a documented driver and follow that exact module’s wiring and software guide. An I²C backpack and a serial-interface driver have different connections and code, and bare digits may require additional driver circuitry.
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!
- Identify the hardware. Confirm whether the display is a complete module with driver board or bare digits, and note the digit count, interface, supply requirements, and supported character set.
- Use the matching documentation. Follow the manufacturer’s pinout and connection instructions for the module and controller. Do not infer pins or segment order from another 14-segment product.
- Install the documented library or example. Use the software path specified for that particular board, then start with its example sketch and a simple supported character.
- Verify the result before expanding it. Check that the displayed character and any decimal point match the example. If they do not, recheck the interface selection, wiring, and module-specific character mapping.
Adafruit provides a documented example path for its 14-Segment Alpha-numeric LED FeatherWing. That guide applies to the FeatherWing, not to every display sold as 14-segment.
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Choosing a module or building with bare digits
A ready-made module combines display digits with a driver board, which can simplify wiring and provide a documented library path. Adafruit lists a quad alphanumeric display with an I²C backpack and a four-digit 14-segment FeatherWing with its driver board. For a custom circuit, bare digits can be paired with a compatible driver, but wiring, current control, and software mapping must all match the chosen parts.
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!
Compare these practical details before choosing:
- Digit count and size: Confirm how many character positions you need and whether the physical digit size suits the project.
- Interface: Check whether it uses I²C, a four-wire serial bus, or another arrangement compatible with your controller.
- Driver inclusion: Establish whether the listing includes a driver board or only the display digits.
- Character support: Review the font or segment map for letters, punctuation, and decimal points you need.
- Wiring compatibility: Ensure the display’s segment and digit connections match the selected driver.
- Software support: Look for current examples or a library for the exact module and controller combination.
Product specifications and availability can change; confirm current details with the manufacturer before purchasing or designing around a particular module.
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