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LABORATORY EXPERIMENT NO.5

Design Example
Binary Coded Decimal

1. Objective(s):

The activity aims to learn the use of Binary Coded Decimal (BCD) that convert binary number to decimal number
using 7-segment display.

2. Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs):

The students shall be able to:
1. Use 7447 Decoder in 7-segment display to create decimal digit display.
2. Use 7448 Decoder in 7-segment display to create decimal digit display

3. Discussion:

Seven Segment
The term seven segment comes from the fact that these displays utilize seven different illuminating
segments to make up each of the 10 possible numeric digits. A code converter must be employed to convert
the 4-bit BCD into a 7-bit code to drive each digit. The BCD must be decoded by a decoder into a format
that can be used to drive a decimal numeric display. A seven-segment LED display is actually made up of
seven separate light-emitting diodes in a single package. A commonly used BCD to seven-segment
converter is the 7447 IC.

Common-Anode LED Display

The physical layout of a seven-segment LED display is shown in Figure 5.1. This figure shows that the
anode of each LED (segment) is connected to the supply. The value of the limiting resistor can be found by
knowing that the voltage drop across an LED, example the voltage drop is 1.7 V and that it takes
approximately 10 mA.

Figure 5.1: Seven-segment common-anode LED display

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 Figure 5.2 shows the numerical designations for the 10 allowable decimal digits. The BCD inputs are
designated A, B, C, and D in order from least-significant to most-significant. Outputs are labeled a, b, c, d, e,
f, and g, each letter corresponding to a standardized segment designation for 7-segment displays. By
illuminating segments of the seven segment display, the decimal numbers 0 - 9 can be displayed as shown
below.

Figure 5.2: Seven-segment Numeric Designations

The 7447 is common-anode decoder/LED driver shown in figure 5.3. Basically, the 7447 has a 4-bit BCD
input and seven individual active-LOW outputs (one for each LED segment).

Figure 5.3: 7447 Decoder

The 7448 is common-cathode decoder/LED driver. That has a 4-bit BCD input and seven individual active-HIGH
outputs (one for each LED segment) shown on figure 5.3.

Figure 5.4 : 7448 Decoder

There are two types of LED 7-segment displays: common cathode (CC) and common anode (CA). The difference
between the two displays is the common cathode has all the cathodes of the 7-segments connected directly together
and the common anode has all the anodes of the 7-segments connected together.

Figure 5.5 : Common (Cathode/Anode)

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4. Resources:
1 Set Computer with Multisim software

5. Procedure and Output

1. Construct in your prototyping board the obtain logic diagram as shown in Figure 5.6.

Figure 5.6: Decoder with seven-segment display

2. Test the outputs by alternating input combination of A, B, C, D. Record the output for each segment by filling
up the truth table and record the result on table 5.1

Table 5.1 : Truth Table for 7447 Decoder

A B C D a b c d e f g Decimal
0 0 0 0
0 0 0 1
0 0 1 0
0 0 1 1
0 1 0 0
0 1 0 1

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 0 1 1 0
0 1 1 1
1 0 0 0
1 0 0 1
1 0 1 0
1 0 1 1
1 1 0 0
1 1 0 1
1 1 1 0
1 1 1 1

3. Connect on your prototyping board the given equation using basic logic gates and connect a logic switch to
each input and an LED to the output
6. Data and Results:

1. Construct in your prototyping board the obtain logic diagram as shown in Figure 5.4. Draw the complete
diagram and test the outputs by alternating input combination of A, B, C, D. Record the output for each
segment by filling up the truth table

Table 5.2 : Truth Table for 7448 Decoder

A B C D a b c d e f g Decimal
0 0 0 0
0 0 0 1
0 0 1 0
0 0 1 1
0 1 0 0
0 1 0 1
0 1 1 0
0 1 1 1
1 0 0 0
1 0 0 1
1 0 1 0
1 0 1 1
1 1 0 0
1 1 0 1

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 1 1 1 0
1 1 1 1

7. Conclusion:

Based from the results of the experiment, what general rule can you apply for?

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