In addition to limiting maximum power dissipation, the
resistor reduces the change in power dissipation as the
display changes. This effect is caused by the fact that,
as fewer segments are “ON,” each “ON” output drops
more voltage and current. For the best case of six
segments (a “111” display) to worst-case (a “1888”
display), the resistor will change about 230 mW, while
a circuit without the resistor will change about 470 mW.
Therefore, the resistor will reduce the effect of display
dissipation on reference voltage drift by about 50%.
The change in LED brightness caused by the resistor is
almost unnoticeable as more segments turn off. If
display brightness remaining steady is very important
to the designer, a diode may be used instead of the
resistor.
+5V
IN
-5V
+
–
24 kΩ
1 MΩ
150Ω
TP3
1 kΩ
100 pF
TP5
TP2
0.1
100
µF
kΩ
TP1
0.47
0.01
µF
µF 0.22
µF
47
kΩ
Display
40
30
TP
21
4
TC7107A
1
10
20
5.1Ω 1/4W
1N4001
Display
FIGURE 9-4:
Diode or Resistor Limits
Package Power Dissipation.
TC7106/A/TC7107/A
© 2008 Microchip Technology Inc.
DS21455D-page 19