LM3914N-1 – LED Bar/Dot Display Driver – Texas Instruments

The LM3914N-1 from Texas Instruments is a linear-scale LED bar/dot display driver that lights up to 10 LEDs from an analog input, with single-pin bar/dot mode selection. Supplied in an 18-lead PDIP. Obsolete part available for RFQ.

The LM3914N-1 is a monolithic LED bar/dot display driver from Texas Instruments (originally National Semiconductor) that converts an analog input voltage into a 10-segment LED display. Built around a precision divider and 10 internal comparators, the LM3914N-1 senses an analog signal and drives up to ten LEDs, LCDs, or vacuum fluorescent displays to create an intuitive visual readout. The “-1” suffix denotes the linear-scale version, making this device ideal for direct, evenly spaced level indication. The LM3914N-1 ships in a through-hole 18-lead PDIP (0.300 in) package for easy prototyping and panel-mount assembly.

A single pin selects either dot mode (one LED lit at a time) or bar mode (a moving column of LEDs), letting one part serve a wide range of indicator designs. LED brightness is set with a single external resistor, and the on-chip adjustable reference (1.28 V nominal, adjustable upward) along with the programmable output current eliminates the need for external current-limiting resistors on each LED. Devices can be cascaded to build displays of 20, 30, or more segments.

Key Features

• Drives 10 LEDs from a single analog input via 10 internal comparators
• Linear-scale response (-1 suffix) for evenly spaced level indication
• Single-pin selectable dot or bar display mode
• Recommended supply operation from 3 V to 20 V (25 V absolute maximum)
• On-chip adjustable voltage reference, 1.28 V nominal and adjustable up to about 12 V
• Programmable LED output current from approximately 2 mA to 30 mA, no external current-limit resistors needed
• Signal input survives +/-35 V per the datasheet absolute maximum ratings
• Cascadable for displays of 20, 30 or more segments
• Operating temperature range of 0 C to +70 C
• Through-hole 18-lead PDIP (NFK), 0.300 in width, for robust assembly and prototyping

Applications

• Battery level and charge indicators
• Audio VU and level meters
• Voltage and signal level monitoring
• Analog bar graph and dot displays
• Temperature and process monitoring panels

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