Datasheet
Scan-Limit Register
The scan-limit register sets how many digits are dis-
played, from 1 to 8. They are displayed in a multiplexed
manner with a typical display scan rate of 800Hz with 8
digits displayed. If fewer digits are displayed, the scan
rate is 8f
OSC
/N, where N is the number of digits
scanned. Since the number of scanned digits affects
the display brightness, the scan-limit register should
not be used to blank portions of the display (such as
leading zero suppression). Table 8 lists the scan-limit
register format.
Table 7. Intensity Register Format (Address (Hex) = 0xXA)
DUTY CYCLE
MAX7221MAX7219
D6D7 D4 D2D3 D0D5 D1
HEX
CODE
1/16
(min on)
1/32
(min on)
XX XX 00 00 0xX0
2/163/32 XX XX 00 10 0xX1
3/165/32 XX XX 00 01 0xX2
4/167/32 XX XX 00 11 0xX3
5/169/32 XX XX 10 00 0xX4
6/1611/32 XX XX 10 10 0xX5
7/1613/32 XX XX 10 01 0xX6
X8/1615/32 XX X
X
10 11 0xX7
9/1617/32 XX X
X
01 00 0xX8
10/1619/32 XX X
X
01 10 0xX9
11/1621/32 XX X
X
01 01 0xXA
12/1623/32 XX X
X
01 11 0xXB
13/1625/32 XX X
X
11 00 0xXC
14/1627/32 XX X
X
11 10 0xXD
15/1629/32 XX X
X
11 01 0xXE
15/16
(max on)
31/32 XX X 11 11 0xXF
Table 8. Scan-Limit Register Format (Address (Hex) = 0xXB)
X
XDisplay digit 0 only*
Display digits 0 & 1*
X
X X
D7
SCAN LIMIT
0xX1
X 0xX0
X
X
X 0
D6 D5
0 1
D4 D3
X
XDisplay digits 0 1 2*
Display digits 0 1 2 3
X
X
X X
0
0xX3
X
D2
HEX
CODE
0xX2
0
REGISTER DATA
0
X
X
X
D1 D0
0 1 1
X 0 1 0
X
XDisplay digits 0 1 2 3 4
Display digits 0 1 2 3 4 5
X
X X 0xX5
X 0xX4
X
X
X 1 0 1
X
XDisplay digits 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Display digits 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
X
X
X X
1
0xX7
X 0xX6
0 0
X
X
X 1 1 1
X 1 1 0
*
See
Scan-Limit Register
section for application.
Maxim Integrated
9
Serially Interfaced, 8-Digit LED Display Drivers
MAX7219/MAX7221