TM1637 Module : PinOut, Features, Specifications, Interfacing, Working, Datasheet & Its Applications

A seven-segment display is a digital LED module specifically designed to show numerical data. So in this module, LEDs (light-emitting diodes) are arranged in the shape of numbers, creating a simple and visible display. People often refer to these as seven-segment displays or seven-segment indicators. Generally, electronic display devices use seven-segment displays to represent decimal numbers (0 to 9). Thus the most common applications of these modules are electronic devices like washing machines, microwave ovens, radios, calculators, and digital clocks for displaying numeric information. This article elaborates on a four-digit seven-segment display like the TM1637 module – pinout, specifications, and its applications.

What is the TM1637 Module?

The TM1637 is a compact & easy-to-use 4-digit LED display module used for Arduino projects to display numerical data like time, counters, and temperature. So this display has a TM1637 driver which needs two pins only for communication to make it very efficient. Its clear red color LED segments ensure very clear visibility within a variety of lighting conditions.

Numerous modules use the TM1637 chip to form a four-digit numerical display module. Thus. this TM1637 chip includes a keyboard input capability; however, this feature is not used in this type of module. So instead the TM1637 chip drives the seven segments, which you can interface with your controller through the I2C interface.

This TM1637 display module is perfect for applications like timers, clocks & sensor readings within DIY electronics. So it provides flexibility mainly for different projects and environments with an in-built brightness control. The four-digit seven-segment LED display for the Arduino board supports simple interfacing with different microcontrollers, So its simple wiring and coding make it ideal for beginners.

TM1637 Working

The TM1637 LED driver IC module works by controlling a four-digit, seven-segment display using less number of wires. Thus, this module’s operating voltage ranges from 3.3 to 5V voltage supply with around 80mA current consumption.

So the TM1637 module shortens interfacing this display through an I2C- protocol which needs two data pins like DIO & CLK and two for power-decreasing wiring complexity. So a typical four-digit seven-segment display normally needs 12 connection pins although the TM1637 decreases this to four pins where two DIO & CLK for data and two VCC & GND for power.

This display module communicates with an Arduino through an I2C protocol and is a type of serial communication. Thus, this protocol implementation can be done within software thus no special hardware is necessary instead of the GPIO pins on the Arduino.

TM1637 Pin Configuration:

The TM1637 pin configuration is shown below. So this module includes four pins which are explained below.

• Pin-1 (CLK): Connect this CLK input pin to any digital pin on the Arduino Uno.
• Pin-2 (DIO): Use this serial data I/O pin and connect it to Arduino’s digital pin.
• Pin-3 (VCC): Connect this power supply pin of the module to a 3.3V to 5V power supply.
• Pin-4 (GND): It is the ground pin of the module.

TM137 Module Components

The TM1637 low-cost and low-power display module includes two significant parts like 4-digit 7-segment display & the TM1637 seven-segment display driver IC. So the four-digit seven-segment display is a visual display element in this module which displays numbers and some characters with the normal 7-segment format.

The TM1637 LED driver is an integrated circuit that handles the required logic & timing to drive the display by allowing control with two data pins. Thus this IC supports several functionalities like on-off & brightness control. In addition, it can also have a data queue thus, you can transmit all the data packets to the chip which displays all the data in sequence. It provides headroom to your Arduino board for other different tasks. Some TM1637 modules comprise a colon which is used in clock & time-related projects.

Features & Specifications:

The TM1637 module features and specifications include the following.

• TM1637 is a four-digit seven-segment LED display module.
• This module is available in through-hole mounting type.
• It has a two-wire serial interface.
• Its operating voltage ranges from 3.3V to 5.5V.
• This module has a Colon used for time-based projects.
• Its current consumption is 80mA
• Display mode is seven segments and eight grids.
• It has an in-built scan register & decode driver
• This module has automatic brightness control through PWM
• Operating temperature ranges from -10ºC to +80ºC

Equivalents & Alternatives :

Equivalent TM1637 modules are; TM1638, HT16K33, etc. So alternative four digit seven segment display modules are. TM1637, MAX7219, 74HC595, etc.

TM1637 Module Interfacing with Arduino Uno Board

Generally, people use LCDs to display character messages, while seven-segment displays show different numbers for timers, digital counters, digital clocks, and more. Thus, an advanced four-digit seven-segment display presents four digits. So here we are interfacing the TM1637 display module with the Arduino UNO board.

The required components to make the TM1637 4-digit 7-segment module interfacing with the Arduino UNO board mainly include; the Arduino UNO board, Type A to B USB cable, TM1637 4-digit 7-segment display, and jumper wires. Thus the connections of this interfacing follow as;

• The GND pin of the Arduino Uno board is connected to the GND of the TM1637 display module.
• Connect the 5V pin of Arduino to the VCC pin of the display module.
• Connect the D4 pin of the Arduino board to the DI0 pin of seven seven-segment display modules.
• The D3 pin of Arduino is connected to the CLK pin of the display module.

Code

The required code for this interfacing is shown below.

// Include the library
#include <TM1637Display.h>
// Define the connections pins
#define CLK 3
#define DIO 4
// Create a display object of type TM1637Display
TM1637Display display = TM1637Display(CLK, DIO);
// Create an array that turns all segments ON
const uint8_t allON[] = {0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff};
// Create an array that turns all segments OFF
const uint8_t allOFF[] = {0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00};
// Create an array that sets individual segments per digit to display the word “dOnE”
const uint8_t done[] = {
SEG_B | SEG_C | SEG_D | SEG_E | SEG_G, // d
SEG_A | SEG_B | SEG_C | SEG_D | SEG_E | SEG_F, // O
SEG_C | SEG_E | SEG_G, // n
SEG_A | SEG_D | SEG_E | SEG_F | SEG_G // E
};

// Create degree celsius symbol
const uint8_t celsius[] = {
SEG_A | SEG_B | SEG_F | SEG_G, // Degree Symbol
SEG_A | SEG_D | SEG_E | SEG_F // C
};
void setup() {
}
void loop() {
// Set the brightness to 5 (0=dimmest 7=brightest)
display.setBrightness(5);
// Set all segments ON
display.setSegments(allON);
delay(2000);
display.clear();
// Show counter 0-9
int i;
for (i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
display.showNumberDec(i);
delay(50);
}
delay(2000);
display.clear();
display.showNumberDec(-12); // Prints _-12
delay(2000);
display.clear();
display.showNumberDec(-999); // Prints -999
delay(2000);
display.clear();
display.showNumberDec(31, false); // Prints __31
delay(2000);
display.clear();
display.showNumberDec(31, true); // Prints 0031
delay(2000);
display.clear();
display.showNumberDec(14, false, 2, 1); // Prints _14_
delay(2000);
display.clear();
display.showNumberDec(-5, false, 3, 0); // Prints _-5_
delay(2000);
display.clear();
// Prints 12:34
display.showNumberDecEx(1234, 0b11100000, false, 4, 0);
delay(2000);
display.clear();
// Prints 15°C
int temperature = 15;
display.showNumberDec(temperature, false, 2, 0);
display.setSegments(celsius, 2, 2);
delay(2000);
display.clear();
// Prints dOnE
display.setSegments(done);
while(1);
}

Working

First download & install the required library from GitHub then include the library. After that, define the Arduino pins which are connected through the module pins. So create the TM1637 display object & store the TM1637Display( ) function. Locate the individual segment with hexadecimal numbers.

The void loop function sets the brightness of the LED through the display intensity function. To set individual segments, utilize setSegments( ). Thus, the above code includes three main arguments for this function. The primary argument, like an array, includes segment data or information. After that, the next argument is the number of digits. So finally, the third argument is used to decide the location.

Utilize the ShowNumberDec( ) function to display the number. The first argument of this function is to display above the display, whereas the other argument is optional. So the above function’s extended function is ShowNumberDecEx( ), which allows control of the display dots. Finally, word display is printed through the display.SetSegments(done). Thus, once the above code is uploaded, notice the number on the four-digit seven-segment display.

Advantages & Disadvantages

The advantages of the TM1637 module include the following.

• TM1637 module is simple to use.
• These are compact and thus occupy less space.
• The two-wire communication can decrease the wiring complexity as compared to various types of displays.
• It handles automatically the display refresh to execute other tasks.
• This module is compatible with Arduino using available libraries that shorten communication.
• This module allows for changing the LED’s brightness by providing flexibility within display visibility.
• These are cost-effective:
• These are used in versatile applications:
• The module’s integrated serial I/O common cathode drivers allow for simple display control.

The disadvantages of the TM1637 module include the following.

• This module is not capable of displaying decimal points or floating points in between different numbers.
• This module is mainly designed to display four-digit, seven-segment numbers, however, it does not include the functionality of displaying decimal points (or) other different characters in between the digits.
• The TM1637 module decreases the number of required pins to control a four-digit display thus it still needs four pins for VCC, DIO, CLK & GND.
• This module includes capacitors on the CLK, STB and DIO lines that might be very large, which potentially kills square wave pulses. So removing these capacitors is required for some types of modules to function properly.

TM1637 Module Applications

The applications of the TM1637 module include the following.

• The TM1637 compact LED driver module commonly serves applications that require numeric displays, particularly in projects like electronic counters, digital clocks, timers, DIY projects, and thermometers that utilize four-digit seven-segment displays.
• This module simplifies the display of time and other timed events thus making it a popular choice for designing timers, counters, and digital clocks.
• Electronic counters use this module to drive four-digit displays that show numerical values.
• Thermometers rely on it to display temperature readings from various sensors, providing a clear and easy-to-read display.
• DIY projects that incorporate numeric displays also benefit from this module.
• Additionally, these modules find applications in electronic meters, calculators, sensor data displays, front panel calculators, and more. They interface seamlessly with different microcontrollers.
• It adjusts the display brightness by providing flexibility within different lighting conditions.

Please refer to this link for the TM1637 module datasheet.

Thus, this is an overview of the TM1637 module, pinout, features, specifications, interfacing, and its applications. So this is a cost-effective and compact module, used for displaying various numbers on a four-digit seven-segment LED display with simply two I/O pins for communication; Thus, it needs minimal wiring to make it perfect for timers and digital clock projects. Here is a question for you, what is the HT16K33 module?