What are Alphanumeric LED Displays?
Alphanumeric LED Displays are electronic components that use light-emitting diodes to display letters and numbers.
LEDs stand for Light Emitting Diode, a semiconductor device that emits light when an electric current flows through it. Alphanumeric LED Displays combine multiple LED light sources to represent letters and numbers. They can display uppercase and lowercase letters and symbols with greater expressiveness than 7-segment displays.
There are two types: the 14-segment display (starburst display), which adds diagonal segments to the 7-segment display of the number “8”, resulting in a total of 14 segments; and the 16-segment display (starburst display), which further divides the top and bottom horizontal segments of the 14-segment display at the center.
Applications of Alphanumeric LED
Alphanumeric LED Displays are used in applications such as
1. Home Appliances
Alphanumeric LED Displays are used in home appliances. Examples include timers showing remaining time on microwave ovens and rice cookers, and display panels showing the set temperature on air conditioners. These devices primarily use 7-segment LEDs to accurately convey numerical information to users. Their high visibility allows clear confirmation of time and values even in dim kitchens or bedrooms.
2. Industrial Equipment
Alphanumeric LED Displays are also essential components in factory production lines and various measuring instruments. In factory machinery, they are used in counters that tally the number of manufactured products and in display panels indicating machine operational status. Furthermore, in measuring instruments like voltmeters and thermometers, they are utilized to accurately display measurement results in real time.
3. Public Facilities & Transportation
They are also utilized in public spaces like stations and airports. A prime example is electronic information boards displaying destinations and departure times. Many employ dot matrix LEDs, providing detailed information combining not only numbers but also letters and symbols to large crowds. Similarly, traffic information boards installed on roads alert drivers by displaying congestion status and construction notices.