Alternative to multiple shift registers?

[TheGrovesy]

Hi all, I'm new to this forum and fairly new to electronics. I have been doing a few projects using the Arduino and my latest project uses 4 shift registers to control several 7-segment led displays, which is now working as I wanted.

However, I was wondering if there is a better, by which I mean smaller or less components, way of controller these 7-segment displays instead of the 4 shift registers (which are linked together).

I would be grateful for any thoughts.

Regards,
Chris

 

[BobK]

Look up multiplexing 7 segment displays.

Bob

 

[OLIVE2222]

Hi,

And in the multiplexing "family" the better one seems the Charlieplexing:

http://www.maxim-ic.com/app-notes/index.mvp/id/1880

Olivier