Philips Semiconductors Linear Products Product specification

LED decoder/driver NE587

DESCRIPTION PIN CONFIGURATIONS

The NE587 is a latch/decoder/driver for 7-segment common anode
LED displays. The NE587 has a programmable current output up to N Package
50mA which is essentially independent of output voltage, power 1
D1 18 VCC
supply voltage, and temperature. The data (BCD) inputs and LE
D2 2 17 f
(latch enable) input are low-loading so that they are compatible with
any data bus system. The 7-segment decoding is implemented with LE 3 16 g
a ROM so that alternative fonts can be made available. BI/RBO 4 15 a

RBI 5 14 b

6 c
FEATURES D3 13

• Latched BCD inputs D0 7 12 d

• Low loading bus-compatible inputs IP 8 11 e

DIG GND 9 10 POWER GND

• Ripple-blanking on leading- and/or trailing-edge zeros
D1 Package
APPLICATIONS 1 20
D1 VCC
• Digital panel motors D2 2 19 f

• Measuring instruments LE 3 18 g

• Test equipment BI/RBO 4 17 a

• Digital clocks RBI 5 16 b

• Digital bus monitoring

NC 6 15 NC

D3 7 14 c

D0 8 13 d

IP 9 12 e

DIG GND 10 11 POWER GND

NOTE:
1. SOL and non-standard pinout.

ORDERING INFORMATION
DESCRIPTION TEMPERATURE RANGE ORDER CODE DWG #
20-Pin Plastic Small Outline Large (SOL) Package 0 to +70°C NE587D1 0172D
18-Pin Plastic Dual In-Line Package (DIP) 0 to +70°C NE587N 0407A
NOTES:
1. SOL and non-standard pinout

ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM RATINGS

TA=25°C unless otherwise specified.
SYMBOL PARAMETER RATING UNIT
VCC Supply voltage -0.5 to +7 V
Input voltage
VIN -0.5 to +15 V
(D0-D3, LE, RBI)
Output voltage
VOUT -0.5 to +7 V
(a-g, RBO)
PD Power dissipation (25°C)1 1000 mW
TA Ambient temperature range 0 to 70 °C
TJ Junction temperature 150 °C
TSTG Storage temperature range -65 to +150 °C
TSOLD Soldering temperature (10sec max) 300 °C
NOTES:
1. Derate power dissipation as indicated
N package—95°C/W above 55°C

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Philips Semiconductors Linear Products Product specification

LED decoder/driver NE587

BLOCK DIAGRAM

BI/RBO (4)

VCC (18) ..

RBI (5)

D0 (7)
D1 (1) BCD TO
DATA
(2) LATCHES 7-SEGMENT
D2 DECODER
(6)
D3

LE (3)
a (15)
b (14)
c (13)
(8) BANDGAP SEGMENT
IP REFERENCE CURRENT d (12)
DRIVER
e (11)

GND (9) .. f (17)

g (16)

POWER GND (10)

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Philips Semiconductors Linear Products Product specification

LED decoder/driver NE587

DC ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS
VCC=4.75 to 5.25V, 0°C < TA < 70°C. Typical values are at VCC=5V, TA=25°C, RP=1kΩ (±1%), unless otherwise specified.
LIMITS
SYMBOL PARAMETER TEST CONDITIONS UNIT
Min Typ Max
VCC Operating supply voltage 4.75 5.00 5.25 V
VIH Input high voltage All inputs except BI 2.0 15 V
BI 2.0 5.5
VIL Input low voltage 0.8 V
VIC Input clamp voltage IIN=-12mA, TA=25°C -1.5 V
Inputs D0-D3, LE, RBI µA
VIN=2.4V 1.0 10
IIH Input high current VIN=15V 15 15
Input BI (Pin 4) 10 100 µA
RBI=H
VIN=VCC=5.25V
VIN=0.4V, Inputs D0-D3 -5
IIL Input low current LE, RBI -200 µA
Input BI
VCC=5.25V -0.7 mA
RBI=H, VIN=0.4V
VOL Output low voltage Output RBO 0.2 0.5 V
IOUT=3.0mA
Output RBO
VOH Output high voltage IOUT=-50µA 3.5 4.5 V
RBI=H
IOUT Output segment Outputs “a” through “g” 20 25 30 mA
“ON” current VOUT=2.0V
∆IOUT Output current ratio With reference to “b” segment 0.90 1.00 1.10
(all outputs ON) VOUT=2.0V
Output segment Outputs “a” through “g”
IOFF “OFF” current VOUT=5.0V 20 250 µA
VCC=5.25V
ICCO Supply current All outputs “ON” 33 55 mA
VOUT>1V
VCC=5.25V
ICCI Supply current All outputs blanked 50 70 mA
NOTES:
NE587 Programming:
The NE587 output current can be programmed, provided a program resistor, RP, be connected between IP (Pin 8) and Ground (Pin 9). The
voltage at IP (Pin 8) is constant (≈1.3V). Thus, a current through RP is IP ≈ 1.3V/RP, as shown in Figure 5. IO/IP is 20 in the 15 to 50mA output
current range.

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Philips Semiconductors Linear Products Product specification

LED decoder/driver NE587

AC ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS
VCC=5V, TA=25°C, RL=130Ω, CL=30pF including probe capacity.
LIMITS
SYMBOL PARAMETER TEST CONDITIONS UNIT
Min Typ Max
tDAV Propagation delay (Figure 2) From data to output 135 ns
tDAV Propagation delay (Figure 3) From LE to output 135 ns
tW Latch enable pulse width (Figure 4) 30 ns
tS Latch enable setup time (Figure 4) From data to LE 20 ns
tH Latch enable hold time (Figure 4) From LE to data 0 ns
NOTES:
tDAV= (tHL+tLH)

TRUTH TABLE
BINARY INPUTS OUTPUTS
DISPLAY
INPUT LE RBI D3 D2 D1 D0 a b c d e f g RBO
- H * X X X X STABLE ** STABLE
0 L L L L L L H H H H H H H L BLANK
0 L H L L L L L L L L L L H H 0
1 L X L L L H H L L H H H H H 1
2 L X L L H L L L H L L H L H 2
3 L X L L H H L L L L H H L H 3
4 L X L H L L H L L H H L L H 4
5 L X L H L H L H L L H L L H 5
6 L X L H H L L H L L L L L H 6
7 L X L H H H L L L H H H H H 7
8 L X H L L L L L L L L L L H 8
9 L X H L L H L L L L H L L H 9
10 L X H L H L H H H H H H L H -
11 L X H L H H L H H L L L L H E
12 L X H H L L H L L H L L L H H
13 L X H H L H H H H L L L H H L
14 L X H H H L L L H H L L L H P
15 L X H H H H H H H H H H H H Blank
**BI X X X X X X H H H H H H H L** Blank
NOTES:
H=HIGH voltage level, output is “OFF”
L=LOW voltage level, output is “ON”
X=Don’t care
* The RBI will blank the display only if a binary zero is stored in the latches.
** RBO/BI used as an input overrides all other input conditions.

NE587 PROGRAMMING POWER DISSIPATION CONSIDERATIONS

587 output current can be programmed by using a programming LED displays are power-hungry devices, and inevitably, somewhat
resistor, RP, connected between RP (Pin 8) and GND (Pin 9). The inefficient in their use of the power supply necessary to drive them.
voltage at RP (Pin 8) is constant (K = 1.3V). A partial schematic of Duty cycle control does afford one way of improving display
the voltage reference used in the NE587 is shown in Figure 1. efficiency, provided that the LEDs are not driven too far into
saturation; but the improvement is marginal. Operation at higher
Output current to program current ratio, IO/IP, is 20 in the 15mA to
peak currents has the added advantage of giving much better
50mA range. Note that IP must be derived from a resistor (RP), and
matching of light output, both from segment-to-segment and
not from a high-impedance source such as an IOUT DAC used to
digit-to-digit.
control display brightness.

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Philips Semiconductors Linear Products Product specification

LED decoder/driver NE587

An output current of 10 to 50mA was chosen so that it would be

VCC suitable for multiplexed operation of large-size LED digits. When
IO designing a display system, particular care must be taken to
1:20 minimize power dissipation within the IC display driver. Since the
output is a constant-current source, all the remaining supply voltage,
which is not dropped across the LED (and the digit driver, if used),
V rP 1.3V will appear across the output. Thus, the power dissipation will go up
I

sharply if the display power supply voltage rises. Clearly, then, it is
P RP RP
good design practice to keep the display supply voltage as low as
PIN 8 possible, consistent with proper operation of the supply output
IP
BAND GAP current sources. Inserting a resistor or diode in series with the
RP
REFERENCE display supply is a good way of reducing the power dissipation
within the integrated circuit segment driver, although, of course, total
system power remains the same.
Power dissipation may be calculated as follows. Referring to Figure
6, the two system power supplies are VCC and VS. In many cases,
Figure 1. these will be the same voltage. Necessary parameters are:
VCC Supply voltage to driver
VS Supply voltage to display
TIMING DIAGRAMS ICC Quiescent supply current of driver
ISEG LED segment current
VF LED segment forward voltage at ISEG
D0–D3 KDC % Duty cycle
VF, the forward LED drop, depends upon the type of LED material
tPLH tPHL (hence the color) and the forward current. The actual forward
OUTPUT voltage drops should be obtained from the LED display
manufacturer’s literature for the peak segment current selected;
however, approximate voltages at nominal rated currents are:
LE = L
Figure 2. tP Data to Output Red 1.6 to 2.0V
Orange 2.0 to 2.5V
Yellow 2.2 to 3.5V
tPLH tPHL Green 2.5 to 3.5V

ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ ÉÉÉÉÉÉ
LE
LE

ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ ÉÉÉÉÉÉ
tW

D0–D3

ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ tS
ÉÉÉÉÉÉ
tH

D0–D3
ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ
ÉÉÉ ÉÉÉÉÉÉ
ÉÉÉ
ÉÉÉ
OUTPUT

ÉÉÉ
OUTPUT
Figure 3. tP Latch Enable to Output

a
Figure 4. Setup and Hold Times
f b
g

e c

Segment Identification

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Philips Semiconductors Linear Products Product specification

LED decoder/driver NE587

TYPICAL PERFORMANCE CURVES

Output Current vs Output Voltage Normalized Output Current vs

Supply Current vs Supply Voltage
RP = 1kΩ Temperature VCC = 5.0V
40.0 40.0 110.0
RP = 1kΩ
(0°C)
VOUT = 2V
ALL OUTPUTS “ON” (25°C)
35.0 30.0 105.0
(0°C) NE587

(25°C) IOUT RP = 1kΩ

(70°C) (%)
ICC 30.0 20.0 100.0
(mA) IOUT
(mA)
(70°C)
25.0 10.0 95.0

20.0 90.0
4.0 4.4 4.8 5.2 5.6 6.0 6.4 0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
VCC (VOLTS) VOUT (VOLTS) TEMP (°C)

Normalized Output Current vs Supply Maximum Power Dissipation vs

Output Current vs Program Resistor
Voltage VO = 2V, TA = 25°C Temperature
105 50.0
VCC = 5.0V
1000 VOUT = 2V
40.0 TA = (25°C)
102
NE587 800

IOUT RP = 1kΩ PD 30.0

IOUT
(%) 100 (mW) 600
(mA)
20.0
400
98

200 10.0

95 0
4.0 4.5 5.0 5.5 6.0 0 25 50 75 0.0
0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 10.0
VCC (VOLTS)
TA (°C) RP (kΩ)
These voltages are all for single-diode displays. Some early red
VCC
displays had 2 series LEDs per segment; hence the forward voltage
drop was around 3.5V. 0.01µF VS
Thus, a maximum power dissipation calculation when all segments
are on, is:
D3 a
P D + V CC x I CC ) (V S * V F) x 7 x I SEG D2
b
x K DCmW D1
D0 c
NE587 d
Assuming VS = VCC = 5.25V
VF = 2.0V e
KDC = 100% LE f
IP g
PD MAX = 5.25 × 50 + 3.25 × 7 × 30mW = 945mW
However, the average power dissipation will be considerably less
than this. Assuming 5 segments are on (the average for all output RBI RBO

code combinations), then

PD MAX = 5.0 × 30 + 3.00 × 5 × 25mW = 525mW NOTE:
Decoupling capacitor on VCC should be 0.01µF ceramic.
Operating temperature range limitations can be deduced from the
power dissipation graph. (See Typical Performance Characteristics.) Figure 5. Driving a Single Digit

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Philips Semiconductors Linear Products Product specification

LED decoder/driver NE587

However, a major portion of this power dissipation (PD MAX) is drops an appreciable voltage, rather than the saturating PNP
because the current source output is operating with 3.25V across it. transistors shown in Figure 9. For example a Darlington PNP or
In practice, the outputs operate satisfactorily down to 0.5V, and so NPN emitter-follower may be preferable. Figure 8 shows the NE591
the extra voltage may be dropped external to the integrated circuit. as the digit driver in a multiplexed display system. The NE591 output
drops about 1.8V which means that the power dissipation is evenly
Suppose the worst-case VCC/VS supply is 4.75 to 5.25V, and that
distributed between the two integrated circuits.
the maximum VE for the LED display is 2.25V. Only 2.75V is
required to keep the display active, and hence 2.0V may be dropped Where VS and VCC are two different supplies, the VS supply may be
externally with a resistor from VCC to VS. The value of this resistor is optimized for minimum system power dissipation and/or cost.
calculated by: Clearly, good regulation in the VS supply is totally unnecessary, and
so this supply can be made much cheaper than the regulated 5V
2.0 1
RS + [ 10
( W rating) supply used in the rest of the system. In fact, a simple unsmoothed
7 x I SEG 2
full-wave rectified sine wave works extremely well if a slight loss in
brightness can be tolerated. A transformer voltage of about
assuming worst case ISEG of 30mA.
3-4.5VRMS works well in most LED display systems. Waveforms are
Hence now shown below:
PD MAX = VCC × ICC +
(VS - VV - RX × 7 × ISEG) × 7 × ISEG × KDC
= 5.25 × 50 + 1.25 × 7 × 30mW VS

= 525mW
and
PD av = 5.0 × 30 + 1.25 × 5 × 25 = 306 mW.
If a diode (or 2) is used to reduce voltage to the display, then the ISEG
voltage appearing across the display driver will be independent of
the number of “ON” segments and will be equal to
VS - VF - nVd, VD ≈ 0.8V
The duty cycle for this system depends upon VS, VF and the output
Where n is the number of diodes used, power dissipation can be characteristics of the display driver.
calculated in a similar manner.
With
In a multiplexed display system, the voltage drop across the digit VS = 4.9V peak
driver must also be considered in computing device power VF = 2.0V
dissipation. It may even be an advantage to use a digit driver which
The duty cycle is approximately 60%.

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Philips Semiconductors Linear Products Product specification

LED decoder/driver NE587

VS

VCC

NE587 NE587 NE587 NE587

D3
D2
D1
D0

A0
DIGIT
A1 DECODE

LE BRIGHTNESS CONTROL

Figure 6. 4-Digit Display with Brightness Control and Leading-Edge Ripple Blanking

DATA BUS

ADDRESS BUS

ADDRESS
DECODE
NE591

D0 D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7

VCC
a b c d e f g
.01µF

NE587

RP

Figure 7. Interfacing 8-Digit LED Display with µP Bus

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Philips Semiconductors Linear Products Product specification

LED decoder/driver NE587

VS

DIGIT 1

DIGIT 2

DIGIT 3

DIGIT 4

VCC
D3
D2
NE587
D1
D0

LE
RP

Figure 8. Interfacing 4-Digit Multiplexed LED Display

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