3rd Test

Objectives

Design and build an innovative 7-segment display using 7 servomotors instead of traditional LEDs. Each segment of the digit is represented by a dedicated servo. The system must display digits from 0 to 9, then from 9 back to 0, with one second per change.

Technical Objectives

Use 7 servomotors, one for each segment of the digit.
Display digits from 0 to 9, then from 9 to 0 automatically.
Respect a 1-second interval between digit changes.
Do not use blocking functions such as delay() in the Arduino code.
Power the circuit with lithium batteries.
Control the servos using a standalone ATmega328P microcontroller (no Arduino boards allowed in the final design).
Design the full schematic and PCB using KiCad**, including:
- Schematic diagram
- PCB layout
- 3D render of the board
Design and 3D print a protective and functional casing to house the display and servos.

Additional Notes

We may use a PCA9685 module to simplify PWM control for the servos.
The use of Arduino boards or breadboards in the final assembly is strictly forbidden.

Summary

Files available for download

Download the KiCad and Arduino files by following these links :

KiCad

KiCad Files : KiCad file

Arduino

Arduino code : Arduino file

Materials

Category	Component	Quantity	Notes
Microcontroller	ATmega328P	1	Used as standalone (no Arduino board)
Clock	16 MHz Crystal Oscillator	1	Paired with two 22 pF capacitors
	22 pF Capacitor	2	For the crystal oscillator
Servomotors	SG90 Micro Servo or equivalent	7	One per digit segment
PWM Module	PCA9685	1	For controlling servos and LEDs via I2C
LED Display	Red/Green/Blue LEDs	7+4	7 for segments, 4 for battery level indicator
	Current-limiting Resistors	Multiple	For LEDs and transistor bases
Transistors	2N2222A (or 2N2219 for simulation)	7	For LED brightness modulation
Battery Pack	3.7 V, 3 Ah Lithium Cells	4	2S2P configuration → 7.4 V, 6 Ah total
Battery Charging	TP4056 Charger Modules	4	One per lithium cell
Voltage Regulation	LM2596 Buck Converter	1	Steps down 7.4 V to 5 V
Voltage Divider	Resistors (custom values)	2	For battery voltage measurement via ADC
Programming Interface	6-pin FTDI Header	1	To upload code to ATmega328P
Reset Circuit	Push Button + Pull-up Resistor	1	For manual microcontroller reset
Bootloader Indicator	LED + Resistor	1	Connected to Lbuilt pin to confirm bootloader presence
Enclosure	3D Printed Casing	1	Designed in Fusion 360
Connectors/Wiring	Jumper Wires, Headers, Terminals, etc.	Various	For electrical connections

Process

Power Supply Design

We are using a power supply system based on rechargeable lithium batteries.

To achieve this, we are using four 3.7V, 3Ah lithium cells, arranged in a 2S2P configuration:

2 cells in series, then duplicated in parallel.

Battery Pack Configuration

Nominal voltage: 7.4V
Capacity: 6Ah
Fully charged voltage: 8.4V

Voltage Regulation

The battery pack powers the input of a buck converter (LM2596), which regulates the voltage down to:

5V output
Max current: 3A

Battery Monitoring

A voltage divider is used to monitor the battery voltage.

At 8.4V (fully charged), the measured voltage is 5V
→ This is the maximum allowed input for the ATmega328P ADC (Analog to Digital Converter).

This monitoring function allows us to:

Estimate the battery state of charge
Ensure safe and optimal performance of the system

Power Distribution

The regulated 5V output is then distributed across the different DC buses of the circuit.

Hardware design

Circuit principal – Architecture matérielle

The ATMega328P microcontroller is powered by a 5V DC supply provided by a Buck converter (LM2596), represented in the schematic by the connector located near the transistor. A 16 MHz crystal oscillator, along with two 22 pF capacitors, provides the clock signal for the microcontroller.

LED D1, connected to the Lbuilt pin, is used to verify the presence of the bootloader on the microcontroller. The push-button SW1, together with a pull-up resistor, enables manual reset of the microcontroller.

A 6-pin header allows connection to an FTDI programmer for uploading code to the microcontroller. A second 5-pin header provides I2C communication and power supply to the PCA9685 module.

The battery monitoring circuit is based on a resistive voltage divider, which taps a fraction of the battery voltage. Using this voltage and the known divider ratio, the battery charge level can be estimated and displayed through LEDs D23 to D26.

An additional network composed of transistors and LEDs has been implemented to introduce an innovative feature. The LEDs forming digit segments will vary in brightness depending on the signal applied to the bases of 2N2219 transistors (used in simulation; 2N2222A will be used in the final implementation). These transistors, controlled by the PCA9685 module, allow the brightness of the LEDs connected to their collectors to be modulated.

Current-limiting resistors for both the LEDs and transistor bases have been carefully calculated to ensure stable and optimal operation of the circuit.

Lithium Battery Charging System

The charging system consists of four lithium battery charger modules (such as TP4056 or similar), each dedicated to an individual battery. Each module’s output is connected directly to the terminals of its respective lithium cell.

Module Inputs: All inputs are connected in parallel to the 5 V power supply, which was also used during Test 1 and Test 2 to charge the batteries.
Module Outputs: Each output is routed to a separate lithium battery, enabling independent and balanced charging.

This modular approach ensures:

Simplified wiring
Independent protection per battery
Reduced risk of overcharging or imbalance between cells

It provides a safe, scalable, and efficient charging solution for powering the system.

Software design

This Arduino code controls an innovative physical 7-segment display combining servomotors, LEDs with fade effects, and a battery indicator.

Code Structure

Libraries and Configuration

#include <Wire.h>
#include <Adafruit_PWMServoDriver.h>

Wire.h: I2C communication with the PCA9685
Adafruit_PWMServoDriver.h: PCA9685 module control

Servo Configuration

#define SERVO_MIN 100   // 0° position
#define SERVO_MAX 500   // 180° position
int angleOn = 90;       // Angle for active segment
int angleOff = 0;       // Angle for inactive segment

These values define the PWM range for servomotors. Values 100-500 correspond to pulse widths for 0° and 180°.

PCA9685 Channel Mapping

const int segments[7] = {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6};        // Servo segments A-G
const int ledChannels[7] = {8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14}; // LED segments A-G
const int batteryLEDs[4] = {9, 10, 11, 12};            // Battery indicator LEDs

Important: Battery LEDs use the same channels as some segment LEDs (9-12).

Pattern Tables

Servomotor Table

const bool servos[12][7] = {
  {1,0,0,1,0,1,1},     // Pattern 0
  {0,1,1,0,1,0,1},     // Digit 0
  {1,1,1,1,0,1,1},     // Digit 1
  // ... etc
};

Each row represents a digit (0-11), each column a segment (A-G).

1 = segment activated (servo at 90°)
0 = segment deactivated (servo at 0°)

LED Table

const bool leds[12][7] = {
  // Identical to servo table for now
  // But can be modified independently
};

Allows separate control of lighting and physical positioning.

Main Functions

Setup - Initialization

void setup() {
  pwm.begin();
  pwm.setPWMFreq(50); // 50Hz for servos
  
  // Initialize segment states
  for (int i = 0; i < 7; i++) {
    currentSegmentState[i] = leds[currentDigit][i];
    previousSegmentState[i] = currentSegmentState[i];
  }
  
  displayDigit(currentDigit);
  currentDigit += 1;
}

Main Loop - Multi-task Management

Digit Change Management

if (currentMillis - previousMillis >= interval) {
  // Save previous states for fade
  for (int i = 0; i < 7; i++) {
    previousSegmentState[i] = currentSegmentState[i];
    currentSegmentState[i] = leds[currentDigit][i];
  }
  
  displayDigit(currentDigit);  // Move servos
  
  fadeStartTime = currentMillis;
  fadeActive = true;           // Start LED fade
  
  // Back-and-forth logic (0→11→0)
  currentDigit += direction;
  if (currentDigit > 11) {
    currentDigit = 11;
    direction = -1;
  } else if (currentDigit < 0) {
    currentDigit = 0;
    direction = 1;
  }
}

Timing: Change every 1 second (interval = 1000)

LED Fade Animation

if (fadeActive) {
  updateLEDFade(currentMillis);
}

The fade runs in parallel for 1 second while servos move.

Battery Monitoring

if (currentMillis - lastBatteryCheck >= batteryCheckInterval) {
  lastBatteryCheck = currentMillis;
  updateBatteryLevel();
}

Timing: Check every 500ms for smooth monitoring.

Detailed Functions

displayDigit() - Servo Control

void displayDigit(int number) {
  for (int i = 0; i < 7; i++) {
    if (servos[number][i]) {
      setServoAngle(segments[i], angleOn);   // 90°
    } else {
      setServoAngle(segments[i], angleOff);  // 0°
    }
  }
}

Instantly positions all servos according to the digit pattern.

updateLEDFade() - LED Animation

Fade Logic

void updateLEDFade(unsigned long currentMillis) {
  unsigned long elapsed = currentMillis - fadeStartTime;
  
  if (elapsed >= fadeDuration) {
    // Fade complete - final states
    fadeActive = false;
    for (int i = 0; i < 7; i++) {
      if (currentSegmentState[i]) {
        pwm.setPWM(ledChannels[i], 0, 4095); // 100%
      } else {
        pwm.setPWM(ledChannels[i], 0, 0);    // 0%
      }
    }
  } else {
    // Fade in progress
    float progress = (float)elapsed / fadeDuration; // 0.0 → 1.0
    
    for (int i = 0; i < 7; i++) {
      int brightness = 0;
      
      if (currentSegmentState[i] && !previousSegmentState[i]) {
        // FADE IN: 0 → 4095
        brightness = (int)(4095 * progress);
      } else if (!currentSegmentState[i] && previousSegmentState[i]) {
        // FADE OUT: 4095 → 0
        brightness = (int)(4095 * (1.0 - progress));
      } else if (currentSegmentState[i] && previousSegmentState[i]) {
        // STAYS ON
        brightness = 4095;
      } else {
        // STAYS OFF
        brightness = 0;
      }
      
      pwm.setPWM(ledChannels[i], 0, brightness);
    }
  }
}

Fade Types:

Fade IN: Segment turning on (0% → 100%)
Fade OUT: Segment turning off (100% → 0%)
Constant: Segment that doesn't change state

updateBatteryLevel() - Battery Indicator

ADC Reading and Conversion

void updateBatteryLevel() {
  int adcValue = analogRead(batteryPin);              // 0-1023
  float voltage = (adcValue / 1023.0) * 5.0;         // 0-5V
  float batteryPercent = (voltage / maxVoltage) * 100.0; // % based on 4.9V max
  
  // Constrain 0-100%
  if (batteryPercent > 100.0) batteryPercent = 100.0;
  if (batteryPercent < 0.0) batteryPercent = 0.0;

LED Display Logic

  // Turn off all battery LEDs
  for (int i = 0; i < 4; i++) {
    pwm.setPWM(batteryLEDs[i], 0, 0);
  }
  
  // Turn on according to level
  if (batteryPercent >= 75.0) {
    // 4 LEDs: channels 9,10,11,12
    for (int i = 0; i < 4; i++) {
      pwm.setPWM(batteryLEDs[i], 0, 4095);
    }
  } else if (batteryPercent >= 50.0) {
    // 3 LEDs: channels 10,11,12
    for (int i = 1; i < 4; i++) {
      pwm.setPWM(batteryLEDs[i], 0, 4095);
    }
  } else if (batteryPercent >= 25.0) {
    // 2 LEDs: channels 11,12
    for (int i = 2; i < 4; i++) {
      pwm.setPWM(batteryLEDs[i], 0, 4095);
    }
  } else if (batteryPercent > 0.0) {
    // 1 LED: channel 12
    pwm.setPWM(batteryLEDs[3], 0, 4095);
  }
}

Display Levels:

≥75%: 🟢🟢🟢🟢 (4 LEDs)
50-74%: 🔴🟢🟢🟢 (3 LEDs)
25-49%: 🔴🔴🟢🟢 (2 LEDs)
1-24%: 🔴🔴🔴🟢 (1 LED)
0%: 🔴🔴🔴🔴 (0 LED)

Technical Features

Timing and Performance

Display: Change every 2 seconds
LED Fade: 1 second smooth transition
Battery: Check every 500ms
PWM: 50Hz for servos, 12-bit resolution (0-4095) for LEDs

Memory Management

Non-blocking: Uses millis() instead of delay()
Multi-tasking: Simultaneously handles servos, LEDs, and battery
Saved States: Enables intelligent fade transitions

Flexibility

Separate Tables: Independent servo/LED control
Customizable Patterns: 12 configurable digits
Extensible: Easy to add new effects

Practical Usage

This code creates a unique 7-segment display that combines:

Physical movement of segments via servomotors
Dynamic lighting with smooth fade transitions
Real-time battery monitoring
Continuous animation with back-and-forth effect

The result is a spectacular display where segments move mechanically while progressively lighting up!

Pictures

See more...

Videos

See more...

3D Modeling & Enclosure Design

The enclosure was designed in Fusion 360 and 3D printed to house all the components.

Objectives​

Technical Objectives​

Additional Notes​

Summary​

Files available for download​

Materials​

Process​

Power Supply Design​

Battery Pack Configuration​

Voltage Regulation​

Battery Monitoring​

Power Distribution​

Hardware design​

Circuit principal – Architecture matérielle​

Lithium Battery Charging System​

Software design​

Code Structure​

Libraries and Configuration​

PCA9685 Channel Mapping​

Pattern Tables​

Main Functions​

Setup - Initialization​

Main Loop - Multi-task Management​

Detailed Functions​

displayDigit() - Servo Control​

updateLEDFade() - LED Animation​

updateBatteryLevel() - Battery Indicator​

Technical Features​

Timing and Performance​

Memory Management​

Flexibility​

Practical Usage​

Pictures​

Videos​

3D Modeling & Enclosure Design​