Like-a-pro soccer display?

Hi Carlo,

It may be worth purchasing a single LED digit, and testing it out. I did a similar thing, but for indoor game use in a bright environment. I used Avago HDSP-N150 which are 0.8 inch high digits, and were very bright and readable from 10 meters away. I think you will need larger digits. There are quite a few larger displays such as this one, but it's not mentioned in the datasheet how far away it is readable.

Also, you'll need some sort of filter. I used this filter sheet.

thank you but I think I need a much larger display. the professional ones are 10+ inch high

You could make your own 7-segment with discrete LEDs on PCB or stripboard. Use a transistor per segment and drive it from any small micro-controller board.

You can buy large 7-segment displays. Here's an 8" model from Seed studio, although it doesn't seem to be available to order:

http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/7-Segment-Display-8-Inches-Red-p-1194.html

ciao pigraham, do you think possible to control 4 of those displays using an Arduino Uno? Please forgive me but I'm not an expert.

They do make them, I've seen them at my local hackerspace, you'd have to contact them.  I'm sure they are out of your price range though, one of their failings was price because recreational sports teams don't want to spend a lot of money on such a thing.

It's kind of hard to make a large display affordable / automatic.

A mechanical display with electromagnetic flaps to create letters is best for readability, but even more expensive.

Yes, I'm sure an Arduino Uno could control 4 seven segment displays.

All you have to do is use MOSFETs to handle the current (too much for a logic GPIO pin).

The UNO has 14 I/O and there are 28 segments to control (4x7), but you can multiplex.

Use 4 lines to drive high-side switches on each of the 4 displays.

Use 7 lines to drive N-channel MOSTFETs  to pull  the cathode of a segment on each display to GND.

Write code do do this:

turn on display 1 and set the segment controls for the first digit .

Turn off display1

turn on display 2 and set the segment controls for the second digit .

Repeat for all 4 digits.

You could build segments on strip board and attach those to a backboard.

Alternatively you could drill holes in a board in 7-segment pattern and glue lots of LEDs in the holes. Wire up the LEDs pin to pin and connect to the switching circuit on a Proto Shield.

Yes, I'm sure an Arduino Uno could control 4 seven segment displays.

All you have to do is use MOSFETs to handle the current (too much for a logic GPIO pin).

The UNO has 14 I/O and there are 28 segments to control (4x7), but you can multiplex.

Use 4 lines to drive high-side switches on each of the 4 displays.

Use 7 lines to drive N-channel MOSTFETs  to pull  the cathode of a segment on each display to GND.

Write code do do this:

turn on display 1 and set the segment controls for the first digit .

Turn off display1

turn on display 2 and set the segment controls for the second digit .

Repeat for all 4 digits.

You could build segments on strip board and attach those to a backboard.

Alternatively you could drill holes in a board in 7-segment pattern and glue lots of LEDs in the holes. Wire up the LEDs pin to pin and connect to the switching circuit on a Proto Shield.

Here's an LED board

FAVERO: Football/Soccer Substitution Boards, Substitute Boards, Player Substitution, Extra Time Board, Player Substitute

€300

I think I need a stroke of our Ben-genius!

yep, this is the 500 US$ unit I was referring to