4-digit 7-segment Display LED TM1637
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Overview
The DIYables 4-digit 7-segment Display LED with TM1637 driver provides a bright numeric display with a programmable colon segment in the center — ideal for showing time in hh:mm or mm:ss format. The TM1637 handles all LED multiplexing internally, requiring only two data wires (CLK and DIO) from the microcontroller. Package includes 2 modules.
Quick Overview
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Display Type | 4-digit 7-segment LED |
| Driver IC | TM1637 |
| Digits | 4 |
| Special Segment | Center colon (programmable) |
| Interface | 2-wire (CLK + DIO) |
| Compatible Voltage | 3.3V / 5V |
| Package | 2 pieces |
Key Features
Center Colon Segment
The programmable colon LED between digit 2 and 3 makes this module ideal for clock and timer displays showing hh:mm or mm:ss.
Simple 2-Wire Interface
Only CLK and DIO pins needed on the microcontroller — no SPI, no I2C addressing issues.
Internal Multiplexing
The TM1637 handles all digit scanning and brightness control internally; the MCU just sends display data.
Adjustable Brightness
The TM1637 supports 8 brightness levels in software.
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Display Type | 4-digit 7-segment LED |
| Driver IC | TM1637 |
| Digits | 4 |
| Colon | Yes (programmable) |
| Interface | 2-wire (CLK, DIO) |
| Brightness Levels | 8 (software adjustable) |
| Compatible Voltage | 3.3V / 5V |
| Package | 2 pieces |
Pinout
| Pin | Label | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CLK | Clock signal from microcontroller |
| 2 | DIO | Data input/output |
| 3 | VCC | Power supply (3.3V or 5V) |
| 4 | GND | Ground |
Getting Started
Compatible Boards
Arduino Uno R3/R4, Nano, Mega, ESP32, ESP8266, Raspberry Pi Pico, Raspberry Pi, Micro:bit.
Wiring (Arduino Uno)
| Display Pin | Arduino Pin |
|---|---|
| CLK | D3 |
| DIO | D4 |
| VCC | 5V |
| GND | GND |
Libraries
Applications
- Digital clocks (hh:mm)
- Countdown and stopwatch timers
- Score displays for games
- Temperature and sensor readouts
- Counter and tally displays
- Industrial numeric indicators
Equivalent Boards
| Module | Key Difference |
|---|---|
| 4-digit 7-segment 74HC595 | 4 dots instead of colon, SPI-based driver |
| Dot Matrix FC16 8x8 | Graphical LED matrix, can show text and graphics |
| OLED 128x64 | Monochrome graphical display, much more display content |
| LCD I2C 16x2 | Alphanumeric character LCD, I2C, backlighted |
Beginner Tutorials
Notes
- The colon is controlled by setting bit 6 of the segment data for digit position 1.
- TM1637 is not I2C — it uses a custom 2-wire protocol. Do not use Wire.h.
- Brightness 0 is still faintly visible; the display cannot be turned completely off via brightness alone.
Community
Revision History
| Version | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| v1.0 | 2026-06 | Initial entry |