Seven Segments Display

User manual

Introduction

Welcome to our product!

Thank you for choosing our seven-segment display procedural models.

Seven-segment displays are ubiquitous in various electronic devices such as digital watches, pocket calculators, and measuring instruments. They provide a clear and concise way to represent numerical information.

Our models are generated using geometry nodes, making them highly customisable and adaptable to your specific requirements. Whether you need to tweak parameters or animate the displays, our models offer flexibility and ease of use.

 

What do you get

In the .blend file you will find:

• a model of the single seven-segment digit.
• a model of a display for displaying integers.
• a model of a display for displaying a floating point number (which supports decimals after the decimal point)
• a model of a digital clock display.  

Each of these models is available in two variants:

LED Display Simulation: Simulates the appearance of a bright LED display, providing sharp contrast and visibility.

LCD Display Simulation: Mimics the appearance of a liquid crystal display, offering a more subdued and refined aesthetic.

All models come with pre-configured materials, ensuring seamless integration into your projects without the need for extensive setup.

How use models in your project

To add the models in the asset library, unzip the .zip file downloaded from the store and copy the content in your asset library folder.

For example in my computer the library folder is located in “/Users/bianchinis67/Documents/Blender/Assets” as you can see in the picture below. Check what is your library folder path opening “Blender Preferences” window and look in the “File Path” tab. 

Note about EEVEE engine

If you use EEVEE as a rendering engine, to correctly render the models it is necessary to activate  “Screen Space reflections” and “Refraction” in the rendering properties tab.

For a better result (especially with LED displays) we also recommend activating the "Bloom" filter and adjusting its intensity based on your tastes and/or the type of scene and environment you want to create. If you use Cycles you can add a “Glare” effect in post processing.

Modifier parameters

As previously mentioned, our models are procedurally generated using a set of geometry nodes. This approach grants you the flexibility to tailor and animate the appearance and structure of the models by adjusting the parameters within the associated modifier.

To access these parameters:

• Select the desired model.
• Navigate to the "Property Editor" view.
• Locate and select the "Modifier Panel" (identified by the icon  ).

Below is a comprehensive list along with descriptions of the parameters utilised for each of the four modifiers:

SD7 Digit

This is the node group that generates the “LCD Digit” and “LED Digit” models, i.e. the models of the single digit of the display. Below is a brief description of the parameters used: 

Digit: the character displayed (support character from 0 to 9 and the - symbol).

Is on: turn on or off the display.

Show decimal dot: whether to show or hide the decimal separator.

Decimal dot on: turn on or off the decimal point.

Show colon: whether to show or hide the colon (used in clock display).

Colon on: turn on or off the colon.

Digit size: the length of each digit segment (in cm).

Segments thickness: thickness of each segment (in cm).

Segments spacing: spacing between segments (in cm).

Digit depth: amount of digit extrusion (in cm)

Digit shearing: amount of digit right inclination (input a negative value for left inclination).

Digit H padding: horizontal padding of digit (in cm).

Digit V padding: vertical padding of digit (in cm),

Square dots: indicates whether to show square-shaped points. 

Dot spacing: spacing between dot/colon and digit (in cm).

Colon dots spacing: spacing between two dots in colon (in cm),

Show digit sockets: indicates whether or not to show the plastic support.

Socket depth: thickness of the socket (in cm).

Socket bevel: width of bevel around the socket (in cm).

Socket z offset: spacing between sockets top and digits bottom (in cm).

SD7 Int Number Display

This is the node group that generates “Integer Number LCD” and “LED Int Number Display” models, i.e. the model of display that displays only integer numbers. The parameters that regulate the appearance and shape of the display are the following: 

Number: the integer number displayed.

Digits: number of digits (including minus sign)

Is On: turn on or off the display.

Fill with zeros: indicates whether to fill the spaces to the left of the number with zeros.

Digits size: the length of each digit segment (in cm).

Segments thickness: thickness of each segment (in cm).

Segments spacing: spacing between segments (in cm).

Digits depth: amount of digits extrusion (in cm)

Digits shearing:amount of digits right inclination (input a negative value for left inclination).

Digits H padding: horizontal padding of digits (in cm).

Digits V padding: vertical padding of digits (in cm).

Show casing:  indicates whether or not to show the display casing (the display container).

Casing frame width: width of the casing frame (in cm).

Casing z offset: spacing between casing back and digits (or the digits sockets is visible).

Show glass: indicates whether or not to show the glass covering the display.

Glass thickness: the glass thickness in cm.

Glass z offset: spacing between glass and digits (in cm).

Show digit sockets: indicates whether or not to show the plastic support.

Sockets depth: thickness of sockets (in cm).

Sockets spacing: spacing between digits sockets.

Sockets z offset: spacing between sockets top and digits bottom (in cm).

SD7 Float Number Display

This is the group of nodes that generates the “Float Number LCD” and “LED Float Number Display” models, i.e. the two display models that display floating point numbers (i.e. numbers with decimals). The parameters that regulate the appearance and shape of the display are as follows: 

Number: the floating point number displayed.

Digits: number of digits (including minus sign)

Decimals: number of digits displayed after the decimal point.

Is On: turn on or off the display.

Fill with zeros: indicates whether to fill the spaces to the left of the number with zeros.

Digits size: the length of each digit segment (in cm).

Segments thickness: thickness of each segment (in cm).

Segments spacing: spacing between segments (in cm).

Digits depth: amount of digits extrusion (in cm)

Digits shearing: amount of digits right inclination (input a negative value for left inclination).

Digits H padding: horizontal padding of digits (in cm).

Digits V padding: vertical padding of digits (in cm).

Square dots: indicates whether to show square-shaped points.

Dots spacing: spacing between dots and digits.

Show casing:  indicates whether or not to show the display casing (the display container).

Casing frame width: width of the casing frame (in cm).

Casing z offset: spacing between casing back and digits (or sockets if visible).

Show glass: indicates whether or not to show the glass covering the display.

Glass thickness: the glass thickness in cm.

Glass z offset: spacing between glass and digits (in cm).

Show digit sockets: indicates whether or not to show the plastic support.

Sockets depth: thickness of sockets (in cm).

Sockets spacing: spacing between digits sockets.

Sockets z offset: spacing between sockets top and digits bottom (in cm).

SD7 Clock

This is the group of nodes that generates the two clock models, “LCD Clock” and “LED Clock”. The parameters used are the following: 

Hours, Minutes, Seconds: the time shown by the clock.

Is On: turn on or off the display.

Show hours: indicates whether to show or hide the hours.

Show minutes: indicates whether to show or hide minutes.

Show seconds: indicates whether to show or hide seconds.

Colon on: turn on the separator between hours and minutes and between minutes and seconds.

Digits size: the length of each digit segment (in cm).

Segments thickness: thickness of each segment (in cm).

Segments spacing: spacing between segments (in cm).

Digits depth: amount of digits extrusion (in cm)

Digits shearing: amount of digits right  inclination (input a negative value for left inclination).

Digits H padding: horizontal padding of digits (in cm).

Digits V padding: vertical padding of digits (in cm).

Square dots: indicates whether to show square-shaped points.

Colons spacing: spacing between colon and digits (in cm).

Colons dots spacing: spacing between two dots in colon (in cm).

Show casing:  indicates whether or not to show the display casing (the display container).

Casing frame width: width of the casing frame (in cm).

Casing z offset: spacing between casing back and digits (or sockets if visible).

Show glass: indicates whether or not to show the glass covering the display.

Glass thickness: the glass thickness in cm.

Glass z offset: spacing between glass and digits (in cm).

Show digit sockets: indicates whether or not to show the plastic support.

Sockets depth: thickness of sockets (in cm).

Sockets spacing: spacing between digits sockets.

Sockets z offset: spacing between sockets top and digits bottom (in cm).

Quick animate: enable automatic clock animation.

Flashing colons: light the colon every second.

Speed sec/sec: animation speed (second for each second).

Materials

While our models come pre-equipped with suitable materials, you have the freedom to modify or replace them as desired. It's crucial to maintain the correct order of material slots to ensure seamless integration with the models. Here's the prescribed order for material slots:

1. Active Segments Material: This material is assigned to the segments that are illuminated or active.
2. Inactive Segments Material: Assigned to segments that are not illuminated or inactive.
3. Digit Side Material: This material covers the sides of the extruded digit, providing a cohesive appearance.
4. Digit Socket Material: Positioned above the digit, this material typically represents a contrasting plastic material that complements the digit's color
5. Transparent Cover Material: This slot should be filled with a transparent material, such as glass or plexiglass, covering the display.
6. Display Casing Material: This material adorns the display container, providing a finishing touch to the overall appearance.

By adhering to this order, you can ensure consistency and ease of customisation in your material while maintaining the integrity of the models.

  

Note about Geometry Nodes

In addition to utilising the models as standalone assets, you have the flexibility to incorporate the provided geometry nodes ("SD7 Digit," "SD7 Int Number Display," "SD7 Float Number Display," and "SD7 Clock") into your own Geometry Node Graphs. This empowers you to create custom displays tailored to your specific needs.

One crucial consideration when integrating these nodes is to ensure that you connect the Geometry slot with the input geometry. This step is essential for the node groups to access information regarding the materials used by the model. It's imperative to adhere to the correct order of material assignments, as outlined in the "Materials" chapter.