View source for Charlieplexing

[[File:DiagonalTouchscreen.jpg|thumb|Illustrates how a diagonal array enables nearly twice as many unique intersections as an x/y array.]]

{{Short description|Technique for driving a multiplexed display}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021|cs1-dates=y}}
{{Use list-defined references|date=December 2021}}
[[File:Sandorclock.jpg|thumb|A Charlieplexed digital clock which controls 90 LEDs with 10 pins of a [[PIC 16C54]] microcontroller.]]
'''Charlieplexing''' (also known as '''tristate multiplexing''', '''reduced pin-count LED multiplexing''', '''complementary LED drive''' and '''crossplexing''') is a technique for accessing a large number of [[LED|LEDs]], [[switches]], micro-[[capacitors]] or other [[I/O]] entities, using relatively few [[tri-state logic]] wires from a [[microcontroller]].  These I/O entities can be wired as discrete components,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.instructables.com/Charlieplexing-Made-Easy-and-What-It-Even-Means/|title=Charlieplexing made easy |access-date=2024-01-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.instructables.com/Charlieplexed-Arduino-8x8-LED-Grid-Display-Shield-/|title=Charlieplexed-Arduino-8x8-LED-Grid-Display|access-date=2024-01-08}}</ref> x/y arrays,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/WokwiMakes/status/1743914197711282309|title=Making Charlieplex arrays|access-date=2024-01-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/sparkfun-led-array-8x7-hookup-guide/all|title=sparkfun-led-array-8x7-hookup-guide|access-date=2024-01-09}}</ref> or woven in a diagonally intersecting pattern to form diagonal arrays.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US10534487B2/en?oq=US10534487B2|title=Touch sensor |access-date=2024-01-08}}</ref>

== Etymology ==
Although the technique was introduced in 2001 by [[Maxim Integrated]], the name "Charlieplexing", however, first occurred in a 2003 application note.<ref name="Maxim_2003"/><!-- If you find an earlier Maxim reference using this name, please add it! --> {{anchor|Allen}}It was named after Charles "Charlie" M. Allen, an applications engineer of [[MAX232]] fame,<ref name="EDN_1997"/><ref name="Sherman_2016"/><ref name="Fox_2021"/> who had proposed this method internally.{{when|reason=In 2009, an IP from Arizona, possibly a Maxim employee, stated "early 1995"<!-- https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Charlieplexing&type=revision&diff=285860979&oldid=282965152 https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Charlieplexing&type=revision&diff=445068456&oldid=412495655 -->, but this needs a good source as the earliest chip using the technique was introduced in 2001, and so far, the earliest found Maxim publication mentioning the term Charlieplexing was from 2003. Don Lancaster's Tech Musings were referring to Microchip, not Maxim, in 2001, and Microchip's earliest found publication discussing the method (without a name) as well as Graham Daniel's introduction to the method both were published in 1998. So, if Allen had actually devised the method in 1995 already, this would be a parallel (re)discovery. |date=December 2021}}

== How and why to use Charlieplexing ==
The simplest way to address a single pixel (or input button) is to run a wire out to it and another wire back to ground, but this requires a lot of wiring.  A slight improvement is to have everything return on a common ground, but this still requires one wire (and one pin on the microcontroller) for each pixel or button.  For an X by Y array, X*Y pins are required.

With [[tri-state logic]] pins (high, low, disconnected), matrix wiring needs only X+Y pins and wires.  Each X and each Y take turns being on vs being disconnected; the disadvantage is that each light is only powered at most 1/(X*Y) of the time.  If there is enough [[fan-out]], the Y pins can be left always on, and all checked in parallel.  The refresh can then happen every 1/X of the time, but the X wires each need to pass enough current to light up Y lights at once.

Charlieplexing is a further improvement on matrix wiring, which enables the I/O entities (LEDs, switches etc.) to be connected between any two microcontroller I/O pins.  Instead of X horizontal wires meeting Y vertical wires, every wire meets every other wire.  Assuming diodes are used for the connections (to distinguish between wire A going to wire B vs wire B going to wire A), Charlieplexing needs only about half as many pins as a conventional matrix arrangement, at the cost of more complicated mapping.  Alternatively, the same number of pins will support a display nearly four times (doubling in both directions) as large.

{|class="wikitable floatright" style="text-align:right"
|+ Wiring options with 4 pins.<br><br>
Current flows from the ''Vcc'' (high) voltage pin to the ''GND'' (low) voltage pin.  All remaining pins are ''Hi-Z'' (high impedance) so no current flows through them.<br><br>
''Matrix'' wiring uses pins 1 and 2 only for X values, and uses pins 3 and 4 only for Y values.<br>
''Switch'' CharliePlexing means a connection can be made or broken between any two pins.<br>
''LED'' CharliePlexing also notices which direction the current flows.
|-
!scope="col"|Vcc !!scope="col"|GND !!scope="col"|Hi-Z !!scope="col"|Matrix !!scope="col"|Switch !!scope="col"|LED
|-
| 1 || 2 || 3,4 || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}}
|-
| 2 || 1 || 3,4 || {{no}} || {{no|duplicate}} || {{yes}}
|-
| 1 || 3 || 2,4 || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}}
|-
| 3 || 1 || 2,4 || {{no|duplicate}} || {{no|duplicate}} || {{yes}}
|-
| 1 || 4 || 2,3 || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}}
|-
| 4 || 1 || 2,3 || {{no|duplicate}} || {{no|duplicate}} || {{yes}}
|-
| 2 || 3 || 1,4 || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}}
|-
| 3 || 2 || 1,4 || {{no|duplicate}} || {{no|duplicate}} || {{yes}}
|-
| 2 || 4 || 1,3 || {{yes}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}}
|-
| 4 || 2 || 1,3 || {{no|duplicate}} || {{no|duplicate}} || {{yes}}
|-
| 3 || 4 || 1,2 || {{no}} || {{yes}} || {{yes}}
|-
| 4 || 3 || 1,2 || {{no}} || {{no|duplicate}} || {{yes}}
|}

For example, with 4 I/O pins, standard x/y matrix multiplexing distinguishes only 4 positions.  Pins representing the same direction (such as 1 and 2) can never pair with each other.

With Charlieplexing, each pin can pair with any other pin, so those same 4 I/O pins have 6 unique pairings:  all those available to matrix multiplexing, but also (1 to 2) and (3 to 4).

Because the microcontroller can send current in either direction, and diodes can filter out one direction, each connection can address two diodes separately.  In this example, 4 pins with six connections can identify 12 independent diodes.  Doubling connections with diodes isn't unique to Charlieplexing, but is rarely done unless I/O pins are scarce enough to at least consider Charlieplexing. 

Although Charlieplexing is more efficient in its use of I/O lines, the mapping from I/O lines to a physical location is usually more complicated.

Other issues that affect standard multiplexing but are exacerbated by Charlieplexing include:

* consideration of current requirements and the forward voltages of the LEDs.
* a requirement to cycle through the in-use LEDs rapidly so that the [[persistence of the human eye]] perceives the display to be lit as a whole. Multiplexing can generally be seen by a strobing effect and skewing if the eye's focal point is moved past the display rapidly.

== Origin ==
The Charlieplexing technique was introduced<ref name="Maxim_2003"/> by [[Maxim Integrated]] in 2001<ref name="Maxim_2001"/> as a reduced pin-count LED multiplexing scheme in their MAX6951 LED display driver.<ref name="Maxim_2001"/><ref name="Maxim_2003"/>

Also in 2001, when the name "Charlieplexing" became common, [[Don Lancaster]] illustrated the method as part of his musings about the "[[connectivity (graph theory)|N-connectedness]]" problem,<ref name="Lancaster_2001"/> referring to [[Microchip Technology]],<ref name="Lancaster_2001"/> who had already discussed it as "complementary LED drive technique" in a 1998 application note<ref name="Rebic_1998"/> and would later include it in a tips & tricks booklet.<ref name="Microchip_2003"/>

While Microchip did not mention the origin of the idea, they might have picked it up in the PICLIST, a [[mailing list]] on Microchip [[PIC microcontroller]]s, where, also in 1998, Graham Daniel<ref name="Daniel_1998_1"/><ref name="Daniel_1998_2"/> proposed it to the community as a method to drive rows and columns of [[bidirectional LED]]s. Daniel at the time had created simple circuits with [[PIC 12C508]] chips driving 12 LEDs off 5 pins with a mini command set to set various lighting displays in motion.<ref name="Daniel_1998_1"/><ref name="Daniel_1998_2"/>

The method, however, was known and utilized by various parties much earlier in the 1980s, and has been described in detail as early as in 1979 in a patent by Christopher W. Malinowski, Heinz Rinderle and Martin Siegle of the Department of Research and Development, [[AEG-Telefunken]], Heilbronn, Germany for what they called a "three-state signaling system".<ref name="Malinowski-Rinderle-Siegle_1979"/>

Reportedly, similar techniques were already in use as early as 1972 for track signaling applications in [[model railroading]].<ref name="MRR_1972"/>{{citation needed|reason=This application was added by an IP in early 2013,<!-- https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Charlieplexing&type=revision&diff=532702180&oldid=528733213 --> referring to an unnamed and undated article in 'Model Railroader' magazine (but probably in 1972 or 2012/2013). This isn't implausible, even if light bulbs with diodes rather than LEDs would have been used at that time. However, we need historical references of some sort for that claim. Today, Charlieplexing is in fact used for this purpose, and "signal multiplexers" are available from various vendors, including Viessmann (since about 2008) and Bogobit.|date=December 2021}}

Display multiplexing is very different from multiplexing used in data transmission, although it has the same basic principles. In display multiplexing, the data lines of the displays are connected in parallel to a common [[bus (computing)|databus]] on the microcontroller. Then, the displays are turned on and addressed individually. This allows the use of fewer I/O pins than it would normally take to drive the same number of displays directly. Here, each "display" could, for instance, be one calculator digit, not the complete array of digits.

With traditional multiplexing <math>N</math> I/O pins can drive a maximum of <math>(\frac{N}{2})^2 = \frac{N^2}{4}</math> LEDs, or listen to that many input switches. Charlieplexing can drive <math>N^2 - N</math> LEDs, or listen to <math>\frac{N^2 - N}{2}</math> buttons even if directionality is not enforced by a diode.

== Tri-state multiplexing (Charlieplexing) ==

[[File:Symetric Charlieplex.png|thumb|A symmetric layout of Charlieplexed LEDs. On left, 3 pins drive 6 LEDs arranged in a triangle. On right, 4 pins drive 12 LEDs arranged in a [[tetrahedron]].]]

The Charlieplexing configuration may be viewed as a [[directed graph]], where the drive pins are vertices and the LEDs are directed edges; there is an outward-pointing edge connected from each vertex to each other vertex, hence with ''n'' drive pins there are (''n'')(''n''-1) total edges. This equates to ''n'' pins being able to drive ''n''<sup>2</sup>&nbsp;− ''n'' segments or LEDs.

{|class="wikitable floatright" style="text-align:right"
|-
!scope="col"| Pins !!scope="col"| LEDs
|-
| 2 || 2
|-
| 3 || 6
|-
| 4 || 12
|-
| 5 || 20
|-
| 6 || 30
|-
| 7 || 42
|-
| 8 || 56
|-
| 9 || 72
|-
| 10 || 90
|-
| 11 || 110
|-
| 12 || 132
|-
| 13 || 156
|-
| 14 || 182
|-
| 15 || 210
|-
| 16 || 240
|-
| 20 || 380
|-
| 24 || 552
|-
| 32 || 992
|-
| 40 || 1,560
|-
| 48 || 2,256
|-
| 56 || 3,080
|-
| 64 || 4,032
|-
| ''n'' || ''n''<sup>2</sup> − ''n''
|}

If the number of LEDs (''L'') is known, then the number of pins (''n'') can be found from the equation: <math display="inline"> n = \left\lceil 1 + \sqrt{L} \right\rfloor</math>, the result being rounded to the nearest whole number.<ref group="nb" name="NB_ROUNDING" />

Example: If L = 57, then √L = 7.549, and 1 + √L = 8.549; the nearest whole number to this is 9, so 9 pins are needed to drive 57 LEDs (9 pins could drive up to 72 LEDs, but 8 pins could drive only 56 LEDs at most). 

If L = 56, then √L = 7.483, and 1 + √L = 8.483; the nearest whole number to this is 8, so 8 pins are needed to drive 56 LEDs.

; Origin of the (''n''<sup>2</sup>&nbsp;− ''n'') equation in Charlieplexing:

[[File:CharlieplexedArray4.png|thumb|left|Six conductors allow nine LEDs to be individually controlled in a standard x/y multiplexed array, but 30 LEDs in a "Charlieplexed" array.]]

Unlike in a traditional x/y multiplexed array, where a sub-set of conductive elements crosses a different sub-set of conductive elements, in a "fully Charlieplexed" multiplexed array, each conductive element crosses every other conductive element.

Six (''n'') conductive elements in a standard x/y multiplexed array forms a maximum of nine ((''n''&nbsp;/ 2)<sup>2</sup>) unique intersections (see figure on far left).

The other diagrams also show six (''n'') conductive elements, but here all six elements cross over themselves, forming a multiplexed array of 36 (''n''<sup>2</sup>) intersections. LEDs are shown placed at every intersection. However, each conductor also crosses itself at the diagonal. Horizontal conductor&nbsp;1 crosses vertical conductor&nbsp;1, horizontal conductor&nbsp;2 crosses vertical conductor&nbsp;2, etc. This means that six of these LEDs are short-circuited (e.g. D1 and D5 are short-circuited). The six (''n'') diagonal LEDs will, therefore, never light up, because no voltage can ever develop across them, so (''n'') has to be subtracted from the total. There is no point in installing these LEDs (they are simply included here for illustrative purposes). 

This leaves 30 LEDs (''n''<sup>2</sup>&nbsp;− ''n'') that can be uniquely addressed and lit up independently.

Conductor&nbsp;"a" crossing conductor&nbsp;"b" is distinguishable from conductor&nbsp;"b" crossing conductor&nbsp;"a" because LED polarity is reversed. For example, when conductor&nbsp;3 is positive and conductor&nbsp;2 is negative, current flows through, and lights up LED D8, but when conductor&nbsp;3 is negative and conductor&nbsp;2 is positive, current flows through, and lights up LED D9.

These reverse polarity LED pairs are called complementary pairs. This diagram has 15 complementary pairs, allowing 30 LEDs to be lit independently.

[[File:CharlieplexedArray11.png|thumb|left|''n'' I/O forms a ''n'' (''n''&nbsp;- 1) Charlieplexed "off-set" x/y LED array.]]

The 6 unusable diagonal LEDs can be conveniently replaced by actual bidirectional shortcuts (so that there's no longer need to set up the interconnection lines grouped on the left and bottom of the diagrams, to drive the bottom input of vertical connectors from the matching left input of horizontal connectors).

By adjusting diagonally the form of horizontal and vertical connectors along the short-circuited main diagonal of the original matrix, this can be easily transformed into an array of 5&nbsp;× 6 or 6&nbsp;× 5 LEDs arranged on a regular grid.

A similar pattern could be used for a 10&nbsp;× 11 matrix that could be used to drive up to 110 keys (including a few indicator LEDs) on a modern [[PC keyboard]], where each key switch includes a small serial diode or LED, so that only 11 pins would be needed to individually control all of them (these individual diodes or LEDs inside each key switch would also avoid all common and undesirable "ghosting" effects, that are hard to eliminate completely when an arbitrary number of keys at any position are pressed at the same time).

Charlieplexing can also be used to significantly reduce the number of controlling pins for much larger matrixes, such as modern digital displays with high resolution. E.g. for a 4K RGB display at 3840&nbsp;× 2160, this requires more than 8 millions individually addressable pixels, each featuring at least 3 colored LEDs or LCD cells, for a total of nearly 25 millions LEDs or LCD cells. Using a conventional x/y multiplexing would require at least (3840&nbsp;+ 2160&nbsp;× 3) = 10320 controlling pins and many selection chips for controlling rows and columns all around the panel of LEDs or LCD cells. But with Charlieplexing, this can be reduced to only 63 controlling pins for the selection gate of display columns, plus 46&nbsp;× 3 controlling pins for the selection and power-activation of RGB display rows, by a single transistor for each row or column (possibly with an extra common shielding ground to limit their mutual coupling); these controlling pins can easily fit around the output pins of one or two controller chips, even if we add the few additional pins needed on the controller for power, ground, clocks and I/O buses, surface-mounted with a high density and low cost on a single-layer [[printed circuit board|PCB]], and no need of complex routing and interconnection holes between layers; a dual layer is needed only for the basic Charlieplexing matrix mounted on borders of the panel itself.

Positions in the Charlieplexed matrix are not reduced to be just LEDs or diodes, they can be filled as well by two pins of a transistor (including its gate pin) so that its third pin is used as output to further control other devices, such as the horizontal and vertical selection lines of a large flat display panel (in that case, the two Charlieplexed matrices of transistors controlling and activating the rows or columns of the panel will be smartly arranged all along a border of that panel).

=== Complementary drive ===
Charlieplexing in its simplest form works by using a [[diode matrix]] of complementary pairs of LEDs. The simplest possible Charlieplexed matrix would look like this:

[[File:2-pin Charlieplexing with common resistor.svg|thumb|left|Minimal 2-pin configuration for ''identical'' LEDs.]]
[[File:2-pin Charlieplexing with individual resistors.svg|thumb|right|2-pin configuration for ''different'' LEDs.]]

By applying a positive voltage to pin X1 and grounding pin X2, LED&nbsp;1 will light. Since current cannot flow through LEDs in [[reverse bias|reverse direction]] at this low voltage, LED2 will remain unlit. If the voltages on pin X1 and pin X2 are reversed, LED&nbsp;2 will light and LED1 will be unlit.

The Charlieplexing technique does not actually make a larger matrix possible when only using two pins, because two LEDs can be driven by two pins without any matrix connections, and without even using tri-state mode. In this two-LED example, Charlieplexing would save one ground wire, which would be needed in a common 2-pin driver situation.

However, the 2-pin circuit serves as a simple example to show the basic concepts before moving on to larger circuits where Charlieplexing actually shows an advantage.
{{clear left}}

=== Expanding: tri-state logic ===
If the circuit above were to be expanded to accommodate three pins and six LEDs, it would look like this:

[[File:3-pin Charlieplexing with common resistors.svg|thumb|left|3-pin configuration for ''identical'' LEDs.]]
[[File:3-pin Charlieplexing with individual resistors.svg|thumb|right|3-pin configuration for ''different'' LEDs.]]

This presents a problem, however: In order for this circuit to act like the previous one, one of the pins must be disconnected before applying charge to the remaining two. If, for example, LED&nbsp;5 was intended to be lit, X1 must be charged and X3 must be grounded. However, if X2 is also charged, LED&nbsp;3 would illuminate as well. If X2 was instead grounded, LED1 would illuminate, meaning that LED&nbsp;5 cannot be lit by itself. This can be solved by utilizing the tri-state logic properties of microcontroller pins. 

Microcontroller pins generally have several possible states: 
* "output": the pin "drives".  It can drive "high" (often 5&nbsp;V) or "low" (usually 0&nbsp;V). 
* "input": the pin does not intentionally drive at all, but instead senses what some other device (or pin) is driving.  It may draw current while doing so.
* "high-Z":  the pin is in a [[high-impedance]] state.  Essentially, it is disconnected from the circuit; it will neither drive nor draw any current. 

This allows the circuit to see any number of pins connected at any time, simply by changing the state of the pins. In order to drive the six-LED matrix above, the two pins corresponding to the LED to be lit are connected to 5&nbsp;V (I/O pin "high" = [[binary number]] 1) and 0&nbsp;V (I/O pin "low"&nbsp;= binary 0), while the third pin is set in its high-impedance state.

In doing so, current leakage out of the third pin is prevented, ensuring that the LED which should be lit is the only one lit. 

Because the a diode (such as a LED) reduces the voltage available in series, current will not flow across alternate paths (an alternate 2-LED path exists for every pair of pins in the 3-pin diagram, for example), so long as the voltage drop in the desired LED path is less than the total voltage drop across each string of alternative LEDs. However, in the variant with individual resistors this voltage-regulating effect does not affect the alternative paths so all LEDs used will not have to be lit with half the supply voltage applied because this variant does not benefit from the voltage-regulating effect of the desired path LED.

By using tri-state logic, the matrix can theoretically be expanded to any size, as long as pins are available. For ''n'' pins, ''n''(''n''&nbsp;− 1) LEDs can be in the matrix. Any LED can be lit by applying 5&nbsp;V and 0&nbsp;V to its corresponding pins and setting all of the other pins connected to the matrix to high-impedance mode. Under the same constraints as discussed above up to ''n''&nbsp;− 1 LEDs sharing a common positive or negative path can be lit in parallel.

=== Expanding ===
The 3-wire circuit can be rearranged to this near-equivalent matrix (resistors have been relocated).

[[File:3-pin Charlieplexing matrix with common resistors.svg|thumb|left|3-pin configuration arranged in a 3&nbsp;× 2 display pattern for ''identical'' LEDs; any number of LEDs on a single row may be powered at a time.]]
[[File:3-pin Charlieplexing matrix with individual resistors.svg|thumb|right|3-pin configuration arranged in a 3&nbsp;× 2 display pattern for ''different'' LEDs; any number of LEDs on a single row may be powered at a time.]]

This emphasizes the similarities between ordinary grid multiplex and Charlieplex, and demonstrates the pattern that leads to "the ''n''-squared minus ''n''" rule.

In typical usage on a circuit board the resistors would be physically located at the top of the columns and connected to the input pin. The rows would then be connected directly to the input pin bypassing the resistor.

The first setup in the image on the left is suitable only when identical LEDs are used since a single resistor is used for current-limiting through more than one LED (though not at the same time&mdash;rather, one resistor limits current through only one LED in a given column at one time). This is contrasted to the second configuration with individual resistors for each LED, as shown in the image on the right. In this second configuration, each LED has a unique resistor paired with it. This makes it possible to mix different kinds of LEDs by providing each with its appropriate resistor value.

In both of these configuration, as shown in both the left and the right image, the relocated resistors make it possible to light multiple LEDs at the same time row-by-row, instead of requiring that they be lit individually. The row current capacity could be boosted by an [[NPN transistor|NPN]] [[emitter follower]] [[BJT]] transistor instead of driving the current directly with the typically much weaker I/O pin alone.

==Problems with Charlieplexing==
===Refresh rate===
Refresh rate is not a problem if Charlieplexed [[Active matrix addressing]] is used with a Charlieplexed LED array.<ref name="Lapedus_2019"/>

In common with x/y multiplexing, however, there can be refresh rate issues if [[passive matrix addressing]] is used.

Because only a single set of LEDs, all having a common anode or cathode, can be lit simultaneously without turning on unintended LEDs, Charlieplexing requires frequent output changes, through a method known as [[multiplexed display|multiplexing]]. When multiplexing is done, not all LEDs are lit quite simultaneously, but rather one set of LEDs is lit briefly, then another set, and eventually the cycle repeats. If it is done fast enough, they will appear to all be on, all the time, to the human eye because of [[persistence of vision]]. In order for a display to not have any noticeable flicker, the [[refresh rate]] for each LED must be greater than the [[Flicker fusion threshold]]; 50&nbsp;Hz is often used as an approximation.

As an example, 8 tri-state pins are used to control 56 LEDs through Charlieplexing, which is enough for 8 [[7-segment display]]s (without decimal points). Typically, 7-segment displays are made to have a common cathode, sometimes a common anode, but without loss of generality a common cathode is assumed in the following: All LEDs in all 8 7-segment displays cannot be turned on simultaneously in any desired combination using Charlieplexing. It is impossible to get 56 bits of information directly from 8 [[trit (computing)|trit]]s (the term for a base-3 character, as the pins are 3-state) of information, as 8 trits fundamentally comprises 8 log<sub>2</sub>3, or about 12.7 bits of information, which falls far short of the 56 bits required to turn all 56 LEDs on or off in any arbitrary combination. Instead, the human eye must be fooled by use of multiplexing.

Only one 7-segment display, one set of 7 LEDs can be active at any time. The way this would be done is for the 8 common cathodes of the 8 displays to each get assigned to its own unique pin among the 8 I/O ports. At any time, one and only one of the 8 controlling I/O pins will be actively low, and thus only the 7-segment display with its common cathode connected to that actively low pin can have any of its LEDs on. That is the active 7-segment display. The anodes of the 7 LED segments within the active 7-segment display can then be turned on in any combination by having the other 7 I/O ports either high or in high-impedance mode, in any combination. They are connected to the remaining 7 pins, but through resistors (the common cathode connection is connected to the pin itself, not through a resistor, because otherwise the current through each individual segment would depend on the number of total segments turned on, as they would all have to share a single resistor). But to show a desired number using all 8 digits, only one 7-segment display can be shown at a time, so all 8 must be cycled through separately, and in a 50th of a second for the entire period of 8. Thus the display must be refreshed at 400&nbsp;Hz for the period-8 cycle through all 8 segments to make the LEDs flash no slower than 50 times per second. This requires constant interruption of whatever additional processing the controller performs, 400 times per second.

===Peak current===
Due to the decreased [[duty cycle]], the [[electric current|current]] requirement of a Charlieplexed display increases much faster than it would with a traditionally multiplexed display. As the display gets larger, the average current flowing through the LED must be (roughly) constant in order for it to maintain constant brightness, thus requiring the peak current to increase proportionally. This causes a number of issues that limit the practical size of a Charlieplexed display.
* LEDs often have a maximum peak current rating as well as an average current rating.
* If the microcontroller code crashes, and a one-LED-at-a-time Charlieplex is being used, the single LED left lit is under much higher stress than it would be in a row-at-a-time Charlieplexed display or in a traditionally multiplexed display, increasing the risk of a failure before the fault is spotted.

===Requirement for tristate===
All the outputs used to drive a Charlieplexed display must be tristate. If the current is low enough to drive the displays directly by the I/O pins of the microcontroller, this is not a problem, but if external tristates must be used, then each tristate will generally require two output lines to control, eliminating most of the advantage of a Charlieplexed display. Since the current from microcontroller pins is typically limited to about 20&nbsp;mA, this severely restricts the practical size of a Charlieplexed display. However, it can be done by enabling one segment at a time.<ref name="Pino_2009"/>

===Forward voltage===
When using LEDs with different forward [[voltage]]s, such as when using different color LEDs, some LEDs can light when not desired.

In the diagram above it can be seen that if LED&nbsp;6 has a 4&nbsp;V forward voltage, and LEDs&nbsp;1 and 3 have forward voltages of 2&nbsp;V or less, they will light when LED&nbsp;6 is intended to, as their current path is shorter. This issue can easily be avoided by comparing forward voltages of the LEDs used in the matrix and checking for compatibility issues. Or, more simply, using LEDs that all have the same forward voltage.<ref name="Lancaster_2001"/><ref name="Maxim_2003"/>

This is also a problem where the LEDs are using individual resistors instead of shared resistors, if there is a path through two LEDs that has less LED drop than the supply voltage these LEDs may also illuminate at unintended times.

==Alternative use cases and variants==
===Input data multiplexing===

Charlieplexing can also be used to multiplex digital input signals into a microcontroller. The same diode circuits are used, except a switch is placed in series with each diode. To read whether a switch is open or closed, the microcontroller configures one pin as an input with an internal pull-up resistor. The other pin is configured as an output and set to the low logic level. If the input pin reads low, then the switch is closed, and if the input pin reads high, then the switch is open.<ref name="Joshi_2008"/>

One potential application for this is to read a standard (4&nbsp;× 3) 12-key numeric keypad using only 4 I/O lines. The traditional row-column scan method requires 4&nbsp;+ 3&nbsp;= 7 I/O lines. Thus Charlieplexing saves 3 I/O lines; however it adds the expense of 12 diodes, (since the diodes are only free when LEDs are used). A variation of the circuit with only 4 diodes is possible,<ref name="Joshi_2008"/> however this reduces the [[rollover (key)|rollover]] of the keyboard. The microcontroller can always detect when the data is corrupt, but there is no guarantee it can sense the original key presses, unless only one button is pressed at a time. (However, it is probably possible to arrange the circuit so that if at most any two adjacent buttons are pressed, then no data loss will occur.){{Vague|date=November 2020}} The input is only lossless in the 4-diode circuit if only one button is pressed at a time, or if certain problematic multiple key presses are avoided. In the 12-diode circuit, this is not an issue, and there is always a one-to-one correspondence between button presses and input data. However, there are so many diodes that are required to use the method (especially for larger arrays) that there is generally no cost savings over the traditional row-column scan method, unless the cost of a diode is only a fraction of the cost of an I/O pin, where that fraction is one over the number of I/O lines.

===Projected capacitance touchscreens and keypads===
[[File:Ten_fingers_tracked_using_diagonally_wired_touchscreen_film.ogg|thumb|32 input diagonally wired touchscreen]]

These do not use diodes but rely on the change in capacitance between crossing conductive tracks to detect the proximity of one or more fingers through non-conducting materials such as plastic overlays, wood, glass, etc.&nbsp;- even double glazing. 

These tracks can be made from a wide range of materials, such as printed circuit boards, transparent Indium Tin oxide, insulation coated fine wire, etc.

The technology can range in size from very small, as in "fingerprint detectors",<ref name="Triggs_2023"/> to very large, as in "touch interactive video walls". Usually, a limit is imposed on the maximum width of an x/y wired touchscreen, because the horizontal track resistance gets too great for the product to function properly. However, a diagonally wired touchscreen (as described later in this section) does not have this problem. 

There are no LEDs or diodes and, at any one time, only one I/O line is set as an output, the remaining I/O lines being set as high-impedance inputs or "grounded". This means that power requirements are very small.

=== {{anchor|Gugaplexing}}GuGaplexing ===
In 2008, Dhananjay V. Gadre devised ''Gugaplexing'', which is like Charlieplexing with multiple drive voltages.<ref name="Gadre_2008"/><ref name="Jepson_2008"/>

=== Chipiplexing ===
In 2008, Guillermo Jaquenod's so called ''Chipiplexing'' adds emitter followers to boost the strength of the row drive allowing rows wider than a single microcontroller port could drive to be lit simultaneously.<ref name="Jaquenod_2008"/><ref name="EW_2008"/>

=== Cross-plexing ===
In 2010, the Austrian chip manufacturer [[austriamicrosystems&nbsp;AG]] (named [[ams&nbsp;AG]]<ref group="nb" name="NB_AMS"/> since 2012, and [[ams-OSRAM&nbsp;AG]] since 2020) introduced the multiplexing LED driver IC AS1119,<ref name="PennWell_2010"/><ref name="austriamicrosystems_2010"/> followed by the AS1130 in 2011.<ref name="Pennwell_2011"/><ref name="ams_2016"/>
	
Also, the analog & mixed signal (AMS)<ref group="nb" name="NB_AMS"/> division (named [[Lumissil Microsystems]] since 2020) of [[Integrated Silicon Solution Inc.]] (ISSI) introduced the IS31FL3731 in 2012<ref name="ISSI_2012"/><ref name="ISSI_2014"/> and the IS31FL3732 in 2015.<ref name="ISSI_2015_1"/><ref name="ISSI_2015_2"/><ref name="ISSI_2016"/>
They all use a technique they call ''cross-plexing'', a variant of Charlieplexing with automatic detection of open or shorted connections and anti-ghosting measures.<ref name="Rust_2013"/>

=== Tucoplexing ===
In 2019, Micah Elizabeth Scott developed a method to use 3 pins to run 4 LEDs and 4 switches called ''Tucoplexing''.<ref name="Scharfglass_2019"/>

=== Pulse-width modulation ===
Charlieplexing can even be used with [[pulse-width modulation]] to control the brightness of 12 LEDs with 4 pins.<ref name="Johnson-Davies_2021"/>

== Code example ==
In the following [[Arduino]] code example, the circuit<ref name="ATtiny_2017"/><ref name="Satomi-Perner-Wilson_2015"/> uses [[ATtiny microcontroller comparison chart|ATtiny]] 8-pin [[microcontroller]] which has 5 I/O pins to create a 7[[Segment display|-segment display]]. Since a 7-segment display only requires control of 7 individual LEDs, we use 4 of the ATtiny I/O pins as Charlieplexed outputs (''n'' (''n''&nbsp;- 1)), i.e. the 4 pins could be used to control up to 12 individual LEDs (here we just use 7 of them). Leaving the fifth I/O pin to be used as digital or analog input or another output.
<syntaxhighlight lang="arduino" line="1">
// ATtiny code.
// Reads analog (or digital) input from pin 4 and every time the input goes below a set threshold.
// It counts one and displays the increase in count either by activating up one of four LEDs (or transistors)
// or one of twelve Charlieplexed LEDs.

// SET THESE VALUES:
int threshold = 500;
int maxCount = 7;
////////////////////
boolean sensorTriggered = false;
int count = 0;
int sensorValue = 0;
long lastDebounceTime = 0;  // The last time the output pin was toggled.
long debounceDelay = 50;    // The debounce time; increase if the output flickers.
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
void setup() {
  // Use pull-down for disabled output pins rather than pull-up to reduce internal consumption.
  for (int pin = 0; pin < 4; pin++) {
    pinMode(pin, INPUT), digitalWrite(pin, LOW);
  }
  // Internal pull-up for enabled input pin 4.
  pinMode(4, INPUT), digitalWrite(4, HIGH);
}
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
void loop() {
  testDigits();
}
void testDigits() {
  charlieLoop();
}
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
void readSensor() {
  sensorValue = analogRead(2);  // pin4!
  delay(100);
  if (sensorValue < threshold && sensorTriggered == false) {
    sensorTriggered = true;
    count++;
    if (count > maxCount) count = 0;
    charlieLoop();
  }
  if (sensorValue > threshold) sensorTriggered = false;
}
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
void charlieLoop() {
  count++;

  for (int i = 0; i < 1000; i++) {
    for (int c = 0; c < count; c++) {
      charliePlexPin(c);
    }
  }
  delay(1000);
  if (count > maxCount) count = 0;
}
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
void charliePlexPin(int myLed){

  // Make sure we don't feed random voltages to the LEDs
  // during the brief time we are changing pin voltages and modes.
  // Use pull-down for disabled output pins rather than pull-up to reduce internal consumption.
  for (int pin = 0; pin < 4; pin++) {
    pinMode(pin, INPUT), digitalWrite(pin, LOW);
  }
  // With 4 pins we could lit up to 12 LEDs, we use only 7 here.
  // Make sure to set pin voltages (by internal pull-up or pull-down)
  // before changing pin modes to output.

#if 1 // Reduced code using a static lookup table.

  typedef struct {
    // Two different pin numbers (between 0 and 3; order is significant),
    // otherwise no led will be lit.
    low, high: int: 2;
  } Pins;

  static Pins pinsLookup[] = {
    {2, 0}, {2, 3}, {1, 3}, {0, 1}, {1, 0}, {0, 2}, {1, 2},
    // Other possible combinations for up to 12 LEDs:
    // {0, 3}, {2, 1}, {3, 0}, {3, 1}, {3, 2},
    // Other unusable combinations that don't lit any LED with a significant voltage and current,
    // unless pull-up or pull-down resistances are very unbalanced:
    // {0, 0}, {1, 1}, {2, 2}, {3, 3}
  };

  if (myLed >=0 && myLed <= sizeof(pinsLookup) / sizeof(Pins)) {
      register Pins &pins = pinsLookup[myLed];
      // Note that the first digitWrite to LOW is commented out,
      // as it is already set above for all output pins.
      /* digitalWrite(pins.low, LOW), */ pinMode(pins.low, OUTPUT);
      digitalWrite(pins.high, HIGH), pinMode(pins.high, OUTPUT);
   }

#else // Equivalent code using a long switch.

  switch(myLed) {
  case 0:
    /* digitalWrite(2, LOW), */ pinMode(2, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(0, HIGH), pinMode(0, OUTPUT);
    break;
  case 1:
    /* digitalWrite(2, LOW), */ pinMode(2, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(3, HIGH), pinMode(3, OUTPUT);
    break;
  case 2:
    /* digitalWrite(1, LOW), */ pinMode(1, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(3, HIGH), pinMode(3, OUTPUT);
    break;
  case 3:
    /* digitalWrite(0, LOW), */ pinMode(0, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(1, HIGH), pinMode(1, OUTPUT);
    break;
  case 4:
    /* digitalWrite(1, LOW), */ pinMode(1, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(0, HIGH), pinMode(0, OUTPUT);
    break;
  case 5:
    /* digitalWrite(0, LOW), */ pinMode(0, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(2, HIGH), pinMode(2, OUTPUT);
    break;
  case 6:
    /* digitalWrite(1, LOW), */ pinMode(1, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(2, HIGH), pinMode(2, OUTPUT);
    break;
  }

#endif
}
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
void spwm(int freq, int pin, int sp) {
  // Call Charlieplexing to set correct pin outs:
  // on:
  digitalWrite(pin, HIGH);
  delayMicroseconds(sp * freq);
  // off:
  digitalWrite(pin, LOW);
  delayMicroseconds(sp * (255 - freq));
}
</syntaxhighlight>

== See also ==
* [[Anti-parallel (electronics)]]
* [[Flicker fusion]]
* [[Connectivity (graph theory)]]
* [[Polarity reversing switch]]

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group="nb"|refs=
<ref group="nb" name="NB_AMS">The ICs AS1119 and AS1130 were introduced by [[austriamicrosystems AG]] (formerly [[Austria Mikro Systeme]]), later named [[ams AG]] and [[ams-OSRAM AG]]. The ICs IS31FL3731 and IS31FL3732 were introduced by the AMS (analog & mixed signal) division (now called [[Lumissil Microsystems]]) of the fab-less chip manufacturer [[Integrated Silicon Solution Inc.]] (ISSI). Presumably, the fact that both manufacturers of [[#Cross-plexing|cross-plexing]] LED driver ICs carry "AMS" in their name is coincidence only.</ref>
<ref group="nb" name="NB_ROUNDING">Yes, round-closest rather than round-up.  Normally pin counts ''would'' have to round up, since an unused pin is merely wasteful, but an unprovided pin is non-functional.  But in this particular formula, the constant +1 is already needed to handle the case of a single I/O element. 
 Because that +1 is added, the final result is already guaranteed to be larger than the square root of the number of I/O elements.</ref>
}}

== References ==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name="Rebic_1998">{{cite web |title=Complementary LED drive |author-first=Jean-Claude |author-last=Rebic |date=1999-11-19 |orig-date=1998-11-06 |publisher=[[Microchip Technology Inc.]] |id=DS91029A. Application Note TB029 |location=[[Pioneer-Standard]]<!-- Rebic's affiliation -->, USA |url=http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/AppNotes/91029a.pdf |access-date=2021-12-09 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213221654/http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/appnotes/91029a.pdf |archive-date=2021-02-13}} (3+1 pages)</ref>
<ref name="Microchip_2003">{{cite book |title=Microchip Tips 'n Tricks - 8-pin FLASH PIC Microcontrollers - Outperform the Competition |chapter=TIP #2: Input/Output Multiplexing |publisher=[[Microchip Technology Inc.]] |publication-place=Chandler, Arizona, USA |date=2003 |id=DS40040B |page=DS40040B-page 3 |url=http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDoc/40040b.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070128140910/http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDoc/40040b.pdf |archive-date=2007-01-28}} (2+ii+38+2 pages)</ref>
<ref name="Maxim_2001">{{cite book |title=MAX6950/MAX6951 - Serially Interfaced, +2.7V to +5.5V, 5- and 8-Digit LED Display Drivers |date=December 2001 |version=Revision 1 |id=19-2227 |publisher=[[Maxim Integrated Products]] |publication-place=Sunnyvale, California, USA |url=http://www.allcomponents.ru/pdf/maxim/max6950max6951.pdf |access-date=2021-12-10 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211210200824/http://www.allcomponents.ru/pdf/maxim/max6950max6951.pdf |archive-date=2021-12-10}} (19 pages)</ref>
<ref name="Maxim_2003">{{cite web |title=Charlieplexing - Reduced Pin-Count LED Display Multiplexing |publisher=[[Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.]] |date=2003-02-10 |id=Application Note 1880 |url=https://www.maximintegrated.com/en/app-notes/index.mvp/id/1880 |access-date=2017-06-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813012356/https://www.maximintegrated.com/en/app-notes/index.mvp/id/1880 |archive-date=2016-08-13 |quote=[…] This unusual multiplex technique is used by the MAX6950, MAX6951, MAX6954, MAX6955, MAX6958, and MAX6959 LED display drivers. […] Charlie Allen originally championed this technique internally at Maxim, and so the shorthand name "Charlieplexing" came into use to distinguish reduced pin count multiplexing from the traditional method. The first Maxim product to use Charlieplexing is the Maxim MAX6951 LED driver, which drives 8 numeric digits with only 9 pins […]}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20160424053450/http://pdfserv.maximintegrated.com/en/an/AN1880.pdf] (4 pages)</ref>
<ref name="Malinowski-Rinderle-Siegle_1979">{{cite web |author-first1=Christopher W. |author-last1=Malinowski |author-first2=Heinz |author-last2=Rinderle |author-first3=Martin |author-last3=Siegle |publisher=Licentia Patent-Verwaltungs-G.m.b.H. / [[Telefunken Electronic GmbH]] |location=Heilbronn, Germany |title=Three-state signaling system |date=1982-03-09 |orig-date=1979-10-16 |id=US Patent 4319227A |url=https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/96/f7/27/8e51c044619ab9/US4319227.pdf |access-date=2021-12-09 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209214006/https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/96/f7/27/8e51c044619ab9/US4319227.pdf |archive-date=2021-12-09}}</ref>
<ref name="Joshi_2008">{{cite magazine |title=Novel Switch Interface Scheme Reduces Microprocessor Pin Count |author-first=Kartik |author-last=Joshi |magazine=[[Electronic Design (magazine)|Electronic Design]] |date=2008-04-24 |url=http://electronicdesign.com/analog/novel-switch-interface-scheme-reduces-microprocessor-pin-count |access-date=2021-12-10 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224123728/https://www.electronicdesign.com/technologies/analog/article/21777963/novel-switch-interface-scheme-reduces-microprocessor-pin-count |archive-date=2021-02-24}} (1 page) (NB. Charlieplexing for input data.)</ref>
<ref name="Pino_2009">{{cite web |title='Almost No Parts' 12/24hrs LED Clock |date=2009-08-25 |work=Jose Pino's Projects & Tidbits. |author-first=Jose |author-last=Pino |url=http://www.josepino.com/?anp-1224hr-led-clock1 |access-date=2021-12-10 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211010074938/http://josepino.com/?anp-1224hr-led-clock1 |archive-date=2021-10-10}} (NB. Using Charlieplexed 7-segment LED displays.)</ref>
<ref name="Lancaster_2001">{{cite news |title=N-Connectedness |newspaper=Tech Musings |number=152 |date=August 2001 |author-first=Don |author-last=Lancaster |author-link=Don Lancaster |publisher=Synergetics |publication-place=Thatcher, Arizona, USA |pages=152.2–152.5 |url=http://www.tinaja.com/glib/muse152.pdf |access-date=2021-12-09 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209203832/https://www.tinaja.com/glib/muse152.pdf |archive-date=2021-12-09}} (4 pages)</ref>
<ref name="Scharfglass_2019">{{cite web |title=Tucoplexing: A New Charliplex for Buttons and Switches |author-first=Kerry |author-last=Scharfglass |date=2019-03-23 |work=[[Hackaday]] |url=https://hackaday.com/2019/03/23/tucoplexing-a-new-charliplex-for-buttons-and-switches/ |access-date=2021-12-10 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211210005151/https://hackaday.com/2019/03/23/tucoplexing-a-new-charliplex-for-buttons-and-switches/ |archive-date=2021-12-10}}</ref>
<ref name="Gadre_2008">{{cite web |title=GuGaplexed Valentine LED Heart |author-first=Dhananjay V. |author-last=Gadre |date=2008 |work=instructables circuits |url=https://www.instructables.com/GuGaplexed-Valentine-LED-Heart/ |access-date=2021-12-25 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228215025/https://www.instructables.com/GuGaplexed-Valentine-LED-Heart/ |archive-date=2021-02-28}} [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huSWmSCqb1Q]</ref>
<ref name="Jepson_2008">{{cite magazine |title=Charlieplexing times two |author-first=Brian |author-last=Jepson |date=2008-06-23 |magazine=[[Make:]] |publisher=[[Make Community LLC]] |url=http://makezine.com/2008/06/23/charlieplexing-times-two/ |access-date=2021-12-10 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224060454/https://makezine.com/2008/06/23/charlieplexing-times-two/ |archive-date=2021-02-24}}</ref>
<ref name="Johnson-Davies_2021">{{cite web |title=Twelve PWM outputs from an ATtiny85 |author-first=David |author-last=Johnson-Davies |date=2021-10-19 |orig-date=2019-02-19 |work=Technoblogy |url=http://www.technoblogy.com/show?2H0K |access-date=2021-12-10 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211210010145/http://www.technoblogy.com/show?2H0K |archive-date=2021-12-10}}</ref>
<ref name="ATtiny_2017">{{cite web |title=ATtiny - Charlieplexed 7-Segment Display and 1 Switch or Sensor |date=2017 |url=http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8209/8227132534_cc1610a598.jpg |access-date=2021-12-10 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511104854/https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8209/8227132534_cc1610a598.jpg |archive-date=2021-05-11}}</ref>
<ref name="Satomi-Perner-Wilson_2015">{{cite web |title=Circuits and Code - ATtiny: 7-Segment Display |author-first1=Mika |author-last1=Satomi |author-first2=Hannah |author-last2=Perner-Wilson |date=2015 |orig-date=2012 |work=How to get what you want |url=http://www.kobakant.at/DIY/?p=3800 |access-date=2017-11-13 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418034830/http://www.kobakant.at/DIY/?p=3800 |archive-date=2021-04-18}}</ref>
<ref name="MRR_1972">{{cite magazine |title=unknown |author= |date=1972<!-- or 2012/2013? --> |volume= |number= |magazine=[[Model Railroader]] |pages=}}<!-- according to: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Charlieplexing&type=revision&diff=532702180&oldid=528733213 --></ref>
<ref name="EDN_1997">{{cite web |title=EDN's 1996 Innovator / Innovation Competition |date=1997-05-08 |editor=EDN Staff |magazine=[[EDN (magazine)|EDN]] |url=https://www.edn.com/edn-access-05-08-97-edns-1996-innovator-innovation-competition/ |access-date=2021-12-10 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211210184016/https://www.edn.com/edn-access-05-08-97-edns-1996-innovator-innovation-competition/ |archive-date=2021-12-10}}</ref>
<ref name="Sherman_2016">{{cite web |title=Almost 30 years of the MAX232 |author-first=Len |author-last=Sherman |date=2016-12-16 |work=BISinfotech |url=https://www.bisinfotech.com/almost-30-years-of-the-max232/ |access-date=2021-12-10 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211210030033/https://www.bisinfotech.com/almost-30-years-of-the-max232/ |archive-date=2021-12-10 |quote=[…] The [[MAX232]]'s success was as much a tribute to the vision of its definer, Charlie Allen, as it was to the ingenuity of its designer, [[Dave Bingham (engineer)|Dave Bingham]]. […]}}</ref>
<ref name="Fox_2021">{{cite web |title=What Makes Your Great Engineers Great? |author-first=Brett J. |author-last=Fox |date=2021 |url=https://www.brettjfox.com/what-makes-your-great-engineers-great/ |access-date=2021-12-10 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211210030933/https://www.brettjfox.com/what-makes-your-great-engineers-great/ |archive-date=2021-12-10 |quote=[…] The launch of the [[MAX232]] family is particularly insightful. Charlie Allen, a brilliant, customer focused, applications engineer, noticed that our customers were using a product called the ICL7660, which [[Dave Bingham (engineer)|Dave]] [Bingham] also designed, to provide the negative power supply for [[RS-232]] line drivers and receivers. So, Charlie approached Dave, and asked Dave if he could design an IC that integrated the functionality of the ICL7660 with an RS-232 line driver and receiver. […]}}</ref>
<ref name="Daniel_1998_1">{{cite web |title=loads of flashing LEDs |author-first=Graham |author-last=Daniel |date=1998-07-19 |website=piclist.com |id=060918a |url=http://www.piclist.com/techref/postbot.asp?by=time&id=\piclist\1998\07\19\060918a |access-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211211100046/http://www.piclist.com/techref/postbot.asp?by=time&id=%5Cpiclist%5C1998%5C07%5C19%5C060918a |archive-date=2021-12-11}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20211211103154/http://www.piclist.com/techref/postbot.asp?by=thread&id=loads+of+flashing+LEDs&w=body&tgt=post] (NB. With contributions by Paul B. Webster, Mark Willis, Dwayne Reid and Alan King.)</ref>
<ref name="Daniel_1998_2">{{cite web |title=12 LED hex file, 12c508 |author-first=Graham |author-last=Daniel |date=1998-07-20 |website=piclist.com |id=045923a |url=http://www.piclist.com/techref/postbot.asp?by=time&id=\piclist\1998\07\20\045923a |access-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211211100136/http://www.piclist.com/techref/postbot.asp?by=time&id=%5Cpiclist%5C1998%5C07%5C20%5C045923a |archive-date=2021-12-11}}</ref>
<ref name="Jaquenod_2008">{{cite web |title="Chipiplexing" efficiently drives multiple LEDs using few microcontroller ports |department=Design Ideas |author-first=Guillermo |author-last=Jaquenod |editor-first1=Martin |editor-last1=Rowe |editor-first2=Fran |editor-last2=Granville |date=2008-11-27 |magazine=[[EDN (magazine)|EDN]] |location=La Plata, Argentina |pages=59–60 |url=http://www.edn.com/contents/images/6615603.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121218190729/http://www.edn.com/contents/images/6615603.pdf |archive-date=2012-12-18}} [https://www.edn.com/chipiplexing-efficiently-drives-multiple-leds-using-few-microcontroller-ports/] (2 pages)</ref>
<ref name="EW_2008">{{cite web |title=Chipiplexing LEDs |editor=Staff writer |work=[[Electronics Weekly]] |date=2008-12-09 |url=https://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/gadget-master/leds/chipiplexing-leds-2008-12/ |access-date=2021-12-25 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211225212837/https://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/gadget-master/leds/chipiplexing-leds-2008-12/ |archive-date=2021-12-25}}</ref>
<ref name="PennWell_2010">{{cite magazine |title=austriamicrosystems announces new 144-channel dot matrix LED driver with industry's highest efficiency and smallest size |date=2010-08-23 |magazine=LEDs Magazine |department=Company Newsfeed |publisher=[[PennWell Corporation]] |volume=7<!-- TBC --> |issue=8<!-- TBC --> |issn=2156-633X |url=https://www.ledsmagazine.com/company-newsfeed/article/16690425/austriamicrosystems-announces-new-144channel-dot-matrix-led-driver-with-industrys-highest-efficiency-and-smallest-size |access-date=2022-05-13 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512234103/https://www.ledsmagazine.com/company-newsfeed/article/16690425/austriamicrosystems-announces-new-144channel-dot-matrix-led-driver-with-industrys-highest-efficiency-and-smallest-size |archive-date=2022-05-12 |quote=[…] Only 18 lines are required to drive all 144 LEDs. This is accomplished with austriamicrosystems’ multiplexing technique called cross-plexing. This allows reducing the line count on the PCB as well as fewer pins on the connectors, saving space & costs. […] Other features include […] open and shorted LED error detection […]}} (NB. Announcement of the AMS AS1119.)</ref>
<ref name="austriamicrosystems_2010">{{cite web |title=Application Note - Cross-Plexing - AS1119 - 144 LED Cross-Plexing Driver with 320mA Charge-Pump |publisher=[[austriamicrosystems AG]] |publication-place=Unterpremstätten, Austria |date=2010 |version=1.00 |url=https://ams.com/documents/20143/36005/AS1119_AN000127_1-00.pdf/bebd71a5-4f8f-b75c-ce30-d41b33d98a13 |access-date=2022-05-13 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513000531/https://ams.com/documents/20143/36005/AS1119_AN000127_1-00.pdf/bebd71a5-4f8f-b75c-ce30-d41b33d98a13 |archive-date=2022-05-13}} (5+1 pages); {{cite web |title=Demo Board Manual - AS1119 - 144 LED, I²C Interfaced, Cross-Plexing Driver with a 320mA Charge-Pump |publisher=[[austriamicrosystems AG]] |publication-place=Unterpremstätten, Austria |date=2010 |version=1.00 |url=https://www.mouser.de/datasheet/2/588/ams__AS1119_DK-1214506.pdf |access-date=2022-05-13 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513003148/https://www.mouser.de/datasheet/2/588/ams__AS1119_DK-1214506.pdf |archive-date=2022-05-13}} (1+5+1 pages); {{cite web |title=Application Note AN02 – SW Manual - AS1119 - 144 LED Cross-Plexing Driver with 320mA Charge-Pump |publisher=[[austriamicrosystems AG]]/[[ams AG]] |publication-place=Unterpremstätten, Austria |date=2010 |version=1.00 |url=https://ams.com/documents/20143/36005/AS1119_UG000181_1-00.pdf/84c0adf5-3182-a6ad-2f43-ff3fcda991b4 |access-date=2022-05-13 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513011030/https://ams.com/documents/20143/36005/AS1119_UG000181_1-00.pdf/84c0adf5-3182-a6ad-2f43-ff3fcda991b4 |archive-date=2022-05-13}} (6+1 pages)</ref>
<ref name="Pennwell_2011">{{cite magazine |title=austriamicrosystems launches 132 LED driver featuring industry's highest efficiency and smallest size |date=2011-10-04 |magazine=LEDs Magazine |department=Company Newsfeed |publisher=[[PennWell Corporation]] |volume=8<!-- TBC --> |issue=10<!-- TBC --> |issn=2156-633X |url=https://www.ledsmagazine.com/company-newsfeed/article/16682620/austriamicrosystems-launches-132-led-driver-featuring-industrys-highest-efficiency-and-smallest-size |access-date=2022-05-13 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513023508/https://www.ledsmagazine.com/company-newsfeed/article/16682620/austriamicrosystems-launches-132-led-driver-featuring-industrys-highest-efficiency-and-smallest-size |archive-date=2022-05-13 |quote=[…] Only 12 lines are required to drive all 132 LEDs. This is accomplished with austriamicrosystems' multiplexing technique called cross-plexing. It reduces line count on the PCB as well as pins on the connectors, saving space & costs. Other features include […] open and shorted LED error detection […]}} (NB. Announcement of the AMS AS1130.)</ref>
<ref name="ams_2016">{{cite web |title=AS1130 - 132-LED Cross-Plexing Driver with Scrolling Function |publisher=[[ams AG]] |publication-place=Unterpremstätten, Austria |date=2016-10-12 |orig-date=2016-09-21<!-- 2.00 --> |version=2.01 |url=https://ams.com/documents/20143/36005/AS1130_DS000283_3-00.pdf<!-- https://www.mouser.de/datasheet/2/588/ams_amsy_s_a0003527284_1-1746941.pdf --> |access-date=2022-05-13 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814164619/https://ams.com/documents/20143/36005/AS1130_DS000283_3-00.pdf<!-- https://web.archive.org/web/20220513002712/https://www.mouser.de/datasheet/2/588/ams_amsy_s_a0003527284_1-1746941.pdf --> |archive-date=2021-08-14}} (66+1 pages); {{cite web |title=Demo Kit Manual - AS1130 - Standard Board - AS1130-WL_DK_ST |publisher=[[ams AG]] |publication-place=Unterpremstätten, Austria |version=2.00 |date=2014-11-14 |orig-date=2011-10-11<!-- 1.00 --> |url=https://ams.com/documents/20143/36005/AS1130_UG000253_2-00.pdf/14ce369e-ac58-e451-0e6e-3de6c91832b9 |access-date=2022-05-13 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513024559/https://ams.com/documents/20143/36005/AS1130_UG000253_2-00.pdf/14ce369e-ac58-e451-0e6e-3de6c91832b9 |archive-date=2022-05-13}} (32 pages); {{cite web |title=Application Note: 4 pin RGBs in a Cross-Plexing Matrix - AS1130 - 132 LED, I²C Interfaced, Cross-Plexing Driver with scrolling Function |publisher=[[austriamicrosystems AG]] |publication-place=Unterpremstätten, Austria |date=2012 |version=1.00 |url=https://ams.com/documents/20143/36005/AS1130_AN000112_1-00.pdf/6ef16daf-60eb-fa8f-41c5-e8d67c910bae |access-date=2022-05-13 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513024059/https://ams.com/documents/20143/36005/AS1130_AN000112_1-00.pdf/6ef16daf-60eb-fa8f-41c5-e8d67c910bae |archive-date=2022-05-13}} (6+1 pages)</ref>
<ref name="Rust_2013">{{cite web |title=LED-Displays - Matrixtreiber-Topologien unter der Lupe |language=de |trans-title=LED displays - Matrix driver topologies in focus |author-first=Peter |author-last=Rust |date=2013-04-10 |website=elektroniknet.de |publisher={{ill|Weka Group|de|lt=WEKA FACHMEDIEN GmbH}} |url=https://www.elektroniknet.de/automotive/elektromobilitaet/matrixtreiber-topologien-unter-der-lupe.96453.html |access-date=2022-05-13 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512233621/https://www.elektroniknet.de/automotive/elektromobilitaet/matrixtreiber-topologien-unter-der-lupe.96453.html |archive-date=2022-05-12 |quote=[…] Die möglichen Ghosting-Effekte und Probleme mit offenen LEDs haben die Verbreitung der Charlieplexing-Topologie in der Vergangenheit stark gebremst. Eine »Crossplexing« genannte Verbesserung des Verfahrens verspricht nun, die Nachteile des bisherigen Verfahrens zu eliminieren […] Die Kurzschluss- und Defekterkennung des ICs beruht […] auf der Vorwärtsspannung der in der Matrix verwendeten LEDs. Das Bauelement bestimmt eine optimale Spannungsschwelle für Defektsituationen und konfiguriert sie automatisch. Die Kenntnis der Position eines Kurzschlusses oder Defekts eliminiert natürlich noch nicht die Ghosting-Effekte. Wird jedoch eine Unterbrechung festgestellt, kann das System die Koordinaten des Defekts abspeichern. […] Jedes Mal, wenn der Treiber angewiesen wird, diese LED anzusteuern, wird diese Instruktion ignoriert. Diese Maßnahme vermeidet das unbeabsichtigte Aufleuchten von LEDs im Rest des Punktmatrixdisplays. […]}}</ref>
<ref name="ISSI_2014">{{cite web |title=IS31FL3731C - Audio Modulated Matrix LED Driver |publisher=[[Integrated Silicon Solution Inc.]] (ISSI) |version=Rev. B. |date=2014-04-01 |orig-date= |url=https://www.mouser.de/datasheet/2/198/31FL3731C-357538.pdf |access-date=2022-05-13 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513031558/https://www.mouser.de/datasheet/2/198/31FL3731C-357538.pdf |archive-date=2022-05-13}} (22+1 pages)</ref>
<ref name="ISSI_2012">{{cite web |title=IS31FL3731 - Audio Modulated Matrix LED Driver |publisher=[[Lumissil Microsystems]]/[[Integrated Silicon Solution Inc.]] (ISSI) |version=Rev. F. |date=2019-11-04 |orig-date=2012-03-14 |url=https://www.mouser.de/datasheet/2/198/IS31FL3731_DS-1949477.pdf |access-date=2022-05-13 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512231839/https://www.mouser.de/datasheet/2/198/IS31FL3731_DS-1949477.pdf |archive-date=2022-05-12}} (24+1 pages)</ref>
<ref name="ISSI_2015_1">{{cite web |title=ISSI Expands FxLED Family with Audio Modulated LED Driver to drive 144 LEDs - IS31FL3732 supports special effect LED functions for automotive, gaming, white goods and IoT platforms |date=2015-02-24 |location=San Jose, California, USA |publisher=[[Integrated Silicon Solution Inc.]] (ISSI) |url=http://www.lumissil.com/assets/pdf/home%20page/press%20releases/IS31FL3732.pdf |access-date=2022-05-16 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516084625/http://www.lumissil.com/assets/pdf/home%20page/press%20releases/IS31FL3732.pdf |archive-date=2022-05-16}} (2 pages)</ref>
<ref name="ISSI_2015_2">{{cite web |title=IS31FL3732 - Audio Modulated Matrix LED Driver |publisher=[[Lumissil Microsystems]]/[[Integrated Silicon Solution Inc.]] (ISSI) |version=Rev. D |date=2017-07-04 |orig-date=2015-09-06 |url=https://www.mouser.de/datasheet/2/198/IS31FL3732_DS-1949534.pdf |access-date=2022-05-13 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513031002/https://www.mouser.de/datasheet/2/198/IS31FL3732_DS-1949534.pdf |archive-date=2022-05-13}} (27+1 pages)</ref>
<ref name="ISSI_2016">{{cite web |title=IS31FL3732A - Audio Modulated Matrix LED Driver |publisher=[[Lumissil Microsystems]]/[[Integrated Silicon Solution Inc.]] (ISSI) |version=Rev. C |date=2017-07-04 |orig-date=2016-11-03 |url=https://www.mouser.de/datasheet/2/198/IS31FL3732A_DS-1949478.pdf |access-date=2022-05-13 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512232510/https://www.mouser.de/datasheet/2/198/IS31FL3732A_DS-1949478.pdf |archive-date=2022-05-12}} (27+1 pages)</ref>
<ref name="Lapedus_2019">{{cite web |title=MicroLEDs: The Next Revolution In Displays? Technology offers improved brightness, colors, and lower power, but they're expensive and difficult to manufacture |author-first=Mark |author-last=Lapedus |date=2019-03-29 |work=SemiconductorEngineering |department=Manufacturing, Packaging & Materials |publisher=Sperling Media Group LLC |url=https://semiengineering.com/microleds-the-next-revolution-in-displays |access-date=2023-04-11 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425025618/https://semiengineering.com/microleds-the-next-revolution-in-displays/ |archive-date=2023-04-25}} (NB. Micro-led array using active matrix.)</ref>
<ref name="Triggs_2023">{{cite web |title=How fingerprint scanners work: Optical, capacitive, and ultrasonic explained. Fingerprint scanners are everywhere, but how do they work? |department=Mobile Technology |date=2023-03-25 |author-first=Robert |author-last=Triggs |work=AndroidAuthority |publisher=Authority Media |publication-place= |url=https://www.androidauthority.com/how-fingerprint-scanners-work-670934 |access-date=2023-06-23 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230623183115/https://www.androidauthority.com/how-fingerprint-scanners-work-670934/ |archive-date=2023-06-23}}</ref>
}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite magazine |title=Microcontroller drives logarithmic/linear dot/bar 20-LED display |author-first=Dhananjay V. |author-last=Gadre |magazine=[[EDN (magazine)|EDN]] |date=2007-01-18 |id=CA6406730 |page=83 |url=https://www.edn.com/microcontroller-drives-logarithmic-linear-dot-bar-20-led-display/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211225215931/https://www.edn.com/microcontroller-drives-logarithmic-linear-dot-bar-20-led-display/ |archive-date=2021-12-25}}
* {{cite magazine |title=Eight-Pin Microcontroller Handles Two-Digit Display With Multiple LEDs |author-first1=Dhananjay V. |author-last1=Gadre |author-first2=Anurag |author-last2=Chugh |magazine=[[Electronic Design (magazine)|Electronic Design]] |id=ED Online 15512 |date=2007-05-24 |publication-place=Paramus, New Jersey, USA |url=https://www.electronicdesign.com/article/components/eight-pin-microcontroller-handles-two-digit-displa.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213222153/http://electronicdesign.com/article/components/eight-pin-microcontroller-handles-two-digit-displa.aspx |archive-date=2012-02-13}}
* {{cite magazine |title=Microcontroller drives 20 LEDs |author-first=Dhananjay V. |author-last=Gadre |magazine=[[EDN (magazine)|EDN]] |date=2007-09-27 |id=CA6483826 |url=https://www.edn.com/video-design-idea-microcontroller-drives-20-leds/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211225220441/https://www.edn.com/video-design-idea-microcontroller-drives-20-leds/ |archive-date=2021-12-25}}

[[Category:Digital circuits]]