BarLED

A versatile Arduino library for driving 10 segment LED bar displays and arrays using common shift registers and LED driver chips. Features automatic cascading, built-in animations, and brightness control.

Overview

BarLED simplifies LED bar display control by providing a unified interface for popular LED drivers like 74HC595, MBI5027, and WS2803. Whether you're building a VU meter, progress bar, or animated display, BarLED handles the complexity of chip communication and pattern generation.

API Reference

BarLED API Reference

Key Features

• 🔌 Multi-chip support: 74HC595, MBI5027, WS2803
• 🔗 Automatic cascading for larger displays
• ✨ Built-in animation patterns
• 🎚️ Brightness control (supported chips)
• 🚀 Efficient memory usage
• 📚 Simple, consistent API
• ⚡ Hardware-optimized communication

Perfect For

• Audio VU meters
• Progress indicators
• Status displays
• Light animations
• LED bar graphs
• Sequential indicators
• Loading animations
• Level meters

Getting Started

#include <BarLED.h>

BarLED leds;

void setup() {
  // Setup for a 10-segment display using 74HC595
  leds.begin(11, 12, 8, BarLED::TYPE_74HC595, 8, 2);
  
  // Turn on segments 1,3,5
  leds.setBars(135);
  
  // Or start a chase pattern
  leds.setBars(0, BarLED::PATTERN_CHASE);
}

void loop() {
  leds.update();  // Update any active patterns
}