I need to select 4 chips with a low latch enable.

I am using a Pic 18f14k22 and I don't have enough outputs to select all 4 chips with individual pins.

On had I have a 74LS155 which would do the job but I would be working at it's supply voltage limits of 4.5V. My supply will be 3 AAA cells in series for 4.5V.

Can someone recommend a decoder that would work?

Since I have an mcu, can this be down some other way? Perhaps borrow from the idea of Charlieplexing and create my own decoder with some diodes?

 

Can you use a 74HC155? Should fit your voltage range good

 

Can you use a 74HC155? Should fit your voltage range good

I'll check it out.

I was thinking I could also use a counter. Any with low output for the count pins?

 

I think you could do it with 2 transistors, 8 diodes and some resistors, if this is something that would interest you.

 

Hi Spin',

Isn't the 18F14K22 a twenty pin chip? If so, what are you doin' with all those pins?

Since you're thinking about adding an IC at this point anyway, why not check to see if an additional IC could be used to save even more I/O pins. For example, if you're currently using ten pins to drive (A) an LCD display, (B) some push button switches, and (C) a few output pins, then consider using a circuit (below) that might save you 5 or 6 I/O pins, which could then be used for the four chip select lines you need.

This circuit could be modified easily to use eight I/O pins to drive the LCD, four outputs, and a 4x4 keypad. That's normally what someone might use just to drive the 4x4 keypad.

Here's another circuit that uses just three I/O lines to drive an LCD in 8-bit interface mode and read up to eight switches;

Food for thought.

Happy Holidays and cheerful regards, Mike, K8LH

 

BTW, an inexpensive Serial LCD Backpack could be used to add an LCD screen to even the lowliest 6-pin 10F200 project at the cost of only one I/O pin;

 

Single 2 line to 4 line decoder

http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/sn74lvc1g139.pdf

 

Found on thanks everyone. It's from the CMOS line CD1556 I think. I really wanted to use these 7 segment displays that I have.

 

I really wanted to use these 7 segment displays that I have.

Is this the same Refrigerator Thermometer/Alarm project that you wanted to run on 3 volts with a Charlieplexed display? If not, can you tell us what you're trying to build? What are you connecting to the I/O on the 18F14K22?

 

Is this the same Refrigerator Thermometer/Alarm project that you wanted to run on 3 volts with a Charlieplexed display? If not, can you tell us what you're trying to build? What are you connecting to the I/O on the 18F14K22?

The displays I have won't be bright enough to multiplex. Pins I will use, 3 switches, 1 for one wire, 2 positive / negative indicator, 2 select pins, 1 for F /C indicator.

I may have missed one or two,