Hello, I would like to connect the Varitronix vi-402-dp to my avr, however after looking at the datasheet I still have a few misunderstandings. I did not really understand how I can multiplex the 7 segment displays. Should I make use of the COM? And if so, how exactly, because from what I've seen all segments are connected to the same COM, how are we going to differentiate them?
Thank you for any kind of help, have a great day!

 

Hello, I would like to connect the Varitronix vi-402-dp to my avr, however after looking at the datasheet I still have a few misunderstandings. I did not really understand how I can multiplex the 7 segment displays. Should I make use of the COM? And if so, how exactly, because from what I've seen all segments are connected to the same COM, how are we going to differentiate them?
Thank you for any kind of help, have a great day!

It's not a multiplex-able display, it needs either a special controller, or some way of driving each segment separately, such as moving the required data into a long shift register with individual outputs. The COM inputs are the backplane drive to the display, and have to be either in phase or out of phase with the segment to be displayed for it to show.
You could connect each individual digit to something like a CD4543 driver, but that would still only allow you to display 0 to 9, and you would need 4 I.C's., plus extra pins on the AVR.

 

You need an AY0438 from Microchip.. There is an Arduino library for this ( and any of the others )
I have a few MM5453N chips left but these are unobtainium.. Digikey has the AY0438-P in stock for 4 English bucks.