Seven segment (#293)

examples/sevensegment/NeoSegmentBus/NeoSegmentBus.ino

@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+// NeoSegmentBus
+// This example will demonstrate using the NeoSegmentBus which provides support for a
+// seven segment LED digit driven by three WS2811; connected in series with other digits
+//
+// See https://shop.idlehandsdev.com/products/addressable-7-segment-display for a hardware example
+//
+// This example will print the string "3.14" and then rotate it through the available digits
+//
+
+#include <NeoPixelSegmentBus.h>
+
+const uint16_t DigitCount = 4; // Max Digits, not segments, not pixels
+const uint8_t BusPin = 2;  // make sure to set this to the correct pin, ignored for Esp8266
+
+#define brightness 128
+
+NeoPixelSegmentBus<SevenSegmentFeature, Neo800KbpsMethod> strip(DigitCount, BusPin);
+
+void setup()
+{
+    strip.Begin();
+    strip.Show(); // clears all digits by default
+
+    delay(500);
+    strip.SetString(0, "3.14", brightness);
+    strip.Show(); 
+}
+
+void loop()
+{
+    delay(2000);
+
+    strip.RotateLeft(1);
+    strip.Show();
+}
+

examples/sevensegment/NeoSegmentFade/NeoSegmentFade.ino

@@ -0,0 +1,144 @@
+// NeoSegmentBus
+// This example will demonstrate using the NeoSegmentBus which provides support for a
+// seven segment LED digit driven by three WS2811; connected in series with other digits
+//
+// See https://shop.idlehandsdev.com/products/addressable-7-segment-display for a hardware example
+//
+// This example will print current seconds since start of the Arduino 
+// with a digit animating a circling path for each second
+//
+
+#include <NeoPixelSegmentBus.h>
+#include <NeoPixelAnimator.h>
+
+const uint16_t DigitCount = 5; // Max Digits, not segments, not pixels
+const uint8_t BusPin = 2;  // make sure to set this to the correct pin, ignored for Esp8266
+const uint16_t CycleDigit = 0;
+const uint16_t SecondsDigit = 1;
+
+#define brightness 128
+
+NeoPixelSegmentBus<SevenSegmentFeature, Neo800KbpsMethod> strip(DigitCount, BusPin);
+
+enum Animation
+{
+    Animation_Cycle, // animation for the cycle indicator
+    Animation_Fade, // animation for fade of seconds
+    Animation_COUNT
+};
+
+NeoPixelAnimator animations(Animation_COUNT); 
+
+void CycleAnimation(const AnimationParam& param)
+{
+    // calculate which segment should be on using the animation progress
+    uint8_t bitfield = 1 << (uint8_t)(param.progress * LedSegment_F);
+    // instant a digit with that segment on
+    SevenSegDigit digit(bitfield, brightness);
+    // apply it to the strip
+    strip.SetPixelColor(CycleDigit, digit); 
+}
+
+// for the animation of fading the new number in, we use
+// two digit DIBs (Device Independant Bitmaps) of SevenSegDigit to blend with; 
+// each sized one less than the strip due to the first is a used for the cycle
+// animation.
+typedef NeoDib<SevenSegDigit> SevenSegDib;
+
+SevenSegDib StartingDigits(DigitCount - 1); 
+SevenSegDib EndingDigits(DigitCount - 1);
+
+// shader class that will do the "string" blending
+//
+class DigitBlendShader 
+{
+public:
+    // this shader always renders and doesn't track a dirty state
+    bool IsDirty() const
+    { 
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    void ResetDirty() 
+    {  
+    }
+
+    SevenSegDigit Apply(uint16_t indexDigit, SevenSegDigit digit)
+    {
+        // since we call EndingDigits.Render below, the digit argument is
+        // from the EndingDigits so no need to call GetPixelColor to get it
+        // create a digit that is a blend between the last seconds
+        // value and the next seconds value using the BlendAmount
+        SevenSegDigit blendDigit = SevenSegDigit::LinearBlend(
+            StartingDigits.GetPixelColor(indexDigit),
+            digit,
+            BlendAmount);
+
+        return blendDigit;
+    }
+
+    float BlendAmount;
+};
+
+// the instance of our shader class
+DigitBlendShader blendShader;
+
+void FadeAnimation(const AnimationParam& param)
+{
+    // set the shader property BlendAmount to the animation progress
+    blendShader.BlendAmount = param.progress;
+    // apply it to the strip at the SecondsDigit location
+    EndingDigits.Render<SevenSegmentFeature, DigitBlendShader>(strip, 
+        blendShader, 
+        SecondsDigit);
+}
+
+uint32_t lastSeconds;
+
+void setup()
+{
+    lastSeconds = millis() / 1000;
+
+    strip.Begin();
+    strip.Show(); 
+
+    // init animation Dibs as cleared
+    StartingDigits.ClearTo(0);
+    EndingDigits.ClearTo(0);
+}
+
+void loop()
+{
+    uint32_t seconds = millis() / 1000;
+    
+    // when the seconds change, start animations for the update
+    //
+    if (seconds != lastSeconds)
+    {
+        // copy last animation ending digits as starting digits
+        StartingDigits = EndingDigits;
+        
+        // format and display new value in ending digits dib
+        String display(seconds);
+        SevenSegDigit::SetString<SevenSegDib>(EndingDigits,
+            0,
+            display.c_str(),
+            brightness);
+
+        // start the seconds fade animation
+        animations.StartAnimation(Animation_Fade, 1000, FadeAnimation);
+
+        // start the cycle animation for the next second
+        animations.StartAnimation(Animation_Cycle, 1000, CycleAnimation);
+
+        lastSeconds = seconds;
+    }
+
+    if (animations.IsAnimating())
+    {
+        // the normal loop just needs these two to run the active animations
+        animations.UpdateAnimations();
+        strip.Show();
+    }
+}
+

src/NeoPixelAnimator.h

@@ -153,7 +153,6 @@ private:
             _duration = duration;
             _remaining = duration;
             _fnCallback = animUpdate;
-            
         }
 
         void StopAnimation()

src/NeoPixelBus.h

@@ -43,10 +43,12 @@ License along with NeoPixel.  If not, see
 #include "internal/HsbColor.h"
 #include "internal/HtmlColor.h"
 #include "internal/RgbwColor.h"
+#include "internal/SegmentDigit.h"
 
 #include "internal/NeoColorFeatures.h"
 #include "internal/DotStarColorFeatures.h"
 #include "internal/Lpd8806ColorFeatures.h"
+#include "internal/NeoSegmentFeatures.h"
 
 #include "internal/Layouts.h"
 #include "internal/NeoTopology.h"

src/NeoPixelSegmentBus.h

@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+/*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+NeoPixelBus library wrapper template class that provides enhanced methods
+for writing to segment based strips
+
+Written by Michael C. Miller.
+
+I invest time and resources providing this open source code,
+please support me by dontating (see https://github.com/Makuna/NeoPixelBus)
+
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+This file is part of the Makuna/NeoPixelBus library.
+
+NeoPixelBus is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as
+published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of
+the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+
+NeoPixelBus is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+
+You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
+License along with NeoPixel.  If not, see
+<http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
+
+#pragma once
+
+#include "NeoPixelBus.h"
+
+template<typename T_COLOR_FEATURE, typename T_METHOD> class NeoPixelSegmentBus : 
+    public NeoPixelBus<T_COLOR_FEATURE, T_METHOD>
+{
+public:
+    NeoPixelSegmentBus(uint16_t countPixels, uint8_t pin) :
+        NeoPixelBus<T_COLOR_FEATURE, T_METHOD>(countPixels, pin)
+    {
+    }
+
+    NeoPixelSegmentBus(uint16_t countPixels) :
+        NeoPixelBus<T_COLOR_FEATURE, T_METHOD>(countPixels)
+    {
+    }
+
+    void SetString(uint16_t indexDigit, 
+        const char* str, 
+        uint8_t brightness, 
+        uint8_t defaultBrightness = 0)
+    {
+        T_COLOR_FEATURE::ColorObject::SetString(*this,
+            indexDigit,
+            str,
+            brightness,
+            defaultBrightness);
+    }
+
+    void SetString(uint16_t indexDigit, 
+        const String& str, 
+        uint8_t brightness, 
+        uint8_t defaultBrightness = 0)
+    {
+        SetString(indexDigit, str.c_str(), brightness, defaultBrightness);
+    }
+};
+
+

src/internal/NeoColorFeatures.h

@@ -45,9 +45,10 @@ public:
         uint8_t* pEnd = pPixelDest + (count * PixelSize);
         while (pPixelDest < pEnd)
         {
-            *pPixelDest++ = pPixelSrc[0];
-            *pPixelDest++ = pPixelSrc[1];
-            *pPixelDest++ = pPixelSrc[2];
+            for (uint8_t iElement = 0; iElement < PixelSize; iElement++)
+            {
+                *pPixelDest++ = pPixelSrc[iElement];
+            }
         }
     }
 
@@ -57,8 +58,6 @@ public:
         while (pPixelDest < pEnd)
         {
             *pPixelDest++ = *pPixelSrc++;
-            *pPixelDest++ = *pPixelSrc++;
-            *pPixelDest++ = *pPixelSrc++;
         }
     }
 
@@ -69,8 +68,6 @@ public:
         while (pPixelDest < pEnd)
         {
             *pPixelDest++ = pgm_read_byte(pSrc++);
-            *pPixelDest++ = pgm_read_byte(pSrc++);
-            *pPixelDest++ = pgm_read_byte(pSrc++);
         }
     }
 
@@ -81,8 +78,6 @@ public:
         while (pDestBack > pPixelDest)
         {
             *--pDestBack = *--pSrcBack;
-            *--pDestBack = *--pSrcBack;
-            *--pDestBack = *--pSrcBack;
         }
     }
 

src/internal/NeoDib.h

@@ -94,6 +94,25 @@ public:
         free((uint8_t*)_pixels);
     }
 
+    NeoDib& operator=(const NeoDib& other)
+    {
+        // check for self-assignment
+        if (&other == this)
+        {
+            return *this;
+        }
+
+        uint16_t copyCount = other.PixelCount() < PixelCount() ? other.PixelCount() : PixelCount();
+
+        for (uint16_t pixel = 0; pixel < copyCount; pixel++)
+        {
+            _pixels[pixel] = other.Pixels()[pixel];
+        }
+
+        Dirty();
+        return *this;
+    }
+
     T_COLOR_OBJECT* Pixels() const
     {
         return _pixels;
@@ -144,8 +163,8 @@ public:
         Dirty();
     };
 
-    template <typename T_COLOR_FEATURE, typename T_SHADER> void Render(NeoBufferContext<T_COLOR_FEATURE> destBuffer, 
-        T_SHADER& shader)
+    template <typename T_COLOR_FEATURE, typename T_SHADER> 
+    void Render(NeoBufferContext<T_COLOR_FEATURE> destBuffer, T_SHADER& shader, uint16_t destIndexPixel = 0)
     {
         if (IsDirty() || shader.IsDirty())
         {
@@ -159,7 +178,7 @@ public:
             for (uint16_t indexPixel = 0; indexPixel < countPixels; indexPixel++)
             {
                 T_COLOR_OBJECT color = shader.Apply(indexPixel, _pixels[indexPixel]);
-                T_COLOR_FEATURE::applyPixelColor(destBuffer.Pixels, indexPixel, color);
+                T_COLOR_FEATURE::applyPixelColor(destBuffer.Pixels, destIndexPixel + indexPixel, color);
             }
 
             shader.ResetDirty();

src/internal/NeoSegmentFeatures.h

@@ -0,0 +1,130 @@
+/*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+NeoSegmentFeatures provides feature classes to describe seven segment display
+elements for NeoPixelBus template class
+
+Written by Michael C. Miller.
+
+I invest time and resources providing this open source code,
+please support me by dontating (see https://github.com/Makuna/NeoPixelBus)
+
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+This file is part of the Makuna/NeoPixelBus library.
+
+NeoPixelBus is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as
+published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of
+the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+
+NeoPixelBus is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+
+You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
+License along with NeoPixel.  If not, see
+<http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
+#pragma once
+
+class Neo9Elements
+{
+public:
+    static const size_t PixelSize = 9; // three 3 element
+
+    static uint8_t* getPixelAddress(uint8_t* pPixels, uint16_t indexPixel) 
+    {
+        return pPixels + indexPixel * PixelSize;
+    }
+    static const uint8_t* getPixelAddress(const uint8_t* pPixels, uint16_t indexPixel)
+    {
+        return pPixels + indexPixel * PixelSize;
+    }
+
+    static void replicatePixel(uint8_t* pPixelDest, const uint8_t* pPixelSrc, uint16_t count)
+    {
+        uint8_t* pEnd = pPixelDest + (count * PixelSize);
+        while (pPixelDest < pEnd)
+        {
+            for (uint8_t iElement = 0; iElement < PixelSize; iElement++)
+            {
+                *pPixelDest++ = pPixelSrc[iElement];
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    static void movePixelsInc(uint8_t* pPixelDest, const uint8_t* pPixelSrc, uint16_t count)
+    {
+        uint8_t* pEnd = pPixelDest + (count * PixelSize);
+        while (pPixelDest < pEnd)
+        {
+            *pPixelDest++ = *pPixelSrc++;
+        }
+    }
+
+    static void movePixelsInc_P(uint8_t* pPixelDest, PGM_VOID_P pPixelSrc, uint16_t count)
+    {
+        uint8_t* pEnd = pPixelDest + (count * PixelSize);
+        const uint8_t* pSrc = (const uint8_t*)pPixelSrc;
+        while (pPixelDest < pEnd)
+        {
+            *pPixelDest++ = pgm_read_byte(pSrc++);
+        }
+    }
+
+    static void movePixelsDec(uint8_t* pPixelDest, const uint8_t* pPixelSrc, uint16_t count)
+    {
+        uint8_t* pDestBack = pPixelDest + (count * PixelSize);
+        const uint8_t* pSrcBack = pPixelSrc + (count * PixelSize);
+        while (pDestBack > pPixelDest)
+        {
+            *--pDestBack = *--pSrcBack;
+        }
+    }
+
+    typedef SevenSegDigit ColorObject;
+};
+
+// Abcdefg byte order
+class NeoAbcdefgSegmentFeature : public Neo9Elements
+{
+public:
+    static void applyPixelColor(uint8_t* pPixels, uint16_t indexPixel, ColorObject color)
+    {
+        uint8_t* p = getPixelAddress(pPixels, indexPixel);
+        uint8_t commonSize = (PixelSize < color.SegmentCount) ? PixelSize : color.SegmentCount;
+        for (uint8_t iSegment = 0; iSegment < commonSize; iSegment++)
+        {
+            *p++ = color.Segment[iSegment];
+        }
+    }
+
+    static ColorObject retrievePixelColor(uint8_t* pPixels, uint16_t indexPixel)
+    {
+        ColorObject color;
+        uint8_t* p = getPixelAddress(pPixels, indexPixel);
+        uint8_t commonSize = (PixelSize < color.SegmentCount) ? PixelSize : color.SegmentCount;
+
+        for (uint8_t iSegment = 0; iSegment < commonSize; iSegment++)
+        {
+            color.Segment[iSegment] = *p++;
+        }
+        return color;
+    }
+    
+    static ColorObject retrievePixelColor_P(PGM_VOID_P pPixels, uint16_t indexPixel)
+    {
+        ColorObject color;
+        const uint8_t* p = getPixelAddress((const uint8_t*)pPixels, indexPixel);
+        uint8_t commonSize = (PixelSize < color.SegmentCount) ? PixelSize : color.SegmentCount;
+
+        for (uint8_t iSegment = 0; iSegment < commonSize; iSegment++)
+        {
+            color.Segment[iSegment] = pgm_read_byte(p++);
+        }
+
+        return color;
+    }
+    
+};
+
+typedef NeoAbcdefgSegmentFeature SevenSegmentFeature; // Abcdefg order is default

src/internal/SegmentDigit.cpp

@@ -0,0 +1,153 @@
+/*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+SegmentDigit provides a color object that can be directly consumed by NeoPixelBus
+
+Written by Michael C. Miller.
+
+I invest time and resources providing this open source code,
+please support me by dontating (see https://github.com/Makuna/NeoPixelBus)
+
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+This file is part of the Makuna/NeoPixelBus library.
+
+NeoPixelBus is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as
+published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of
+the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+
+NeoPixelBus is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+
+You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
+License along with NeoPixel.  If not, see
+<http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
+
+#include "SegmentDigit.h"
+
+//
+// https://en.wikichip.org/wiki/seven-segment_display/representing_letters
+//
+const uint8_t SevenSegDigit::DecodeNumbers[] = {
+    // 0     1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9 
+    0x3F, 0x06, 0x5B, 0x4F, 0x66, 0x6D, 0x7D, 0x07, 0x7F, 0x6F };
+
+const uint8_t SevenSegDigit::DecodeAlphaCaps[] = {
+    // A     B     C     D     E     F     G  
+    0x77, 0x00, 0x39, 0x00, 0x79, 0x71, 0x3D,
+    // H     I     J     K     L     M     N    
+    0x76, 0x30, 0x1E, 0x00, 0x38, 0x00, 0x00,
+    // O     P     Q     R     S 
+    0x3F, 0x73, 0x00, 0x00, 0x6D,
+    // T     U     V     W     X     Y     Z  
+    0x00, 0x3E, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00 };
+
+const uint8_t SevenSegDigit::DecodeAlpha[] = {
+    // a     b     c     d     e     f     g  
+    0x00, 0x7C, 0x58, 0x5E, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+    // h     i     j     k     l     m     n 
+    0x74, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x54,
+    // o     p     q     r     s     
+    0x5C, 0x00, 0x67, 0x50, 0x00,
+    // t     u     v     w     x     y     z 
+    0x78, 0x1C, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x6E, 0x00 };
+
+const uint8_t SevenSegDigit::DecodeSpecial[] = {
+    // ,     -     .     /
+    0x80, 0x40, 0x80, 0x40 };
+
+void SevenSegDigit::init(uint8_t bitmask, uint8_t brightness, uint8_t defaultBrightness)
+{
+    for (uint8_t iSegment = 0; iSegment < SegmentCount; iSegment++)
+    {
+        Segment[iSegment] = (bitmask & 0x01) ? brightness : defaultBrightness;
+        bitmask >>= 1;
+    }
+}
+
+SevenSegDigit::SevenSegDigit(uint8_t bitmask, uint8_t brightness, uint8_t defaultBrightness)
+{
+    init(bitmask, brightness, defaultBrightness);
+};
+
+SevenSegDigit::SevenSegDigit(char letter, uint8_t brightness, uint8_t defaultBrightness)
+{
+    if (letter >= '0' && letter <= '9')
+    {
+        init(DecodeNumbers[letter - '0'], brightness, defaultBrightness);
+    }
+    else if (letter >= 'a' && letter <= 'z')
+    {
+        init(DecodeAlpha[letter - 'a'], brightness, defaultBrightness);
+    }
+    else if (letter >= 'A' && letter <= 'Z')
+    {
+        init(DecodeAlphaCaps[letter - 'A'], brightness, defaultBrightness);
+    }
+    else if (letter >= ',' && letter <= '/')
+    {
+        init(DecodeSpecial[letter - ','], brightness, defaultBrightness);
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        memset(Segment, defaultBrightness, sizeof(Segment));
+    }
+};
+
+uint8_t SevenSegDigit::CalculateBrightness() const
+{
+    uint16_t sum = 0;
+
+    for (uint8_t iSegment = 0; iSegment < SegmentCount; iSegment++)
+    {
+        sum += Segment[iSegment];
+    }
+
+	return (uint8_t)(sum / SegmentCount);
+}
+
+void SevenSegDigit::Darken(uint8_t delta)
+{
+    for (uint8_t iSegment = 0; iSegment < SegmentCount; iSegment++)
+    {
+        uint8_t element = Segment[iSegment];
+        if (element > delta)
+        {
+            element -= delta;
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            element = 0;
+        }
+        Segment[iSegment] = element;
+    }
+}
+
+void SevenSegDigit::Lighten(uint8_t delta)
+{
+    for (uint8_t iSegment = 0; iSegment < SegmentCount; iSegment++)
+    {
+        uint8_t element = Segment[iSegment];
+        if (element < 255 - delta)
+        {
+            element += delta;
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            element = 255;
+        }
+        Segment[iSegment] = element;
+    }
+}
+
+SevenSegDigit SevenSegDigit::LinearBlend(const SevenSegDigit& left, const SevenSegDigit& right, float progress)
+{
+    SevenSegDigit result;
+
+    for (uint8_t iSegment = 0; iSegment < SegmentCount; iSegment++)
+    {
+        result.Segment[iSegment] = left.Segment[iSegment] + ((right.Segment[iSegment] - left.Segment[iSegment]) * progress);
+    }
+    return result;
+}

src/internal/SegmentDigit.h

@@ -0,0 +1,202 @@
+/*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+SegmentDigit provides a color object that can be directly consumed by NeoPixelBus
+
+Written by Michael C. Miller.
+
+I invest time and resources providing this open source code,
+please support me by dontating (see https://github.com/Makuna/NeoPixelBus)
+
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+This file is part of the Makuna/NeoPixelBus library.
+
+NeoPixelBus is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as
+published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of
+the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+
+NeoPixelBus is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+
+You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
+License along with NeoPixel.  If not, see
+<http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
+#pragma once
+
+#include <Arduino.h>
+
+enum LedSegment
+{
+    LedSegment_A,
+    LedSegment_B,
+    LedSegment_C,
+    LedSegment_D,
+    LedSegment_E,
+    LedSegment_F,
+    LedSegment_G,
+    LedSegment_Decimal,
+    LedSegment_COUNT
+};
+
+// ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// SevenSegDigit represents a color object that is represented by the segments
+// of a 7 segment LED display digit.  It contains helpful routines to manipulate 
+// and set the elements.
+//
+// The order represents the physical LED location starting at A, through to G, then
+// ending at the decimal point
+// "abcdefg."
+// ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+struct SevenSegDigit
+{
+    // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Construct a SevenSegDigit using 
+    //   the default brightness to apply to all segments
+    // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    SevenSegDigit(uint8_t defaultBrightness)
+    {
+        memset(Segment, defaultBrightness, sizeof(Segment));
+    }
+
+    // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Construct a SevenSegDigit using 
+    //   a bitmask for the segment (bit order is  ".gfedcba")
+    //   the brightness to apply to them, (0-255)
+    //   the default brightness to apply to those not set in the bitmask (0-255)
+    // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    SevenSegDigit(uint8_t bitmask, uint8_t brightness, uint8_t defaultBrightness = 0);
+
+    // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Construct a SevenSegDigit using 
+    //   a char that will get mapped to the segments,
+    //   the brightness to apply to them, (0-255)
+    //   the default brightness to apply to those not set in the bitmask (0-255)
+    // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    SevenSegDigit(char letter, uint8_t brightness, uint8_t defaultBrightness = 0);
+
+    // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Construct a SevenSegDigit that will have its values set in latter operations
+    // CAUTION:  The members are not initialized and may not be consistent
+    // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    SevenSegDigit()
+    {
+    };
+
+    // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Comparison operators
+    // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    bool operator==(const SevenSegDigit& other) const
+    {
+        for (uint8_t iSegment = 0; iSegment < SegmentCount; iSegment++)
+        {
+            if (Segment[iSegment] != other.Segment[iSegment])
+            {
+                return false;
+            }
+        }
+        return true;
+    };
+
+    bool operator!=(const SevenSegDigit& other) const
+    {
+        return !(*this == other);
+    };
+
+    // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // CalculateBrightness will calculate the overall brightness
+    // NOTE: This is a simple linear brightness
+    // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    uint8_t CalculateBrightness() const;
+
+    // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Darken will adjust the color by the given delta toward black
+    // NOTE: This is a simple linear change
+    // delta - (0-255) the amount to dim the segment
+    // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    void Darken(uint8_t delta);
+
+    // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Lighten will adjust the color by the given delta toward white
+    // NOTE: This is a simple linear change
+    // delta - (0-255) the amount to lighten the segment
+    // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    void Lighten(uint8_t delta);
+
+    // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // LinearBlend between two colors by the amount defined by progress variable
+    // left - the segment to start the blend at
+    // right - the segment to end the blend at
+    // progress - (0.0 - 1.0) value where 0 will return left and 1.0 will return right
+    //     and a value between will blend the brightness of each element
+    //     weighted linearly between them
+    // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    static SevenSegDigit LinearBlend(const SevenSegDigit& left, const SevenSegDigit& right, float progress);
+
+    template <typename T_SET_TARGET> 
+    static void SetString(T_SET_TARGET& target, uint16_t indexDigit, const char* str, uint8_t brightness, uint8_t defaultBrightness = 0)
+    {
+        if (str == nullptr)
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        const char* pFirst = str;
+        const char* pIter = str;
+
+        // digits are right to left
+        // so find the end
+        while (*pIter != '\0')
+        {
+            pIter++;
+        }
+        pIter--;
+
+
+        while (pIter >= pFirst)
+        {
+            bool decimal = false;
+            char value = *pIter;
+
+            // check if merging a decimal is required
+            if (pIter > pFirst && (*pIter == '.' || *pIter == ','))
+            {
+                // merge a decimal as long as they aren't the same
+                if (*(pIter - 1) != *pIter)
+                {
+                    decimal = true;
+                    pIter--;
+                    value = *pIter; // use the next char
+                }
+            }
+
+            SevenSegDigit digit(value, brightness, defaultBrightness);
+            if (decimal)
+            {
+                digit.Segment[LedSegment_Decimal] = brightness;
+            }
+            target.SetPixelColor(indexDigit, digit);
+            indexDigit++;
+        }
+    }
+
+    // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // segment members (0-255) where each represents the segment location
+    // and the value defines the brightnes (0) is off and (255) is full brightness
+    // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    static const uint8_t SegmentCount = 9;
+    uint8_t Segment[SegmentCount];
+
+
+    // segment decode maps from ascii relative first char in map to a bitmask of segments
+    //
+    static const uint8_t DecodeNumbers[10]; // 0-9
+    static const uint8_t DecodeAlphaCaps[26]; // A-Z
+    static const uint8_t DecodeAlpha[26]; // a-z
+    static const uint8_t DecodeSpecial[4]; // , - . /
+
+protected:
+    void init(uint8_t bitmask, uint8_t brightness, uint8_t defaultBrightness);
+};
+