um, 7219!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I suggested this also but it seems it costs too much for their use.

>Another option is a specialized driver IC.  Maxim has one made specifically
>for this purpose.  You clock in data from your microcontroller serially and
>it handles multiplexing, refreshes, etc.  Don't recall the part number
>off-hand, but you could do a search at <www.maxim-ic.com>.
>
>Another of my $.02 worth,
>Adam
>
>
>
>
>
>lists@HOME.COM on 02/14/99 02:16:07 PM
>
>Please respond to PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
>
>To:   PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
>cc:    (bcc: Adam Bryant/PEAK/MOORE)
>Subject:  Re: Routine for display
>
>
>
>
>At 22:28 02/14/99 +1000, Paul B. Webster VK2BZC wrote:
>> # What are the four displays?  Multiplexed 7-segment?  Common cathode
>>or common anode?  How much current per segment do you want?  Do you want
>>to use 8 wires (no DP?), 9, 10, or 12?  Alternately are you using
>>latched BCD displays?  Latched ASCII?  Have you designed the circuit
>>yet?  Have you decided on the components yet?
>now you slightly surprised me. 4 multiplexed 7-segment digits (even without
>dp) on 8 wires? without heavy encoding/decoding/latching? i'd understand 9
>wires, using a 2-to-4 decoder, but 8?
>ge