Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!crdgw1!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sdd.hp.com!hplabs!otter.hpl.hp.com!otter!tgg
From: tgg@otter.hpl.hp.com (Tom Gardner)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Beer Can Physics
Message-ID: <1770020@otter.hpl.hp.com>
Date: 14 Sep 90 08:19:19 GMT
References: <33512@cup.portal.com>
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Laboratories, Bristol, UK.
Lines: 13

|>|Its because the display is Multiplexed. The digits are displayed one at a
|>|time to save on chip count (presumably). All of the digits use the same
|>|7 segment decoder chip as opposed to using a seperate chip for every digit.
|>
|>No. To save on pin count.
|
|    In some designs, it isn't just to reduce pin count, but power consumption
|   also.

There are some cases where this would be true (high clock frequency designs,
technolofies with high static power dissipation (ECL)). But with display 
multiplexers and most SSI/MSI ics the pin count has a strong influence on
the co$t.