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CD4059A: LED Light Sequencer circuit using CD4059AMG4 and 555

Part Number: CD4059A
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: TPIC6B259, SN74LV163A, SN74HCS138

Hello forum,

I want to design a circuit that LED light sequencer. I want to turn on the leds one by one. I think of it as a floating signal circuit in a taillight design. In my design, I have 16 LEDs. Because of this, I selected 16bits counter CD4059AMG4.

I will apply 8V dc power. I need 50mA output current for each led.

I need to be able to determine the sliding speed of the leds and the current that will pass through the leds.

I hope that I can achieve this with the 555 IC, without using a microprocessor.

The datasheet of the integrated is not very clear, so I think it is the right decision to consult the forum. I have attached the datasheet as well.

I can do the functions I mentioned with this integrated, right? Could you help me? 

 cd4059a.pdf

  • CD4000 devices cannot output 50 mA. And the CD4059A has a single output pin.

    You need a counter that outputs all 16 states, like the SN74LV163A. To convert that binary number into 16 individual signals, use decoders, e.g., 2x SN74HCS138. To drive the LEDs, use high-current switches like the ULN2803A. It is possible to combine the decoder and driver with the TPIC6B259; with that, you need an inverter for one /G input.

    Nowadays, the control logic would be handled with a microcontroller.

    The current could be controlled with PWM or a current source, but that is separate from the other logic.

  • Hi Clemens,

    Thanks for your quick reply.

    I want to design a circuit as below.

    https://www.eleccircuit.com/led-chaser-circuit/

    It achieved this with a 555 IC and decade counter IC. I want the same structure, but I am looking for an alternative product since the current level I want is 50mA and the number of leds is 16.

    Is such an IC possible?

  • Hi Lacin,

    We don't have a single IC that will replace the CD4017 and allow 50mA per LED. You can still use that device for the control signals, but need to add a driver IC to handle the high current such as the ULN2803A that Clemens mentioned. Since the ULN2803A is an inverting driver, you would need to invert the polarity of the diodes, but that's easy enough to do.

    Basically, your circuit would look like this:

  • Hi Emrys,

    Thanks for your quick reply.

    Thank you very much for sharing the schematic with me.

    But that still doesn't work for me. I have to drive 16 leds. What do you recommend? 

  • Hi Lacin,

    The easiest solution would be to use a microcontroller for the counter, and use two 8-channel drivers to handle the high-current LEDs.