gistfile1.txt

int dataPin = 2;
int clockPin = 3;
int csPin = 4;

byte chars[] = {
  B00011000,
  B00111100,
  B01100110,
  B11000011,
  B00011000,
  B00111100,
  B01100110,
  B11000011
};

byte REG_DECODEMODE = 0x09;
byte REG_INTENSITY = 0x0a;
byte REG_SCANLIMIT = 0x0b;
byte REG_SHUTDOWN = 0x0c;
byte REG_DISPLAYTEST = 0x0f;

void sendCmd(byte addr, byte data) {
  digitalWrite(csPin, LOW);
  shiftOut(dataPin, clockPin, MSBFIRST, addr);
  shiftOut(dataPin, clockPin, MSBFIRST, data);
  digitalWrite(csPin, HIGH);
}

// the setup routine runs once when you press reset
void setup() {
  
  // set pin modes
  pinMode(dataPin, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(clockPin, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(csPin, OUTPUT);

  // setup display
  sendCmd(REG_DISPLAYTEST, 0x00); // turn off display test
  sendCmd(REG_DECODEMODE, 0x00); // turn off decode mode
  sendCmd(REG_SHUTDOWN, 0x01); // turn off shutdown mode (1 = off)
  sendCmd(REG_SCANLIMIT, 0x07); // set scan limit to 8 segments
  sendCmd(REG_INTENSITY, 0x01); // dial down intensity

  // clear registers
  for (byte i = 1; i < 9; i++) {
    sendCmd(i, 0x00);
  }

} // end setup

int offs = 0;

// the loop routine runs over and over again forever
void loop() {

  for (byte i = offs, j = 0; i < offs + 8; i++, j++) {
    sendCmd(j + 1, chars[i % 8]);
  }
  offs++;
  
  if (offs == 8) offs = 0;
  
  delay(50);

} // end loop