There are "thermometer" chip LED drivers than can switch between "dot" style and "bar" style. Takes a reference voltage or two, voltage input and high or low to a bar/dot select pin... Some chips to check out: U1096B, LM3914N, LM3915N. A6275/A6276 for more generic driver w/ uprocessor-interface

Thanks! I will look at these. interesting I just started building a a Jameco LED battery voltage monitor from a kit and it has some (smarter? dumber? completely unrelated? ) LM324Ns on there.

Now if I used something voltage driven, I'd have to build/write something to send variable voltage, wouldn't I? I was attracted by the Futaba VFD serial command set I saw when building that driver's display (including dimming), but that doesn't mean that there's anything equivalent for an LED-type display, does it? So, something in the "driver guide" display that takes serial messages and changes voltage....

I'll look at those chips! thanks!