Thank you Eric.
I may be looking farther down the road here. I have a need for at least 23 displays of around 10 different input signals (temperature transducers, pressure transducers, analog position transducers, etc.). These displays will vary between 10 and 60 LEDs.
The example you show above, has an input range of 0 to 2.4 V. The latest image I posted has an input range of 0 to 3 V. I can see your example is quite simple and uses a minimum of parts. But it seems to me that my example has the potential of having a 25% better signal to noise ratio. I get that it may not matter for a 20 step display. But when I get 60 steps, I would rather have that extra margin. Especially if it only requires a few carefully placed resistors. Am I missing something?
I think I now have enough understanding to "brute force" the reference voltages on a stack of LM3914s, but I want to understand more of the inner workings of the chip and understand what the datasheet is showing with the voltage divider stack and how the selection and placement of resistors will allow my last image (from your simulator) to function.
If I am mistaken, and the IC won't work as I have modeled, then please let me know, and if possible, explain why.
I queried in post #14:
The simulator has sliders R3 and R4, implying that they are resistors. But the numbers in the boxes next to these sliders do not show any units. I don't know what these numbers really are.
And in post #15:
I understand the RLo of the second LM3914 is the same as RHi of the first. And that RHi of the second LM3914 needs to be 3 volts. The data sheet isn't clear to me how to provide the proper resistor value or configuration.
This is the crux of what would help me understand more.
I am wanting to get the "big picture" here. If you give a man a fish, he has a feast for a night. If you teach a man to fish, he will eat the rest of his life. If I can understand the overall system, I won't need to keep asking for help on each different circuit I will need. I expect the datasheet has all the info, but with the holes in my understanding of electronics, I am unable to decipher the key points. I have said many times, I know enough about electronics to be dangerous. You may be noticing that right now.
I thank you for all your guidance, and the simulator program you wrote is VERY NICE! I have read this post a couple times and I certainly do NOT want to bite the hand that feeds me.