Cascading partial shift registers ?!

[moshik3]

Hi,

I'd like to have 3 boards, with a 8-bit shift register on each,
and run the 3 line serial bit shifting line along the 3 boards.

I'd like each board to have 6 LEDs only, (not fully using the 8 bits).

Is there a way (hardware) to "jump" these 2 unused connections ?
can I connect the Q6 to the "data in" of the next IC ? or that would be wrong ?

A software solution would be to add 2-bit dummy after every 6 bits.
but that would make the code more complex.

Any idea ?

 

[dick_freebird]

Your "Q" outputs may be latched by a separate latch
"clock" or a latch enable that uses the main clock at
a specific time to move shift-chain data to an output
register. If so then your operation might be a more
elaborate dance. But if the Q outputs are real-time
then this could work. Is Q8 (or Q7, if 7:0) the end of
the chain or do you see a "SO" (shift out) serial output
in addition?