Most nixie tube drivers require the obsolete and hard to find 7441 or 74141 ttl decoder driver ics, or else high voltage driver transistors. I wanted to produce a nixie display using easily obtainable parts well except for the nixies, and at the same time keep the parts count low. Reverseengineering the pinout of vacuumfluorescent. May 11, 2016 russian iv18 vacuum fluorescent display clock.
The vfd tube clock described here uses an ntp server on the internet to keep the time synchronized. Diy digital vfd clock voltmeter vehicle usb temperature detect switch music spectrum vacuum fluorescent display. Once the clock has the address of an ntp server, it uses ntp to set the date and time. Begin by separating the individual components of the kit. Vfd driver in plcc28 package, max6921 1 iv18 vacuum fluorescent display vfd tube 1 atmega168v10pu microcontroller 1 60v breakdown schottky diode, mbr160 4. Vacuum fluorescent alphanumeric display test circuit duration. Ui21m ui21 21 nixie era 7segm 10digit flat vfd clock calculator tube new. Vacuum fluorescent display repair 1986 soundesign 3867 clock radio cassette tape recorder duration. Includes two rca dr2000 numitron and one rca dr2030 numitron. Also includes two driver chips n8t04b signetics and 74185 chip.
Vacuum fluorescent display tubes only require 25 v dc. Poepowered vfd tube clock photons, electrons, and dirt. Both tubes have a grid, a heater, and an anode per display segment. A vacuum fluorescent display vfd is a display device used commonly on consumerelectronics equipment such as video cassette recorders, car radios, and microwave ovens. A nixie tube requires 170 v dc to drive the tubes anode. Dec 10, 2017 vacuum fluorescent display vfd drivers. Ive always been intrigued by vacuum fluorescent displays vfds so i picked up the ice tube clock kit from adafruit industries that uses a russian vfd tube. The clock is exactly the same as the single numitron clock, and the pnp transistors allow the 5v output of the pic to control the 12v needed to fully illuminate the segments. Dec 18, 2012 vfd driver in plcc28 package, max6921 1 iv18 vacuum fluorescent display vfd tube 1. This is a complete kit for building a vfd 4 digit clock using cool russian iv22 vacuum fluorescent display tubes. The vacuumfluorescent display that sjm4306 chose to base this clock on is the iv21, an eightdigit sevensegment display on the smallish side. Lcds, oled displays and led segment displays have now largely replaced vfds a vfd operates on the principle of cathodoluminescence, roughly similar to a cathode ray tube, but operating at much lower voltages. Troubleshooting vacuum fluorescent display problems youtube. Diy digital vfd clock voltmeter vehicle usb temperature.
Vfds, developed based on vacuum tube technology, provide a couple of advantages, including excellent visibility by selfluminous, and are being adopted in an increasing number of devices, from audio equipment to home appliances. A vacuum fluorescent display vfd is a display device once commonly used on consumer electronics equipment such as video cassette recorders, car radios, and microwave ovens. A grid is placed between the dim filament and the anodes to form a basic triode. The max6921max6931 are 20output, 76v, vacuum fluorescent display vfd tube drivers that interface a multiplexed vfd tube to a vfd controller, such as the max6850max6853, or to a microcontroller. A vfd operates on the principle of cathodoluminescence, roughly similar to a cathode ray tube, but operating at much lower voltages. A glorified vacuum tube, vfds provide superior contrast and visibility compared to other. Most designs are based on a realtime clock, synchronized via radio time servers or gps. Et16312n, ht16512, pt6312, stm68312, upd16312, vfd.
Vfd display channel letter remote control digital clock music. I shall turn it into a clock and have it display the date at the press of a button, it will also set its time using the internet and the network time protocol over a wifi connection, ill be using a teensy 3. Reverseengineering the pinout of vacuumfluorescent displays. The software can be found at my single numitron clock page. See more ideas about display, vacuums and nixie tube.
How vacuum fluorescent displays vfds work explain that stuff. Only one number is lit any time, thus each is only on for an eighth of the time. Max6921 20output, 76v, serialinterfaced vfd tube drivers. Electronic, nixie, tube archives for nixie display driver nixie. Jan 25, 2020 a nixie tube requires 170 v dc to drive the tubes anode. If you have ever wanted to know how these things work then read on. Cs1088 vacuum fluorescent display tube driver the vfd driver is a microprocessor interface ic that drives a multiplexed vf vacuum fluorescent display tube. A dcdc buck converter to drop the voltage to drive the tube filaments. Once an hour, the clock corrects any drift using ntp. Jul 04, 2016 vacuum fluorescent display repair 1986 soundesign 3867 clock radio cassette tape recorder duration.
This is a straight up explanation of how to add a vfd display to your project arduino, microcontroller, cmos whatever your game may be. I used four microsized red leds under the vfd tube to indicate which digit is being displayed hhmm. Vacuum fluorescent, pinlite and wamco filament, and panaplex displays. It has 8 x 7segment digits, with decimal points and a minus sign. Combining the retro awesomeness of nixie tubes and numitrons to make one cool clock. A vfd operates on the principle of cathodoluminescence, roughly similar to a cathode ray tube, but. This booklet shows how a low power oscillator can be constructed that will power a fluorescent tube up to 40 watts in size or provide high frequency alternating current over a wide range of voltages up to perhaps 2 kv or higher, from a 9 24 volt source.
In addition to the tube itself, another important consideration is the relatively highvoltage circuitry necessary to drive the tube. Vacuum fluorescent display vfd clock complete kit from. Jan 23, 2017 popular in dvdvcr players, as in salvaging a samsung dvdm101 player. In my previous post, i showed a simple vacuum fluorescent display filament driver built using a 555 timer and a custom handwound, centertapped toroidal pulse transformer. Description the max6850 compact vacuumfluorescent display vfd controller provides microprocessors with the multiplex timing for 7segment, 14segment, or 16segment alphanumeric vfd displays up to 96 characters and controls industrystandard, shiftregister, highvoltage gridanode vfd tube drivers. This project is a complete replacement of the logic and driver that came in the dvd player, i have also used general electronic components as these are what i have available. Vfds need a voltage of around 4050 volts to light the multiplexed display. To use a vfd, you have to have a basic understanding of how vacuum tubes work. You may find one in your car, dvds, radios, casette players,etcalso, there are may kinds of vfd display modules availabl. Nov 09, 2019 most nixie tube drivers require the obsolete and hard to find 7441 or 74141 ttl decoder driver ics, or else high voltage driver transistors.
Jan 22, 2016 msp430 iv18 vacuum fluorescent tube clock daniel johnson. How vacuum fluorescent displays work, and how you can drive them with an arduino. You need to understand the operation of a shift register and possibly dtype flip flops first. The max6921max6931 are 20output, 76v, vacuumfluorescent display vfd tube drivers that interface a multiplexed vfd tube to a vfd controller, such as the max6850max6853, or to a microcontroller. The tube is filled with a gas at low pressure, usually mostly neon and often a little mercury or argon, in a penning mixture although it resembles a vacuum tube in appearance, its operation does not depend on. The mcu sends out a 24 bit wide bitstream to the data line of the first register here. Vacuum fluorescent displays vfds are display devices similar to nixie tubes but designed for low voltage use, and they are 7segment displays with fluorescent coated anodes. Applying power to one cathode surrounds it with an orange glow discharge. Svb fluorescent tube clock vfd clock gps time calibration retro electronic clock diy vacuum fluorescent tube. Sep 26, 2019 the vacuumfluorescent display that sjm4306 chose to base this clock on is the iv21, an eightdigit sevensegment display on the smallish side. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. And as promised in my earlier comment, i am going to show you the remainder of the vfd driving circuit here.
Vfd tube clock with esp32 devkitc with an accurate internetderived timefull kit, acryl case includedclocks built using vintage components are currently very popular. Vfd displays have been replaced by the new display technologies today. Vacuum fluorescent display for minimizing nonuse area by chulhyun jang, samsung sdi co. These vintage tubes are still available in reasonable quantities and at not too outrageous prices on ebay. From alphanumeric to seven segment, from hobbist to aircraft replacement parts. Yes, you too can own such a clock but youll probably have to build it yourself, because such unique clocks can almost certainly not be found in normal stores. Vfd drivers are available for a segment type display, character type display and dot matrix type display. With the date and time set, the clock displays the time using the 6 vfd tubes and three microchip hv5812 highvoltage display drivers. Project owner contributor nixie and numitron clock. Vacuum fluorescent display having a grid plate coplanar with the anode by ernest gerald bylander, texas instruments inc. Vfd display channel letter remote control digital clock music level indicator fft vacuum fluorescent displayer led spectrym 0. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. Minivfd clock floats the display above it all hackaday.
The glass tube contains a wiremesh anode and multiple cathodes, shaped like numerals or other symbols. Iv11 usb powered 6 vfd tubes vacuum fluorescent display. The electrical requirements for each are displayed in the table below. Vfd vacuum fluorescent display tubes vacuum tubes, capacitors, nixie tubes, sockets. The max6921max6931 are also ideal for driving static vfd tubes or telecom relays. Popular in dvdvcr players, as in salvaging a samsung dvdm101 player. But the quality of display, a vfd gives is unbeatable.
As i mentioned before, there are many driver chips e. Diy digital vfd clock voltmeter vehicle usb temperature detect switch music spectrum vacuum fluorescent display 5. The max6921max6931 are also ideal for driving stati. Jun, 20 a diy vacuum fluorescent display driver june, 20, 8. Ive had this vacuum fluorescent display vfd recovered from a broken dvd player in the bits box for quite a while. Vacuum fluorescent display vfd clock complete kit tindie. In fact, since some have an control grid to let the display be multiplexed, they can actually be used as a triode, and amplify a signal. Msp430 iv18 vacuum fluorescent tube clock daniel johnson.
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