Noritake, Co, Inc. has announced
the BD graphics series of vacuum fluorescent displays. Vacuum fluorescent displays are experiencing new technical demands from the market. Engineers, faced with an ever increasing variety of electronic devices, demand smaller, lighter VFDs that consume less energy. The BD series, despite their use of CIG formats, offer package sizes equivalent or smaller than those of conventional VFDs. The BD series does not require the chip-mounting space required in conventional ClGs. Incorporating dense drivers, the BD series also expands the possibility of using static drives to display patterns - a difficult task for conventional VFDs. CIG devices normally require extra space for mounting drivers. As a result, the VFD main unit has larger external dimensions than regular VFDs.To solve this problem, Noritake developed a slim driver chips exclusively for the BD series, allowing the driver to be installed under a frame supporting the filament. This technique makes the BD series ClGs more compact than conventional ClGs. BD series VFDs are equal in size or smaller than conventional VFDs The number of lead pins limits the degree to which conventional VFDs can be reduced in size. The BD series uses fewer lead pins, and can therefore achieve smaller sizes. It is difficult for conventional VFDs to use static drives to display complex patterns having numerous segments due to the need for raising the lead pin total. The BD series allows installation of several internal dense drives, permitting the use of static drives even for complex display patterns. The combination of BD series technology with thin film, fine wiring techniques makes the BD series ClG's compatible with graphic display applications. Graphic VFDs using CUG techniques can substantially reduce the number of lead pins, making VFD mounting significantly easier. Additionally, BD series technology assures low voltage driving, low energy consumption and improved luminance. The main feature of CIG design is the elimination of special, external drivers making the BD series especially attractive for portable electronics and applications where low energy consumption is a must. Noritake also offers the Display API library. This portable C language library of routines provides an application programming interface (API) for user application. The primary purpose of this library is to provide this company's customers with a portable library to allow them to use these VFD displays in their products with a minimum of effort. For more information, contact Albert Smith, Exec. V.P., Noritake Co., Inc., 2635 Clearbrook Dr., Arlington Heights, IL 60005. 847-439-9020. |
ecause of the recent explosion in the
availability of new color LCD modules in response to inter national
demand for better notebook computer displays, the vacuum fluorescent
option is often overlooked by engineers designing with flat panel
displays. The inherent readability advantages of vacuum fluorescent
display (VFD) modules, however, together with recent technology
advances that have increased selection and lowered prices make
VFDs the best flat panel display solution for many applications.
Today VFDs are used in a wide range of industrial, automotive,
medical, as well as audio and other consumer electronics.
The
advantages of vacuum fluorescent technology with its self-emitting
light source are fundamental. VFDs are brighter and easier to
read from any angle than other displays, according to the company.
The new slim chips, hidden in the glass envelope, enable chip-in-glass
displays to be smaller, more functional and less expensive. In
addition, the results of Noritake's CIG technology are displays
that are brighter, longer lasting and require less power than
conventional VFDs.