Content for VFD

VFD

A vacuum fluorescent display (VFD) is a display device once used commonly on consumer electronics equipment such as video cassette recorders, car radios, and microwave ovens. A VFD operates on the principle of cathodoluminescence, roughly similar to a cathode ray tube, but operating at much lower voltages. Each tube in a VFD has a phosphor coated anode that is bombarded by electrons emitted from the cathode filament. In fact, each tube in a VFD is a triode vacuum tube because it also has a mesh control grid. Unlike liquid crystal displays, a VFD emits a very bright light with high contrast and can support display elements of various colors. Standard illumination figures for VFDs are around 640 cd/m2 with high-brightness VFDs operating at 4,000 cd/m2, and experimental units as high as 35,000 cd/m2 depending on the drive voltage and its timing. The choice of color (which determines the nature of the phosphor) and display brightness significantly affect the lifetime of the tubes, which can range from as low as 1,500 hours for a vivid red VFD to 30,000 hours for the more common green ones. Cadmium was commonly used in VFDs in the past, but the current RoHS-compliant VFDs have eliminated this metal from their construction.

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Project  MyVFD - A 9-Digit VFD Info Station

MyVFD - A 9-Digit VFD Info Station

“ESP32 controlled VFD screen. This device supports date/time, weather, random number generator, etc. Last year, I got an old Sharp EL-8109 calculator. Which uses a 9-digit Futaba 9-ST-08A VFD display. The calculator still works, but the …

Project  Driving VFD tubes with an Arduino Nano

Driving VFD tubes with an Arduino Nano

“A simple method for incorporating vacuum fluorescent display tubes into your projects! I’ve had a handful of Soviet-made IV-6 (ИВ-6) tubes sitting around my workshop for years, but I never really tried to get them working for any …

Project  Driving a Salvaged VFD With MAX7219 and an Arduino

Driving a Salvaged VFD With MAX7219 and an Arduino

“You can get your hands on some very interesting components when disassembling old electronics. One such I’ve found was this VFD (Vacuum Fluorescent Display). Trying to reverse-engineer the controller was, however not the way to go as all ICs …

Project  Driving a VFD with MAX7219

Driving a VFD with MAX7219

“The process of making a salvaged VFD Arduino-friendly. You can get your hands on some very interesting components when disassembling old electronics. One such I’ve found was this VFD (Vacuum Fluorescent Display). Trying to reverse-engineer the controller was, however …

Project  Display VFD48-1202FN analog style

Display VFD48-1202FN analog style

“How to control the VFD48 display with Arduino My son gave me this vfd48 display and I did not know what to do with it. I searched on the internet for solutions, but there was none with arduino. So a …

Project  Homemade IV-22 VFD Clock!

Homemade IV-22 VFD Clock!

“Glowing retro tubes made in the Soviet Union? 80’s electro-style? Sign me up! (or sign us up comrade?) Many of you probably know how these things go: you start with making a nixie clock and you end up with …

Project  DIY Arduino Audio Spectrum Analyzer on VFD Display

DIY Arduino Audio Spectrum Analyzer on VFD Display

“A spectrum analyzer is a measurement tool that displays real-time frequency analysis of incoming audio signals. It is usually an integral part of equalizers and audio signal processing devices. The vertical axis shows the amplitude of certain frequencies measured in …

Project  DIY Arduino VFD display 20x2 VU (Volume Unit) Meter

DIY Arduino VFD display 20x2 VU (Volume Unit) Meter

“How to make a VU meter with 38 bars per channel on a modified 20x2 VFD display. A vacuum fluorescent display (VFD) is a display device commonly used on consumer electronics equipment. VFD emits a very bright light with high …

Project  DIY Zambretti Weather Forecaster on VFD Display

DIY Zambretti Weather Forecaster on VFD Display

“Weather forecaster, which displays the weather forecast on the screen in the form of descriptive text. Story In one of my previous videos, I described how to make a cheap Advanced Barometer, used by sailors, yachtsmen, etc. It is a …

Project  Easiest Way to Connect Any VFD Serial Display to Arduino

Easiest Way to Connect Any VFD Serial Display to Arduino

“This is a nice retro-look weather station and clock that I made with a POS VFD display for which I did not have any data and information. The device is very simple to build and contains only a few components …