Post by thread:$15 VFDs

Mike, I've been testing a Futaba 20 x 2 VFD engineering sample, P/N NA202SD01BA2. I'm testing it with a 16F876 and I'm impressed with it. It's actually easier to talk to than the standard Hitachi parts while it's nearly 100% compatible. Some notes: 1. Like all VFD's, it's `power-hungry'... 450ma max, 350ma typical from a single 5V supply. 2. Blue'ish-green display. Excellent luminance, contrast, and viewing angle. 3. Pin compatible with standard Hitachi-based LCDs (ie: Optrex) with the exception of the contrast pin which is controlled by software in the Futaba display. You can program 6 levels of luminance. You simply leave the contrast pin (3) open. It has the standard 7 x 2, 14-pin pad layout. 4. Jumpers on the back for Motorola (Optrex), Intel, or Asynchronous Serial interfaces. Motorola (Optrex) is default. The serial interface supports 9600 and 1200 Baud. Just add a RS-232 (ie: MAX232) interface and you have a stand-alone RS-232 display. I've only used the default interface so far. I'm looking at a `drop-in' replacement for a few projects where power is not a problem. 5. 224 character ASCII and Katakana (say that fast eleven times ;-) character set. Note, it only supports four custom characters since the other address' are used for commands. Custom characters are not Bit-mapped like Hitachi displays but it's still trivial to generate them. 6. No RS line! The commands are embedded in the character codes that would normally be used for custom characters. Several commands accept multiple parameters. The following describes the commands: Command (Hex) Data Bytes Description ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 03 6 Define user character. 04 1 Set Display luminance level. 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100%. 08 N/A Backspace. 09 N/A Horizontal Tab. 0D N/A Clear the entire display. 0F N/A Display character 7F (solid block) in all positions. 10 1 Set cursor position (0 - 39). 17 1 Dotted Cursor Control: Cursor Only; Data is re-displayed when cursor is advanced. Blink; Alternately display cursor and data. Cursor off. 1B - 1E N/A Display User characters. 1F N/A Software Reset. 7. The parallel interface is trivial. Just E and R/W. You don't have the delays you have with Hitachi parts. Just send the data as fast as you want. Note, the RS line must either be held High or disconnected. All in all, I think it took me around 15 mins to modify my standard LCD routines. On the hardware side, all I did was remove the contrast pot and hold the RS line High. - Tom At 11:13 AM 1/23/00 -0500, Mike DeMetz wrote: >In the 1/00 issue of Nuts&Volts, Resources Un-Ltd. has Futaba >2x20 VFDs for $15 or 3/$39. Model M202SD, serial or parallel >inetrface, 5V/350mA. The ad says drop in replacement for LCDs >but it is not clear if this means pin/code compatible. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tom Handley New Age Communications Since '75 before "New Age" and no one around here is waiting for UFOs ;-)

Erm are those starburst displays then? ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dave VanHorn" <spam_OUTdvanhornTakeThisOuTCEDAR.NET> To: <.....PICLISTKILLspam@spam@MITVMA.MIT.EDU> Sent: 23 January 2000 19:02 Subject: Re: $15 VFDs {Quote hidden}> > In the 1/00 issue of Nuts&Volts, Resources Un-Ltd. has Futaba > > 2x20 VFDs for $15 or 3/$39. Model M202SD, serial or parallel > > inetrface, 5V/350mA. The ad says drop in replacement for LCDs > > but it is not clear if this means pin/code compatible. > > I've dealt with their serial interface. It's easy, and only needs three > wires. > > Are you and ISP? > Are you tired of dealing with SPAM? > http://www.spamwhack.com >

Resources Un-Ltd. E-Mail unltd4uKILLspamtiac.net http://www.resunltd4u.com/ (Website appears to be down/missing) Orders (800) 810-4070; Tech (603) 668-2499; Fax (603) 644-7825 Lindsay Pallickal wrote: {Quote hidden}> > Sounds great, how do I order? Does Resources Un-Ltd. have an address or > phone number? > > Lindsay > > At 11:13 AM 1/23/00 -0500, Mike DeMetz wrote: > >In the 1/00 issue of Nuts&Volts, Resources Un-Ltd. has Futaba > >2x20 VFDs for $15 or 3/$39. Model M202SD, serial or parallel > >inetrface, 5V/350mA. The ad says drop in replacement for LCDs > >but it is not clear if this means pin/code compatible. > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Tom Handley > New Age Communications > Since '75 before "New Age" and no one around here is waiting for UFOs ;-) -- Jason ======================================== Website: http://www.execpc.com/~milsumai E-Mail: .....milsumaiKILLspam.....execpc.com ICQ # : 12978762 ======================================== .:::. ,,, _(- -)_ / ( ) \ \_/ : \_/ |_/ \_| | | | -TRY PRAYER-