How VFD (Vacuum Fluorescent) Displays Work.
Extracted from a hacking video #717: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clUVEyi_YNM
Forum: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/blog/eevblog-1601-how-vfd-(vacuum-fluorescent)-displays-work/
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#ElectronicsCreators #VFD #Tutorial
Extracted from a hacking video #717: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clUVEyi_YNM
Forum: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/blog/eevblog-1601-how-vfd-(vacuum-fluorescent)-displays-work/
If you find my videos useful you may consider supporting the EEVblog on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/eevblog
Or with crypto:
BTC: 33BsprBQNBtHuVzVwDmqWkpDjYnCouwASM
ETH: 0x68114e40ff4dcdd384750500501e20acf3875f8c
BCH: 35n9KBPw9T7M3NGzpS3t4nUYEf9HbRmkm4
USDC: 0x68114e40ff4dcdd384750500501e20acf3875f8c
LTC: MJfK57ujxy55su4XicVGQc9wcEJf6mAoXF
Web Site: http://www.eevblog.com
Store: https://eevblog.store/
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EEVblog2: http://www.youtube.com/EEVblog2
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#ElectronicsCreators #VFD #Tutorial
How reliable, or lifespan of these VFD, in comparison to LCD type ones?
Ah, thanks to this explanation I now understand how they work; they're more like lots and lots of mini TVs!
I want to put one in a project
Could you do a video on FED / SED displays? They never became mainstream but the technology is super interesting
Next up "How VFD (Variable Frequency Drive) works"? 🙂
Not sure if you've seen it, but Korg (edited) has made a dual triode VFD based 'tube' they are selling. Yes it's just a VFD they are using for audio (it's also microphonic) and thus insanely expensive for a VFD. But, maybe it's worth a look and a chuckle. It's called the Nutube.
Great! I knew you could do it! 10 minutes! Even with several bloviating minutes in the beginning, this is a Gem! Do more!
Thanks
I like this vintage of Dave
One thing to add, some filaments can have quite a bit of voltage drop across them. This means you have a voltage gradient and the electron to anode voltage varies. Some controllers use AC on the filament to help that. On my board i just compensated by changing anode duty cycle
I need to know something important not addressed how much power does the filament draw. 3 3v ac at how many amps
Can we please bring back the OG EEVBlog style of videos? Dave talking next to a whiteboard for half an hour or so in a fundamentals friday video?
It's not really that hard to build a driver for a VFD. I've build them for plenty of salvaged displays. I just use a high voltage shift register to drive them. I wind a small transformer for the filament and drive it with a small H-bridge IC and use a boost converter to supply the anode voltage. It's pretty easy to figure out the pinouts since you can see a lot of the connections through the glass.
Dave's gone to the rejuvination clinic for an all natural overhaul!
I know VFD's are considered an obsolete tech now in the face of OLED/LCD etc. but that signature blueish-green glow and the magic of them being a hybrid tech somewhere between a Vacuum Tube and an over-simplified CRT keeps them in a special place in my heart.
Dave have you taken a look at the Korg Nutube? it's basically a VFD but used for audio applications.
VFD by far is one of the coolest display technology out there.
Korg is using this same VFD tech for triode substitutes in guitar pedals. I don't hear enough difference between their NuTube pedals and similar pedals with bog standard small signal diodes to justify a higher pricetag.
Very much enjoying my Suprim X 4080 Super having got one to replace a dead 2080ti 😊 – I have 60hz 4K monitors atm so for now I'm enjoying the silence at 200W or so 😂
I wonder what the D in VFD stands for?
They really are nice to look at. Interesting to see just how they work too.
I've heard you can use these as little audio preamp tubes… If I knew what I was doing a bit more I'd try it out. Maybe I should try it out anyway…
Peace.
Always loved VFDs, specially the ones that powered shelf stereo/mini systems displays. My old Sony MHC-DX7 had one and the spectrum visualizer was very crisp, colourful and fast, I miss it so much 😢.