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VFDs (like LCDs) Help with US-only Ebay seller?


DrBunsen
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Hi,

I've spotted an auction for some nice-looking Vacuum Fluorescent Displays on Ebay, but the seller's information says he will strictly only sell to buyers in the USA.

They are 2x20 VFDs, information here http://www.noritake-elec.com/tversion.htm.  He is selling them in pairs for a pretty reasonable price.  

EDIT:  I note the following thread has some information on compatibility. http://www.midibox.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=parts_q;action=display;num=1061702584;start=6#6.  Please don't buy anything for me until I've checked this out. /EDIT

If anyone in the States would like to bid on a pair for me (and snap up the rest while you're at it if you like  ;D ), I could airmail you a US dollar money order for the cost and shipping, or Paypal if I get it sorted out soon...

I have written to the seller asking for compatibility information and if I can bid, but I have had no reply.  I'll take that as a "No"...

The auction listings are here:  NB the first two finish today, and the last one in two days time.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4660&item=2554732235

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=162&item=2749987447

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4660&item=2554732235

EDIT:  I found some more, different sizes, some graphic, some in Europe, some ship internationally:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2554708298&category=26206

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3044426883&category=12070

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2555227621&category=26206

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2555033053&category=36811

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3428835303&category=32897

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2555556193&category=26206

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Precisely right. Nortake U series is HD44780 compatible (with a few minor differences,  I assume you've checked out the datasheet) and apparently the "W" models are a subset of this line as well.

The "T" series are totally different, however...

EDIT:

Here's a note on the differences between the "U" version and standard HD44780:

"The VFD instructions are very similar to a standard parallel data LCD except for the data line addresses, which have different values."

And brightness is controlled via software, don't have any idea what impact this has on the MIOS LCD code...

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  • 5 years later...

So like a schmuck, I checked the above links, they are no longer valid, probably because they are dated from five years ago..

What I CAN tell you is that I use Noritake/Itron 2X20 VFD displays in all my projects.

The specific part I use is  CU20025ECPB-U1J. I have a PDF data sheet available if anyone wants it.

They are definitely MIOS compatible, and you can see one in the pics I have posted for the MBMixer project.

Some differences from "standard" LCDs:

These use a bit more power than an LCD, so check your regulator heatsink.

These do not use the brightness or contrast controls from the core, but as noted above you can control brightness from the code. I think there are 16 levels available.

I have also written 4 bit code for other projects. I have not tested the 4 bit MIOS code, but I doubt there would be any problem.

The displays I have include the vertical bars needed for the bargraph display mode of MBMixer level settings. I don't know how common those are, but the docs describe what and where these special characters are.

I hope this helps someone..??

LyleHaze

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