How does the display show up in daylight, and does anyone know where such displays can be obtained from? Is it a variant with onboard screen memory?

Ta for any/all info

Assuming that everything's working right (the display is set to full brightness, you've got the more recent antireflective version of the panel, etc.), then the display is very readable in daylight. More so than many LCD or LED displays I've seen.

However, if you have the sun hitting it directly, i.e., the sun's rays are shining directly on the display pixels, then it's only barely readable. Depending on your definition of "readable", of course. Some would call it unreadable in direct sunlight since you have to stare pretty hard at it to be able to read it.

I don't know where to obtain those VFD displays, but as I understand it, they're not cheap. And the circuitry/software to support it isn't trivial, either.

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Tony Fabris

Ta for the info on the brightness - sounds good.

As for the displays themselves, I know they're not particularly cheap, but some of them are fairly simple to support - they have the video memory on board, and are simply accessed via an 8-bit bus. See for example http://202.241.158.226/english/cl/index.htm. I'd guess this is what the empeg uses, but can I find a source for these things in the UK (or anywhere)?

The link you gave is for a phosphor on silicon display (about 1/4 of the size of the empeg one). RIght company though - we use a MN12832E.

At the time, there were no ones with onboard memory (we provide all the PSU - 60v, 4.8v AC filament heater, 5v logic - and refresh it at around 200Hz with our own circuitry) but I believe they now do one on a PCB with memory & PSUs (though ISTR it's over 100 quid one off, and their one doesn't do anything fun like greyscales - that was my hack ;) ).

The website lists the Itron UK number as +44 (0)1493 601144, but no address.

Hugo

Ta very much for the info. I know the link was for the CL range, but it was the only page that showed they did on-chip memory stuff without having to go through the hassle of registering to get a datasheet in pdf.

I'd got itron's contact, but hoped that there might be a Maplinesque supplier too - I guess not.

cheers

Farnell sell some of their stuff, but not all. The only graphic VFD farnell sell is 256x64 intelligent module, but this will set you back 219+VAT (order code 481-713).

Hugo

Farnell sell some of their stuff, but not all. The only graphic VFD farnell sell is 256x64 intelligent module, but this will set you back 219+VAT (order code 481-713).

Ouch! Is baloon made of saphire?! One can have a TV set for that price... And then people wonder why is empeg so expensive...

Dragi "Bonzi" Raos
Zagreb, Croatia
Q#5196, MkII#80000376, 18GB green