Product category: Analogue and Mixed Signal ICs
News Release from: Maxim Integrated Products | Subject: MAX6853
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial Team on 25 November 2002
VFD controller provides fonts and
filament drive
The MAX6853 is the world's first vacuum-fluorescent display (VFD) controller with embedded fonts, multiplex timing control, and filament timing for flicker-free displays.
The MAX6853 is the world's first vacuum-fluorescent display (VFD) controller with embedded fonts, multiplex timing control, and filament timing for flicker-free displays Available in a 16-pin QSOP (6 x 9.9mm) package, the MAX6853 uses a two-wire, I2C-compatible bus to interface with the microprocessor and can control up to 96-character (48 grids of two characters per grid), 5 x 7 matrix, VFD displays
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 27 Aug 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
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The MAX6853 drives either 96 characters (48 grids of two characters per grid) or 48 characters (48 grids of one character per grid).
Suited for displays with predominantly 5 x 7 matrix alphanumeric characters (with or without a decimal point), a full ASCII 104-character font and 24 characters of user-defined fonts are included on chip.
Each grid features an independent 16-step brightness control.
An additional cursor segment and up to four annunciators may be assigned per grid, each with independent two-phase blink control.
An internal output map works like a crosspoint switch to connect any tube-driver shift-register position to any grid or anode.
The driver is therefore compatible with any VFD tube-driver combination, including chip-on-glass (COG).
The output map allows a grid to be enabled more than once and multiple grids may be enabled together to support universal displays.
The MAX6853 also provides timing to generate PWM waveforms to bridge-drive the VFD filament easily from a DC supply.
The filament drive is synchronised to the display multiplexing to eliminate beat artifacts.
Dead-clock protection is built in, protecting the display in the event of a multiplex clock failure.
And, multiple devices can be cascaded to simplify communication and synchronisation of drivers.
Operating from a 2.7 to 3.6V supply, the MAX6853 is specified over the standard automotive temperature range (-40 to +125C).
Prices start at $4.17 (1000-up, FOB USA).
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