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Programmable Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD)
An anonymous reader writes "There is a review of a programmable Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD). It is used to monitor computer related stats e.g. temperture, voltages, uptime etc.
The article can be found here.
Looks like an interesting toy!"
This is no different than a normal serial LCD/VFD.. All the "programming" has to be done on the computer side.
-- V
Happy New Year - mse
Fiat Lux.
Matrix-Orbital have been selling them for ages.
It's nothing new..
I didn't see the price in the review, but after a little poking around, Matrix Orbital's website lists this VFD at $123.12.
Pick up any HD44780 compatible LCD, and hook it up to your parallel port. There's a driver for linux that controls this using the same commands that Matrix Orbital uses. However, a 20x4 LCD will run less than $10.00 at many on-line parts houses. I use one for my digital jukebox project.
Well, it actually does require software to give that info. It connects via serial port, see? It's not tied in to the chipset.
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there was an acticle on slashdot about the lcd screens from matrix orbital using some cool linux software
http://lcdproc.omnipotent.net/
$123 direct from their site. Not worth it, IMO.
Trolls lurk everywhere. Mod them down.
Displays are really popular things today. They're always trying to come up with something brighter and more efficient. These VFDs take the crown from the relatively new OLED technology. They operate at a wider temperature range (some research I did shows -20 C to 70 C). They also use less voltage (around 5VDC as compared to 8 of most OLEDs).
VFDs sound like the perfect backlighting technology to go into everything from phones to handheld consoles (the Gameboy Advance is seriously in need of something like this) as they would go easier on battery life thanks to the minute power draw and low temperature.
the byproduct of years of oppression by the white man
http://www.bit-tech.net/review/77/
http://www.matrixorbital.com/products/vk204-25.htm
The Slashdot-linked review didn't seem to have the price, either, and that is listed as between $123.12 and $148.12, depending on what features you wanted.
My
Limekiller
Apparently, you understand neither technology.
CRT: Fluorescent material glows when struck by electrons from a cathode in a vacuum tube.
VFD: Fluorescent material glows when struck by electrons from a cathode in a vacuum tube.
The only difference is that the CRT electrons are steered across the surface of the display with coils. The VFD simply places cathodes near a corresponding phosphorescent element.
So...not quite as different as you believe.
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You'd have to see one in person to really grasp the benefit. They are extremely bright and easy to read compared to backlit LCD displays and work in any temperature. A photograph can't capture this.
I installed one in the dash of my Jeep behind a pane of smoked plexiglass and the finished product looks totally professional.
I've been using a Matrix Orbital LCD for almost a year now and I'm pretty happy with it. The best software for it is definately LCDC (lcdc.planetdps.com). It works with windows, not linux but it is easily programmed to display almost anything you want.
LCDC interfaces with Motherboard Monitor to get temps, fan rpm's, and voltages. It also interfaces with WinAmp to get song titles and even graphic equalizer information.
Parallel displays can be had for much, much cheaper than matrix orbital's displays but LCDC doesn't (officially) support anything other than matrix orbital displays.
Also, I happen to know that Matrix Orbital is getting ready to release a USB version of their LK204-25PC (a 4x20 LCD with 12volt general purpose out's - great for controlling fans). It's going to be at least a couple months before they release a similar VFD device.
I'm pretty happy with mine but for me at least it definately falls into the 'neat' category instead of something truly usefull, like it would be on a headless server or home theatre PC.
Check out LCDC, the author did a great job on it, for sure.
They're neat displays, but hardly news. They have been selling these for at least 4 or 5 years. Before they started selling LCDs, I think.
/ a> LCD in my case, telling me all about what the computer is doing. It's brighter, bigger, easier to read, and has more features than similar MtxOrb LCDs, and costs significantly less. It even came with a drive bay mount so I didn't have to cut up my case. :)
Most people are better off spending $10 for a HD44780 LCD plus cables than spending $140 on a VFD. They're both well-supported and easy to display on, especially in linux.
I've currently got a <a href="http://www.crystalfontz.com/">CrystalFontz<