VFD...what is it?

LEDFreak · Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 8:20 am Post subject: VFD...what is it?

I noticed that some handhelds are VFD instead of LED. What is/are VFD anyway? I won a bid for a Entex VFD Super Cobra from Ebay...it looks good.
Is there a history of video games site that I can go to...one that explains the pros and cons of LED, LCD, VFD etc.?
Thanks

LEDFreak · Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 9:49 am Post subject:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacuum_fluorescent_display

Hey...just found this out myself...
Still really don't know what the difference is between this and LED. Have to read more carefully...

Rik · Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 10:34 am Post subject:

LEDs are basically just little dots (like the blips in Mattel football, or the round circles in many of the Baseball games).

VFDs give you the ability to create actual 'sprites' for graphics (thus in your Super Cobra, you are actually flying a little ship, instead of a little dot). And they can be multi-color (although LEDs can be different colors too). Basically, VFDs look MUCH better. Mr. Green

The only way I've ever seen companies try to get shapes out of an LED is to place it behind a piece of plastic (like Entex Space Invader).

As for how they are made, there's a big difference there too... LEDs are little 'lights' that are just arranged in a pattern. VFDs are actually sealed glass chambers with all sorts of components and are made specifically for each game (you couldn't use the display of Super Cobra in a Pac Man game)...

Check out this:
http://www.handheldmuseum.com/Coleco/ColecoRepair/index3.html
a little more than half way down there is a picture of the back side of a Pac-Man VFD display, and a link to Futuba's website (the manufacturer) with various info and diagrams on how they are made. That might be more info than you want Cool

but it should help...
Or go here:
http://www.futaba.com/products/displays/general_info/features/index.asp
and look at the ineteractive diagram at the very bottom of the page...

Rik

LEDFreak · Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 11:56 am Post subject:

Thanks, Rik!

blue6demon · Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2006 8:23 pm Post subject:

Very interesting website, never thought they still manufactured those. But now i'll see those radio display with a different eye !

Very instructive VFD interactive diagram.
_________________
Keep on playing... no matter what !

NE146 · Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 8:53 am Post subject:

And of course LCD, in the classic sense is your typical b&w Nintendo Game & Watch Smile