INDUSTRY'S FIRST 2-WIRE, 96-CHARACTER, 5 x 7 MATRIX, UNIVERSAL VFD CONTROLLER PROVIDES FONTS AND FILAMENT DRIVE CONTROL
SUNNYVALE, CA-November 18, 2002-Maxim Integrated Products (NASDAQ: MXIM) introduces the MAX6853, the industry'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 (6mm x 9.9mm) package, the MAX6853 uses a 2-wire, I2C-compatible bus to interface with the microprocessor and can control up to 96-character (48 grids/2 characters per grid), 5 x 7 matrix, VFD displays.
The MAX6853 drives either 96 characters (48 grids/2 characters per grid) or 48 characters (48 grids/1 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 synchronized 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 synchronization of drivers.
Operating from a 2.7V to 3.6V supply, the MAX6853 is specified over the standard automotive temperature range (-40°C to +125°C).
Prices start at $4.17 (1000-up, FOB USA).
SMBus is a trademark of Intel, Corp.
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