Add your plasma display or VFD here

Conundrum, Sat Aug 04 2018, 01:32PM

Hi, though I've been a bit quiet recently have been working on "ice cube" and bargraph tubes with the aim of using them for various display purposes.



These are a step up from simpler units, and with more advanced (ie 2018) microcontrollers screen burn isn't the annoyance it used to be.
Even very badly damaged screens can be repurposed albeit with lower brightness using the "active reversal" technique invented by Sprite_tm
I had some success with my damaged DM160 indicator (don't ask!) if you leave them long enough with voltage but minimal heater they eventually do somewhat recover. Perhaps somehow the thorium gets re-deposited back on the heater?! also a good tip is to see if any segments work. With severely burned units the DPs are often fine and can be used for certain applications.
Incidentally a good source can be old defunct VCRs and microwave front panels where the risks are minimal if you ONLY take the front panel off using the well known Dremelation technique to save having a huge long PCB panel in your project.
But be careful with the dust!

Units with slightly white getters *may* still be OK if they aren't completely up to air: if you have access to vacuum pump they can be reactivated as neon tubes if everything else is working and look other worldly.
I also came up with the idea of using PEDOT:PSS on the *outside* on damaged neon screens from pinball units, or take a segment from an old DS touch screen to make a replacement secondary electrode. Won't be perfect but good enough for some applications. The neon gas fill rarely is the problem and in my experience any transparent conductor will work such as: ITO, ATO (toxic but fine for small displays), etc.



-A