Intro and Nixies

From: ajp166 <ajp166_at_bellatlantic.net>
Date: Tue Nov 14 17:47:19 2000

From: THETechnoid_at_home.com <THETechnoid_at_home.com>


>Aren't the NIXIES you mention vaccume tubes with letters or numbers in
>them? Used as displays WAY back when?
>
>Ed Kirby at Computer Parts Barn has a few of those he might sell.


Nixies are not vacuum tubes they are filled with neon or neon/argon
gasses
for the characteristic neon orange glow.

There were VF displays, those were litterally Vacuum tubes (valves)
where the plate surfaces were phosphor coated and had a filiment
and even a grid for control use. These were an offspring from the
earlier
magic Eye tubes (tuning eyes and bars). these were more appealing
as the high voltages needed were in the 18-60 volt range at very low
current and their structures also allowed for easy multiplexing into
larger arrays.


Allison
Received on Tue Nov 14 2000 - 17:47:19 GMT