IV-22 VFD Module | 荧光管模块 设计之初就考虑到了外接电源与I、O接口的连接问题，同QS30-1辉光管显示模块一样，我也为她设计了专用的Adapter转接板。
原本，模块与模块之间均采用的是单排弯脚的8Pin排针和排母，这些针脚包括所有的控制I/O和电源接口，所以对于应用来讲，要连接电源适配器或者Arduino等控制模块需要朋友们自己动手用杜邦线连接，无法用MiniUSB线直接为模块供电，有了这个转接板，可以方便的使用DC3.5/1.35接口的直流电源或者MiniUSB接口直接为模块供电，见下图：
VFD tube, vacuum fluorescent display, which was invented in Japan in 1967, typifies the display component of the vacuum electronic era.
Just as the Nixie Tube, VFD tube is also on the verge of extinction. It has been fade out from modern applications since the 1990’s. Young generations may have never seen its limpid cyan fluorescence, given life by the intelligence of the last century.
With the same concept of developing the Nixie Tube module for Arduino, in order to make the VFD tube reborn, combined antiquated electronics with modern technology, the VFD tube module is developed as independent blocks. Without headaches about high-voltage generation, logical driver, soldering, geekers can focus their time and energy on achieving the design idea of the final works. Meanwhile, for designers with no electronic background, Arduino is all they need, of which 4 I/O pins can supply full control on a dozens of VFD tube modules with individual RGB led background lights. Other MCU systems or developer kits would do the same.
Thanks aGuegu for testing my VFD tube moudle first-handed and developmet of its Arduino library.
The technology of VFD is still widely used nowadays, however, no more in tubes. VFD screen is Hi-fi equiment, Automobile instrument panels. This device consists of a hot cathode (filaments), anodes (phosphor) and grids encased in a glass envelope under a high vacuum condition. The cathode is made up of fine tungsten wires, coated by alkaline earth metal oxides, which emit electrons when heated by an electric current. These electrons are controlled and diffused by the grids, which are made up of thin metal. If electrons impinge on the phosphor-coated plates, they fluoresce, emitting light. Constract to the Nixie tube, it requires lower supply voltage, which means is safer and longer life expectancy.
This module application use model IV-22 (ИВ-22) VFD tube, dimensioned as a rectangle of 32mm * 22mm. It display on top with 12 pins. These batch of tube were mass manufactured in former Soviet Union during the Cold War, whereas, they are stored in warehouse corners and being forgotten. But its material guarantees its unlimited shelf life.
The specifications of IV-22 VFD tube:
1. High vacuum inside, unlike the inertia in nixie tube.
2. Lower vlotage requirement and energy consumption. The filament voltage is between 1.0 and 1.3 volt, working both on DC and AC. The voltage of anodes (phosphor) against grids is 22-30v. The current in filament is 100mA, while 4-10mA in grids.
3. Seven-segment digital display, can present decimal figures and basic letters.
4. Cyan colored, bright light with high contrast, visible even in daylight, and not Glare.
Check some photos, and more description comes afterwards.
English version of this post: IV-22 VFD Module for Arduino [hardware design]
荧光数码管|VFD tube，最早于1967年诞生在日本，属于真空电子时代的显示器件的典型代表之一。
同辉光数码管(Nixie tube)一样，她也属于濒临绝迹的古老电子器件，也是电子技术发展的历史见证之一，上世纪末便淡出人们的视野；
但现如今，假如你真的见到那清澈透亮的淡绿色荧光，相信你一定会感叹当年的智慧竟能将冰冷的真空管赋予如此有生命力的色彩…
带着与辉光管同样的想法，为了赋予她新的生命，使古老的器件与现代技术相结合，这次依然把她们做成了一个个独立的显示模块，让喜爱她的朋友，把更多的精力和时间投入到创意和制作当中，而不必去烦恼如何产生高压、如何整理逻辑驱动、如何焊接和制作……同样，无需硬件基础，只需要一个最简单的单片机系统，或者Arduino系统板，4条IO口线，即可完成对几十个荧光管的显示控制，而且每个模块还带有一个RGB全彩LED可做背光显示。
首先还是要感谢aGuegu在第一时间协助测试荧光管显示模块，并开发了Arduino类库。
荧光显示(VFD | Vacuum Fluorescent Display)技术 在现如今仍旧大量应用，只不过已经不是这种真空电子管的表现形式，现代的VFD显示屏频频出现在高端的音响设备、智能终端以及高档仪器仪表上。荧光管内部有灯丝，在低电压作用下会向外射出电子，同时荧光管内部有一个栅极，电子在栅极的吸引下会加速射向阳极，当电子撞击到阳极上覆盖的荧光粉后，即发出淡绿色的可见光；相对辉光管来说，她的驱动电压更低，更安全，而且寿命和辉光管相比大大延长，所以，在荧光管诞生之后，辉光管便渐渐让位与她。
这次的荧光管显示模块采用的是前苏联产的IV-22（ИВ-22）型荧光数码管，类似长方体的玻璃管身，长32mm，宽22mm，顶部显示方式，插拔式12脚封装。这些荧光数码管在上世纪冷战时期曾经被前苏联大量制造，现如今都静静的躺在某些仓库的冰冷角落，但她的材料特性决定了她的保质期将是无限的长。
IV-22荧光数码管具有以下特点：
1、属于真空器件。内部为真空，不像辉光管内部有惰性气体。
2、较低的驱动电压。IV-22荧光管需要两组工作电压，一是灯丝电压，1v-1.3v之间，交直流均可；二是阳极和栅极电压，直流22v-30v左右，相对于辉光管来讲，驱动电压更低，更安全；并且工作电流很小，灯丝电流100mA左右，阳极电流在4-10mA之间。
3、采用7段显示排列。可任意组合为0-9的数字，或者简单的英文字母。
4、柔和的淡绿色。荧光粉固有的色彩，在阳光下依然能够清晰可变，清澈透亮但不刺眼。
还是先看一下实物图片，然后再做详细介绍吧：