"BoborAnn" wrote in message
...
I have a Sony DTC 700 DAT tape transport that the display has gone blank
on.
This is a blue display that can be turned off entirely or partially or the
intensity changed
I don't know the technology but it appears to be a gas based display given
the display unit shows the remains of the glass connections used to
evacuate
it and has an intact getter
I've probed around and it seems odd that the unit is provided a 4-5 VAC
source.
Hoping somebody can provide some guidance on what these displays are
called
and how they work so I can keep this unit out of a landfill
Aside from the display the unit runs fine
Thanks in advance
Bob



It's a VFD, vacuum fluorescent and works on a similar principal as a CRT.
The AC voltage is for the heated cathode wires, there should be several
stretching horizontally which may glow a dull red if you turn the lights
out. IIRC you need about 30v on the anodes (display segments) to light them
and there's usually also a control grid in between sections of segments and
the cathode wires.