RoHS 2002/95/EC Vacuum Fluorescent Display Module Specification Model: GU128X32-800B Specification No: DS-1329-0000-01 Date of Issue: April 6, 2006 Revision: May 1, 2006 : : : : PUBLISHED BY NORITAKE ITRON CORP. / JAPAN This specification is subject to change without prior notice. This product complies with RoHS Directive 2002/95/EC GU128X32-800B Table of Contents 1. General Description ..............................................................................................................................................2 2. Absolute Maximum Ratings .................................................................................................................................2 3. Electrical Characteristics .....................................................................................................................................2 4. Optical Specifications...........................................................................................................................................2 5. Environmental Specifications ..............................................................................................................................2 6. Description of Bus and Signals ...........................................................................................................................3 6.1 Parallel Interface .........................................................................................................................................3 6.2 Serial Interface ...........................................................................................................................................3 7. Block Diagram ...................................................................................................................................................3 8. Display Screen and Initialize Set ..........................................................................................................................4 8.1 Graphic Display (GRAM) .............................................................................................................................5 9. Function.................................................................................................................................................................7 9.1 Commands ..................................................................................................................................................7 9.2 Display On/Off (C/D= "1")..........................................................................................................................8 9.3 Brightness Set (C/D= "1")..............................................................................................................................8 9.4 Display Clear (C/D= "1") This command clears the GRAM. ....................................................................9 9.5 Display Area Set (C/D="1", only used for Initialize Set)...........................................................................10 9.6 GRAM Data Write position Address Set (Graphic Display) (C/D="1")........................................................11 9.6.1 GRAM Data Write Position X Address Set ..........................................................................................11 9.6.2 GRAM Data Write Position Y Address Set ..........................................................................................11 9.7 GRAM Display Start Position Address Set (C/D="1")................................................................................11 9.7.1 Horizontal Shift......................................................................................................................................11 9.7.2 Vertical Shift ..........................................................................................................................................11 9.8 Address Mode Set（C/D="1"） ................................................................................................................12 9.9 Address Read （C/D ="1"）...................................................................................................................12 9.10 Data Write to Graphic Display(GRAM) (C/D="0")....................................................................................13 9.11 Default Status at Reset ..............................................................................................................................14 9.12 FRP (Frame Pulse).................................................................................................................................14 10. Interface ................................................................................................................................................................15 10.1 Parallel Interface (Parallel #1) ...................................................................................................................15 10.1.1 Command Write operation ..................................................................................................................15 10.1.2 Command Read operation ..............................................................................................................15 10.1.3 Data Write operation .......................................................................................................................15 10.2 Parallel Interface(Parallel #2) ....................................................................................................................16 10.2.1 Command Write operation ..................................................................................................................16 10.2.2 Command Read operation ..................................................................................................................16 10.2.3 Data Write operation ...........................................................................................................................16 10.3.1 Timing .................................................................................................................................................17 11. Jumper ..................................................................................................................................................................18 11.1 Jumper Position.........................................................................................................................................18 11.2 Jumper Setting (Must be done when power is OFF)................................................................................18 12. Pin Assignment (See connector diagrams below) ..........................................................................................19 12.1 Signal Connection .....................................................................................................................................19 12.2 Connectors ..............................................................................................................................................19 13. Outline Dimension .............................................................................................................................................20 Notice for the Cautious Handling VFD Modules......................................................................................................21 1 GU128X32-800B 1. General Description 1.1 Construction: A 128X32 dot BD-VFD single board display module consisting of an 8 bit micro-computer, and a DC/DC converter. 1.2 Features: Simultaneous display of graphic. Flexible Display and Editing Functions. Compact design due to the application of a BD-VFD tube. 1.3 Dimensions: See attached drawings. 2. Absolute Maximum Ratings Parameter SymbolMin.Typ.Max. Unit Condition Logic Input Voltage VI -0.5 － Vcc +0.3 V － Power Supply Voltage Vcc 0 － 6.5 VDC － 3. Electrical Characteristics Measurement Conditions: 25°C / Vcc=5.0V Parameter SymbolMin.Typ.Max.Unit Condition "H" VIH 4.0 － － IIH= 2μA Logic Input Voltage VDC "L" VIL － － 1.0 IIL= ‐600μA "H" VOH 4.7 － － IOH=‐300μA Logic Output Voltage VDC "L" VOL － － 0.3 IOL= 300μA "H" VRH 4.0 － － VDC IRH= 5μA Reset Input Voltage "L" VRL － － 0.6 VDC IRL= ‐600μA Power Supply Voltage Vcc 4.75 5.00 5.25 VDC － － 450 600 VCC=+5V, All dots ON Power Supply Current Icc mA － 350 450 VCC=+5V, All dots OFF Notes: The rise time of Vcc should not exceed 100 ms. Icc may peak at power up may be more than twice the normal operating current 4. Optical Specifications Number of dots: 4096 (128X32) Display area: 83.05 mm x 20.65 mm (X x Y) Dot size: 0.5 mm x 0.5 mm (X x Y) Dot pitch: 0.65 mm x 0.65 mm (X x Y) 2 Luminance: 350cd/m (Min.) Color of illumination: Green (Blue Green) 5. Environmental Specifications Operating temperature: -40 to +85°C Storage temperature: -40 to +85°C Storage humidity: 20 to 80 % R.H(Non Condensation) Vibration: 10-55-10Hz, all amplitude 1mm, 30Min., X-Y-Z (Non operating) 2 Shock: 539m/s 10mS (Non operating) 2 GU128X32-800B 6. Description of Bus and Signals This module has serial and 2 types of parallel interface. Type of interface can be selected by jumper settings. Refer to 11 on page # 18 for details. 6.1 Parallel Interface Data Line Function D0 ～ D7 Data Bus (Input / Output) WR (R/W) Parallel #1: Write Signal, Parallel #2: R/W (Input) RD (ENCK) Parallel #1: Read Signal, Parallel #2: ENCK (Input) CSS Chip Select (Input) C/D Command / Data Select Signal (Input) C/D = "1" … Command C/D = "0" … Data FRP Frame Pulse Signal (Output) RESET RESET="0"… Reset (Input) Vcc Power Supply GND Ground 6.2 Serial Interface Data Line Function RXD Serial Input TXD Serial Output SCK Clock (Input) CSS Chip Select (Input) C/D Command / Data Select Signal (Input) C/D = "1" … Command C/D = "0" … Data FRP Frame Pulse Signal (Output) RESET="0"… Reset (Input) Active Low RESET Vcc Power Supply GND Ground 7. Block Diagram ():Parallel#2 D0～D7 RD(ENCK) Controller WR(R/W) Parallel C/D CSS Display Data FRP Writing Signal RESET RXD TXD Scan Control BD-VFD Detection Signal SCK Serial C/D Protection Graphic CSS Circuit Operation RAM FRP Detection Signal RESET Filament(AC) Vcc DC/DC Anode & Grid(DC) Converter GND 3 GU128X32-800B 8. Display Screen and Initialize Set The Display screen consists of 4,096 dots arranged as 128 by 32 dots. It is divided into 32 display area blocks of 16 by 8 dots each. Each display area block can be assigned to GRAM (Graphic mode) or DDRAM (Character mode) by the Display Area Set command. (9.5 Page #10) But, this is the version which has no Font ROM. Therefore, DDRAM is not available, all of display area block must be assigned to GRAM as the initialize setting, and this must be done when the module is powered up and also every time the reset is applied, because all display area blocks are set to DDRAM area as default setting. Initialize sequence is as follows; Initialize Set Start Display Clear C/D=1　　5FHex Wait 1mS n=0 C/D=1　　62Hex C/D=1　　0nHex Data Write C/D=0　　FFHex n=n+1 NO n=8? YES END 4 GU128X32-800B 8.1 Graphic Display (GRAM) GRAM consists of 16,384 bits arranged in 128 by 128 bit blocks with access is structured as 8 bits of vertical data. The detail of GRAM is as follows: GRAM Data Write Position Address X-Address 00･･････ ････････ ････････ ････････ 7FH D0 0H D1 1H D2 D3 2H D4 3H D5 0H D6 4H D7 1H 5H 2H 6H 3H 7H Y-Address 8H 9H AH BH CH DH EH FH GRAM Data Write 128bit Position Address (0H - FH) 5 64bit 128bit GU128X32-800B 8.1 Cont’d GRAM Display Start Position Address X-Address 00･･････ ････････ ････････ ････････ 7FH 00H D0 07H 08H D1 0FH D2 10H D3 17H D4 18H 1FH GRAM D5 20H Layer 0(X=00H, Y=00H) 0H D6 27H 28H D7 1H 2FH 30H 2H 37H 38H 3H 3FH Y-Address 40H 47H 48H 4FH 50H 57H 58H 5FH GRAM 60H Layer1(X=00H, Y=00H) 67H 68H 6FH 70H 77H 78H 7FH 128bit GRAM Display Start Position Address (00H - 7FH) This module has 2 layers - Layer 0 and Layer 1. Each layer in this display consists of 128 by 64 dots. Display merging using these 2 layers can be done with the Display ON/OFF command. Refer to 9.2 on page # 8 for details. Layer 0 has an area of 128x64 dots that starts from top left point defined by the GRAM Start Position Address. The area of Layer 1 is the next 128x64 dots. When the value of the GRAM Start Position Address X overflow = 7FH, the next position goes to 00H. When the value of the GRAM Start Position Address Y overflow = 7FH, the next position goes to 00H. For example: If the GRAM Start Position Address is set as X=02H, Y=08H, the area of Layer 0 is as follows; X=02H,03H,04H……7FH,00H,01H Y=08H,09H…………46H, 47H In this case, the area of Layer1 is as follows; X=02H,03H,04H……7FH,00H,01H Y=48H,49H…………06H,07H 6 32bit 128bit GU128X32-800B 9. Function 9.1 Commands D7 D6 D5 D4 D3 D2 D1 D0 Comments Command C/D 0 0 1 0 L1 L0 * * 1st Byte Display ON/OFF Display 1 EXO Control、 ON/OFF 0 GS 0 GRV AND * * 2nd Byte R 2 Byte Command Brightness 1 0 1 0 0 BW3 BW2 BW1 BW0 1 Byte 1 Byte Command Set Display 1 0 1 0 1 G1C G0C 1 HM 1 Byte 1 Byte Command Clear Display 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1st Byte Display Area is 1 Area SET 0 0 0 0 0 (A2 – A0) 2nd Byte assigned (Initialize) 3 Byte Command 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3rd Byte 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 * 1st Byte Graphic Display Data Write 1 X-Address Set, 2 Byte GRAM X-Address (GXA6～GXA0) 2nd Byte Position Command Address Graphic Address 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 ＊ 1st Byte Set 1 Y-Address Set, 2-Byte * * * * GYA3GYA2GYA1GYA0 2nd Byte Command Graphic Display 0 1 1 1 * * * * 1st Byte Display 1 Horizontal Shift, 2-Byte Start XA7 XA6 XA5 XA4 XA3 XA2 XA1 XA0 2nd Byte Command Position Graphic Display Address 1 1 0 1 1 UD S1 S0 * 1 Byte Vertical Set Shift, 1 Byte Command Address Address Increment, 1 1 1 0 0 0 * IGX IGY * 1 Byte Mode Set Byte Command Graphic Display 1 1 0 1 0 1 * * 1st Byte (GRAM) Horizontal Address 1 And Vertical Display * VG6 VG5 VG4 VG3 VG2 VG1 VG0 2nd Byte Read Start Address, 3 Byte HG7 HG6 HG5 HG4 HG3 HG2 HG1 HG0 3rd Byte Command Writes Data Data Write 0 WRITE DATA Graphic Data is 1 Byte * Either a “0” or a “1” is acceptable 7 GU128X32-800B 9.2 Display On/Off (C/D= "1") The GRAM Layer is selected with the 1st Byte of data. DDRAM (On/Off), GRAM (On/Off), DDRAM (reverse or normal modes), GRAM (reverse or normal modes) and display merge are selected by the 2nd Byte. Reverse mode toggles the representation of green in the foreground and black in the background to the exact opposite - green to back and black to the foreground. This is similar to the concept of reverse video. 1st Byte: MSB LSB 0 0 1 0 L1 L0 * * * Either a “0” or a “1” is acceptable < --------------------------- > < --------- > Command Select Display Control Data L1= (1 OR 0) = GRAM Layer 1 (Active OR Inactive) L0= (1 OR 0) = GRAM Layer 0 (Active OR Inactive) 2nd Byte: MSB LSB 0 GS 0 GRV AND EXOR * * * Either a “0” or a “1” is acceptable < --------------------------- ------------------- > Display Control Data GS= (1 OR 0) Graphic Display Area (GRAM) = (On OR Off) GRV= (1 OR 0) Graphic Display Area (GRAM) = (Reverse OR Normal) DS=”0”, GS= “0”: Stand-by mode 1st Byte 2nd Byte Action L1 L0 AND EXOR * * 1 * AND Display of Layer 1& 0 * * 0 1 EXOR Display of Layer 1& 0 1 1 0 0 OR Display of Layer 1& 0 1 0 0 0 Only Layer1 selected for display 0 1 0 0 Only Layer0 selected for display 0 0 0 0 Graphic Display Off * Either a “0” or a “1” is acceptable 9.3 Brightness Set (C/D= "1") The Brightness level of the display screen can be scaled by the following four bit control. Please note that the brightness is consistent across the illuminated pixels. There is no scaling of individual pixels. The display self-initializes to 100% brightness. MSB LSB 0 1 0 0 BW3BW2BW1BW0 < --------------------------- > < ---------------------------- > Command Select Brightness Level Data 8 GU128X32-800B 9.3 Cont’d Brightness levels are set by the following: BW3 BW2 BW1 BW0 Brightness Level 0 0 0 0 100%(Light) 0 0 0 1 94% 0 0 1 0 87% 0 0 1 1 81% 0 1 0 0 75% 0 1 0 1 69% 0 1 1 0 62% 0 1 1 1 56% 1 0 0 0 50% 1 0 0 1 44% 1 0 1 0 37% 1 0 1 1 31% 1 1 0 0 25% 1 1 0 1 19% 1 1 1 0 12% 1 1 1 1 6%(Dark) 9.4 Display Clear (C/D= "1") This command clears the GRAM. This command should always be applied at power on or reset. In the period of 1mS following the issue of this command, the module requires internal processing and does not accept any commands. MSB LSB 0 1 0 1 G1C G0C 1 HM < --------------------------- > < ---------------------------- > Command Select Clear Control Code To clear the GRAM area, G1C or G0C bit must be asserted. By asserting HM bit, both data write position address and display start position address which selected by G1C, G0C, DC also be reset. HM = (1 or 0) equals (Initialize data write position address and display start position address or Not initialize). G1C= (1 or 0) equals (GRAM area 1 is cleared or GRAM area 1 not cleared) G0C= (1 or 0) equals (GRAM area 0 cleared or GRAM area 0 not cleared) GRAM area 1: X= 00H-7FH, Y=0H – 7H (Display data write position address) GRAM area 2: X= 00H-7FH, Y=8H – FH (Display data write position address) 9 GU128X32-800B 9.5 Display Area Set (C/D="1", only used for Initialize Set) This command sets the display area block as Graphic Display (GRAM) or Character display (DDRAM). But, this is version which has no Font ROM. Therefore, DDRAM is not available, all of display area block must be assigned to GRAM as the initialize setting, and this must be done when the module is powered up and also every time the reset is applied. Setup is performed by 3-byte command. 1st Byte: (C/D="1") Command Select MSB LSB 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 < ------------------------------------------------------------ > Command Select 2nd Byte: (C/D="1") Display Area Data Address Select MSB LSB 0 0 0 0 0 A2 A1 A0 (0H – 7H) < ------------------ > Display Area Data Address 3rd Byte: (C/D="0") Display Area Block Select MSB LSB 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 < ------------------------------------------------------------- > Display Data D0 to D7 = "1": Graphic Display (GRAM) D0 to D7 = "0": Character Display (DDRAM, Not available) Display area block is assigned as follows on a screen. 8dot D0 D4 D0 D4 D0 D4 D0 D4 D0 D4 D0 D4 D0 D4 D0 D4 16dot D1 D5 D1 D5 D1 D5 D1 D5 D1 D5 D1 D5 D1 D5 D1 D5 1 2 34 5 6 7 0 Display Area Data Address(0 ～ 7H) 10 GU128X32-800B 9.6 GRAM Data Write position Address Set (Graphic Display) (C/D="1") This command specifies both X & Y data write position address. 9.6.1 GRAM Data Write Position X Address Set Data write position X address of GRAM expressed with 8 bits (00Hex-7FHex) is specified. Refer to 8.1 Graphic Display (GRAM) on Page #5. 1st Byte: Command Select MSB LSB * Either a “0” or a “1” is acceptable 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 * < ------------------------------------------------------------- > 2nd Byte: GRAM Data Write Position X Address MSB LSB 0 GXA6 GXA5GXA4GXA3GXA2GXA1GXA0 < ------------------------------------------------------------- > 9.6.2 GRAM Data Write Position Y Address Set Data write position Y address of GRAM expressed with 4 bits (0Hex-FHex) is specified. 1st Byte: MSB LSB * Either a “0” or a “1” is acceptable 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 * < -------------------------------------------------------------- > Command Select 2nd Byte: MSB LSB * * * * GYA3 GYA2 GYA1 GYA0 * Either a “0” or a “1” is acceptable < -------------------------- > 9.7 GRAM Display Start Position Address Set (C/D="1") 9.7.1 Horizontal Shift This command specifies the address that a display pattern can be positioned to by 8 bits (00Hex to 7FHex). This is equivalent to an offset in the X-axis. 1st Byte: MSB LSB 0 1 1 1 * * * * * Either a “0” or a “1” is acceptable < --------------------------- > Command Select 2nd Byte: MSB LSB XA7 XA6 XA5 XA4 XA3 XA2 XA1 XA0 < -------------------------------------------------------------- > GRAM Display Start Position Address 9.7.2 Vertical Shift This is equivalent to an offset Y-axis. MSB LSB * Either a “0” or a “1” is acceptable 1 0 1 1 UD S1 S0 * < --------------------------- > < ------------------ > Command Select Display Shift Data UD= "1": Display scrolled up. UD= "0": Display scrolled down. S1= "0", S0= "1": Display shift by 8 dots. S1= "1", S0= "0": Display shift by 1 dot. S1= "1", S0= "1": Display shift by 2 dots. 11 GU128X32-800B 9.8 Address Mode Set（C/D="1"） This command specifies the GRAM data write position address auto increment mode. MSB LSB 1 0 0 0 * IGX IGY * * Either a “0” or a “1” is acceptable < --------------------------- > < ---------------- > Command Select Address Mode data IGX = "1" : X-Address +1(increment) when writing to GRAM.(It not affect to Y-Address.) IGX = "0" : GRAM X address fixed mode IGY = "1" : Y-Address +1(increment) when writing to GRAM.(It not affect to X-Address IGY = "0" : GRAM Y address fixed mode. 9.9 Address Read （C/D ="1"） This command reads both vertical and horizontal display start position addresses of GRAM (Refer to sect. 8 - Display Screen and Initialize set on Page # 4). On the parallel interface, the data bus outputs the address until CSS goes high after the READY signal goes active (Parallel #1:RD=LOW, Parallel #2:R/W=HIGH). The Data bus becomes an input when other. On the serial interface, TXD outputs the data from SCK rising after command is issued until the CSS goes high. Refer to 10.Interface on Page #15. 1st Byte: MSB LSB * Either a “0” or a “1” is acceptable 1 1 0 1 0 1 * * < --------------------------- > Command Select MSB LSB 2nd Byte: * VG6 VG5 VG4 VG3 VG2 VG1 VG0 (Read) 3rd Byte: HG7 HG6 HG5 HG4 HG3 HG2 HG1 HG0 (Read) < -------------------------------------------------------------- > Vertical & Horizontal display start position address (GRAM) VG0 to VG6: Vertical display start position address HG0 to HG7: Horizontal display start position address 12 GU128X32-800B 9.10 Data Write to Graphic Display(GRAM) (C/D="0") Can be written into GRAM by setting GRAM X or Y data write position address. Example: Writing "EA Hex" sets "D1, 3, 5, 6, 7 =1" and "D0, 2, 4 =0". Input Data Display D0 D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 : Display ON 13 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 GU128X32-800B 9.11 Default Status at Reset When the reset is applied, the display self-initializes into the following status: GRAM Layer: Layer ( 0 ) Display ON/OFF: Display ( Off ) Display Area: All DDRAM (Character display area) All of display area block must be assigned to GRAM again as the initialize setting after reset is applied because DDRAM is not available. GRAM X-address: Fixed mode GRAM Y-address: Fixed mode Brightness Level: 100% Brightness The following precautions should be observed at power on, and after a reset: External Reset: After Vcc reaches 2.5V, the Reset level is "Low" for more than 1.5mS. Power-Up: The following sequence occurs: Data receive V CC≧2.5V Min 1. 5ms VCC<0.3V 0D0) on the rising edge of SCK. After the 8th clock edge, the data stream is RXD D7 D6 D5 D4 D3 D2 D1 D0 converted to 8 bit parallel data. Recognition of the RXD input as either data or command is th determined by C/D on the 8 pulse TXD SCK. D7 D6 D5 D4 D3 D2 D1 D0 (After Read Command) 10.3.1 Timing Min40nS CSS Min150nS Min80nS Min30nS Min0nS VAILD C/D Min80nS SCK 2nd 8th Min80 Min200nS nS Min40nS Min40nS WRITE RXD READ TXD Max150nS Min150nS Min0nS 17 J2 J1 GU128X32-800B 11. Jumper 11.1 Jumper Position Component side of board CN1 11.2 Jumper Setting (Must be done when power is OFF) J1 J2 Function 0 X Serial Interface Interface 1 1 Parallel #1 Interface (Default) 1 0 Parallel #2 Interface 1:Open 0:Short X: Open or Short 18 GU128X32-800B 12. Pin Assignment (See connector diagrams below) 12.1 Signal Connection Description Description Pin Pin Parallel Parallel No. Serial No. Parallel #1 Parallel #2 Serial #1 #2 1 D7 D7 × 2 GND GND GND GND GND GND 3 D6 D6 × 4 5 D5 D5 × 6 GND GND GND GND GND GND 7 D4 D4 × 8 9 D3 D3 × 10 GND GND GND GND GND GND 11 D2 D2 × 12 13 D1 D1 TXD 14 GND GND GND GND GND GND 15 D0 D0 RXD 16 ___ ___ GND GND GND 17 × 18 WR R/W __ __ __ 19 20 GND GND GND C/D C/D C/D ____ GND GND GND 21 ENCK SCK 22 RD ____ ____ ____ 23 24 GND GND GND CSS CSS CSS _______ _______ _______ 25 FRP FRP FRP 26 RESET RESET RESET 12.2 Connectors Power Connector: JST: B3B-XH-A or equivalent 2pin 3pin 1pin Pin No. Description 1 Vcc 2 Test (Factory Only) 3 GND PCB Data Connector IMSA: 9032B-26P or Equivalent 1pin 25pin PCB 26pin 2pin 19 GU128X32-800B 13. Outline Dimension 20 GU128X32-800B Notice for the Cautious Handling VFD Modules Handling and Usage Precautions: Please carefully follow the appropriate product application notes for proper usage, safety handling, and operation standards for maximum performance. [VFD tubes are made of glass] • Because the edges of the VFD glass-envelop are not smooth, it is necessary to handle carefully to avoid injuries to your hands • Please avoid breaking the VFD glass-envelop to prevent injury from sharp glass particles. • The tip of the exhaust pipe is fragile so avoid shock from impact. • It is recommended to allow sufficient open space surrounding the exhaust pipe to avoid possible damage. • Please design the PCB for the VFD-module within 0.3 mm warping tolerance to avoid any forces that may damage the display due to PCB distortion causing a breakdown of the electrical circuit leading to VFD failure. [High voltage] • Avoid touching conductive electrical parts, because the VFD-module uses high voltage exceeding 30～100 volts. • Even when electric power is turned off, it may take more than one minute for the electrical current to discharge. [Cable connection] • Do not unplug the power and/or data cables of VFD-modules during operating condition because unrecoverable damage may result. • Sending input signals to the VFD-module during a power off condition sometimes causes I/O port damage. • It is recommended to use a 30 cm or shorter signal cable to prevent functional failures. [Electrostatic charge] • VFD-modules needs electrostatic free packaging and protection from electrostatic charges during handling and usage. [Structure] • During operation, VFD and VFD-modules generate heat. Please consider sufficient heat radiation dissipation using heat sink solutions. • We prefer to use UL grade materials or components in conjunction with VFD-modules. • Wrap and twist motion causes stress and may break VFDs & VFD modules. Please adhere to allowances within 0.3mm at the point of attachment. [Power] • Apply regulated power to the VFD-module within specified voltages to protect from failures. • Because some VFD-modules may consume in rush current equal to twice the typical current at power-on timing, we recommend using a sufficient power capability and quick starting of the power regulator. • VFD-module needs a specified voltage at the point of connection. Please use an adequate power cable to avoid a decrease in voltage. We also recommend inserting a power fuse for extra protection. [Operating consideration] • Illuminating phosphor will decrease in brightness during extended operation. If a fixed pattern illuminates for an extended period,( several hours), the phosphor efficiency will decrease compared to the non operating phosphor causing a non uniform brightness among pixels. Please consider programming the display patterns to use all phosphor segments evenly. Scrolling may be a consideration for a period of time to refresh the phosphor condition and improve even illumination to the pixels. • We recommend using a signal cable 30cm or less to avoid some possible disturbances to the signal. [Storage and operating environment] • Please use VFD-modules under the recommended specified environmental conditions. Salty, sulfur and dusty environments may damage the VFD-module even during storage. [Discard] • Some VFDs contain a small amount of cadmium in the phosphor and lead in the solder. When discarding VFDs or VFD-modules, please adhere to governmental related laws or regulations. [Others] • Although the VFD-module is designed to be protected from electrical noise, please plan your circuitry to exclude as much noise as possible. • Do not reconstruct or repair the VFD-module without our authorization. We cannot assure the quality or reliability of unauthorized reconstructed VFD-modules. Notice: ･We do not authorize the use of any patents that may be inherent in these specifications. ･Neither whole nor partial copying of these specifications are permitted without our approval. If necessary , please ask for assistance from our sales consultant. ･This product is not designed for military, aerospace, medical or other life-critical applications. If you choose to use this product for these applications, please ask us for prior consultation or we cannot take responsibility for problems that may occur. 21