Products > Test Equipment

Is there a handheld multimeter with a VFD display?

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Kean:
Most vacuum fluorescent displays are a bit large and fragile, but there were some smaller ones made for calculators.

I seem to recall there was a calculator with some multimeter functions - maybe from Heathkit or Sinclair?
Anyone recall that, and if it was VFD, LED, or LCD?

Retep:

--- Quote from: TobyG on November 19, 2024, 08:30:12 am ---Guess the big downside there would simply be battery life, but that didn't seem to be much of an argument for, say calculators, either.

--- End quote ---

Until LCD's became a viable alternative. Besides battery life, there also cost (of the display itself and the electronics driving it), size, weight and fragility why you won't see VFD's being used in handheld calculators anymore.

Martin72:
Besides the mechanical problems already mentioned, I consider the power consumption to be out of the question, as an example, a relatively small display is mentioned:
https://www.mouser.de/datasheet/2/298/norc_s_a0000255720_1-2279662.pdf

350mA is way too much for portable use.
There are VFDs that consume less power, but still more than 100mA.

floobydust:
The VFD was introduced at the 1967 Society for Information Display (SID) symposium by Tung-Sol (Wagner Electric).
I imagine it was a single bottle (digit) like the digivac DT-1704. I have some as GE Y-1938.  pics: Dieter's Nixie World

There is an aggressive sea of patents on VFD's. Futaba seems to have been first to make them small.
"... VFD's in multi-digit form ... they are only made in Japan" source 1973
In the 1970's, display technology competition was fierce. I think the VFD lost out for some reason due to no real manufacturing base in the USA or patents.

One problem is vacuum fluorescent displays needs more power, at least 1W (filaments) including the DC-DC converter.
So they were not so great for battery-powered devices.
But it is strange there were many pocket calculators using VFD displays, although an AC adapter was the norm with them.
I've never seen or recall VFD's being used in any portable/handheld test equipment. Just calculators.

Of the portable multimeters that emit photons as I call it, I only know of the Sinclair PDM35 handheld 3-1/2 digit used LED bubble displays.

BeBuLamar:
First I think VFD consumes more power than LCD. Besides from being fragile it fades and if you use in bright light like working outside during the day the display may not be visible well. LCD can be back lit in dark places. My Fluke 8050A LCD is still fine after all these years but the display on my Fluke 45 which is much newer is faded in some digits.

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