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A Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD's) is widely accepted as a superior display device because of its impressive self-luminance and high reliability. VFD's for automotive applications have been used to convert signals to visual digital information. Now, in addition to digital style images, analog image displays are being requested for a wider choice of style. Furthermore, bright and clear display appearance and additional function are feasible by adopting the VFD technology to a pointer display application like mechanical speedometers or tachometers. This paper discusses the development of the large scale analog pointer image VFD for automotive use.

VFD has occupied a superior position as an automotive information display device because of its self emissive high luminance, high reliability, and excellent readability. Recently, most VFD applications have demanded more flexible graphic design capability, reduction of development cost, and short lead time. To respond to these demands, the Universal Grid VFD was developed and mass produced for consumer applications. Taking advantage of its free design capability and unique driving method, Universal Grid VFD was adapted to automotive applications (ECC, ETR, Odo/Trip Meter) and achieved 1700 cd/m2 luminance at 12V and 1/3 duty anode/grid operation. This paper discusses the development of Universal Grid VFD, its characteristics and reliability.

Vacuum Fluorescent Displays (VFDs) have been widely accepted for automotive applications in the U.S. and other countries because of their excellent performance capabilities such as high luminance, high reliability and low voltage operation. Recently, more compact and lightweight VFD packaging has been requested for use in limited-space applications and to achieve smaller overall system size, while concurrently pursuing a higher graphic-to-glass area ratio and maintaining VFD's excellent viewing angle capability. An Ultra Light Vacuum Fluorescent Display (UL VFD) has been developed to meet these challenges which has 14% thinner package thickness and 30% larger available graphic area compared to conventionally produced VFD. This paper discusses the development of UL VFD and its subsequent evaluation and testing.

Front Luminous Vacuum Fluorescent Display is a variation of the vacuum fluorescent display technology which offers improvements in the areas of visibility, viewing angle, operating temperature range, and life. This technology has been discussed since the invention of the conventional vacuum fluorescent display (VFD) because of its structural similarity to the CRT. Today, Front Luminous Vacuum Fluorescent Display (FLVFD) technology is becoming a production reality. Since July, 1980, the following areas have been studied and evaluated to bring FLVFD to the state of commercialization: (1) Design study and trial production (2) Development of the transmissive anode and wiring pattern forming technology (3) Development of the phosphor coating technique (4) Study of the visual recognition characteristics (5) Reliability evaluation

Today, there are several kinds of display technologies used in the automobile. Of these technologies, the Vacuum Fluorescent Display has the following advantages: 1. Excellent readability under high ambient light conditions 2. High reliability under severe environmental conditions 3. Multicolor capability 4. Large glass size 5. Graphics flexibility As a result, the Vacuum Fluorescent Display technology is the major type of display technology used in the automobile application. A design trend in the industry is toward the use of graphic displays because of the need to display more information, and to reduce the cost and space factor. Until recently, vacuum fluorescent graphic displays of large area and high resolution had been limited by the lower brightness due to the low duty factor driving condition.