Delco Electronics Corporation

Michael B Thoeny

John Mark Dikeman

Alireza F Borzabadi

A glass envelope contains a silicon substrate which embodies an active matrix anode array, a microprocessor, and anode driving circuits. A small number of pins on the envelope couple display parameters and control signals to the microprocessor, and logic and anode signal voltages are supplied to the substrate. The microprocessor determines which pixels in the anode array should be energized and the driving circuit addresses the array and applies energizing voltage to the selected pixels. The driving circuit is supplied by the low signal voltage and includes a voltage level shifting function to increase the level by an order of magnitude to realize a voltage high enough for adequate display brightness. The display can be made small due to the small number of pins required.

Active matrix vacuum fluorescent display with microprocessor integration

A single glass envelope contains fixed anode segments on the glass surface and a silicon substrate mounted on the same surface. The silicon substrate contains an active matrix vacuum fluorescent anode array as well as serial interface circuitry and a driver circuit for each of the AMVFD and the fixed segment display to minimize the number of input pins in the lead frame of the envelope. Aluminum traces on the glass surface are wire bonded to the substrate and extend to the fixed segments and to the lead frame pins.

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Noblesville, IN, United States of America

Michael B Thoeny