JPH04274145A - Fluorescent character display tube with cable - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To connect a display substrate provided with a display element including a fluorescent character display tube, an operating switch and the like to a mother board having a drive portion for driving the element, the switch and the like via a flexible cable disposed in the fluorescent character display tube. CONSTITUTION:Each of control electrodes 4 housed inside an envelope 2, which is scanned by dynamic drive, is provided with an input terminal 5 and an output terminal 6 both projected from the envelope 2. A flexible cable 10 is connected to the input terminal 5. A scan signal is supplied from a CPU 24 to the control electrode 4 via the flexible cable 10. The scan signal is supplied from the output terminal 6 to an operating switch 21 mounted on a display substrate 23 with the envelope 2 disposed thereon.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fluorescent display tube having a flexible cable attached to an input terminal. Equipment with a variety of functions, such as audio devices such as CD players and mini-component stereos, and VTRs, are generally equipped with a large number of operation switches, as well as display elements to display operating status and functions. There are often multiple locations. Fluorescent display tubes are also used as one such display element, and generally a display section with multi-digit digital numbers and a display section with figures representing functions are arranged in one tube, and these are dynamically driven. It is now displayed. The present invention relates to a fluorescent display tube that is particularly convenient for use in such equipment.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art In conventional VTRs, audio sets, CD players, etc. as described above, display elements such as a fluorescent display tube 100 and an LED 101, key switches 102 for operation, etc. are used as shown in FIG. , are arranged on the display substrate 103. Also, the C that drives these
The PU 104 and the like are provided on a motherboard 105 that is separate from the display substrate 103. The display substrate 103 and motherboard 105 connect a fluorescent display tube cable 106, a key switch cable 107, an LED cable 108, and other functional elements to the CPU 10.
4 through a connector (not shown).

0003

Problems to be Solved by the Invention When the conventional fluorescent display tube 100 as described above is used in equipment, the following problems occur. ■ It takes time to assemble the device because it uses a large number of cables and connectors.
It was not easy to manufacture and was expensive.

[0004] The plurality of key switches 102 provided on the display board 103 of equipment such as the aforementioned audio set generally have a key matrix structure, and columns in one direction of the matrix are scanned. A signal is input from the CPU 104 to the column in the other direction. If the fluorescent display tube 100 provided on the display substrate 103 is dynamically driven to scan the control electrode 111 and provide a display signal to the anode 112, the scanning signal of the control electrode 111 is used as the signal for scanning the key matrix. It is common to share them. However, since the conventional fluorescent display tube 100 does not have an output lead, the control electrode 111 of the fluorescent display tube 100 and the key switch 102 are connected to each other on the display substrate 103.
cannot be connected. Therefore, motherboard 10
5, in addition to the signal line 109 for the fluorescent display tube 100,
Scanning signal line 1 of key switch 102 branched from this
10 is provided, and the control electrode 111 of the fluorescent display tube 100 and the key switch 102 of the display substrate 103 are connected via the scanning signal line 110 and the key switch cable 107. According to such a structure, the number of required cables increases, causing the problems shown in (■).

[0005] The conventional fluorescent display tube 100 requires a special mounting jig to be mounted on the display substrate 103, which increases the number of parts and causes an increase in cost.

[0006] The present invention makes it possible to connect the display board and the motherboard with only the flexible cable provided on the fluorescent display tube, thereby omitting other cables, and furthermore, it is possible to connect the display board and the motherboard using only the flexible cable provided on the fluorescent display tube. The purpose is to provide fluorescent display tubes.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The cable-equipped fluorescent display tube of the present invention is a dynamically driven cable-equipped fluorescent display in which a flexible cable is connected to an input terminal conducting to an electrode in an envelope, and the electrode is scanned. The tube is characterized by having a scanning signal output terminal electrically connected to the electrode to be scanned.

The cable-equipped fluorescent display tube may further include a non-contact input terminal that is not electrically connected to the electrode, and a non-contact output terminal that is electrically electrically connected to the non-contact input terminal within the envelope.

In the cable-equipped fluorescent display tube, the flexible cable may be formed of a thin metal wire connected to the input terminal and a flexible insulating material covering the thin metal wire. Further, in the cable-equipped fluorescent display tube, the output terminal may be a hard terminal, and the output terminal may be attached to a display substrate.

0010

[Operation] The electrode in the envelope that is scanned by dynamic driving has an input terminal and an output terminal protruding from the envelope, and a flexible cable is connected to the input terminal. When a scanning signal is applied to the electrodes via this flexible cable, the scanning signal can be applied from an output terminal to a switch or the like on the board on which the envelope is provided.

[0011]

[Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The fluorescent display tube 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a box-shaped envelope 2 maintained in a high vacuum atmosphere, an anode 3 equipped with a phosphor serving as a light-emitting display section, a control electrode 4, and an electronic It has a basic structure that houses a cathode (not shown) that emits . The anode 3 is configured to display arbitrary numbers in seven segments arranged in a Japanese character shape, and also to display predetermined functions. This fluorescent display tube 1 is dynamically driven to emit light, and in this embodiment, a scanning signal is applied to the control electrode 4, and a display signal is applied to the anode 3 at an appropriate timing to produce a desired light emission display. It is meant to be done.

The various electrodes are each connected to a plurality of input terminals 5 made of thin metal wires protruding from the envelope 2, so that signals can be input from the outside.

Further, the fluorescent display tube 1 has an output terminal 6 connected to the control electrode 4. The output terminal 6 protrudes from the side opposite to the input terminal 5 of the envelope 2, and is constituted by a hard pin having sufficient rigidity. If a scanning signal is applied to the control electrode 4 via the input terminal 5, this scanning signal can be taken out from these output terminals 6.

Furthermore, this fluorescent display tube 1
It has a non-contact input terminal 7 which is not related to the drive of , and a non-contact output terminal 8 which is directly connected to this non-contact input terminal 7 within the envelope 2 and protrudes to the opposite side of the envelope 2. . These non-contact input/output terminals 7, 8
Electrical conduction within the envelope 2 is provided by aluminum thin film wiring 9 provided on a substrate forming a part of the envelope 2. That is, these non-contact input/output terminals 7,
Reference numeral 8 does not provide signals to the various electrodes of the fluorescent display tube 1, but simply provides wiring that passes through the envelope 2 without being electrically connected to these electrodes at all. Note that it is preferable that the number and pitch of the non-contact input terminals 7 are appropriately set together with the input terminals 5 so as to meet the standards of flat cables and connectors as much as possible.

A flexible cable 10 is connected to the input terminal 5 and the non-contact input terminal 7. This flexible cable 10 has each of the input terminals 5
and a plurality of thin metal wires 11 connected to the non-contact input terminals 7, respectively, and a flexible insulating material 12 that covers these thin metal wires 11 from both upper and lower surfaces.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fluorescent display tube 1 includes wiring of a display substrate 23 on which an LED display element 20, a matrix-structured operation switch 21, and a display element 22 for displaying functions are arranged. are connected to the output terminals 6 and 8 of the hard pins. The output terminals 6 and 8 also have the function of attaching and fixing the fluorescent display tube 1 to the display substrate 23. As a result, on the display substrate 23, the non-contact output terminal 8 is connected to one row of the LED display element 20, the function display element 22, and the operation switch 21, and the output terminal 6 of the control electrode 4 is connected to the operation switch. 21 scan columns.

Further, the flexible cable 10 of the fluorescent display tube 1 is connected via a connector 26 to a motherboard 25 on which a CPU 24 is provided. As a result, on the motherboard 25, the input terminal 5 of each electrode other than the control electrode 4
are connected to each drive circuit via a flexible cable 10, and the non-contact input terminal 7 is also connected to each drive circuit.

As described above, according to this embodiment, all display elements other than the fluorescent display tube 1 and the operation switches 21 and the like are connected to the motherboard 25 through the fluorescent display tube 1. That is, the LED display element 20, which is a display element other than the fluorescent display tube 1, and the operation switch 21 are connected to the non-contact output terminal 8 provided on the fluorescent display tube 1 and the output terminal 6 provided on the control electrode 4, and The input terminals on the display tube 1 side are combined into one flexible cable 10 and connected to the motherboard 25 side.

Therefore, when the scanning signal of the operation switch 21 is shared with the scanning signal of the control electrode 4, the wirings 109 and 110 are branched on the motherboard side as in the conventional example shown in FIG. , 107 to connect the fluorescent display tube 100, the key switch 102, and the motherboard 10.
There is no need to connect 5 and 5 separately. That is, Figure 1
and 2, the motherboard 25 and the fluorescent display tube 1
If these are connected with one flexible cable 10, the scanning signal given to the operation switch 21 can be obtained from the output terminal 6 on the display board 23. That is, the key switch cable 107 shown in FIG. 3 can be omitted.

Furthermore, even when signals are not shared, connection can be made via the fluorescent display tube 1 using the non-contact input/output terminals 7, 8, so that the conventional LE shown in FIG.
The D cable 108 can also be omitted.

In the embodiment described above, the control electrode 4 is scanned in the dynamically driven fluorescent display tube 1, but the anode may also be scanned. Further, in this embodiment, the flexible cable 10 was provided on one side of the envelope 2 of the fluorescent display tube 1, and the output terminals 6 and 8 were provided on the opposite side. The flexible cable 10, which is the input side, and the output terminals 6, 8 may be arranged in parallel on the same side. In that case, there may be output terminals on both sides of the flexible cable 10, or output terminals may be lined up on one side.

[0022]

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. (2) Since an output terminal is provided on the scanning electrode of the dynamically driven fluorescent display tube, the scanning signal for the key matrix can be obtained from the output terminal. Therefore, the number of cables and connectors for connecting the display board with the fluorescent display tube or key matrix and the motherboard with the drive circuit can be reduced compared to the conventional technology, which simplifies the structure and reduces costs.

[0023] ■ A cable for a key switch connecting the motherboard and the display board, a cable for a display element other than a fluorescent display tube, etc. is integrated with a flexible cable of the fluorescent display tube, and the connection connects the fluorescent display tube. It is now done through Therefore, the number of cables and connectors conventionally used for connection can be reduced, and costs can be reduced.

[0024] Since the output terminal is constructed with hard pins, there is no need to use a special mounting jig to attach the fluorescent display tube to the display substrate, making mounting easier.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a wiring state in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a connection state between a display substrate and a motherboard using a conventional fluorescent display tube.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the wiring state of FIG. 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

1... Fluorescent display tube, 2... Envelope, 3... Anode as an electrode,
4... Control electrode as an electrode, 5... Input terminal, 6... Output terminal, 7... Non-contact input terminal, 8... Non-contact output terminal, 10... Flexible cable, 11... Metal thin wire, 12... Insulating material.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. In a dynamically driven cable-equipped fluorescent display tube in which a flexible cable is connected to an input terminal conductive to an electrode in an envelope, and the electrode is scanned, an output of a scanning signal conductive to the scanned electrode. A fluorescent display tube with a cable, characterized in that it has a terminal. 2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a non-contact input terminal that is not electrically connected to the electrode, and a non-contact output terminal that is electrically electrically connected to the non-contact input terminal within the envelope.
Fluorescent display tube with cable as described. 3. The fluorescent display tube with a cable according to claim 1, wherein the flexible cable is formed of a thin metal wire connected to the input terminal and a flexible insulating material covering the thin metal wire. 4. The cable-equipped fluorescent display tube according to claim 1, wherein the output terminal is a hard terminal attached to a display board on which an operating switch is disposed.