Noritake Itron’s high brightness VFD display modules provide keyboard designs with sub-16 key operation through to a PC keyboard capability.

The 600 series products support local control applications using 8 user configurable I/O ports with integrated key scan firmware which communicates with the host via bi-directional async, SPI or I2C serial interfaces.

A novel sensing method for key depression allows multiple dual key press operation and negates the use of steering diodes in the key matrix which automatically supports 1x7, 2x6, 3x5 and 4x4 configurations.

Both conventional switch and resistive touch overlays can be controlled with software roll over and auto repeat. Although the 600 series ports can be configured to control larger key matrix using expanded I/O, it is not practical for compact equipments.

With remote data entry system applications in mind, Noritake Itron has released the 660 series VFD display modules with integrated IR receiver and on board decoding and key code control.

The KBC56A keyboard product, which has a 10m range, has most of the popular ASCII keys plus Esc, Del, Ins, Alt, Ctrl and Shift. Power consumption is less than 5µA.

On-board EEPROM provides user message and parameter storage which can be uploaded or downloaded by the host CPU with editing functionality provided by the display module and remote keyboard.

The first 660 series VFD displays are 20mm high with single line 20 and 40 character capability in graphic display format providing bold 5mm characters capable of smooth horizontal and vertical scroll aimed at low profile and rack mounted equipments.