Smart display claims first with blue characters in thin package
San Jose, Calif. — Avago Technologies expands its line of smart dot-matrix 5 x 7 LED alphanumeric displays to include what it touts as the industry's first smart displays with eye-catching blue characters in a thin rectangular 8-character package. The HCMS-2919 and HCMS-2976 LED displays are about the width of a AAA battery.

Targeting designers who are looking to enhance the appearance of their products with blue display characters that are easy to see in all lighting conditions, the HCMS-2919 and HCMS-2976 smart dot-matrix LED products are available in eight character packages that can be stacked vertically or horizontally for displays that need high character counts. A transistor-transistor logic (TTL)-compatible serial interface is said to allow for the higher character count with a minimum of data lines.

The gallium nitride (GaN) blue (460 nm dominant wavelength) smart displays are available in a 5 x 7 pixel format that can display upper and lower case Roman letters, Katakana, and a wide range of user-defined characters. Typical brightness is 170 microcandela per character (all pixels illuminated). It also features easy brightness control and operation over the extended temperature range of-40°C to 85°C.

The HCMS-2919 and HCMS-2976 displays are driven by on-board low-power CMOS ICs, and can be directly interfaced with a microprocessor, which eliminates the need for interface components, said the company. These displays can be used in a variety of consumer, industrial and communications applications such as remote battery-powered instruments, copy machines, printers, gaming machines, routers, audio/video applications, and test and measurement equipment. Click the link for the HCMS-2919 and HCMS-2976 datasheet.

In addition to the GaN blue smart displays, Avago also offers HCMS-29xx displays in the following configurations:

• 1 x 4, 0.15-inch character
• 1 x 8, 0.15-inch character
• 2 x 8, 0.15-inch character
• 1 x 4, 0.20-inch character
• 1 x 8, 0.20-inch character

These versions are available in AlGaAs red (637 nm), high-efficiency red (627 nm), orange (602 nm), yellow (585 nm) and green (574 nm). All versions use the same ASIC and have the same package dimensions and pin configurations for easier upgrades. Click the link for more information about Avago's LED products.

The HCMS-2919, 0.15-inch character height blue smart display is priced at $56.89, and the HCMS-2976, 0.20-inch character height smart display at $59.53, both in quantities of 10,000. Samples and production quantities are available now.

Avago Technologies, 1-800-235-0312, www.avagotech.com