IV-3 VFD shield for Arduino

This Arduino shield is capable of driving 4 Russian IV-3 7 segment VFD tubes. 4 3mm LEDs provide background lighting for the tubes.The design is completely based on through hole components, no SMD components were used. As such, the PCB can easily be assembled by anyone who has some soldering experience. Also, the components used are cheap and easily available.

This Arduino shield is capable of driving 4 Russian IV-3 7 segment VFD tubes. 4 3mm LEDs provide background lighting for the tubes.

The design is completely based on through hole components, no SMD components were used. As such, the PCB can easily be assembled by anyone who has some soldering experience. Also, the components used are cheap and easily available.

As this was designed as a more educational, easy to build project based on easily available components it is not the best possible solution to drive these VFD tubes from a technical point of view.

Video: https://vimeo.com/90783398

Buy the kit at: http://www.elektor.nl/iv-3-vfd-shield-for-arduino-kit-150064-71

Buy the case at: http://www.elektor.com/plexiglas-housing-for-iv-3-vfd-shield-for-arduino

Project Elements

IV-3 VFD shield PCB top view (JPG, 1.42 MB)

IV-3 VFD shield for Arduino PCB (JPG, 1.21 MB)

Optional acrylic enclosure (JPG, 1006.8 KB)

IV3-VFD shield circuit diagram (JPG, 269.85 KB)

iv_3_shield_eagle.zip (ZIP)

Eagle project files

iv_3_shield_gerber.zip (ZIP)

PCB gerber production files

iv_3_shield_pcb.pdf (PDF)

PCB overview and mechanical dimensions

iv_3_shield_demo.zip (ZIP)

Arduino demo sketch

IV3_shield_am_en_us_2014_06_10.zip (ZIP)

IV3_shield_am_en_us_2014_10_12.zip (ZIP)

Assembly manual corrected version oct 12th 2014

Discussie (1 opmerking(en))

kh.ziener 9 jaar geleden

Habe das Shild in Bascom programmiert. Es ist eine DCF77 Uhr geworden. Das DCF-Modul erhält seine Versorgungsspannung an PortB.4 (12) und das Signal wird an PortB.3 (11) angelegt. Natürlich kann man das Modul an 5V anlegen, was aber die Sicht auf die Anzeige beeinträchtigt.

VFD_Shield_DCF.zip (26kb)

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HaSch 4 jaar geleden

I'm using the sketch iv3clock.ino and extended using a RTC with DS1307. It works very well. Now, I would like to dim the LEDs using analog.Write(ledPin,value) but I can't because the timer1 is used otherwise in the sketch. I don't know how to use another timer for analog.Write(), can anybody help me? analog.Write(ledPin,value) works with a value of 255 but put the LEDs on. Every value < 255 put them off.
Hans

Edit: Meanwhile, I dimmed the LEDs not via analog.Write() but using Timer2 and writing some new code. It works very well. I merged with thermometer, also. So the sketch can display real time without the need of setting the clock every time when power was off, date and temperature (with LEDs dimmed as real valves!). Time is displayed every minute from second 55 to 44, date from 45 to 49 and temperature from 50 to 54.

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Kevin Smith 4 jaar geleden

Please can u share the code and wiring for the RTC DS1307

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HaSch 4 jaar geleden

Hi Kevin,
attached you find my combined code for displaying time (with RTC) and temperature (sensor DS18S20, DS1822 or DS18B20). As RTC I didn't use the DS1307 anymore as it is not very accurate and needs to be adjusted after a short time. I use ChronoDot (Adafruit) as it's a temperature compensated DS3231SN chip. Once set it can be forgotten. You also can order a cheap China clone. ChronoDot needs to be connected to I2C interface of Arduino Uno, also to pins 5V and GND. You can find all wiring in the sketch. The temperature sensor probably needs to be calibrated to show the correct room temperature, I added a constant to make it work.
With my code it is even possible to dim the red LEDs to make it look as a real valve heating. Very nice!
Have fun!
Hans

iv3clockRTC3231temp.ino.zip (6kb)

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Kevin Smith 4 jaar geleden

I will look into this, in the meantime, I'm unclear why the original iv3clock.ino code only seems to be reading the Temp sensor and not accepting any timecodes submitted via the serial monitor route which I'm told is the method of updating the time.

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HaSch 4 jaar geleden

Kevin, the iv3clock.ino does NOT contain any routine to measure the temperature but iv3thermometer.ino does. In iv3clock.ino time can be set via serial monitor.

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Kevin Smith 4 jaar geleden

This was the code I used which does measure the temp and read the time sent via the serial port. I sorted out the reason why it wasn't reading the time. The shield required both a 12v source for driving the tubes and USB connectivity to the PC to allowing monitoring of the serial port and therefore uploading of the time settings to the 13017RTC.

Thanks for your help and understanding.

iv3clock.ino (19kb)

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HaSch 9 jaar geleden

Did you use the code of Axiris that can be downloaded above or did you write your own? Would you please submit the code? THX

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bera 9 jaar geleden

I did it on Arduino with DS1307 & DS18B20 / LM35. It's easy using LCD / Seven segment display on shift registers.

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PPihkala 9 jaar geleden

I would recommend DS3232M RTC in SO-8. It has temperature sensor and crystal inside. Just remember to use a diode or two in series at VDD if that is 5V. --Petri

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HaSch 9 jaar geleden

Has anyone combined clock and temperature? It would be great if the shield could display clock and temperature alternately. RTC modules with DS1307 and DS18B20 on board are available for little money. Hat jemand schon die Uhrzeit mit der Temperaturanzeige kombiniert? Es wäre großartig, wenn die Uhrzeit immer abwechselnd mit der Temperatur angezeigt würde. RTC-Module mit DS1307 und DS18B20 werden schon für wenig Geld angeboten.

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