The module includes the VFD glass, VF drivers and microcontroller
with refresh RAM, character generation, interface logic and
patented transformerless DC/DC converter. The RS232 serial
interface accepts 9600 or 19200 baud rates with optional parity bit.
The module features a low profile design with numerous custom
options available including special fonts and commands. Modules
can be connected to a multi drop address system.
28.5 25.35 46.0
6.825
3.5
28.025
363.0
306.95
370.0
3.5
PL4 Pin 1
Body height 3.9mm max + Plunger height 1.1mm
1.6
10.7
Dimensions in mm & subject to tolerances. Mounting holes 3.5mm dia.
ELECTRICAL SPECIFICATION
Parameter
Symbol
Value
Condition
Supply Voltage V
DD
12.0VDC +/- 10%
G
ND
=0V
Supply Current I
DD
440 mA typ.
V
DD
=12V
RS232 Input
Vs
IL /
Vs
IH
-24V max / +24V max
V
DD
=12V
RS232 Output Vs
OL/
Vs
OH
-5VDC min / +5VDC min
V
DD
=12V
OPTICAL & ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIFICATION
Parameter
Value
Display Area (X xYmm)
306.95 x 25.35
Dot Size/Pitch (XxY mm) 0.95 x 1.35 / 1.2 x 1.6
Luminance
500 cd/m² (200 fL) Typ.
Colour of Illumination
Blue-Green (505nm)
Operating Temperature
-40°C to +85°C
Storage Temperature
-40°C to +85°C
Operating Humidity
20 to 85% RH @ 25°C
Optical filters can provide violet, red, yellow, blue & green output.
SOFTWARE COMMANDS
Hex
Command
10
Software Reset to power on state
11
Write Mode toggles overwrite / scroll
12
Write Direction toggles increment / decrement
13
Display On/Off. Data is retained
14
Display Invert. Toggle negative image
15 + xx
Absolute Column Set from 00H - FFH
16 + xx
Relative Column Set by 00H - FFH
17 + len + data
Graphic Data Write 2 bytes per column, D7 top
18
Clear Character Buffer with 21 ASCII spaces
19 + data
Write to Character Buffer for display effect
1A + effect
Fade, wipe, scroll, dissolve & character delay
1B + ‘L’
Font Large – select 10x14 font
1B + ‘T’
Font Small Top – select 5x7 font for top half
1B + ‘B’
Font Small Bottom – 5x7 font for bottom half
1C + macro + len + data Store Macro E0H – FFH in EEPROM
1D + delay
Delay – pause for up to 3 seconds
1E + 1E + 1E + FE
Clear Macros from EEPROM
1E + 1E + 1E + FF
Stop Display and clear receive buffer
1E + 1E + 1E + adr
Address Select 00H – 1FH for active module
1F
Loop receive buffer
20 - DF
Character Write ASCII font. 10x14 default
E0 - FF
Run Macro – execute user defined macro
60 + dh + dl
Send Hexadecimal code instead of binary
The user can send non printable command codes 10H-1FH as hexadecimal by prefixing
the code using character 60H. Example: `15`3F = Position column 64. When 1FH is sent,
the commands/data in the communication buffer (max 192 bytes) are executed until ‘Stop
Display’ is issued. Example: 10H --- data --- 1FH. Macro E0 is run at power on.
Software and font sets are copyright Noritake Itron Corporation 2002
CHARACTER SETS -
5X7 & 10X14 Font
Character 60H is used as a hexadecimal prefix, but can be displayed with a
repeat send. Column position X = 00H – FFH. Address ‘adr’ = 00H - 1FH.
Setting ‘adr’ to 00H activates all modules. Data is shown in hexadecimal and
sent in binary. e.g. FFH = 11111111 Bin. The communication settings and
address can be set using the three switches on the rear of the module. Default
communication is Addr 00 - 9600,n,8,1 STD. Choose between ‘STD’ (standard)
and ‘WEB’ modes. In ‘WEB’ mode 20H and all codes below 10H are ignored. To
send a SPACE, 5FH can be used. All codes are accepted when sent using
hexadecimal. Select ‘WEB’ mode when using the display with the Noritake
Message Creator software.
PL4
Pin
1
2
3
4
5
6
Signal
VDD
RXD
GND
TXD
DTR
CTS
Description
12V Supply
RS232 received data
0V supply
RS232 transmitted data
Module Busy if -5V
Host Busy if -5V
CONTACT
Handshaking lines DTR/CTS should be linked if not used. Received data is
retransmitted from the module TXD output.
Detailed specification, software
commands and interface timing
are available on request.
Subject to change without notice.
IUK Doc. No. 10741 Iss.7
21Jan08
Noritake Sales Office Tel Nos
Nagoya Japan: +81 (0)52-561-9867
Canada: +1-416-291-2946
Chicago USA: +1-847-439-9020
Munchen (D): +49 (0)89-3214-290
Itron UK: +44 (0)1493 601144
Rest Europe: +49 (0)61-0520-9220
www.noritake-itron.com
NORITAKE ITRON VFD MODULES
GU256x16M-K612C5
Dot Graphic VFD Module
SOFTWARE COMMANDS AND CHARACTER CONTROL CODES
GU256x16M-K612C5
Instruction
Software Reset
BUSY time = 500uS
Hex
10H
11H
12H
13H
14H
15H + xx
16H + xx
17H + len + data
Description
Resets the VFD module. The display’s contents are cleared and the column position is set to
00H. The write mode is set to normal, the write direction is set to increment, the display is
turned on, and the display invert is turned off. The 10x14-pixel font is selected.
Toggles the write mode from normal write [default] to scroll write, and from scroll write to
normal write.
Toggles the writing direction from increment (left-to-right) to decrement (right-to-left), and from
decrement to increment. The default direction is increment.
Toggles the display from On [default] to Off, and from Off to On.
Inverts all data on the display.
Sets the column position from 00H [default] to FFH.
Moves the current column position by
xx
amount. The column can be advanced by up to 255
pixels. Because the display’s width is 256 pixels, it is possible to move the column position
backwards as well as forward, e.g. 16H + FEH - moves the column position back by two.
Writes graphical data to the display from the current column position. If the write mode is set to
scroll, the whole display is shifted one column to the left or right (dependant upon the current
write direction). The graphical data length (width) must be sent prior to the data. Two bytes
must be sent for each column, and must be in a vertical orientation, with bit 7 uppermost.
Clears the internal 21-character buffer. This buffer is used in conjunction with the ‘Display
Effect’ commands.
Write 21-characters to the internal buffer.
Produce a display effect: -
00H – Fade display from ‘Off’ to maximum brightness.
01H – Fade display from maximum brightness to ‘Off’.
02H – Wipe display with the character buffer from left-to-right.
03H – Wipe display with the character buffer from right-to-left.
04H – Wipe display with the character buffer edge-to-center.
05H – Wipe display with the character buffer center-to-edge.
06H – Scroll display with the character buffer.
07H – Dissolve the display with the character buffer.
10H – 17H Set character delay (10H = No delay [default], 17H = Maximum delay)
Select the large 10x14-pixel font [default].
Select the small 5x7-pixel font, and write to the top half of the display.
Select the small 5x7-pixel font, and write to the bottom half of the display.
Write Mode
BUSY time = 300uS
Write Direction
BUSY time = 300uS
Display On/Off
BUSY time = 300uS
Display Invert
BUSY time = 300uS
Absolute Column Set
BUSY time = 300uS
Relative Column Set
BUSY time = 300uS
Graphic Data Write
BUSY time = 300uS
Character Buffer Clear
BUSY time = 300uS
18H
19H + data
1AH + effect
Character Buffer Write
BUSY time = 300uS
Display Effect
For BUSY times see individual eefect
descriptions
Font Large
BUSY time = 300uS
1BH + ‘L’
1BH + ‘T’
1BH + ‘B’
Font Small Top
BUSY time = 300uS
Font Small Bottom
BUSY time = 300uS
Macro Store
BUSY times: -
macro number = 10ms
data byte = 5ms
last data byte = 20ms
Delay
BUSY time =300uS
Macro Clear
BUSY time = 200ms
1CH+macro+len+data Store a macro from E0H - FFH into non-volatile EEPROM. The first Macro (E0H), is always
executed at power up. The Macro data length must be sent prior to the data itself. Up to 256
command/data bytes can be assigned to each macro, and 1900 bytes are available for all
Macro definitions. All commands can be used in the Macros with the exception of ‘Address
Select’, ‘Macro Store’, ‘Macro Clear’ and ‘Macro Stop’. Please note that no provision is made
for protecting previously defined Macros.
1DH + delay
Halts current processing for up to 3 seconds. Delay can be any value (00H - FFH)
55H = 1 second, AAH = 2 seconds, FFH = 3 seconds. (A value of 00H has no effect.)
1EH+1EH+1EH+FEH Clears all previously defined Macros.
1EH+1EH+1EH+FFH
1FH+1EH+1EH + adr
1FH
This command stops any running Macro. All display commands will be ignored if any Macro is
running. This command also stops ‘Loop Receive Buffer’ mode and clears the receive buffer.
Activate a display with address
‘adr’.
All displays have can have a defined address of 00H-1FH.
If the display module’s address is not the same, all data will be ignored with the exception of
any new ‘Address Select’ commands. To activate all modules, set
‘adr’
to 00H.
Activates a mode in which all commands/data present in the receive buffer up to the 1FH byte
itself is executed. When the 1FH is reached, execution begins again from the start of the buffer.
Sending the ‘Stop Display’ command ends this mode. The ‘Stop Display’ command should also
be sent prior to sending any commands/data to be used with this mode to ensure that the
receive buffer is empty.
Writes data direct to the display. The character write position is automatically advanced to the
right or the left, depending upon the selected write direction. If the write mode is set to scroll,
the display will scroll on the character from the left or right end.
Execute the user defined Macro, E0H = Macro 1, FFH = Macro 32.
Write to the display module using a 2-byte hexadecimal number. dhH = high nibble, dlH = low
nibble. E.g. Sending `10 will reset the display.
Stop Display
BUSY time = 300uS
Address Select
BUSY time = 300uS
Loop Receive Buffer
BUSY time = 300uS
Character Write
BUSY time = 300uS
20H – DFH
E0H – FFH
60H + dhH + dlH
Macro Run
BUSY time = 300uS
Send Hex Byte
BUSY times :-
st
nd
1 and 2 bytes = 300uS
rd
3 byte = respective command / data busy
Notes:
When storing Macros definitions, the display may flicker. When erasing Macros, the display will momentarily go blank.
To send 60H in binary form, the host must send twice, otherwise the module will interpret it has a hexadecimal prefix.
NORITAKE ITRON VFD MODULES
GU256x16M-K612C5
Dot Graphic VFD Module
INTERFACING TO THE GU256x16M-K612C5
GU256x16M-K612C5
All communication to the VFD module is by the asynchronous serial interface. The factory default baud rate is set to 9600 with no parity. These
settings can be changed with the 3 push switches on the back of the module and are retained in EEPROM. All received data is re-transmitted from
the module TXD output. All data and command bytes (except macro store and macro clear commands) can be sent with no delay between the stop
bit of one byte and the start bit of the following byte. This can sometimes cause display flicker but data and commands will still be received and
processed correctly.
HOST
SYSTEM
GND VDD
I/O
I/O
I/O
I/O
RXD
TXD
CTS
DTR
HOST TO MODULE
<10us
D1
D2
D3
D4
D5
D6
D7
STOP BIT
tBUSY
GU256x16M-K612C5
VDD GND
RXD
DTR
START
BIT
D0
MODULE TO HOST
TXD
CTS
>2us
START
BIT
D0
D1
D2
D3
D4
D5
D6
D7
STOP BIT
tBUSY is dependant on command / data sent.
COMMUNICATION SETTINGS
Fig1: Waveforms show RS232 asynchronous serial.
To change the communication settings, use the three push button switches on the rear of the module. First press the ‘STORE’ button to show the
current settings, then on each ‘UP’ / ‘DOWN’ key press, the settings will change, and the user can fix the selected settings by pressing the ‘STORE’
button. The parity bit is changed first, ‘N’ indicates no parity and ‘E’ indicates even parity. The baud rate will next change, ‘19200’ baud or ‘9600’
baud. The next setting to change is the module ‘Mode’. This can be ‘STD’ (standard) or ‘WEB’ mode. See details below. The last setting is the
display address, this can be changed to one of 32 addresses. The display address is shown in hexadecimal.
BAUD RATE = 9600, NO PARITY, DISPLAY ADDRESS = 1, WEB mode
UP STORE DOWN
MODULE MODE (STANDARD or WEB)
The module can operate in one of two main modes, STD (standard) or WEB. In STD mode all data received are displayed / processed as normal. In
WEB mode, the SPACE character (20H) and all codes below 10H are ignored. In this case the SPACE character can be displayed by one of two
methods:- either use hexadecimal (`20) or send character 5FH which is blank. The display must be in WEB mode when communication with the
TM
display is from a PC via the ‘Generic / Text only’ Windows printer driver (as used with Noritake Itron Message Creator web software).
DISPLAY ORGANISATION
The display is organized as 256 2-byte columns (00H-FFH). All graphic data is written vertically, with the most significant bit uppermost.
COLUMN 00H
COLUMN FFH
MSB
COLUMN POSITIONS
DISPLAYING TEXT
Text can be sent direct to the display module. The column position is automatically advanced after each character is written. Using the ‘Absolute
Column Set’ command (15H), the user can perform more accurate text positioning, allowing text to be placed on any of the 256 columns. Text is
written from left to right, but can be reversed using the ‘Write Direction’ command.
TEXT POSITION
DISPLAY TEXT
15H 2CH
“NORITAKE ITRON”
SCROLLING TEXT
Character data can be scrolled onto the display from either the left or right edge. To scroll on a single screens worth of text, use the ‘Character
Buffer Write’ command (19H) to download the text into the display module. Then use the ‘Display Effect’ command (1AH) to scroll on the text. The
scroll direction can be set with the ‘Write Direction’ command (12H).
BUFFER WRITE
TEXT (21 characters)
SCROLL BUFFER
19H
“ NORITAKE ITRON
”
1AH 06H
Scroll Left
Using the ‘Write Mode’ command, the user can scroll longer text messages. Each character written to the display will scroll on from either the right
or left side (depending upon the ‘Write Direction’).
NORITAKE ITRON VFD MODULES
GU256x16M-K612C5
Dot Graphic VFD Module
DISPLAY EFFECTS
GU256x16M-K612C5
The display provides a number of simple commands to enable a variety of effects to be achieved. Most of these work in conjunction with the internal
21 character buffer (10x14 font), where the text is first written to the buffer followed by the required display effect (see the scrolling text example
above).
Fade display up (
1AH, 00H
)
Increases the brightness of the display from OFF to maximum. The time taken for this operation is approx 0.5 sec.
Fade display down (
1AH, 01H
)
Decreases the brightness of the display from maximum to OFF. The time taken for this operation is approx 0.5 sec.
Wipe display with character buffer left to right (
1AH, 02H
)
Replaces the current contents of the display with the contents of the 21
character buffer one column at a time from the left to the right. The time
taken for this operation is approx 1.6 sec.
Buffer contents
Old screen contents (stays static)
Wipe display with character buffer right to left (
1AH, 03H
)
Replaces the current contents of the display with the contents of the 21
character buffer one column at a time from the right to the left. The time
taken for this operation is approx 1.6 sec.
Buffer contents
Old screen contents (stays static)
Wipe display with character buffer edge to center (
1AH, 04H
)
Replaces the current contents of the display with the contents of the 21
character buffer on a column by column basis starting from the edges and
ending in the center of the display. This can also be referred to as a ‘curtain
close’ effect. The time taken for this operation is approx 1.6 sec.
Buffer contents
Old screen contents (stays static)
Wipe display with character buffer center to edge (
1AH, 05H
)
Replaces the current contents of the display with the contents of the 21
character buffer on a column by column basis starting from the center and
ending at the ends of the display. This can also be referred to as a ‘curtain
open’ effect. The time taken for this operation is approx 1.6 sec.
Buffer contents
Old screen contents (stays static)
Scroll display with character buffer (
1AH, 06H
)
Scrolls the contents of the 21 character buffer onto the display. The existing
contents of the display are scrolled off. The default scroll direction is right to
left but this can be toggled between right and left by issuing the ‘Write
Direction’ command. The time taken for this operation is approx 1.6 sec.
Scroll direction can be changed to left to right using the Write Direction command
Old screen contents (scrolls off)
Buffer contents (scrolls on)
Dissolve display with character buffer (
1AH, 07H
)
Replaces the current contents of the display with the contents of the 21 character buffer by changing just 1 pixel at a time. The position of the pixels
changed is pseudo random and the visual effect is a dissolve from the old message to the new. The time taken for this operation is approx 1.6 sec.
Character delay (
1AH, 10H – 17H
)
Defines the length of delay after a character is written in normal write mode. The possible values are No delay (10H – [default]), 25ms (11H), 50ms
(12H), 100ms (13H), 150ms (14H), 200mS (15H), 250ms (16H) and 300ms (17H). With a character delay set, it is possible to send a string of
characters to the display at full speed but the string will be displayed a character at a time with the specified time delay between each character. This
frees up processing in the host by achieving the inter-character delay internally. Busy time = 300uS.
NORITAKE ITRON VFD MODULES
GU256x16M-K612C5
Dot Graphic VFD Module
WRITING GRAPHICAL DATA
GU256x16M-K612C5
A graphical image or icon can be placed in any column position. All graphical data is sent in a vertical format, with the top byte first and Bit 7
uppermost. The column position is automatically advanced after each pair of bytes. Graphical data can be scrolled onto the display by setting scroll
mode using the ‘Write Mode’ command.
MSB
RESET
COLUMN POSITION
GRAPHIC WRITE
GRAPHIC LENGTH
BYTE 31
BYTE 1
10H
07H
40H
9FH
40H
15H
E0H
02H
F9H
02H
78H
17H
20H
18H 18H 20H 04H 40H 02H
80H 01H 84H 19H 8FH F9H
80H 19H 80H 01H 40H 02H
20H 04H 18H 18H 07H E0H
GRAPHIC DATA
DISPLAYING SMALL TEXT (5x7 font)
Small text, using the 5x7 font, can be sent to the display module. Use the ‘Font Small Top’ or ‘Font Small Bottom’ command to select the top or
bottom row for displaying the text. Use one of the Column Set commands to specify which column the text is to be displayed. The column position is
automatically advanced after each character is written. Text is written from left to right, but can be reversed using the ‘Write Direction’ command.
FONT SMALL TOP
TEXT POSITION
DISPLAY TEXT
1BH 54H 15H 56H
1BH 42H 15H 38H
FONT SMALL BOTTOM
“NORITAKE ITRON”
“VFD DISPLAYS and MODULES”
DISPLAY TEXT
TEXT POSITION
USING MACROS
Commands and data can be stored in internal EEPROM by using the macros. Macro contents are retained in the display module even after power
has been removed. There is provision for 32 macro’s, one of which (E0H) is treated as a special case in that it is run at power on. Each macro can
store up to 255 command / data bytes. There is a maximum of 1900 bytes available for all macros. Once a macro has been defined using the Macro
Store command, it can be run by sending the macro number (E0H – FFH). A running macro is stopped by sending the Stop Display command. To
make a macro repeat indefinitely, ensure that the last byte in the definition is the code of that macro. It is also possible to call a macro from within
another macro definition. Nesting can not however go any deeper that 1 level.
Macro example 1:-
Define a macro to flash the message ‘ERROR’ in the center of the display indefinitely at 1Hz. This macro will run at power on.
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