19-2673; Rev 0; 10/02
2-Wire Interfaced, 5
✕
7 Matrix Vacuum-
Fluorescent Display Controller
General Description
The MAX6853 compact vacuum-fluorescent display
(VFD) controller provides microprocessors with the mul-
tiplex timing for 5 x 7 matrix VFD displays up to 96
characters and controls industry-standard, shift-regis-
ter, high-voltage grid/anode VFD tube drivers. The
device supports display tubes using either one or two
digits per grid, as well as universal displays. The
MAX6853 provides an internal crosspoint switch to
match any tube-driver shift-register grid/anode order,
and is compatible with both chip-in-glass and external
tube drivers. Hardware is included to simplify the gen-
eration of cathode bias and filament supplies and to pro-
vide up to five logic outputs, including a buzzer driver.
The MAX6853 includes an ASCII 104-character font,
multiplex scan circuitry, and static RAM that stores
digit, cursor, and annunciator data, as well as font data
for 24 user-definable characters. An internal 16-step
digital brightness control adjusts the display intensity.
The device also includes separate annunciator and cur-
sor control with automatic blinking, as well as a low-
power shutdown mode.
The MAX6853 provides timing to generate the PWM
waveforms to drive the tube filament from a DC supply.
The filament drive is synchronized to the display multi-
plexing to eliminate beat artifacts.
For an SPI™-compatible version, refer to the MAX6852
data sheet.
o
2.7V to 3.6V Operation
o
Controls Up to 96 5 x 7 Matrix Characters
o
One Digit and Two Digits per Grid and Universal
Displays Supported
o
16-Step Digital Brightness Control
o
Built-In ASCII 104-Character Font
o
24 User-Definable Characters
o
Up to Four Annunciators per Grid with Automatic
Blinking Control
o
Separate Cursor Control with Automatic Blinking
o
Filament Drive Full-Bridge Waveform Synthesis
o
Buzzer Tone Generator with Single-Ended or
Push-Pull Driver
o
Up to Five General-Purpose Logic Outputs
o
9µA Low-Power Shutdown (Data Retained)
o
16-Pin QSOP Package
Features
o
400kbps 2-Wire I
2
C-Compatible Interface
MAX6853
Ordering Information
PART
MAX6853AEE
TEMP RANGE
-40°C to +125°C
PIN-PACKAGE
16 QSOP
Applications
Display Modules
Retail POS Displays
Weight and Tare
Displays
Bar Graph Displays
Industrial Controllers
Typical Application Circuit
CHIP-ON-GLASS VFD
VFD SUPPLY VOLTAGE
0.1µF
V+
MICROCONTROLLER
VFCLK
VFDOUT
VFLOAD
SDA
SCL
SDA
SCL
MAX6853
Pin Configuration and Functional Diagram appear at end of
data sheet.
SPI is a trademark of Motorola, Inc.
VFBLANK
AD0
OSC2
OSC1
10kΩ
56pF
GND
________________________________________________________________
Maxim Integrated Products
1
For pricing, delivery, and ordering information, please contact Maxim/Dallas Direct! at
1-888-629-4642, or visit Maxim’s website at www.maxim-ic.com.
2-Wire Interfaced, 5
✕
7 Matrix Vacuum-
Fluorescent Display Controller
MAX6853
ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM RATINGS
Voltage (with respect to GND)
V+ .............................................................................-0.3V to +4V
AD0, SDA, SCL......................................................-0.3V to +5.5V
All Other Pins................................................-0.3V to (V+ + 0.3V)
Current
V+..................................................................................200mA
GND .............................................................................-200mA
PHASE1, PHASE2, PORT0, PORT1, PUMP................±150mA
VFCLK, VFDOUT, VFLOAD, VFBLANK ......................±150mA
SDA .................................................................................15mA
Continuous Power Dissipation (T
A
= +70°C)
16-Pin QSOP (derate at 8.34mW/°C above +70°C).....667mW
Operating Temperature Range (T
MIN
, T
MAX
)
MAX6853AEE................................................-40°C to +125°C
Junction Temperature ......................................................+150°C
Storage Temperature Range .............................-65°C to +150°C
Lead Temperature (soldering, 10s) .................................+300°C
Stresses beyond those listed under “Absolute Maximum Ratings” may cause permanent damage to the device. These are stress ratings only, and functional
operation of the device at these or any other conditions beyond those indicated in the operational sections of the specifications is not implied. Exposure to
absolute maximum rating conditions for extended periods may affect device reliability.
DC ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS
(Typical operating circuit, V+ = 2.7V to 3.6V, T
A
= T
MIN
to T
MAX
, unless otherwise noted.) (Note 1)
PARAMETER
Operating Supply Voltage
Shutdown Supply Current
SYMBOL
V+
I
SHDN
Shutdown mode, all digital
inputs at V+ or GND
OSC = 4MHz
VFLOAD, VFDOUT, VFCLK,
VFBLANK, loaded 100pF
T
A
= T
MIN
to
T
MAX
T
A
= +25°C
Operating Supply Current
I+
T
A
= T
MIN
to
T
MAX
T
A
= +25°C
1.65
4
9
CONDITIONS
MIN
2.7
TYP
MAX
3.6
160
20
3
2
MHz
mA
UNITS
V
µA
Master Clock Frequency (OSC
Internal Oscillator)
Master Clock Frequency (OSC
External Oscillator)
Dead-Clock Protection
Frequency
OSC High Time
OSC Low Time
Fast or Slow Segment Blink Duty
Cycle
LOGIC INPUTS AND OUTPUTS
Input Leakage Current AD0,
SDA, SCL
Logic-High Input Voltage AD0,
SDA, SCL
Logic-Low Input Voltage AD0,
SDA, SCL
SDA Output Low Voltage
Input Capacitance
f
OSC
OSC1 fitted with C
OSC
= 56pF, OSC2 fitted
with R
OSC
= 10kΩ; see the
Typical
Operating Circuit
OSC1 overdriven with external f
OSC
2
8
200
MHz
kHz
ns
ns
t
CH
t
CL
(Note 2)
50
50
49.5
50.5
%
I
IH
, I
IL
V
IH
V
IL
V
OLSDA
C
I
I
SINK
= 3mA
2.4
0.2
1
µA
V
0.6
0.5
10
V
V
pF
2
_______________________________________________________________________________________
2-Wire Interfaced, 5
✕
7 Matrix Vacuum-
Fluorescent Display Controller
DC ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS (continued)
(Typical operating circuit, V+ = 2.7V to 3.6V, T
A
= T
MIN
to T
MAX
, unless otherwise noted.) (Note 1)
PARAMETER
Output Rise and Fall Time
PHASE1, PHASE2, PORT0,
PORT1, PUMP, VFLOAD,
VFDOUT, VFCLK, VFBLANK
Output High-Voltage
PHASE1, PHASE2, PORT0,
PORT1, PUMP, VFLOAD,
VFDOUT, VFCLK, VFBLANK
Output Low-Voltage
PHASE1, PHASE2, PORT0,
PORT1, PUMP, VFLOAD,
VFDOUT, VFCLK, VFBLANK
Output Short-Circuit Source
Current PHASE1, PHASE2,
PORT0, PORT1, PUMP, VFLOAD,
VFDOUT, VFCLK, VFBLANK
Output Short-Circuit Sink Current
PHASE1, PHASE2, PORT0,
PORT1, PUMP, VFLOAD,
VFDOUT, VFCLK, VFBLANK
Serial Clock Frequency
Bus Free Time Between a STOP
and a START Condition
Hold Time (Repeated) START
Condition
Repeated START Condition
Setup Time
STOP Condition Setup Time
Data Hold Time
Data Setup Time
SCL Clock Low Period
SCL Clock High Period
Rise Time of Both SDA and SCL
Signals, Receiving
Fall Time of Both SDA and SCL
Signals, Receiving
SYMBOL
CONDITIONS
MIN
TYP
MAX
UNITS
MAX6853
t
RFT
C
LOAD
= 100pF
25
ns
V
OH
I
SOURCE
= 10mA
V+ - 0.6
V
V
OL
I
SINK
= 10mA
0.4V
V
I
OHSC
Output programmed high, output short
circuit to GND (Note 2)
62
125
mA
I
OLSC
Output programmed low, output short
circuit to V+ (Note 2)
72
125
mA
I
2
C TIMING CHARACTERISTICS
(Figure 6)
f
SCL
t
BUF
t
HD
,
STA
t
SU
,
STA
t
SU, STO
t
HD, DAT
t
SU, DAT
t
LOW
t
HIGH
t
R
t
F
(Notes 2, 4)
(Notes 2, 4)
(Note 3)
100
1.3
0.6
20 +
0.1C
B
20 +
0.1C
B
300
300
1.3
0.6
0.6
0.6
0.9
400
kHz
µs
µs
µs
µs
µs
ns
µs
µs
ns
ns
_______________________________________________________________________________________
3
2-Wire Interfaced, 5
✕
7 Matrix Vacuum-
Fluorescent Display Controller
MAX6853
DC ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS (continued)
(Typical operating circuit, V+ = 2.7V to 3.6V, T
A
= T
MIN
to T
MAX
, unless otherwise noted.) (Note 1)
PARAMETER
Fall Time of SDA Transmitting
Pulse Width of Spike Suppressed
Capacitive Load for Each
Bus Line
VFCLK Clock Period
VFCLK Pulse Width High
VFCLK Pulse Width Low
VFCLK Rise to VFD Load Rise
Hold Time
VFDOUT Setup Time
VFLOAD Pulse High
SYMBOL
t
F
t
SP
CB
(Notes 2, 5)
(Note 6)
(Note 2)
0
CONDITIONS
MIN
TYP
20 +
0.1C
B
50
400
MAX
250
UNITS
ns
ns
pF
VFD INTERFACE TIMING CHARACTERISTICS
(Figure 14)
t
VCP
t
VCH
t
VCL
t
VCSH
t
VDS
t
VCSW
(Note 2)
(Note 2)
(Note 2)
(Note 2)
(Note 2)
(Note 2)
250
125
125
19
50
245
1050
ns
ns
ns
µs
ns
ns
Note 1:
All parameters tested at T
A
= +25°C. Specifications over temperature are guaranteed by design.
Note 2:
Guaranteed by design.
Note 3:
A master device must provide a hold time of at least 300ns for the SDA signal (referred to V
IL
of the SCL signal) in order to
bridge the undefined region of SCL’s falling edge.
Note 4:
C
B
= total capacitance of one bus line in pF. t
R
and t
F
measured between 0.3V+ and 0.7V+.
Note 5:
I
SINK
≤
6mA. C
B
= total capacitance of one bus line in pF. t
R
and t
F
measured between 0.3V+ and 0.7V+.
Note 6:
Input filters on the SDA and SCL inputs suppress noise spikes less than 50ns.
Typical Operating Characteristics
(Typical Operating Circuit, V+ = 3.3V, T
A
= +25°C, unless otherwise noted.)
SUPPLY CURRENT
vs. SUPPLY VOLTAGE
MAX6853 toc01
SHUTDOWN SUPPLY CURRENT
vs. SUPPLY VOLTAGE (OSC = 1)
45
40
35
ISUPPLY
(µA)
SHUTDOWN SUPPLY CURRENT
vs. EXTERNAL OSC FREQUENCY
MAX6853 toc02
MAX6853 toc03
2.1
50
OSC1 = 0
T
A
= +125°C
1400
1200
1000
ISUPPLY
(µA)
1.9
T
A
= +125°C
I
CC
(mA)
1.7
T
A
= +25°C
1.5
30
25
20
15
T
A
= +25°C
T
A
= -40°C
2.7
2.9
3.1
V+ (V)
3.3
3.5
800
600
400
200
0
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
FREQUENCY (MHz)
1.3
T
A
= -40°C
10
5
1.1
2.7 2.8 2.9 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6
V
CC
(V)
0
4
_______________________________________________________________________________________
2-Wire Interfaced, 5
✕
7 Matrix Vacuum-
Fluorescent Display Controller
Typical Operating Characteristics (continued)
(Typical Operating Circuit, V+ = 3.3V, T
A
= +25°C, unless otherwise noted.)
OUTPUT LOW VOLTAGE vs. I
SINK
MAX6853 toc04
MAX6853
OUTPUT LOW VOLTAGE vs. I
SINK
MAX6853 toc05
OUTPUT LOW VOLTAGE vs. I
SINK
1.8
1.6
1.4
VOL
(V)
MAX6853 toc06
2.0
1.8
1.6
1.4
VOL
(V)
2.0
1.8
1.6
1.4
VOL
(V)
2.0
V+ = 2.7V
V+ = 3.3V
V+ = 2.7V
V+ = 3.3V
V+ = 2.7V
V+ = 3.3V
1.2
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0
20
40
60
ISINK
(mA)
80
100
V+ = 3.6V
T
A
= -40°C
1.2
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0
20
40
60
ISINK
(mA)
80
100
T
A
= +25°C
V+ = 3.6V
1.2
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0
20
40
60
ISINK
(mA)
80
100
T
A
= +125°C
V+ = 3.6V
V
IN
- V
OH
vs. I
SOURCE
MAX6853 toc07
V
IN
- V
OH
vs. I
SOURCE
1.8
1.6
1.4
VOL
(V)
MAX6853 toc08
V
IN
- V
OH
vs. I
SOURCE
MAX6853 toc09
2.0
V+ = 2.7V
1.5
VOL
(V)
2.0
V+ = 2.7V
V+ = 3.3V
2.0
V+ = 2.7V
1.5
VOL
(V)
V+ = 3.3V
V+ = 3.3V
1.2
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
T
A
= +25°C
V+ = 3.6V
1.0
V+ = 3.6V
0.5
T
A
= -40°C
1.0
V+ = 3.6V
0.5
T
A
= +125°C
0
0
20
60
ISOURCE
(mA)
40
80
100
0
0
20
60
ISOURCE
(mA)
40
80
100
0
0
20
40
60
80
100
ISOURCE
(mA)
f
OSC
vs. TEMPERATURE
MAX6853 toc10
DEAD-CLOCK OSC FREQUENCY
vs. TEMPERATURE
0.16
0.14
FREQUENCY (MHz)
0.12
0.10
0.08
0.06
V+ = 2.7V
0.04
0.02
V+ = 3.3V
V+ = 3.6V
MAX6853 toc11
2.5
V+ = 2.7V
2.0
V+ = 3.3V
0.18
f
OSC
(MHz)
1.5
V+ = 3.6V
1.0
0.5
0
-40 -25 -10 5 20 35 50 65 80 95 110 125
TEMPERATURE (°C)
0
-40 -25 -10 5 20 35 50 65 80 95 110 125
TEMPERATURE (°C)
_______________________________________________________________________________________
5