Re: TI-H: Indiglo Backlight

To: ti-hardware@lists.ticalc.org
Subject: Re: TI-H: Indiglo Backlight
From: gussie@alaska.net (Grant Stockly)
Date: Wed, 11 Feb 1998 16:47:29 -0700
Reply-To: ti-hardware@lists.ticalc.org

There is no point reinventing the wheel.  There are very small laptop
inverters, and they operate at .5 watts

>That's just what I've been saying! The inverters that can be purchased
>are designed for 12v car batteries and are made to run TVs and
>appliances. I'm not sure if you realize this, but EL panels don't use
>very much power. That was the selling point of the EL nightlights. Last
>years and years and years (like a LED) and they used like 2-4 cents of
>power a YEAR. If a 1.5v watch battery can do a square inch, then 5
>square inches (the calc) is no problem at all for the higher current,
>higher voltage AAAs! I intend to redesign the inverter to make it
>PERFECT for 4 AAA batteries and power a 5 square inch EL panel.
>
>Right now, I'm holding a voltage doubling inverter in my hand now! It
>has 3 diodes, 2 resistors, a capacitor and a transistor, and a tiny
>transformer about 1 cm diamiterand 1/2 cm tall. It has DC out, but there
>are missing parts and an AC out, but it doesn't run without the parts I
>could add parts in till I got it to work, and then look for a bigger
>ttransformer, but i think getting an indoglo watch will be simpler. It
>will give me an EXACT design. I'll just need to get different valued
>parts so it works nice.
>
>Richard Piotter
>richfiles1@hotmail.com
>
>>
>>
>>richard,
>>
>> I have an inverter designed to drive a large LCD pannel EL pannel
>>except it runs on 12 volts, and its 3"inches long and 3/4" wide...
>>(long and skinny) so maybee it could be reduced in size, but i think
>you
>>will need a powerfull inverter for a calc lcd sized EL app.
>>i dont think a wrist watch one would work
>>althouh you could get the basic gist of it from that and then
>>use components of sufficient power ect.
>>i will try to map it right now......ill get back to u latter.
>>
>>
>>>From listown@towerguard.unix.edu.sollentuna.se Wed Feb 11 08:04:29
>1998
>>>Received: (from majordom@localhost)
>>>      by towerguard.unix.edu.sollentuna.se (8.8.8/8.8.7) id QAA29425
>>>      for ti-hardware-outgoing; Wed, 11 Feb 1998 16:56:18 +0100
>>>Message-ID: <19980211155522.17680.qmail@hotmail.com>
>>>X-Originating-IP: [206.146.198.153]
>>>From: "Richard Piotter" <richfiles1@hotmail.com>
>>>To: ti-hardware@lists.ticalc.org
>>>Subject: Re: TI-H: Re: Indiglo Backlight
>>>Content-Type: text/plain
>>>Date: Wed, 11 Feb 1998 07:55:20 PST
>>>Sender: owner-ti-hardware@lists.ticalc.org
>>>Precedence: list
>>>Reply-To: ti-hardware@lists.ticalc.org
>>>Errors-To: ti-hardware-errors@lists.ticalc.org
>>>
>>>
>>>I mapped out the TI-85 schematic, so mapping out the schematic of the
>>>inverter in an indiglo watch should be a piece of cake! I may get an
>>>indiglo watch from K-mart when they go on sale, take it apart, and
>>>recreate the inverter. Then use a calc screen sized EL panel and see
>if
>>>I can drive it off of 4 AAA batts and see how long it runs!
>>>
>>>Simple job to do, just real fun putting everything together and
>finding
>>>everything.
>>>
>>>Richard Piotter
>>>richfiles1@hotmail.com
>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>I got it as a gift, so I don't know the answer to either question,
>but
>>>>I've seen more of them around.  Check out your local department
>store.
>>>> I'll ask around my dorm if anyone has one I'll find out where they
>>>>got it.
>>>>I took it apart and the indiglo panel is about .5"x1.5", it has a
>>>>small panel on each end that connects to the leads on the clock's
>>>>circuit-board.
>>>>-Aaron.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>---Richard Piotter <richfiles1@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Where'd you get it and what did it cost. I want to check this thing
>>>>> out!!!
>>>>>
>>>>> >
>>>>> >
>>>>> >
>>>>> >It's Indiglo from Timex.  The real thing, as near as I can tell.
>>>>> >Looks the same brightness throughout.
>>>>> >
>>>>> >
>>>>> >
>>>>> >---Richard Piotter <richfiles1@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> >>
>>>>> >>
>>>>> >> If it's the Radio Shack Travel Clock, well, I hate to but=rst
>>your
>>>>> >> bubble, but it's not Indiglo. It's realy crappy LED
>backlighting.
>>>>> >Very
>>>>> >> few Clocks I've seen are indiglo. Is it very, very, very bright,
>>>or
>>>>> >is
>>>>> >> it got brighter sides and a dimmer center. It's indiglo if the
>>>>whole
>>>>> >> screen is very bright and all the same brightness
>>>>> >>
>>>>> >> >
>>>>> >> >
>>>>> >> >
>>>>> >> >I've got an indigo clock that runs on one AAA battery.  The
>>>>display
>>>>> >is
>>>>> >> >only 2" x .5" but if you could find a bigger one, wouldn't that
>>>>work
>>>>> >> >better than trying to get 120V AC?  (It might still be a drain
>>on
>>>>> the
>>>>> >> >batteries though, because my clock only lights up for a few
>>>>seconds
>>>>> >> >when you push a button, and you would want constant power to
>>>>it.)
>>>>> >> >
>>>>> >> >
>>>>> >> >
>>>>> >> >
>>>>> >> >_________________________________________________________
>>>>> >> >DO YOU YAHOO!?
>>>>> >> >Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
>>>>> >> >
>>>>> >> >
>>>>> >>
>>>>> >>
>>>>> >> ______________________________________________________
>>>>> >> Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
>>>>> >>
>>>>> >
>>>>> >_________________________________________________________
>>>>> >DO YOU YAHOO!?
>>>>> >Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
>>>>> >
>>>>> >
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> ______________________________________________________
>>>>> Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>_________________________________________________________
>>>>DO YOU YAHOO!?
>>>>Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>______________________________________________________
>>>Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
>>>
>>
>>
>>______________________________________________________
>>Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
>>
>
>
>______________________________________________________
>Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com