Vacuum fluorescence displays, VFDs

Vacuum fluorescent displays (VFD) have been used since 1970. At the start they were in the form of single-digit round tubes, then multidigit tubes were developed, followed by flat multidigit panels.27 These devices are now used in a wide range of applications, including audio and video equipment, home electronics, office equipment, and in road vehicles.28... 

Vacuum fluorescent displays (VFDs) are strongly related to flat-panel CRTs. Electrons are ejected from a cathode source, traverse a vacuum and then strike a pattern of triodes with individual anodes covered in red, green and blue phosphorescent material. However, the operating voltages, e.g. 12 V, and power consumption are much lower than those found for CRTs and PDFs. 

According to estimations [14, 15, 16] to the end of this century the overall production cost of LCDs will come close to that of CRTs and even exceed the latter (and will considerably exceed that for their nearest competitors vacuum fluorescent displays (VFD), plasma displays (PD), and electroluminiscent displays (ED) (Fig. 8.4). 

FIGURE 8.4. Yield rate of various display types on the Japanese market (billion yen/year) [16] ED are electroluminiscent displays (35%, grows to the year 1995) PD are plasma displays (17%) VFD are vacuum fluorescent dislays (10%) LCD are liquid crystal displays (33% (optimistic) and 18% (pessimistic) forecast) and CRT are cathode ray tube displays (6%). 

---