NORITAKE-ITRON GU128x18F-K612A4 technology data

Dot Graphic VFD Module GU128x18F-K612A4

 128 x 18 High Brightness Dot Graphic Display
 Single 5V DC Supply
 3 ASCII Fonts ( 5 x 5, 5 x 7, and 10 x 14 )
 SPI & RS232 Asynchronous Serial Interface
 8 User I/O Pins with Key Scanning Capability
 Transformerless PSU (patent pending)
 Low Profile Construction

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 is full duplex and accepts various baud rates up to 38,400.
The module features a low profile design with numerous custom
options available including special fonts and application specific
commands.

1

CON1

13.7

24.0

30.0

1.0

17.5

ELECTRICAL SPECIFICATION

Parameter Symbol Value Condition

Power Supply Voltage VDD 5.0VDC +/- 10% GND=0V
Power Supply Current IDD 300mA typ. VDD=5VDC
RS232 Input VsIL / VsIH -24V max / +24V max VDD=5VDC
RS232 Output VsOL / VsOH -5VDC min / +5VDC min VDD=5VDC
Logic Input VIL / VIH 0.8VDC max / 2.0VDC min VDD=5VDC
Logic Output VOL / VOH 0.5VDC max / 2.4VDC min IOH=-2.0mA

OPTICAL & ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIFICATION
Parameter Value

Display Area (X xYmm) 83.05 x 13.69
Dot Size/Pitch (XxY mm) 0.5 x 0.6 / 0.65 x 0.77
Luminance 700 cd/m² (200 fL) Typ.
Colour of Illumination Blue-Green (505nm)
Operating Temperature
Storage Temperature
Operating Humidity
Optical filters can provide violet, red, yellow, blue & green output.

SOFTWARE COMMANDS
Hex Command Hex Command

01-07 Run Macro 19 Reset
08 Backspace 1A + data Write Mode
09 Horizontal Tab 1B + macro+len+data Set Macro
0A Line Feed 1B + 4D Erase All Macros
0B Home 1B + 4C/55 Lock/Unlock EEPROM
0C Vertical Tab 1B + 43 Request Checksum
0D Carriage Return 1B + 50/46 Power On/Off
0E Clear End of Line 1B + 48/42 Hex Write On/Off
0F Test 1B + 49 + data Set Comms
10 + x + y Cursor Position 1B + 44 + data Enable I/O Port
11 +xl+yt+xr+yb Set Area 1B + 4F + data Set Port Lines
12 +xl+yt+xr+yb Clear Area 1B + 52 Read Port
13 +xl+yt+xr+yb Invert Area 1B + 4B Enable key scanning
14 +xl+yt+xr+yb Set Outline 1B + F8-FF Brightness
15 +xl+yt+xr+yb Clear Outline 1C / 1D / 1E Select Font
16 Set Pixel 1F +xl+yl+xr+yb+data Graphic Area Write*1
17 Clear Pixel 20 - 7F Character Write
18 + len + data Graphic Write

The module defaults to a 2 line of 21 character display using the 5x7 font with single pixel spacing.
The cursor position auto increments after each character write. The bottom left of a character is
placed at the cursor x,y. To send commands as hexadecimal, prefix the 2 bytes using character 60H.
Example: `10`3F`01 = Position dot x=64 y=1. To send character 60H to the display, send 60H twice.

Please note that the module defaults to Hex Write Mode.

1

-40°C to +85°C

-40°C to +85°C
20 to 85% RH @ 25°C

*1

CON2

83.0

118.0

126.0

2.54

Dimensions in mm & subject to tolerances. Mounting holes 3.5mm dia.

CHARACTER SETS

MINI FONT (PROPORTIONAL SPACING)

5x7 & 10x14 FONTS (FIXED SPACING)

CON1

Pin Signal

1 HB
2 MB
3 TXD
4 0V
5 RXD
6 VDD

The Module Busy line (MB) indicates the module is busy
when low. If handshaking is not required, connect the Host
Busy (HB) input to the Module Busy output.

Connect MISO and MOSI at power-up to enable the test
mode and restore factory defaults.

10.6

3.0

4.0

CON2

Pin Signal Pin Signal

1 0V 7 0V
2 /SS 8 VDD
3 RES 9 BUSY
4 MOSI 10-11 IC
5 MISO 12 IRQ
6 SCK 13-20 P0-P7

CONTACT

Noritake Sal es Office Tel N os

Nagoya Japan: [phone]

Canada: [phone]

Chicago USA: [phone]

Munchen (D): [phone]

Itron UK: [phone]

Rest Europe: [phone]

www.noritake-itron.com

Subject to change without notice.

IUK Doc. No. 12779 Iss.3

25 Oct 06

8.6

1.6

NORITAKE ITRON VFD MODULES GU128x18F-K612A4

Dot Graphic VFD Module GU128x18F-K612A4

SOFTWARE COMMANDS

Instruction Data Format Description

Macro Start

(BUSY time depends on contents)

Backspace

(50µs)

Horizontal Tab

(50µs)

Line Feed

(50us)

Home

(50us)

Vertical Tab

(50us)

Carriage Return

(50us)

Clear EOL

(2.5ms)

Test

(50µs)

Cursor Position

(50us)

Set Area

(50us + 1ms [last byte])

Clear Area

(50us + 1ms [last byte])

Invert Area

(50us + 1ms [last byte])

Set Outline

(50us + 1ms [last byte])

Clear Outline

(50us + 1ms [last byte])

Set Pixel

(50us)

Clear Pixel

(50us)

Graphic Write

(50us + 250us [each data byte])

Reset

(500us)

Write Mode

(50us)

Set Macro

(50us [1BH], 10ms [macro], 50us
[len], 10ms [data], 40ms [last byte])

Brightness

(50us)

Erase Macros

(200ms)

Lock/Unlock EEPROM

(50us + 10ms [last byte])

Checksum

(50us)

Power On/Off

(50us)

Hex/Binary Mode

(50us)

Set Comms

(50us + 10ms[last byte])

Enable I/O Port

(50us + 10ms[last byte])

Set Port Lines

(50us)

Read Port

(50us)

Enable Key Scanning

(50us + 5ms[last byte])

Select Font

(50us)

Graphic Area Write

(50us + 250us [each data byte])

Hex Prefix

(50µs + 50us command BUSY)

Character Write (400us) 20H - 7FH Display character from selected font.

Notes: - Busy times are not inclusive of a 250us scan period, this must be taken into consideration. If the cursor is enabled, busy times can increase by a further 100us.

All coordinates are absolute. The origin (00H, 00H) is the top left of the display. All data shown is in hexadecimal format.

01H - 07H Start user defined macro 1-7.

08H Non destructive backspace. Cursor is moved left by the width of the currently select font. If the cursor is at

the left end of the display, no cursor movement is made.

09H Cursor is moved right by the width of the currently select font. If the cursor is at the end of the display, no

cursor movement is made.

0AH Moves the cursor down by the height of the currently selected font. If the cursor is at the bottom of the

display, no cursor movement is made.

0BH Moves the cursor horizontal position to 00H, the vertical positioning is dependent on the currently selected

font, allowing for immediate character writing in the top-left corner of the display.

0CH Moves the cursor up one character row. If the cursor is at the top of the top end of the display, no cursor

movement is made.

0DH Moves the cursor horizontal position to 00H. The vertical position is unchanged.

0EH Clear all characters from the current cursor position to the end of the display.

0FH Place module into self-test mode. The module will repetitively show a few test screens. The test mode will

exist on the next received byte.

10H + xpos + ypos Set the cursor position.

11H + xleft + ytop + xright + ybot Fill specified area. All dots within the specified area are illuminated. Please note that the cursor position is

affected with this command.

12H + xleft + ytop + xright + ybot Clear specified area. All dots within the specified area are cleared. Please note that the cursor position is

affected with this command.

13H + xleft + ytop + xright + ybot Invert specified area. All dots within the specified area are inverted. Please note that the cursor position is

affected with this command.

14H + xleft + ytop + xright + ybot Draw box outline. All dots within the specified outline are unchanged. Please note that the cursor position is

affected with this command.

15H + xleft + ytop + xright + ybot Clear box outline. All dots within the specified outline are unchanged. Please note that the cursor position is

affected with this command.

16H Illuminate a single pixel at the current cursor position.

17H Clear a single pixel at the current cursor position.

18H + len + data Write graphical data, length len, direct to display. See write mode command (1AH) for graphic orientation

and cursor movements.

19H Resets display to power-on defaults: - Display is cleared. 5x7 font selected. Write Mode = 00H

Brightness Level = 7. VFD Power = On.

1AH + data Bit 7 = graphic data orientation - 0 = horizontal, 1 = vertical (default = horizontal)

Bit 6 = cursor movement - 0 = horizontal, 1 = vertical (default = horizontal)
Bit 5 = cursor direction - 0 = forward, 1 = backwards (default = forwards)
Bit 4 = underscore cursor - 0 = off, 1 = on (default = off)
Bit 3 = underscore cursor - 0 = static, 1 = flash (default = static)
Bit 1/0 = pen type - 00 = overwrite, 01 = AND, 02 = OR, 03 = XOR (default = overwrite)

1BH + macro + len + data Send macro data to EEPROM. macro = 00H - 07H. Macro0 is executed at power-up only. A maximum of 480

bytes is allowed for macro data. The display may flicker whilst writing macro data.

1BH + level Set the display brightness. level = F8H - FFH. F8H = display off. F9H = minimum, FFH = maximum (default).

1BH + 4DH Clear all downloaded macros in EEPROM. Screen may blank momentarily while macro data is being erased.

1BH + 4CH / 55H All data contained within the non-volatile EEPROM is locked (4CH), and no changes are possible until the

unlock command (55H) is executed.

1BH + 43H All data received is added to the checksum. This command will read the lower 8-bits of that checksum,

before being cleared. Please note that the checksum is cleared when executing the test mode.

1BH + 50H / 46H 50H = Turn on VFD power supply (default).

46H = Turn off VFD power supply, display’s contents will be preserved.

1BH + 48H / 42H 48H = Enable hex receive mode, character 60H is interpreted as a hexadecimal prefix.

42H = Disable hex receive mode. Hex mode is enabled at power up.

1BH + 49H + data Set asynchronous communication baud rate and parity. Takes effect at power-up or hardware reset.

Bit 7 = Automatic I/O send (0=off, 1=on). Bits 1&0 = baud rate (00=4800, 01=9600, 02=19200, 03=38400).
Bit 2 = Parity (1=even, 0=none) (factory default = 19200 with no parity, automatic I/O send is off)

1BH + 44H + data Set I/O port direction. A ‘1’ indicates an input, a ‘0’ an output. All output lines are immediately set low. All

input lines have their pull-ups enabled. This value is store in EEPROM and will automatically be set at power
up.

1BH + 4FH + data Set Output lines on I/O port, a ‘1’ will set 5V on the output ports, or enable the pull-ups on the inputs.

1BH + 52H Read current I/O port status. A single byte is transmitted showing the current state of the I/O lines.

1BH + 4BH Set I/O port to key scanning. The I/O ports are continuously scanned for any key press. This mode is stored

in EEPROM and will automatically be selected at power up.

1CH / 1DH / 1EH Select font. 1CH = proportional mini font. 1DH= fixed spaced 5x7 font. 1EH = fixed spaced 10x14 font.

1FH + xl + yt + xr + yb + data Write graphic data within defined area. See write mode command (1AH) for graphic orientation and cursor

movements.

60H + dhH + dlH Write to the display module using a 2-byte hexadecimal number. dhH = high nibble, dlH = low nibble.

E.g. Sending `19 will reset the display.

NORITAKE ITRON VFD MODULES GU128x18F-K612A4