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From: dje@datacube.UUCP
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: "Magic Eye" tubes - the Nixie C
Message-ID: <100500017@datacube>
Date: Thu, 16-Jul-87 14:45:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: datacube.100500017
Posted: Thu Jul 16 14:45:00 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 18-Jul-87 14:01:51 EDT
References: <3452@sdcsvax.UCSD.EDU>
Lines: 23
Nf-ID: #R:sdcsvax.UCSD.EDU:-345200:datacube:100500017:000:817
Nf-From: datacube.UUCP!dje    Jul 16 14:45:00 1987


>There were a number of ICs on the market in the early 70s that were
>Nixie tube drivers.......
>...horizontal output transistors and a BCD-to-10-line decoder.  I seem to
>remember that you had to switch about 5 ma at 250v or so.

One  chip  is  the  74141, a  BCD to  Decimal decoder  driver w/ high
voltage outputs. 

To turn on a neon you don't have to switch  the whole  voltage:  just
the difference between 'on' and 'off' (a few volts since  they have a
sharp 'knee') plus any voltage across the dropping resistor.  

>I am NOT an old fart.
Me either.
 				Dave Erickson
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