ZM1251

[kay486]

Hello, does anybody seen this ZM1251 thing? Is it really nixie tube? I would love to see any info.

http://www.radiomuseum.org/tubes/tube_zm1251.html

[greg...@hotmail.com]

Looks like a 5x7 matrix device. I have a much larger one used in pinball displays (32 x 128) in my future-projects box.

[kay486]

Could you post some photos here? Does the display you have work like nixie (cold cathode discharge in neon)

[greg...@hotmail.com]

I'm posting the datasheet I found on the web for the 128x32 display, manufactured by Vishay. Nixie tubes contain a single anode, and multiple cathodes that glow. The neon matrix device uses multiplexed anodes and cathodes. To illuminate pixels, a single particular row is energized, and so are the columns for each pixel that is to be illuminated. The electric field around an energized row is not sufficient in itself to illuminate a pixel (same is true for a column). But when an energized row meets an energized column, there is sufficient field-strength to initiate a discharge. I believe that adjacent unenergized rows and columns have low-enough leakage so that a discharge cannot "spread". You may recall that the sustaining field for a discharge is significantly lower than required to initiate it.

[kay486]

Interesting device. I found this video showing its capabilities. The thing that seemed interesing about the ZM1251 is that in the datasheet it looks like there is actual lead for every pixel and it must be relatively old device, because the datasheet is from 1973. But i might be wrong, because all information i have is the one link i posted.

[Tristan]

I've had some success with a 256 x 64 version of one of these displays. https://sites.google.com/site/tristansideas/electronics/pinball-display-clock

You can achieve grayscale by using several sub-frames. It's a pity there hasn't been much spare time to work on that particular project and finish it off.

[Dekatron42]

Mullard supposedly manufactured the ZM1251 and published this short form data found in the picture below:

 

Mullard also published a brochure called "Numeric and alphanumeric display using the zm1251 dot matrix display tube" which is referred to in United Trade Press, 1973 - Biomedical engineering page 541 (information found at Google books).

 

/Martin

On Wednesday, 10 July 2013 02:10:22 UTC+2, kay486 wrote:

[Dieter Waechter]

HI!
These are great tubes. Quick shots attached.
More follows when I have time.
Dieter

----- Original Message -----
From: Dekatron42
To: neoni...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Thursday, July 11, 2013 9:23 PM
Subject: [neonixie-l] Re: ZM1251


Mullard supposedly manufactured the ZM1251 and published this short form
data found in the picture below:

Mullard also published a brochure called "Numeric and alphanumeric display
using the zm1251 dot matrix display tube" which is referred to in United
Trade Press, 1973 - Biomedical engineering page 541 (information found at
Google books).

/Martin
On Wednesday, 10 July 2013 02:10:22 UTC+2, kay486 wrote:
Hello, does anybody seen this ZM1251 thing? Is it really nixie tube? I would
love to see any info.

http://www.radiomuseum.org/tubes/tube_zm1251.html

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[kay486]

Nice and very interesting piece. It seems like the ZM1251 is just a version with two decimal points. I wonder if those tubes had long life. Maybe you could upload this tube to your site with more photos (when you have time ofcrouse) as you do with normal nixie tubes.

[Dieter Waechter]

Hi,
yes will do..
I have many many more interesting tubes...
And so little time.
Dieter

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[Dekatron42]

Dieter, you will just have to shift your focus to what is important in life - tubes.... ;)

 

/Martin

On Friday, 12 July 2013 09:19:47 UTC+2, Nocrotec wrote:

[Dieter Waechter]

Oh, I work the whole day with tubes already ;-)

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[kay486]

Here we go! It show up on ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Extremely-Rare-Vintage-Nixie-Tubes-ZM1251-Mullard-Dot-Matrix-Tubes-/121179371973

[greg...@hotmail.com]

If there were 4 of them, it could make a nice wristwatch. But it would be a challenge, and I'm not sure if the leads would prevent you from abutting the units.

Glad I found some 3-1/2 digit displays for my wristwatch project; hope to be done with the board layout in a few weeks.