29 Sep
2012
29 Sep
'12
12:45 p.m.
One of the oddities of Chinese technical language
seems to be the use of
the term "Nixie tube" for any seven-segment display. There are a couple
of Chinese patents that use this terminology and they involve LEDs.
Eek!. COnsidering the true Nixie tubes were not segemneted, that seems a
vey odd usage.
Probably similar to the British referring to any vacuum cleaner as a
"hoover" and even verbing the word. In the US, "Hoover" is not
Ture. But at least the Hoover company did make vacuum cleaners (or
'Electric Suction Sweepers' :-)), and genuine Hoover-brand oens were, and
still are common.
I can understand usign the term 'nixie tube' as a generic name for a
formed-chracter (not segmented) gas discharge display, even if it wasn't
made by Boroughs. But not using the term ofr other types of gas discharge
display (e.g Panaplex), LEDs, VF displays, etc.
-tony