5 Jan
2007
5 Jan
'07
5:58 p.m.
The alternatives were too heavy.
DSKY's (AGC 'terminals') in the LEM drove the weight equations. Numitrons
might
have been light enough, but probably would not survive the vibration
stresses.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Chuck Guzis" <cclist at sydex.com>
To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts"
<cctalk at classiccmp.org>
Sent: Wednesday, January 03, 2007 2:04 AM
Subject: Re: back to the AGC, was Re: TTL 7400's Available
On 2 Jan 2007 at 22:18, Brent Hilpert wrote:
Yes, I'm finding those references as well.
Although it seems quite early
for
electroluminescent displays too, don't know of anything else that was
using
them at that time, esp. in 7-seg form.
I recall a Popular Science (IIRC) article of around that same time
gushing about how EL was going to revolutionize the world and one of
the applications shown was a large 7 segment display.
Work with EL generated quite a bit of interest back in the 60's,
including light amplification for radiography (make a sandwich of
dots of EL cells with CdS photoresistors and apply an AC voltage.
The dark cells will tend to stay dark, while those that fluoresce
under bombardment will form a feedback loop.) Reminds me of making a
code practice oscillator by sandwiching a carbon mic with an
earphone. I don't know if the technology ever made it to prime time.
So that it used EL doesn't surprise me. The only other alternatives
(incandescent, plasma, mechanical) were probably too power-hungry
and/or fragile.
Cheers,
Chuck