DISPLAY DEVICES AND

RECORDERS

DHANASREE S – B140495EE
DILJITH P – B140354EE
FASHID RAHMAN P – B140392EE
FATHIMA NAHAN SHAFI – B14078EE
G RAVINDER – B140821EE
GAURISANKAR J –B140543EE
GEETH GEORGE – B140482EE
GEORGE PAULOSE – B140149EE
GEORGIN MATHEW – B140863EE
GOVIND VARMA T N – B140140EE
G MAHESH – B140903EE
G SURESH – B140639EE
 DIGITAL INSTRUMENTS
 Indicate the value of measurand in the form of a decimal number.
 Principle - Quantization
 Objective – To determine which portion of the subdivision the
measurand can be identified as an integral multiple of the smallest
unit (the quantum).
 Accuracy can be increased by increasing number of decimal
places, i.e., by increasing the quantizing levels.
 ADVANTAGES
 Directly indicates readings in decimal numbers, hence parallax
errors avoided.
 Power requirement is smaller.
 Output directly fed to memory devices.
 Reading carried to any number of significant figures by
positioning of decimal point.
 DIGITAL V/S ANALOG
FACTOR ANALOG DIGITAL

Accuracy Maximum of 0.1% of full scale Better

Reaction to Wide range of temperature and humidity Less range of environment

environment
Resolution One part in several hundreds One part in several thousands

Power requirement Larger Negligible

Cost Low Higher

Range and polarity Lower with defined polarity Automatic polarity selection and Auto-
ranging
Observational errors Parallax and approximational errors Free from such errors
unavoidable
 DIGITAL DISPLAY METHODS
 Receives digital information in any form but converts it to
decimal form.
 Basic element – Display for a single digit ( 0-9).
 Provision for decimal point between numerals.
 Decimal point selected based on Auto-ranging.
 Input to digital display is a code indicating number to be displayed
or excitation to one of ten inputs.
 The signal has to be decoded before giving to display and thus
decoding circuits are a part of display units.
 DISPLAY DEVICE
 A display device is an output device for presentation
of information in visual or tactile form
 When the input information that is supplied has an
electrical signal, the display is called an electronic display.
 The display system acts as a final link between the
measuring process and the user.
 MOST COMMONLY USED DISPLAYS
 Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)
 Light Emitting Diode (LED)
 Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)
 Plasma Display Panel (PDP)
 Nixie Tube
CATHODE RAY TUBE (CRT)
 PLASMA DISPLAY PANEL (PDP)

 A Plasma Display Panel ( PDP) is a type of flat panel display now

commonly used for large TV displays (typically above 32").
 A plasma display panel is based on emitting light by exciting gases.
 The gas used in plasma screens is a mixture of argon (90%) and
xenon (10%).
 By modulating the voltage applied across the top and bottom
electrodes and by changing the frequency of excitation, the inert gas
can be excited.
 The gas excited this way produces ultraviolet radiation (which is
invisible to the human eye). With blue, green, and red phosphors
distributed among the cells, the ultraviolet radiation is converted
into visible light.
 NIXIE TUBE

 Nixie tubes are nonplanar electronic devices that use the

principles of glow discharge for displaying numerals or
other information.
 The anode is in the form of a wire mesh and multiple
cathodes that are shaped as numerals or other symbols
that are to be displayed.
 When a sufficient potential of around 170 volts is applied
between the selected cathode and the anode plate, the
gas surrounding the selected cathode gets ionized and
emits an orange glow.
 DIGITAL DISPLAY UNITS

• Display units are classified into 2 types: planar and non-planar

• Planar: if the entire read out characters are in the same plane
• Non-planar: if the entire read out characters are in the different
plane
 PLANAR DISPLAY
• The planar displays may be illuminated segmental type, illuminated dot matrix type,
display using rear projection and gaseous discharge type segmental displays.

segmental
type
 Dot matrix type

Rear
projection
 SEGMENTED GAS DISCHARGE DISPLAYS

• work on the principle of gas discharge glow

 NON PLANAR DISPLAY
• In non-planar displays include gaseous discharge tubes like nixies and
display using illuminated lucite sheets are used.
• NIXIES:
• The glass tube contains a wire-mesh anode and multiple cathodes,
shaped like numerals or other symbols.
• Applying power to one cathode surrounds it with an orange glow
discharge.
• The tube is filled with a gas at low pressure, usually mostly neon and
often a little mercury or argon.
ILLUMINATED LUCITE SHEETS
 SEVEN SEGMENT DISPLAY
• Form of electronic display device for displaying decimal numerals
• Alternative to the more complex dot matrix displays.
• Widely used in digital clocks, electronic meters, basic calculators, and
other electronic devices that display numerical information.
 SEVEN SEGMENT DISPLAY
• Seven LEDs are arranged in a
rectangular fashion and are
labeled A through G
• Each LED is called a segment
• Various alphanumeric
characters are displayed by
lighting up the LEDs located in
specific positions
 TYPES OF SEVEN SEGMENT DISPLAY
• Common Anode Type
•Allanodes of LEDs are connected together and common point is
connected to +Vcc which is positive supply voltage. A current limiting
resistor is required to be connected between each LED and ground.
• Common Cathode Type
•Allcathodes of LEDs are connected together and common point is
connected to the ground. A current limiting resistor is connected between
each LED and the supply +Vcc . The anodes of the respective segments are
to be connected to +Vcc for the required operation of the LEDs.
 DRIVER CIRCUIT
Seven Segment displays are used at the
output of digital integrated circuits, the
output of which is in BCD.

This has only four lines and cannot drive

seven segments of the display directly

4 BCD lines is converted to 7 lines.

Common anode type display is used.

Additional LED corresponding to decimal

point is also provided
LCD DISPLAY
 Stands for "Liquid Crystal Display." LCD is a flat panel display
technology commonly used in TVs and computer monitors.
 LCD has backlight that provides light to
individual pixels arranged in a rectangular grid. Each pixel has a
red, green, and blue RGB sub-pixel that can be turned on or
off.
 When all of a pixel's sub-pixels are turned off, it appears black.
When all the sub-pixels are turned on 100%, it appears white.
By adjusting the individual levels of red, green, and blue light,
millions of color combinations are possible.
How it works?
 The backlight in liquid crystal display provides an even
light source behind the screen.
 This light is polarized, meaning only half of the light
shines through to the liquid crystal layer.
 The liquid crystals are made up of a part solid, part liquid
substance that can be "twisted" by applying electrical
voltage to them.
 They block the polarized light when they are off, but
reflect red, green, or blue light when activated.
 Each LCD screen contains a matrix of pixels that display the
image on the screen.
 Early LCDs had passive-matrix screens, which controlled
individual pixels by sending a charge to their row and column.
Since a limited number of electrical charges could be sent each
second, passive-matrix screens were known for appearing
blurry when images moved quickly on the screen.
 Modern LCDs typically use active-matrix technology, which
contain thin film transistors, or TFTs. These transistors include
capacitors that enable individual pixels to "actively" retain their
charge. Therefore, active-matrix LCDs are more efficient and
appear more responsive than passive-matrix displays.
LED Display
An LED Display is a flat panel display, which uses an array
of light-emitting diodes as pixels for a video display. Their
brightness allows them to be used outdoors where they are
visible in the sun store signs and billboards.
 LED displays are capable of providing general illumination in
addition to visual display, as when used for stage lighting or
other decorative (as opposed to informational) purposes.
 A LED-backlit LCD is a flat panel display which
uses LED backlighting instead of the cold cathode fluorescent
(CCFL) backlighting. LED-backlit displays use the same TFT
LCD (thin-film-transistor liquid-crystal display) technologies as
CCFL-backlit displays, but offer reduced energy consumption,
better contrast and brightness, greater color range (using more
expensive RGB LEDs, blue LEDs with RG phosphors, or quantum
dot enhancement film (QDEF)), more rapid response to changes in
scene (with dynamic backlight dimming), and photorefractive
effects.
 While not an LED display, a television using such a combination of
an LED backlight with an LCD panel is called an LED TV by some
manufacturers and suppliers.
 Offer a wider color gamut (with RGB-LED or QDEF).
 Allow a wider dimming range.
 Can be extremely slim (some screens are less than 0.5 inch, or
1.27 cm) thin in edge-lit panels.
 Are significantly lighter, often as much as half the total chassis and
system weight of a comparable CCFL.
 Run significantly cooler.
 Have (typically) 20–30% lower power consumption (and longer
lifespans).
 Are more reliable.
 Produce less environmental pollution on disposal.
STRIP CHART RECORDERS
 CHART RECORDERS
 It is an electromechanical device that records an electrical or
mechanical input trend onto a piece of paper (chart).
 May be entirely mechanical or electromechanical.
 They are of three types – Strip chart recorders, circular chart
recorders and roll chart recorders.
 Strip chart recorders have a long strip of paper ejected out of the
recorder.
 Circular chart recorders have a rotating disc of paper.
 In roll chart recorders, recorded data is stored on a round roll and
the unit is fully enclosed.
 STRIP CHART RECORDERS
 Consists of a roll or strip of paper that passes linearly
beneath one or more pens.
 Each pen’s deflection records the process being
measured.
 Well-suited to record continuous processes.
 Commonly used in both laboratories and process
measurement applications.
 Sections of paper can be torn off for future references.
 WORKING PRINCIPLE
 Basic element include a pen for making marks, a pen driving
system, a vertically moving roll of chart paper and chart paper
drive mechanism and a chart speed selector switch.

 Most recorders use a pointer attached to the stylus, so that the

instantaneous value of the quantity being recorded can be
measured directly on a calibrated scale.
 WORKING PRINCIPLE
 Most strip chart recorders use a servo feedback system.

 The chart paper drive system generally consists of a stepping

motor which controls the movement of the chart paper at a
uniform rate.

 The data on the strip chart paper can be recorded by various

methods.
 METHODS TO RECORD DATA

 Pen and Ink Stylus

 Impact Printing
 Thermal Writing
 Electric Writing
 Optical Writing
 X-Y RECORDER
 A strip chart recorder records quantity wrt time
 X-Y Recorder records instantaneous relationship between
two variables
 Practically, emf is plotted as a function of another emf.
 WORKING
 The writing head is deflected in either the x-direction or
the y-direction.
 The graph paper used is squared shaped, and is held by
electrostatic attraction or vacuum.
 The writing head is controlled by a servo feedback
system or self balancing potentiometer.
 The writing head consist of one or two pens
 APPLICATIONS
 Speed-torque characteristics of motors.
 Regulation curves of power supply.
 Plotting characteristics of active devices such as vacuum
tubes, transistors, Zener diode, rectifier diodes, etc.
 Plotting stress-strain curves, hysteresis curves, etc.
 Electrical characteristics of materials, such
as resistance versus temperature.
 DIGITAL X Y RECORDERS
 Simultaneous sampling and storage of a number of input
channels.
 A variety of trigger modes, including the ability to display
pre-trigger data.
 Multi-pen plotting of the data.
 Annotation of the record with date, time and set up
conditions.
 An ability to draw grids and axis.
Magnetic Tape Recorders
• Used to store large amount of data.
• Same technology of Magnetic Disk.
• Magnetic film is deposited on a very thin 0.5
or 0.25 inch wide plastic tape.
• 7 or 9 bits are recorded in parallel across the width of tape.
• A separate Read/Write head is provided for each bit position
on the tape, in order to read or write all bits of a character
parallel.
 7 or
9
bits

Record Record
File Mark Gap

Organization of Data on Magnetic Tape

• Data on the tape are organized in the form of records separated by
gaps.
• Tape motion is stopped when a record gap is under the
Read/Write heads.
• Group of related records called a FILE. Which is used to help users
organize large accounts of data.
• The beginning of a file is identified by a file mark which is a
special single or multiple character record, usually proceeded by
a gap longer than the inter record gap.
• The first record following a file mark can be used as a header
or Identifier for this file allowing the user to search a tape
containing a large number of files for a particular file.
 Control Commands by a Controller
• Rewind Tape
• Rewind and unload tape.
• Erase Tape.
• Write tape mark.
• Forward space one record.
• Backspace one record.
• Forward space one file
• Backspace one file.
 Method of formatting and using
tapes
Two methods
1. The records are variable in length.
Advantages
Tape can be used efficiently.
Disadvantages
Not permit updating & overwriting
2. The records are of Fixed Length

Advantages:
• Possible to update records
Applications of Magnetic tapes:
• storage of data.
• back up information.
 CARTRIDGE TAPE SYSTEM
• 8mm video format tape housed in a cassette.
• Capacity  2-5 GB
• Data transfer rate--? Few hundred KBPS
• Read/Write  helical scan system
DIGITAL TAPE RECORDING
CONVERTING SOUND INTO NUMBERS
 In a digital recording system, sound is stored and
manipulated as a stream of discrete numbers. The
numbers are generated by a microphone connected to a
circuit called an ANALOG TO DIGITAL CONVERTER
or ADC.
 Ultimately, the numbers will be converted back into
sound by a DIGITAL TO ANALOG CONVERTER or
DAC, connected to a loudspeaker.
The Digital Signal Chain
 WORD SIZE
 The number of bits in the number has a direct bearing on the fidelity
of the signal. The number of possible voltage levels at the output is
simply the number of values that may be represented by the largest
possible number.
 If there were only one bit in the number, the ultimate output would
be a pulse wave with a fixed amplitude and more or less the
frequency of the input signal.
 If there are more bits in the number the waveform is more accurately
traced, because each added bit doubles the number of possible
values.
 Doubling the voltage increases the power available by 6 dB, so we
can see the dynamic range available is about the number of bits times
6 dB.
 SAMPLE RATE
 Each number is called a SAMPLE, and the number of samples
taken per second is the SAMPLE RATE.
 If the sampling rate is lower than the frequency we are trying to
capture, entire cycles will be missed, and the decoded result
would be too low in frequency and might not resemble the
proper waveform at all. This kind of mistake is called aliasing.
 If the sampling rate were exactly the frequency of the input, the
result would be a straight line, because the same spot on the
waveform would be measured each time.
 The sampling rate must be greater than twice the frequency
measured for accurate results.
Effects of low sample rates

Effects of high sample rates

 RECORDING DIGITAL DATA
 Once the waveform is transformed into bits, it is not easy to record. The
major problem is finding a scheme that will record the bits fast enough.
If we sample at 44,100 Hz, with a sixteen bit word size, in stereo, we
have to accommodate 1,411,200 bits per second.
 To record on tape, a very high speed is required to keep the wavelength
of a bit at manageable dimensions. This is accomplished by moving the
head as well as the tape, resulting in a series of short tracks across the
tape at a diagonal.
 On a Compact Disc, the bits are microscopic pits burned into the plastic
by a laser. The stream of pits spirals just like the groove on a record, but
is played from the inside out. To read the data, light from a gentler laser
is reflected off the surface of the plastic into a light detector. The pits
disrupt this reflection and yield up the data.
 ERROR CORRECTION
 Even with these techniques, the bits are going to be
physically very small, and it must be assumed that some will
be lost in the process. A single bit can be very important
(suppose it represents the sign of a large number!), so there
has to be a way of recovering lost data. Error correction is
really two problems; how to detect an error, and what to do
about it.
 EFFECTS OF DATA ERRORS
 The most common error detection method is parity computation.
An extra bit is added to each number which indicates whether the
number is even or odd. When the data is read off the tape, if the
parity bit is inappropriate, something has gone wrong.
 In digital recording, large chunks of data are often wiped out by a
tape dropout or a scratch on the disc.To help deal with large scale
data loss, some mathematical computation is run on the numbers,
and the result is merged with the data from time to time. This is
known as a Cyclical Redundancy Check Code or CRCC. If a
mistake turns up in this number, an error has occurred since the last
correct CRCC was received.
 When a CRC indicates a problem, the signal can be fixed.
For minor errors, the CRCC can be used to replace the
missing numbers exactly. If the problem is more extensive,
the system can use the previous and following words to
reconstruct a passable imitation of the missing one.
 One of the factors that makes up the price difference in
various digital systems is the sophistication available to
reconstruct missing data.
 THE BENEFITS OF BEING DIGITAL
 Digital circuits are complex & their performance is
improved by increasing the sample rate. Analog circuits that
match digital performance levels are very expensive and
require constant maintenance.
 Digital devices usually require less maintenance than analog
equipment. Hence good digital systems are cheaper than
good analog systems.
 The electrical characteristics of most circuit elements change
with time and temperature, and minor changes slowly
degrade the performance of analog circuits. Digital
components either work or don’t.
 In addition, digitally encoded information is more durable
than analog information.
 The aspect of digital sound that is most exciting to the
electronic musician is that any numbers can be converted
into sound, whether they originated at a microphone or not.
This opens up the possibility of creating sounds that have
never existed before.
THANK YOU