Bernard Seront wrote: > > Thanks a lot to all who answered my question. > > I checked again my LCD (it wouldn't work on 5V and would on 6.2V): it is > effectively an extended range temperature: it works fine if I give it a > negative voltage on Vee. > I still don't understand why it would work on ~6 V with Vee to ground, though. > > Now that's annoying as I don't really want to go with a negative supply just > for that: is there any trick to do the job just with +5V available? > I tried to ground Vee, and float the LCD ground at about 1 - 1.5 V, but that > wouldn't work (the LCD -showed- me it didn't like it!). > > One option I see is a Maxim dc-dc pump charge, or switched capacitor, > inverter (MAX1044/ICL7660, MAX828/829 or MAX853) , looking at their data > sheets it seems that could do the job. Anyone already tried or used similar > components? > > Bernard. > > ----- > Bernard Seront, seront@seism1.ess.sunysb.edu (MIME ok) > http://rock.ess.sunysb.edu:8080/ As well as the unused pic pin and negative charge pump generator, I have also used a ni-cad 1.2V battery, and the negative rail of a MAX-232 that was needed in the cct for comms anyway, however these days they (Max-232's) seem to be getting cheaper. I guess you could add one just for the low power negative rail required by these types of displays. Don McKenzie donmck@labyrinth.net.au DonTronics Tullamarine, Australia http://www.labyrinth.net.au/~donmck EASY PIC'n Beginners Guide to using PIC 16/17 MicroChip products. Picosaurus(tm) 40 pin PICBasic with 8 channels of A-D, and real Uart. PIC Basic Compiler. Programmers from 15 USD. Pic-Axe(tm) A New Tool.