On May 18, 2005, at 10:33 AM, Wallace Yang wrote:

> I would like to use an electroluminescent (EL) LCD
> because it boasts a very low current consumption (~2mA
> I'm not sure if this is AC).  However, its lighting
> power source requires AC100Vrms, 400Hz.

Hmm.  About 200mW, then.  That's not particularly low
POWER consumption

> 1) Is there some IC that can convert DC5V into
> AC100Vrms, 400Hz?

Maybe.  Several have been suggested (supertex, micrel, durel),
but they tend to produce somewhat lower voltages; usually expressed
as Vp-p (peak-to-peak); you may recall an earlier discussion about
how 100V rms turns out to be something like 280Vp-p; most of the single
chip El drivers put out less than 160Vp-p, and seem to be aimed at EL
panels ranging from watch-sized to cellphone size.
You might be able to use one of the relatively cheap inverters aimed at
computer "case mods" and/or EL "wire", such as:
http://shopping.netledger.com/s.nl/c.ACCT76399/sc.2/category.11/it.A/ 
id.807/.f
>
> 2) The current probably will not be DC2mA will it?  If
> not, what might it be?
>
Power is constant, so you're looking at 200mW plus conversion losses;  
30mA or
so, probably (from 9V.  about 50mA from 5V)  You'll note that 30mA at  
9V will
drive quite a lot of conventional LEDs...

BillW
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