What is it?

This is the HP QDSP-6064 bubble display, a tiny, 4-digit, 7-segment numerical indicator. This little guy is perfect if you need some user feedback from your system, but don’t want to fiddle with LCDs or other display options. The Bubble Display comes in an easy-to-use 12-pin DIP package and can be used in breadboards, protoboards, or PCBs.

Forward Voltage: 1.6-2.0V per segment
Forward Current: 5mA per segment
Peak Wavelength: 655nm

These bubble displays have a peak forward current per segment of 5mA at a peak forward voltage of 2V. Thanks to a neat magnification technique used by the QDSP-6064 (giving it the “bubble” name), the luminosity is intensified making lower power consumption possible.

These displays were manufactured by HP around 1976 and are probably not manufactured anymore. So once these are gone, they are gone for good!

SPI backpack available on Tindie HERE.

Every display is tested before shipping.