Flashing LCD Keychains – how do they work?

[avec]

Stumbled upon a video on youtube of a flashing LCD keychain in action. I guess these are corny, but still it is interesting how they operate. Most of them are 6x3x0.8cm. Do you think they can be made even smaller and thinner?

 

[BrownOut]

Link the video. I've thought about that, just to make my keys easier to find. They could be based on the Joule Thief.

 

[audioguru]

An LCD does not flash. An LED can flash.
An LED uses power from the battery to make light. If the battery is tiny then it does not last long.

 

[avec]

Here is the link. I doubt there are any LEDs inside the thing or batteries…

 

[audioguru]

The LCD keyrings do not flash. They simply show their screen then go black, on and off.
An LCD does not make light.

 

[avec]

@audioguru, I agree. LCDs flicker, not flash.

Now, it would be nice to find out how do Solar LCD keyrings function.

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

@audioguru, I agree. LCDs flicker, not flash.

Now, it would be nice to find out how do Solar LCD keyrings function.

What's to figure out? - a tiny solar panel, a tiny amount of electronics, and an LCD.

 

[olly_k]

Define: flicker

completely wrong then.

Define: flash

numbers 4,5, & 13 - I personally think 'flash' describes these units as good as any other term.

 

[transistor495]

I'd like to think that Light Emitting LCD's are possible then. The key is to add small amount of organic molecules to the liquid crystals -same like OLED's. What you think?

 

[audioguru]

I'd like to think that Light Emitting LCD's are possible then. The key is to add small amount of organic molecules to the liquid crystals -same like OLED's. What you think?

Nope.
The battery and the solar panel that charges it are too small to create light.

 

[avec]

Here it is said that the device in question consists of a “solar battery”, LCD screen and a circuit board. It appears that blinking is powered by “Gutta gel or ultrasonic”. What is that?

 

[Hero999]

It's not powered by Gutta gel or ultrasonic, that's just a marketing term for the artwork which is optional.

Gutta gel or ultrasonic artwork optional

 

[audioguru]

They are Chinese and their Engrish is horrible.
Maybe it turns its LCD screen on and off (it doesn't blink and it doesn't flash) only when it is being powered with sunlight. Then in the dark it does nothing.

 

[Hero999]

I would say the LCD flashes whether it lights up or not. If someone pulls down their pants and exposes their private parts to someone else, then quickly pulls their pants back up they are said to be flashing at the other person.

The LCD flashes in sunlight. It is solar powered and does not flash in the dark. It uses an LCD which doesn't produce light.

 

[transistor495]

If someone pulls down their pants and exposes their private parts to someone else, then quickly pulls their pants back up they are said to be flashing at the other person.

Thanks for flashing my memory with new definitions

 

[olly_k]

They are Chinese and their Engrish is horrible.

Yes but it makes for a great website!

**broken link removed**