Prototyping with LCD display - segments get fainter?

Question

The segments become increasingly faint as the circuit operates?

Suggestions as to why this happens, and how I could fix it?

Thanks a lot!

Answer 1

If the device works properly for a period of time than starts to go bad, segments fade out, it sounds like a power supply problem or, you may have mixed technologies in the chips your using. For example, you may have some parts of the circuit operating with TTL logic chips and other parts running on CMOS devices.  These two types of logic chips operate differently and have different input / output requirements. Also, you may have a power supply problem like a voltage regulator going bad.

Check to make sure that you are using the same kind of digital logic type through out; check the voltages at your power supply both when the circuit seems to operate normally, and when its going bad.

Check your wiring connections for cold solder connections.