ASCII
American Standard Code for Information Interchange.
A 7 bit binary code representing the English alpha-
bet, decimal numbers and common punctuation marks.
Also includes control characters such as carriage re-
turn or end of text. An 8 bit superset of the standard
ASCII codes is often used today to include foreign
characters and other symbols. These supersets are of-
ten called extended ASCII character sets.
Backlight
A backlit display is illuminated from behind to provide
night-time and improved daytime readability.
Binary Number
The (data and signaling) bit transmission rate of an RS-
232 device.
Bit
A number written using binary notation which only
uses zeros and ones.
Bitmap
A representation, consisting of rows and columns of
dots, of a graphics image in computer memory. The
value of each dot (whether it is filled in or not) is stored
in one or more bits of data.
Byte
A grouping of eight binary bits.
CCFL
Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp. A high brightness
backlighting source consists of a fluorescent tube pow-
ered by a high voltage A.C. source.
Configuration
The way a system is set up, or the assortment of com-
ponents that make up the system. Configuration can
refer to either hardware or software, or the combina-
tion of both.
Contrast
The ratio of luminance between the light state of the
display to the dark state of the display.
Controller
The micro-controller or PC used to control the Matrix
Orbital display unit.
DB-9
The designation of a connector used in the RS-232 in-
terface: 9 pin connector.
Firmware
Software (programs or data) that has been written onto
read-only memory (ROM). Firmware is a combina-
tion of software and hardware. ROMs, PROMs and
EPROMs and flash EEPROMs that have data or pro-
grams recorded on them are firmware.
Font
A design for a set of characters. A font is the combina-
tion of typeface and other qualities, such as size, pitch,
and spacing.
Font Metric
A definition of where font is to be placed, such as mar-
gins and spacing between characters and lines.
Matrix Orbital
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