Electronic circuit for driving electroluminescent display

[0037]FIG. 1 shows an electronic circuit for driving an electroluminescent (EL) display 1, according to a first embodiment of the invention. For simplicity's sake, the circuit is shown as having the combination of outputs required for driving a four-segment display 1 although any number of segments is in principle possible.

[0038]The EL display 1 comprises a common electrode 8, formed of an Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) transparent common electrode, and four segment electrodes 5. The segments 6 of the display are defined by the shape of the segment electrodes 5. Application of an alternating voltage across each segment 6 by causing an alternating voltage to be present between a segment electrode and the common electrode causes that segment 6 of the EL display 1—that is the phosphor between the segment electrode 6 and the common electrode 8—to illuminate.

[0039]A flyback voltage converter 20 is provided in order to convert the voltage obtained from a battery Vbatt to a suitable voltage to power