WTB - Noritake GU256X64-315 Custom VFD for Agilent 81101A - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: switch998
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 20, 2018, 02:47:27 am
content: Hi Everyone! I need to buy a VFD after my 81101A suffered an impact to the screen. I'm having a really hard time finding this model, since it appears to be custom. It's used in the following Agilent products. Hopefully someone here has a spares unit kicking around.81101A81104A8110A81110A81130A8114A8169AE5574AThe part # is GU256x64-315, the VFD itself is DM256x64L. There is a newer screen, but since keysight only posts low res images on their site I can't make out the numbers. It looks like GU256x64-901D, a good way to tell is the replacement has a Xilinx Spartan FPGA onboard in lieu of the standard Itron chips.

author: nfmax
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2018, 10:57:49 am
content: Me too! I have an 8110A with a very dim, but still functional display. I wonder if it would be feasible to reverse-engineer the drive protocol & use a modern LCD of some sort?

author: digsys
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 21, 2018, 12:11:09 pm
content: We used heaps of -GU256x64-332, GU256x64-372, GU256x64-355, GU256x64-900, GU256x64-3900 on a LXE 900MHz radio terminal -The MDT1280.I would buy dead units from USA for ~$100-200 and rip the VFDs out of them. I do recall the GU256x64-315, but I'd have to get to my shippingcontainer to see if there's anything left. You can check out LXE1280, 1290, 2280, 2285 to find out if any models used that exact part.I have the pdfs for the models I quoted above, but would have to do a search through archives for the -315.They were used a lot in radio terminals, hopefully, that may help. If you get stuck, I can do the big search :-)Actually, at one point, I did make an interface so that I could run all the new LCDs, but again, long time ago. The code wasn't that hard to reverse.

author: nfmax
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2018, 06:39:17 pm
content: Any idea what the model number differences are about? Simple stuff like mounting holes/connectors or a completely different interface? I had no luck hunting down a replacement and currently make do with what I have.

author: digsys
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 22, 2018, 12:23:34 am
content: Quote from: nfmaxAll the above :-) (unfortunately) I've posted the data manuals for what I could "easily" find at -www.digsys.com.au/ftp/GU256x64-332.pdfwww.digsys.com.au/ftp/GU256x64-355.pdfwww.digsys.com.au/ftp/GU256x64-372.pdfwww.digsys.com.au/ftp/GU256x64-900.pdfwww.digsys.com.au/ftp/GU256x64f-3900.pdfI do remember the -315 version, but it'll take me a few days (maybe less) to find it.

author: switch998
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2018, 03:58:39 am
content: Quote from: digsys on May 21, 2018, 12:11:09 pmThanks for the info, keep me posted if you find a -315. I'll take a look at some of those radios, hopefully I can hack something together if there isn't a direct replacement. There must be some other product that is using the same display though.I just received a -352 the other day, which should work, however the VFD is twice as large as the original.... it looked to scale in the photos, but of course I got lazy and didn't check it. It's so frustrating that they built in a custom module

author: JosiahCochran
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 19, 2019, 06:30:54 pm
content: Hey any luck on this? Anyone happen to have decoded the data lines and hooked up an lcd, or have data sheets for the 315 or the main chip on there? I can’t find a datasheet anywhere for the ma621468. Is that a micro or a dedicated VFD driver?

author: digsys
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 21, 2019, 09:39:34 am
content: Totally forgot all about this .. old age :-)I'm currently on the World solar challenge run, back in a couple weeks. This post will act as a bookmark, so I don't forget again :-)

author: nfmax
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2020, 05:20:02 pm
content: Quote from: digsys on September 21, 2019, 09:39:34 amI hope the solar challenge went well - and have you had any luck finding the displays?

author: little.tesla
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2020, 12:17:08 pm
content: Any news on the datasheet or possible replacement for this display?

author: digsys
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 11, 2020, 12:24:26 pm
content: ooooops sorry ... totally forgot about this :-) Promise to look for the data tomorrow - near midnight here now

author: digsys
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 12, 2020, 09:53:31 am
content: Thanks, Solar challenge is always fun - HEAPS ofincidentsthis year :-)OK searched pretty much everything that is easy to get to, with no more than I posted before. I've had massive giveaways / e-wastes over the last years, possibly in one of the boxes of stuff.Sorry - but in a coincidental event last week, I received an "extension" order for the original project (after 2-3 yrs idle). I should be visiting my storage containers on site in the next few weeks. There is asmallpossibility that there may be a few / several of the original MDTs in it. At one stage I had 2+ containers full of e-waste (obsolete radio / terminal / DGPS / RFId etc etc) They do occasionally take away skip fulls, but it is a very poorly organized. A glimmer :-)I've marked it down this time, so I won't forget :-)

author: digsys
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 21, 2020, 09:01:36 am
content: Hi guys, a bit late back, but have some results -Searched 2 of our yard storage containers, but no luck. Found heaps of their replacement terminals - a Thor / Honeywell VM3, but that has a full size LCD.I will be back there again in the next week or two, and have got permission to search the containers way down the back of the yard.I was informed that a few skips of e-waste have been emptied, so could be slim. I've also asked the other states to check their old piles (item is a LXE MDT1280).Sorry I don't have better news. 20-30 yrs back, we had 100s of the suckers.

author: nfmax
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2020, 09:52:09 am
content: Many thanks for following this up for us! Even if you dont have any displays, is there any chance of documentation on their interface, to help design a replacement? Maybe the source code of your terminals would have something?

author: digsys
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 21, 2020, 10:24:04 am
content: That I can do. It'll take a few days to dig out the old backups, but I do keep ALL files / programs from year dot.

author: nfmax
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 28, 2020, 11:08:17 am
content: Quote from: digsys on January 21, 2020, 10:24:04 amA gentle reminder about documentation for the display interface - any joy?

author: digsys
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 28, 2020, 01:57:06 pm
content: oooops very sorry - poor memory these days - had a quick look and totally forgot that I have had these ones posted on my website for years :-) Try this link and let me know if it works of for you - changed my ISP and had problems with stuff working properly. I have more but hopefully that will keep me in the good books a bit longer :-)http://www.digsys.com.au/ftp/?PS: This is the main one I have / had ?? somewhere in stock - had? all the ones listed on my URL at one stage

author: nfmax
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 28, 2020, 02:25:33 pm
content: Thanks! Looking at those files, they all have a display area which is larger than the -315. What I am really looking for is any information on the software commands etc., used to drive them, to help reverse engineering the HP display interface. When I have a few days spare!

author: digsys
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 28, 2020, 02:34:24 pm
content: Quote from: nfmaxOK That's going to take a lot longer to find - had a search on all my current drives, but no luck. I did do my own I/F many years ago, but finding it will be tricky :-)I've had to try to find other stuff this year, and gave up .. soo many old stored HDDs :-) .. This time I've put a post-it note on my bench :-) zzz time here now .. will update later

author: little.tesla
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 29, 2020, 08:51:48 am
content: @nfmax From what I see in the documents provided by @digsys they contain all information on how the display has to be controlled. For a display replacement, in my understanding it would require to implement a "software translator/emulator" from the Noritake interface to a more standard display. May I ask what information are you missing?

author: digsys
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 29, 2020, 09:29:09 am
content: Quote from: little.teslaAhaaaa that brings back memories :-) like mr.tesla suggests, that's exactly what I did ... made up a small 1"squ emulation / translation pcb, with libraries for a few display types. Also, verified / trimmed waveforms using a DSO. I definitely don't have those any more though - threw them out in one of my big "clean-ups". But, it wasn't that hard to do.

author: nfmax
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 29, 2020, 09:41:33 am
content: Quote from: little.tesla on May 29, 2020, 08:51:48 amHow did I miss that?! Many thanks for showing me