Color LCD Monitor For Hobbiest - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2010, 11:53:06 am
content: While ebaying, i came across thisLCD Monitor, further led me to the companyDisplayTech Hongkongand spec. Not really satisfied, i try to find more option but failed. Preferably Colored 320x240 LCD with spec so we can built something with it. touchscreen would be nice feature, but i believe $+. Any suggestion where to get or are there links to project example done before? Thanx.

author: migsantiago
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2010, 01:21:21 pm
content: I'm using a Sparkfun LCD Breakout Board.http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=8600

author: GeoffS
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 13, 2010, 01:30:20 pm
content: There'sthisone from Seeed.320x240, touch screen.

author: TopherTheME
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2010, 02:27:38 pm
content: Quote from: migsantiago on October 13, 2010, 01:21:21 pmDon't mean to hijack the thread but where did you get that PIC32 board development board? Is it difficult to use that LCD with the PIC32 compared to say a 16x2 alphanumeric LCD?

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2010, 02:39:50 pm
content: Quote from: TopherTheME on October 13, 2010, 02:27:38 pma hijack?! i got nothing to lose!yeah! saw that spark fun lcd, it said someone called "Sinister 7" made a project, but no detail on programming/pin side. seems interesting if that we can directly connect to mcu without much hassle of finding separate driver ic etc. will be better if a library is provided so we just can call in c function like DrawPixel, Line etc.would like to hear more detail comment from migsantiago

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2010, 02:45:04 pm
content: Quote from: GeoffS on October 13, 2010, 01:30:20 pmthis is interesting too! it is said to have 2d and font drawing engine, touchscreen, smaller footprint vs lcd size. the sparkfun it got extra space for supporting circuitry beside the lcd, will be difficult if we want to build handphone or calculator like interface where user buttons just directly below the lcd. but the seeed one is 2.5X the cost of sparkfun, as i have expected. yet to see any seeed project example.

author: FreeThinker
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2010, 02:59:40 pm
content: Have you though about trying to mod a bottom screen of a nintendo DS.These can be bought cheap on ebay and info SHOULD be available on the forums, just a thought

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2010, 03:03:32 pm
content: Quote from: FreeThinker on October 13, 2010, 02:59:40 pmwell... thats a $171 device. but thanx for the idea, who knows, we can get parts for cheap. found thisOLED Displaymight worth considering.

author: FreeThinker
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2010, 03:33:13 pm
content: Quote from: shafri on October 13, 2010, 03:03:32 pmYou can buy just the bottom screen as a replacement item and also the touch screenshttp://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-REPLACEMENT-BOTTOM-LCD-SCREEN-NDS-DS-LITE-NDSL-/250563096793?pt=UK_VideoGames_VideoGameAccessories_VideoGameAccessories_JN&hash=item3a56b970d9is one of many .Sparkfun has a video tut on using the touch screen.

author: Zad
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2010, 03:44:31 pm
content: One word of caution. Not all displays are created equally. The small mobile phone derived displays almost always have their own graphics controller on board. You send a command to display text, or plot a pixel or whatever, and the onboard controller generates the video signal from onboard frame buffer memory. The larger RGB / greyscale ones usually just take an RGB video feed, with no onboard frame buffer.

author: migsantiago
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2010, 03:51:06 pm
content: Quote from: TopherTheME on October 13, 2010, 02:27:38 pmThe PIC32 dev board is sold by my friends athttp://www.microingenia.comI also wrote a tutorial on how to use this board and compile three little projects: a blinking LED, a dimming LED with PWM and a basic audio player without a DAC.http://www.migsantiago.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=21:review-mie32u-de-microingenia&catid=1:tutorial&Itemid=23About the LCD... it's the most known color LCD out there. Everyone has code to write images and text on it. You can also buy a spare LCD without the charge-pump driver and without the board:http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=569In this link you will find19 linkswith any kind of libraries to control this LCD. I migrated an LPC uC library to a PIC32 lib for C32. It has support for any controller: Epson S1D15G10 or Philips PCF8833.I also bought the spare LCD and managed to solder the tiny SMD pines and build a 6V supply out of a 3.3V one.Edit: I forgot to say that controlling this LCD is a piece of cake. It uses a 9 bit SPI which can be easily implemented via bit-bang. You only require 4 pins from your uC: RESET, CS, SCK and SDO. No SDI required.

author: FreeThinker
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2010, 03:54:22 pm
content: Looking at the ribbon cable it appears to be serial and have some sort of on board decoder, only a guess from just looking.The DS schematics were availible on the net but I've not seen them in a while.Someone will have them for sure.Isn't making something work 'outside the box' half the fun?PS You may find the top screens to be cheaper for some reason would still work the same i would of thought, just a different ribbon cable.

author: squeezee
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2010, 04:00:11 pm
content: Quote from: shafri on October 13, 2010, 03:03:32 pmA DS replacement screen costs~$11, but they are controllerless. As you have to generate the RGB waveform, controllerless displays are impractical for most MCUs which lack an integrated controller.Some suggestions are Displays off ebay,E'Go chinahas a bunch of resonably priced TFT LCDs /w touchscreens such as that one, most of them are QVGA and have an onboard controller. (they also have ones with PCB adaptors)And here is anidentical OLEDto the crystalfontz one.

author: FreeThinker
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2010, 04:15:30 pm
content: Quote from: squeezee on October 13, 2010, 04:00:11 pmThey look fantastic! Unbelievable price......Bookmarked

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2010, 05:47:35 pm
content: great! i should have typed "LCD Module" in ebay. here i have 2 working lcd from nokia 6260 and samsung sgh-x430 that have been retired due to flexicable and battery/charger damage. but cant put to good use as there is no documentation for itcan anybody tell whats the circuitry in the picture? the driver? or power supply?

author: sonicj
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2010, 08:03:04 pm
content: cheap. easily interfaced lcds.linkthe ITDB02-2.4 looks a great deal at $20usd. 320x240, breakout board, touchscreen & sd card reader-sj

author: migsantiago
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2010, 05:08:48 pm
content: Touring the available Nokia LCD screens at Hackadayhttp://hackaday.com/2010/10/14/touring-the-available-nokia-lcd-screens/

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 15, 2010, 12:16:45 pm
content: Quote from: migsantiago on October 14, 2010, 05:08:48 pmgreat hack! sure they got plenty of time for it. alot of wires coming out of my nokia screen made me scared away, but... 3 line spi only? hmmm, wondering what the other wires are for.

author: squeezee
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 16, 2010, 01:51:46 am
content: Some of the screens have both parallel and SPI. He has more info (including the pinout) on hisblog.Definitely have to pick up a few screens to tinker with; The 1600/6060/2760 are all around $5 on ebay/DX.

author: thakidd
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2010, 06:41:48 am
content: Quote from: sonicj on October 13, 2010, 08:03:04 pmOrdered one of theITDB02-3.2models along with the Arduino shield for a quick test. Just got it in yesterday. Paid $4 for the shield and 27 for the 3.2" screen. I had to fight with ITead's code a bit on the arduino but am happy to report that the products works great. They also have decent email support. I sent them around 7-10 emails and have received a response back within 24 hours everytime (even weekends). It also appears that the customs fees (US) are included as I did not pay any additional cash to the USPS during pickup.All in all, great find and great vendor. Thx!

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2010, 07:21:42 am
content: great! but if you can report back your finished project with the source code will be greater!i'm planning something big for this LCD thing, but... laterthere are lot more things to consider.

author: thakidd
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2010, 08:53:35 am
content: Sure, Electronics is currently a hobby for me. I was thinking of using the LCD in the ST or Renesas design contest. Haven't made up my mind on whether I will do this or not but I will definitely keep you and EEVBlog posted on the LCD.

author: Zad
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2010, 06:19:11 pm
content: I think this guy has one of those working on his universal breakout board: (at approx 1 minute in)Lots and lots of invo about his adventures herehttp://rossum.posterous.com/It seems they do both serial and parallel, so you should be able to solder some Kynar wire on to the back of the connector if you cant get an appropriate breakout board.

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 22, 2010, 12:52:06 am
content: i'm not sure he published the 3d engine, i think i saw that vidz b4/earlier.