Good way to control USB interfaced display without PC? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: tske
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2025, 02:45:03 pm
content: Hi. I have some vacuum-fluorescent-display that used in old POS machines, they have USB interface, and work well with AIDA64.I want to re-purpose them as clock or thermometer, while don't have to keep a full PC on 24x7.I know things like Arduino and I googled, but all people are just talking about converting serial LCD to USB... Not my case.Are there any easy way to do that? I'm a noob at programming. Thanks.

author: dferyance
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2025, 02:52:30 pm
content: You need a USB host. While there are MCU's that support USB host as well as USB host interfaces, probably the simplest approach is to use a Raspberry PI. For example, the Raspberry PI Zero 2 has a USB OTG which supports being a USB host and is a relatively compact board that runs Linux.

author: darkspr1te
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2025, 10:38:35 am
content: I recently did this with a few old POS VFD's, they were both serial and USB models and either used a MAX232 chip or a prolific usb to serial chip, i just added a arduino after the MAX232/usb to tll chip and worked direct to the display chip. both operated at 5v.darkspr1te

author: ahsrabrifat
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2025, 11:25:59 am
content: I was going to say Arduino but it looks like you do not wanna use that. You may find some suggestions here:https://forums.raspberrypi.com/viewtopic.php?t=272789

author: tske
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2025, 12:50:46 pm
content: Quote from: ahsrabrifat on March 22, 2025, 11:25:59 amI'm not against Arduino method, actually I think it's better than wasting a full Linux board for such simple task. I just cannot find any tutorial for that.

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2025, 01:07:56 pm
content: 1st it would help to know whats in this lcd, datasheet specs etc ...

author: themadhippy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2025, 01:10:16 pm
content: the pi pico maybe better option,theres loads of projects out there for things like macro keyboards that with a bit of tweaking might work

author: Roehrenonkel
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2025, 01:41:15 pm
content: Hi tske,maybe the Arduino-Due (2 USB-ports, can host) will work for you.Good luck

author: Simmed
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2025, 01:52:45 pm
content: Quote from: tske on March 21, 2025, 02:45:03 pmmy google seems different

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2025, 05:27:12 pm
content: if it is this display search for the bluetooth / wireless module, it may have serial port you can or could interface it differentlyor search all the vacuum tube drivers ic's, anything is possible with part datasheet(s)

author: macboy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2025, 09:06:52 am
content: A raspberry Pi Zero has USB, runs Linux, consumers very little power, and is very low cost. If you can find Linux software to drive the display then you should have a good start.Alternately there are a few small x86 based single board computers which also consume little power but can run Windows. The Atomic Pi is an example. They cost a lot more than a Pi Zero.