Nextion:  high-performance TFT HMI - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: JacquesBBB
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2015, 01:10:41 pm
content: I have suscribed to this indiegogo campaignfor a TFT screen with GPU and easy (!) interface building.It allow to use a touchscreen as an interface for various projects.https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/nextion-a-cost-effective-high-performance-tft-hmi/x/9451463#homeHope it is as interesting as it looks.

author: Jerry
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 16, 2015, 07:53:21 am
content: Thanks for sharing this project.we won't disappoint you.---Jerry from ITEAD, member of Nextion team.

author: electr_peter
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 16, 2015, 08:18:53 am
content: Looks very interesting and affordable. ITEAD studio are not beginners and know few things about manufacturing and shipping, so I have high hopes they will deliver.SW is the most important thing in this project. As I understood, screen itself is programmed to perform GUI like functions and external MCU has only to imitate and read button presses - so very easy on MCU side. I think such screens can be very useful in places where linux-*** based boards are overkill for the task.EDIT:Funding level at 166% ($33k) on 2015-04-22. If 250% ($50k) is reached, ITEAD claims to add free USB/serial adapter.

author: Jerry
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 16, 2015, 09:23:16 am
content: New feature on the Nextion Editor:Auto UpgradeTranslate before release..

author: Marco
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2015, 11:13:46 am
content: "Help Us Get Nextion To Programer"Programer is valid spelling, but it's not plural ... so I think you mean "Help Us Get Nextion To Programers". Although personally I'd spell it programmers.That said, looks impressive. Hope you get it funded and can make a continuing business out of it.

author: Jerry
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 16, 2015, 12:31:27 pm
content: Quote from: Marco on April 16, 2015, 11:13:46 ampoor english on my side

author: Jerry
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 16, 2015, 01:20:15 pm
content: Quote from: mojo-chan on April 16, 2015, 12:54:11 pmThank for supporting our project.We appreciate if you can share the project on Facebook or Twitter.

author: JacquesBBB
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2015, 03:17:38 pm
content: 85% Funded after less than 2 days of campaign and 39 days to go . It is clear that the project will be funded.Those who wish to benefit from the best "early bird" offer,at $10 including postage for the 2.4" version,need to hurry, as it will soon be over as 400 out of 500 are already gone.The "early bird" offer for the 4.3" version is gone about 24 hours after the opening of the campaign.

author: discomike
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 18, 2015, 08:26:37 pm
content: Interesting that they have included some clips from the new VCC HMI ad in their video.. definitively not running their stuff.EDIT: Ah I see they have a caption "Nextions future" over it.. I guess both are Chinese companies so no problems with copyright =)

author: Marco
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2015, 02:36:10 pm
content: Does the controller on these boards have enough power to do some alpha compositing BTW? Otherwise it will be hard to pull off these really fancy components.

author: Jerry
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 20, 2015, 05:54:51 am
content: Quote from: mojo-chan on April 19, 2015, 03:36:08 pmNet yet.Should be released before shipping.

author: bgct9a
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 20, 2015, 04:32:44 pm
content: Just put in for a 4.3"!

author: electr_peter
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 29, 2015, 09:48:31 pm
content: Keep funding this project, I need convenient serial adapter for free**available if $50k is reached

author: Mr.B
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 29, 2015, 11:20:10 pm
content: This is a super affordable solution compared to the 4D systems ones I have been using.I have ordered (backed) a 5 pack of each...

author: snoopy
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2015, 01:33:13 am
content: Just put in an order for the 4.3inch display.It sounds like it uses the FTDI EVE chip to do the rendering. However the key to using this chip successfully will be in their software support and that's what got my attentioncheers

author: yramgu
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2015, 05:50:06 pm
content: Got in for a 4.3"! Hope it will be a good alternative to the excellent (but expensive) screens from 4D System!

author: Fsck
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2015, 06:15:58 pm
content: in for one of each, looks interesting.

author: electr_peter
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 27, 2015, 08:06:15 am
content: Quote from: electr_peter on April 29, 2015, 09:48:31 pmProject is funded and closed. Now we have to wait for a delivery.$50k funding goal was not reached so USB serial converter will not be included, I guessMaybeJerrycould help out there...

author: iampoor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 29, 2015, 07:44:25 pm
content: I cant wait to see how this turns out. Very curious....about how good the software is.

author: Mr.B
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 30, 2015, 01:55:56 am
content: Mine arrived today. Five of each of the two sizes.Notice the high quality anti-static bags they were shipped in.I am a bit pissed considering the investment. (Even though five of the 4" units cost about the same as a single 4" from 4D Systems.)I have sent a complaint email.I will rebag them and then test them as soon as their software works properly.

author: ez24
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 14, 2015, 02:45:36 am
content: QuoteWhy ? Because they do not work because of the software?

author: suicidaleggroll
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 14, 2015, 03:15:42 am
content: Quote from: ez24 on July 14, 2015, 02:45:36 amI'm guessing because the bubble wrap they were packed in was not anti-static.Mine showed up today. Connector wasn't aligned very well, but was still soldered correctly and the unit as a whole looks nice. I'll get to it when I get to it, hopefully the software is nice and polished by then.

author: Mr.B
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 14, 2015, 04:49:25 am
content: Quote from: ez24 on July 14, 2015, 02:45:36 amNo, because of the total lack of static protection.

author: BennVenn
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2015, 09:53:30 am
content: Has anyone managed to generate a font set? Quick start guide says only Arial is supported but even that wont work!

author: Mr.B
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 22, 2015, 07:28:55 pm
content: I have not yet had time to do anything with mine.Too busy with other stuff.It is my intention to spend some time on them this weekend.I will report back how it goes...

author: Yansi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2015, 07:42:39 pm
content: Oh my god, that thing is a heavy rubbish! High performance TFT panel, with a UART interface. So fucking hilarious.If you cannot afford a decent MCU capable of TFT interfacing, simply don't use TFTs! I've said that already and not once.The design is also hilarious. Altera CPLD with a small STM32. They even can't use a proper MCU with RGB interface, like STM32F429 with a shitload of graphical features (two layers, HW alphablending, DMA2D for bitmap processing like color format conversion, blending, cropping, scrolling,...). But I get it, why they haven't used that - you couldn't even barely use that, with a UART interface to the LCD!PS: I just haven't laughed really, it is very sad and any embeded designer with a common sense should cry, after seeing this. The arduino illness has gone too far today...

author: Mr.B
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 22, 2015, 08:34:55 pm
content: At the price point they will be quite satisfactory for basic Human Machine Interface and they are a shitload cheaper than the 4D Systems ones.Who said anything about arduino... ?

author: suicidaleggroll
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2015, 09:11:42 pm
content: Quote from: Yansi on July 22, 2015, 07:42:39 pmIt's intended to be a pretty HID with buttons and the like, not to play videos...calm down, a UART is fine for this device's intended usage. You're not telling the device what to draw over UART. The UART just tells it which page to display. All of the information for how to draw that page is created ahead of time and stored on-board.

author: BennVenn
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2015, 09:33:13 pm
content: Quite satisfactory for its purpose. I still had no luck generating font tables, if anyone could upload a .zi font file if they manage to make one that would be great!Had a play around using the built in command set, seems like the menu's don't need to be fixed, you can move around buttons at runtime via the command interface. Seems perfect for my Battery Management System on the farm, the idea is a simple interface for the mrs to remote start+stop the gen and auto start if battery < 80% etc... Also auto load shedding etc...

author: Yansi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2015, 10:08:34 pm
content: I understand quite well, how it works, don't afraid. But I have enough sense to not use this thing ever in any design, the whole concept is just a ball packing laziness and unwillingness of people, who (for some reasons) don't want to do thing the simple way, the right and most efficient way.How hard do you think it is to set-up an adult TFT controler? About 15 lines of code, where all parameters are only values copied from a panel's datasheet?Do you think, that libraries and graphical packages like EmWin or TouchGFX ... designed specificaly for MCU's and microsystems with TFTs do not have any wysiwyg editors to design the apis? Ur probably wrong here too.Do you think it is absolutely needed to connect ... control... large TFT panels from that stupid, old, crusty atmega328P? I don't think so. The overall complexity is nowhere near efficient.How much work do you think is to display a static image* on a TFT, using adult MCU with an RGB interface? You wouldn't probably think how easy it is.*you can do just barely more than that with the proposed modules.No argument ever is going to convince me, that these "UART controlled TFTs" are anywhere near useful.Well.. sometimes you can't afford an adult MCU with RGB interface into your product. Then there are already a shitloads of TFT's with integrated controllers, which can do more or less basic or advanced graphical features.What the hell on earth do you force to "invent" such stupid "UART TFT" thing? So is there a tonload of standalone TFT controllers like SSD1963 and modules ARE already beeing made with these, so you don't need to design custom PCBs?What on earth does force you to use damn UART for that thing? What's the problem of connecting 8bit 6800 or 8080 like interfaces? Is it the problem with arduino having too small pin count? Then that is the right time to leave arduino for kids and learn something useful.Instead of approaching things directly and the effective way, you waste time learning things with more or less limited capabilities. If you'd spend the same amount of time approaching things directly, you probably woudln't need things like that UART TFTs. It is only about the willingness to learn something. Most people seems afraid or scared of electronics... or something. I really don't know nor understand. If you are afraid of learning things in electronics, why do you have it as a hobby?Sorry for my lengthy comment which I guess will have no impact on local arduinators other that trying to convince me that something (or maybe convince themselves that their arduinos are the only right tool for everything)... but I'll tell you something: These things drive me nuts, because I see so many people wasting so much time with rubbish... And trust me, I am very kind person who likes to help. But only with things having a sense!If you like to know something about RGB interfaces, common TFT panel interfaces, conversion between the interfaces, using MCUs with RGB interfaces,... please ask. I am not an expert in this area, but I have actully learned how to use these things. Not how to use someone else's bloatwares or rubbishwares, targeted only for milking money from naive people. (Yes, that's how I see all these arduinos).Sorry for disturbing your evening, but I'd like to see more talented and sensible design engineers* in the EE field. It is actually quite horrible situation here on local EE universities. The local uni is even planing to open practical electronis courses this year. (finaly someone woke up, hopefully not too late).*a person slapping together things without understanding them can't be called neither sensible nor talented or even engineer.

author: BennVenn
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2015, 10:43:34 pm
content: Quote from: Yansi on July 22, 2015, 10:08:34 pmAre you trolling?Have a think about the market this thing is designed for, consider the price, consider the time saved in development, consider the ease of use, consider the two wire interface.Driving an (adult?) TFT (Which I have done in other projects via an ARM) consumes a great deal of IO and processing. A screen update on an 8bit bus is too slow at these resolutions. 16 or 24bit is necessary. Add the control lines and right away you've lost a fair chunk of your IO.15 lines of code? You are using libraries no doubt (in which case what makes your logic any better than the arduino crowd?) Anyone can import a library...My TFT & SD code is all hand written ASM running on a 32bit ARM and I can assure you setup of a TFT takes a bit more than 15 lines of code. Closer to 40 to 50 registers need to be set before you can even write a pixel.Displaying a static image on a TFT is not complicated. Nor is using the resistive touch pannel. But neither is using the Nextion to do it for you.I didn't want to have to source a TFT pannel, digest the datasheet, spend hours coding an ARM to interface to the TFT, Generate and resize all the static images I wish to display, code a GUI engine, code an instruction decoder/parser, waste time drawing up the schematic, board layout, send away to a fab house, wait for it to be produced, shipped, hand solder all that SMD, test and debug, perhaps even require a second go at the schematic/board layout due to something I missed.I wanted a nice bright colourful LCD for a specific task, I don't need 100,000 units, just 1. For such a simple task why do you think I would need to re-invent the wheel?If you have 2 months to waste (to develop what is effectively blinking an LED) using an STM32-F4 with integrated LCD controller then go ahead. You're opinion is your own, Iteadstudio have developed this for the Arduino generation, not an engineering solution for a mass produced product.

author: Mr.B
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 22, 2015, 10:57:10 pm
content: What BennVenn said...