Looking for really small single line LCD - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: veryevil
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 12, 2011, 07:31:49 pm
content: Hi, I'm looking for a small single line character lcd. It only needs to be about 1 x 8 or similar but I need it to be as small as possible. The sort of thing I'm looking for is used on the securid RSA tokens many examples herehttp://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&rlz=&q=securid+rsa&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=1440&bih=787Needs to be between 10 and 20mm high.Do you know of any?ThanksSteven

author: veryevil
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 12, 2011, 07:46:02 pm
content: Interesting. I'm looking for something that will fit in a USB pen drive form factor. need to work out how much room will be in one of those style cases

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 12, 2011, 09:05:25 pm
content: This one is 8x2 but pretty small - 25x17mmhttp://uk.farnell.com/everbouquet/mc0802a-sgr/lcd-module-alphanumeric-8x2/dp/1137380Note image on farnell page is wrong - check datasheet

author: veryevil
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 13, 2011, 08:02:53 am
content: Its really strange. I just cannot seem to find what I'm looking for yet they are in countless products like cheap calculators, those electronic card readers that give you a pin number to log onto online banking and many other things.It doesn't even need to be backlit. Best I've found for size are OLED displays likehttp://uk.farnell.com/jsp/search/productdetail.jsp?SKU=1829704but that is over kill any too expensive.Someone somewhere must sell single line displays! they could even be 7 segment type lcd. I only need to display a number like the RSA tokens

author: joelby
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 13, 2011, 08:17:57 am
content: I'd recommend having a look on a site like alibaba.com. There are loads of suppliers of bare LCD displays, e.g.http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/326457930/electronics_lcd.html. You won't get a controller chip, but it's not too difficult to roll your own with a suitable microcontroller.There are loads of suppliers listed. There are bound to be dozens selling the small calculator-sized displays.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 13, 2011, 08:22:20 am
content: yeah look into oled. There is a tiny oled display on my stellaris evailbot and they were practically giving them away, so the display maybe quite cheap.

author: veryevil
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 13, 2011, 08:25:29 am
content: Funny you should mention that. I've already looked at that since I have one but the part number doesn't turn up much. They don't seem to be available anywhere except maybe the manufacture.

author: veryevil
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 14, 2011, 07:58:13 pm
content: I'm still struggling to find anything. I just want something like thisIt's small, it's low power and its got enough digits. I just cannot find a single manufacture that makes anything like it.Its really annoying me nowthe newer ones are like inside

author: insurgent
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 14, 2011, 08:35:34 pm
content: Hi Steven,Varitronix has a large assortment and appears to be very commonly used.Mono LCD's:http://www.varitronix-hk.com/index.php?pid=2Mono Character LCD's:http://www.varitronix-hk.com/index.php?pid=17Digikey carries a number of their displays.

author: veryevil
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 14, 2011, 08:52:14 pm
content: I've had a look and I cannot find a single display on there small enough.

author: Semantics
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 14, 2011, 09:04:26 pm
content: Is your display the largest component? You could always get the smallest you can find without paying a fortune and just use the part of the enclosure around the display to cover up what you don't need.

author: veryevil
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 14, 2011, 09:29:49 pm
content: The display is the largest component but it still needs to fit in a usb pen drive form factor so as not to block adjacent usb ports

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 14, 2011, 10:39:39 pm
content: Is this for production?If so, custom glass may be viable, even for mid-hundreds quantities upwards.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 15, 2011, 12:28:40 am
content: Dave's story about junking PC speakers to get a particular driver gave me a thought that may work for you.How about sourcing a bulk lot of promotional calculators ( for examplehttp://www.inkhead.com/arch-calculator/7784/) You may find one with a display that suits and likely it will cost less than you'd pay for a boxed LCD display, even before you e-bay list a job lot of display-less Chinese calculators.

author: elCap
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2011, 01:52:44 am
content: I have the same problem of finding a small LCD.I was thinking of giving the E ink display a try. They have some small ones available, $50 for 5.http://store.nexternal.com/eink/standard-segmented-display-samples-c4.aspx

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2011, 02:21:02 am
content: maybe try searching for watch lcds?

author: insurgent
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2011, 04:52:38 am
content: Quote from: veryevil on July 14, 2011, 07:58:13 pmThat device is 20mm in the narrow section. Varitronix makes an 8 digit 20.3mm display. Lumex also makes a 20.3mm 8 digit display (pdf link):http://www.lumex.com/specs/LCD-S801C42TR.pdfIs 20.3mm close enought?

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 15, 2011, 05:08:16 am
content: Quote from: Uncle Vernon on July 15, 2011, 12:28:40 amThat's scary ain't it, that you can probably get a full box commercial product and junk it for less than the cost a specific part.A few years back I priced a tiny pocket scientific calculator, and it was something like 50cents each (fully boxed) in 500+ qty.Dave.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 15, 2011, 08:12:02 am
content: Most calculators I've taken apart used heat-seal tape-bonded displays which are hard to re-use.Watches may be a better bet as they more commonly use zebra strips.Don't forget a LED display is always an option...