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OvRiDe
12-11-2005, 03:10 PM
I know its small but would this LCD work or would it be more trouble to get running then its worth??

Its from BG Micro and here is the direct LINK (http://www.bgmicro.com/prodinfo.asp?sid=05013773148148156569121161&prodid=LCD1025&page=1&cri=LCD1025&stype=3).

wingman358
12-11-2005, 04:41 PM
I'm going to say yes because I've seen many people that have hooked up those types of displays via serial. You might have to do some soldering though...

This might help: http://www.doc.ic.ac.uk/~ih/doc/lcd/

This too: http://home.iae.nl/users/pouweha/lcd/lcd.shtml

And this: http://hackaday.com/entry/1234000720067543/

Hope that helps!

OvRiDe
12-11-2005, 09:07 PM
Soldering isn't a problem.. I just wasnt sure if everything that I needed was present on the board (not including the plug :) ) For the price it looks like it might not be a bad deal, even if it was just to tinker with.

Thanks for the links.

wingman358
12-12-2005, 05:00 PM
This article just came up on Hack-A-Day:

Fast serial LCD interface (http://hackaday.com/entry/1234000780071754/)

OvRiDe
12-12-2005, 11:28 PM
Sweet.. I just saw this as well..

Good to see another Hack-A-Day(er)!!

My favorite has to be...

THIS!! (http://www.hackaday.com/entry/1234000427059760/)

Thanks

Rankenphile
12-12-2005, 11:39 PM
Lol, I love Hack-A-Day. I've subscribed to their RSS feed.

OvRiDe
12-12-2005, 11:44 PM
Isn't RSS the coolest.. Its the only way to fly (through news these days).

wingman358
12-12-2005, 11:50 PM
Sweet.. I just saw this as well..

Good to see another Hack-A-Day(er)!!

My favorite has to be...

THIS!! (http://www.hackaday.com/entry/1234000427059760/)

Thanks

Are you part of the HaD folding team? I just started back up again.

And did you know that the dudes that made that sentry gun are actually going into business making them? Nifty, if I do say so myself.

EDIT: btw, I ordered one of those LCDs, too. I couldn't resist the $5.99 price tag.

OvRiDe
12-12-2005, 11:56 PM
Are you part of the HaD folding team? I just started back up again.
No I havent gotten into the whole folding thing.. yet 8)



And did you know that the dudes that made that sentry gun are actually going into business making them? Nifty, if I do say so myself.
That is AWSOME.. Didnt know that. :eek:


EDIT: btw, I ordered one of those LCDs, too. I couldn't resist the $5.99 price tag.
Heh.. I went ahead and got 2 incase I $#%@ the first one.. haha :D

wingman358
12-13-2005, 12:02 AM
I just remembered this mod from over at Metku.net:

http://metku.net/modgallery/detail.php?id=3988

OvRiDe
12-13-2005, 12:24 AM
Yah.. I really like the aspect of having an LCD on my desk rather that in the PC. My PC is sitting on the floor (unmodded :( ), so it would work better like that. I saw this one and thought it was a pretty good idea.
http://lcdgallery.net/?f=view&lcdid=214
Multi functional is good in my world.. heh

I thought this was a pretty kewl idea I could have them right under my flat panels.. http://lcdgallery.net/?f=view&lcdid=223

And I really think this is a pretty nice way of doing it.. but I go thru keyboards too quickly for this.. hahah :D
http://lcdgallery.net/?f=view&lcdid=225

BTW.. have you seen this .. it is WAY COOL (IMHO)
http://www.universaldisplay.com/video/2002foled257.wmv

EDIT: This one looks a little "tribal" to me.. heh http://lcdgallery.net/?f=view&lcdid=227

wingman358
12-13-2005, 04:06 PM
That folding display thing is so cool!

I like the idea of the keyboard LCD but the execution isn't that great. And what do you mean "go through"?

I agree, those LCDs would look good under a monitor. I'm wondering if it's possible to change the backlight color...

crazybillybob
12-13-2005, 05:42 PM
Most of the LCD use Surface mount UB LEDS as Back lights. So All you really have to do is desolder the old ones and drop in some new ones and the color's changed. (It's allot harder then it sounds, but it can be done!):D

If your thinking about doing it check out Malatory's homemade air pencil, it would make this allot easier. Air Pencil Soldering Iron (homemade) (http://thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1687)


Crazybillybob


For an Easy how to on LCD check out LCD For Cheap (http://www.gideontech.com/content/articles/197/1)

Older Article but it works for the HD44780 and runs on the Parallel port.

OvRiDe
12-13-2005, 08:40 PM
And what do you mean "go through"?


I guess I just wear them out.. I started buying cheaper ones.. maybe thats why.
But so far I am on my 3rd keyboard this year.. Go figure :?

Here is my current one..
http://www.sketchup.com/forum/download.php/1,4761/dirtyKeyboard.jpg

I dont get it.. J/K :)

I really like that new Logitech G15 with the LCD.. but if I am going to make my own.. probably won't need it..

wingman358
12-13-2005, 09:57 PM
Holy ****! Is that really your keyboard? That's friggin' gross.

OvRiDe
12-13-2005, 10:03 PM
Holy ****! Is that really your keyboard? That's friggin' gross.

No.. Aint Google images great..

Rankenphile
12-13-2005, 10:05 PM
ROFL!

FOr a computer desk like that, here's a perfect mod.

http://www.frozencpu.com/images/products/detail/cig-01.jpg (http://www.frozencpu.com/cig-01.html)

wingman358
12-13-2005, 10:16 PM
No.. Aint Google images great..

Phew... I was affraid I was going to have to de-friend you.

Sh0ck
12-14-2005, 02:47 AM
Oh boy, that keyboard pic was just too funny. :p

OvRiDe
12-17-2005, 01:02 AM
I got my LCDs today.. Thought I would share some pics..
This is how it came shipped.
http://www.gaugerclan.com/TBCS/lcd_pics/LCD_Shipped.jpg
As in the description it was part of some medical equipment and would need some disassembly to get to the LCD.

Here it is unwrapped..
http://www.gaugerclan.com/TBCS/lcd_pics/LCD_Complete_Front.jpg
and the back of the complete assembly.
http://www.gaugerclan.com/TBCS/lcd_pics/LCD_Complete_Back.jpg
As you can see there are 4 screws to remove the back circuit board.
After removing the screws you have the 2 pieces.
http://www.gaugerclan.com/TBCS/lcd_pics/LCD_2pieces.jpg
Just remove the 2 screws holding LCD and voila..
http://www.gaugerclan.com/TBCS/lcd_pics/LCD_Front.jpg
Here is the back with the 16pin connector along the side..
http://www.gaugerclan.com/TBCS/lcd_pics/LCD_Back.jpg

Just thought someone out there might like seeing the disassembly..

Now hopefully I can get some time during the holidays to get it up and running.. I will probably just do a parallel set up first for ease, and PIC programers are freakin expensive.. heh

Not too shabby for 6 bucks!!

wingman358
12-17-2005, 03:05 AM
Looks pretty sweet, ovride. Just one question: what's a PIC programmer?

OvRiDe
12-17-2005, 03:33 AM
I would like to build the fast Serial Interface from the Hack-A-Day article. It requires that you program a PIC16F876 chip. I PIC programmer is basically a PROM (Programable Read Only Memory) chip flasher or burner. I have found several DIY programmer circuits but I don't think they support the 16F876 chip. The author of the article said he will sell programmed chips but I don't think he is state side, so I am in search of a local source. If I could get the serial interface built, I could probably use a USB to Serial Adapter and power the whole thing off of the USB port so it would be 1 single cable going to the unit.. As it stands now.. I will need 5V and a parallel cable. Unless anyone else has any ideas?

I did find a place that sell serial interface cards prebuild for 29 bucks .. which isnt too bad.. just plug and go.. It may be the route I end up going..

wingman358
12-18-2005, 03:12 PM
Just got mine today, check it out:

http://img15.imgspot.com/u/05/351/15/LCD11134936586.jpg
http://img15.imgspot.com/u/05/351/15/LCD21134936612.jpg
http://img15.imgspot.com/u/05/351/15/LCD31134936636.jpg

This thing's a lot wider than I thought it was going to be...

OvRiDe
12-18-2005, 03:29 PM
This thing's a lot wider than I thought it was going to be...
Same here.. It definately won't work on the front of a case, but you could maybe use it on the side. For me it doesnt matter because I will be using it on the desktop.

I got some supplies to hook it up, soldered the leads built a small bread board for the pots, etc etc.. Then I did a very stupid rookie mistake!! I wasn't paying attention and I hooked it up to the 12V side instead of the molex instead of the 5V. (Freakin idiot! Gaw) For some reason on this PS the 12V lead is RED and the 5V is ORANGE, and I should have gotten more light so I could tell the diff.. DOH!! Well I have another one so I can give it another shot, I figured I would wait until I calmed down so that I would blow up the second one..

Since this one was toast I dismantled it to see what the backlighting was like.. From what I can tell it will be VERY difficult to swap these.. There are 2 metal foil strips that are glued to the long edges of the diffuser glass. the LED's are distributed along those.. You pretty much have to destroy the screen to get them off..

Oh well .. Good luck with yours.. I would love to see your finished product..

TIP: I think if I can get about 8 of these:
http://www.gaugerclan.com/TBCS/pigtail.jpg
Assembly might be alot simpler.. I have a post (http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1753) asking if anyone knows where I can get them.. plus it will be unpluggable..