gopstein@helix.squibb.com (Rich Gopstein) (03/04/91)
I am going to build an interface to an OEM GPS receiver with RS-232 output. I would like to use an inexpensive multiline LCD display to show the status and current position textually (at least at first). I shouldn't need more than about 16x4 characters. I have looked through several surplus electronics ads, and I've seen a few LCD displays, but I'm not sure which to buy. Some have controllers, others don't. Some have graphics, others are alphanumeric only. Since I haven't decided on how to implement anything yet, I'm pretty flexible on the design. What are your favorite LCD displays, and how do you interface to them? How about a favorite CMOS microcontroller with RS-232 input? Thanks. -- Rich Gopstein gopstein@squibb.com rutgers!squibb.com!gopstein
steveq@syd.dms.CSIRO.AU (Stephen Quigg) (03/04/91)
In article <1267@soleil.UUCP> gopstein@helix.squibb.com (Rich Gopstein) writes: > >I am going to build an interface to an OEM GPS receiver with RS-232 >output. I would like to use an inexpensive multiline LCD display >to show the status and current position textually (at least at first). >I shouldn't need more than about 16x4 characters. --- stuff deleted--- > >Rich Gopstein > Most displays in this category (16 chars/1 line to 40 chars/4 line, ) use the Hitachi HD44780 chip, and so program up the same. They even have the same 14 pin interface (15 for the 40/4 which has 2 chips and so 2 enables). So take you pick regarding size, backlighting, price etc. The interface is 8 bit parallel (with a 4 bit mode possible - handy if you have only one 8 bit port), with a R/W line, Register select, Enable line, Power, Ground and Contrast You'll need a micro to do the serial to parallel for you: If you use an 8051, drop me a line and I'll post you the software I wrote for one of these things.
meharp01@ulkyvx.bitnet (03/04/91)
In article <1991Mar4.143802.18640@spool.cs.wisc.edu>, kolstad@jomby.cs.wisc.edu (Joel Kolstad) writes: > In article <1991Mar4.044845.18652@syd.dms.CSIRO.AU> steveq@syd.dms.CSIRO.AU (Stephen Quigg) writes: >>In article <1267@soleil.UUCP> gopstein@helix.squibb.com (Rich Gopstein) writes: >>> >>>I am going to build an interface to an OEM GPS receiver with RS-232 >>>output. I would like to use an inexpensive multiline LCD display >>>to show the status and current position textually (at least at first). >>>I shouldn't need more than about 16x4 characters. >>--- stuff deleted--- >>> >>>Rich Gopstein >>> >>You'll need a micro to do the serial to parallel for you: If you use an >>8051, drop me a line and I'll post you the software I wrote for one of these >>things. > > And if you're still back in the stone ages using 8748/9's (or their EPROMless > brothers), drop _me_ a line and I'll post what I wrote for one. :-) > > (I should note that mine use 4 bit mode... didn't want to give the controller > any more lines than I had to...) > > ---Joel Kolstad > kolstad@jomby.cs.wisc.edu Check out TimeLine Electronics or DigiKey. They sell integrated LCD displays with the Hitachi chip for about $25. TimeLine sells surplus 16x1 alphanumeric displays 3/$25. A good deal and you don't have to worry about blowing one up. As far as I can tell, DigiKey and TimeLine sell the same displays, Timeline is just cheaper and I think the ones they have are surplus. One thing that I had to deal with: Those displays are SLOW. It takes anywhere from 40 uS to 120 uS for a single command to happen. I was doing a six-digit clock on one and the timing for it was a bear. I used a Motorola MC68HC11 controller with one. Once I got the timing right, it was great! They are very high quality displays. Also, the data sheets are translated from Japanese so they are very laborious reading. Good luck and have fun! --------------------------------------------------------------------- Michael Harpe, N4PLE | BITNET: MEHARP01@ULKYVX North Computer Center | VOICE: 502-588-6882 University of Louisville | FAX: 502-588-5048 Louisville, KY 40292 | AURAL: "Mike!" ---------------------------------------------------------------------
kolstad@jomby.cs.wisc.edu (Joel Kolstad) (03/04/91)
In article <1991Mar4.044845.18652@syd.dms.CSIRO.AU> steveq@syd.dms.CSIRO.AU (Stephen Quigg) writes: >In article <1267@soleil.UUCP> gopstein@helix.squibb.com (Rich Gopstein) writes: >> >>I am going to build an interface to an OEM GPS receiver with RS-232 >>output. I would like to use an inexpensive multiline LCD display >>to show the status and current position textually (at least at first). >>I shouldn't need more than about 16x4 characters. >--- stuff deleted--- >> >>Rich Gopstein >> >You'll need a micro to do the serial to parallel for you: If you use an >8051, drop me a line and I'll post you the software I wrote for one of these >things. And if you're still back in the stone ages using 8748/9's (or their EPROMless brothers), drop _me_ a line and I'll post what I wrote for one. :-) (I should note that mine use 4 bit mode... didn't want to give the controller any more lines than I had to...) ---Joel Kolstad kolstad@jomby.cs.wisc.edu
gopstein@helix.squibb.com (Rich Gopstein) (03/05/91)
In article <1991Mar4.131814.874@ulkyvx.bitnet> meharp01@ulkyvx.bitnet writes: >Check out TimeLine Electronics or DigiKey. They sell integrated LCD displays >with the Hitachi chip for about $25. TimeLine sells surplus 16x1 alphanumeric >displays 3/$25. A good deal and you don't have to worry about blowing one up. >As far as I can tell, DigiKey and TimeLine sell the same displays, Timeline is >just cheaper and I think the ones they have are surplus. Timeline (and Gott Electronics) have a 480x128 dot graphic/alphanumeric LCD display for about $20. They both claim that it "comes with built-in CMOS LCD driver and controller", yet Timeline offers a $60 driver board for use with it! What is going on? Has anyone used a large graphics/alphanumeric LCD display? I might want to experiment with graphics once I get the text-only version working. Thanks again. -- Rich Gopstein gopstein@squibb.com rutgers!squibb.com!gopstein
rmf@bpdsun1.uucp (Rob Finley) (03/06/91)
In article <1268@soleil.UUCP> gopstein@helix.squibb.com (Rich Gopstein) writes: >In article <1991Mar4.131814.874@ulkyvx.bitnet> meharp01@ulkyvx.bitnet writes: >>Check out TimeLine Electronics or DigiKey. They sell integrated LCD displays >>with the Hitachi chip for about $25. TimeLine sells surplus 16x1 alphanumeric >>displays 3/$25. A good deal and you don't have to worry about blowing one up. >>As far as I can tell, DigiKey and TimeLine sell the same displays, Timeline is >>just cheaper and I think the ones they have are surplus. > >Timeline (and Gott Electronics) have a 480x128 dot graphic/alphanumeric >LCD display for about $20. They both claim that it "comes with built-in >CMOS LCD driver and controller", yet Timeline offers a $60 driver board >for use with it! What is going on? > rest deleted I can't find a version of the ad that actually says that. What I can tell you is that the display itself does need a controller and that the controller that they supply is very much worth the $60 bucks. I thought about hacking one up on maybe a 6845 but found the four serial inputs (one each for the four quadrants) rather daunting. The controller board is not made by Hitachi but contains the two controller IC's and static rams needed to make the thing tick. I suspect that while they were able to get a large number of display panels with the rather neat Federal Express packaging and a nondescript board with three large LED's on it, they had to go to a different company (TEC?) for the controller board as I imagine FedEx had the brains to incorporate this function on their motherboard. For Around $100 it still isn't that bad unless you have the facilities to design a board and solder a quad flat pack with .7mm pins. Hmmm? Now, they have a 640 by 200 LCD for $39.00 that is a Toshiba TLC365121 used in the T1100+ laptop by the same manufacturer. I think I can find the chip itself but no controller board (so far). Any one got any clues? As far as I can tell, it is a non-backlit supertwist display. B-) And, it has four serial inputs also... Good luck and Try Timeline! ----- "We know what the reponse of the American people will be, and it's not attractive. They really do believe the Bill of Rights gave them unleaded regular for $1.06 a gallon, and they better get it or, by God, they'll get the bums out of Office." -- Energy Secretary James Watkins on taxing energy. quintro!bpdsun1!rmf@lll-winken.llnl.gov or uunet!tiamat!quintro!bpdsun1!rmf
henry@zoo.toronto.edu (Henry Spencer) (03/06/91)
In article <1267@soleil.UUCP> gopstein@helix.squibb.com (Rich Gopstein) writes: >I have looked through several surplus electronics ads, and I've seen a >few LCD displays, but I'm not sure which to buy. Some have >controllers, others don't... I have not looked closely at current offerings, but a general comment: you want one with a controller. Driving many-pixel LCDs is a serious hassle, and doing it yourself is not going to be worthwhile. >How about a favorite CMOS microcontroller with RS-232 input? Well, I don't think you'll find *any* microcontrollers with RS-232 inputs. (Remember that RS-232 is typically at least +-9V.) If you're willing to settle for *serial* inputs -- that is, what you get out of the TTL side of an RS-232 receiver chip -- most modern microcontrollers have them. The MC68HC11 is a nice chip in most ways... -- "But this *is* the simplified version | Henry Spencer @ U of Toronto Zoology for the general public." -S. Harris | henry@zoo.toronto.edu utzoo!henry
jhumphre@rucs2.sunlab.cs.runet.edu (Jeff Humphrey (Jeffus)) (03/07/91)
>Timeline (and Gott Electronics) have a 480x128 dot graphic/alphanumeric >LCD display for about $20. They both claim that it "comes with built-in >CMOS LCD driver and controller", yet Timeline offers a $60 driver board >for use with it! What is going on? I bought one of those displays because the ad originally said that the display could 'display graphics and text'. Underneath the ad for the board was an ad for a controller. The add WAS NOT CLEAR about whether you needed the controller to display the text or not. I bought one and now I have a wonderful display and I'm trying to collect the money to get the controller. The display is high quality and I hope the controller is to. Let the buyer beware. I've seen the ad since last summer (when I wanted my display) and it seems that they are much more clear about saying 'you need the controller' now. Also about those 3/$25 16x1 displays. Great deal, I was surprised when I used these for the first time on a project, they have functions I didn't even hope for. They are VERY easy to interface to a slower bus, you have to make a slow bus for yourself (with buffers, etc ...) if you plan to interface these devices to a faster system. The display just can't keep up with the faster bus speeds. Also, as someone else wrote (sorry), you have to allow the display time to process commands you send to it by either putting in a hard wait or reading the displays ready bit. It's REALLY slow. Has anybody used those $29 dollar (480 x whatever) displays being offered with the controllers built in .... ...... Jeffus
bmp@cow.ecs.oz (Bruce Paterson) (03/13/91)
In article <1267@soleil.UUCP>, gopstein@helix.squibb.com (Rich Gopstein) writes: > > I am going to build an interface to an OEM GPS receiver with RS-232 > output. I would like to use an inexpensive multiline LCD display Now this caught my interest ! How much does on OEM GPS receiver cost ?? Where are you buying from...etc (Note I'm in oz) ? Any engineering samples you no longer require......(Now that's really hopeful) > to show the status and current position textually (at least at first). > I shouldn't need more than about 16x4 characters. Others have answered this in some detail. I'm familier with Sharp and Vikay modules which all (as has been mentioned) use tthe identical 14 pin interface. WATCH OUT for the pin numbering however ! The pins nos are numbered differently between module manufacturers, and not one of them uses numbers which correspond to normal IDC headers !! The grahics modules use a different Hitachi Chip (HD61830) which has the same "Motorola" interface ..... they can even work in alpha mode similar to the alpha only modules. Vikay also has another grahics module which uses a different interface chip, and a more Z80 like interface. You must adhere to the timing diagram for the "Motorola" like interface, wrt the times b/w signal transitions. I have heard (ie not experienced 1st hand) that the BUSY flag can be a dodgy thing to rely upon. Apparently for some commands sometimes the flag never gets unset. In your code you should either forget the BUSY flag (which means you probably don't need to ever READ from the thing), and use a timeout of at least 40uS, or at least have a timeout override to waiting on BUSY. I don't use the BUSY flag. There is a special sequence to follow on reset to ensure the module is in a known state. Only some companies brochures actually mention it. Mail me if interested. > > How about a favorite CMOS microcontroller with RS-232 input? > I've used Hitachi 64180 (very simple to implement the I/F with this one due to E clock signal), Z80, Motorola 68HC05C8 and 8051 family uP to talk to these. I currently use 'C' code for the interface. Good Luck > Thanks. > > -- > Rich Gopstein > > gopstein@squibb.com > rutgers!squibb.com!gopstein -- | /~~~~\ Bruce Paterson VK3TJN Company: Email Electonics | | / | Electronics Engineer ACSnet: bmp@cow.ecs.oz | | /-----/ /~~~~\ / / /~~~~~ /~~~~~/ bmp@ecs.oz | | / | / / / / /-----/ UUCP: ...seismo!munnari! | |/_____/ / /_____/ /_____ /_____ bmp@cow.ecs.oz |
wood@drift.dec.com (John F. Wood) (03/13/91)
In article <548@cow.ecs.oz>, bmp@cow.ecs.oz (Bruce Paterson) writes... >There is a special sequence to follow on reset to ensure the module is >in a known state. Only some companies brochures actually mention it. Mail >me if interested. I tried sending mail, but can't reach you at your listed address. Please either mail or post this information. Thanks, John ---------------------------------------------------------------------- John F. Wood | EIS Engineering Digital Equipment Corporation | ARPAnet: wood@drift.enet.dec.com Continental Blvd. | EASYnet: DRIFT::WOOD MKO2-1/J12 | Usenet : ...!decwrl!drift.enet!wood Merrimack, NH 03054 | AT&T : (603) 884-4686 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Disclaimer: Views expressed herein are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of my employer. ----------------------------------------------------------------------
gopstein@helix.squibb.com (Rich Gopstein) (03/15/91)
In article <548@cow.ecs.oz> bmp@cow.ecs.oz (Bruce Paterson) writes: >In article <1267@soleil.UUCP>, gopstein@helix.squibb.com (Rich Gopstein) writes: >> >> I am going to build an interface to an OEM GPS receiver with RS-232 >> output. I would like to use an inexpensive multiline LCD display > >Now this caught my interest ! How much does on OEM GPS receiver cost ?? >Where are you buying from...etc (Note I'm in oz) ? >Any engineering samples you no longer require......(Now that's really hopeful) > Sorry, there won't be any extra engineering samples... I'm buying this for personal use (ie. playing around with). The manufacturer is: Magellan Systems Corp. 260 E. Huntington Dr. Monrovia, CA 91016. 1-818-358-2363. The receiver costs about US$750, the antenna, P/S, and assorted other hardware costs about $150. It's a "fast scanning single-channel" receiver, which I gather is less accurate than a multi-channel receiver, but, for the price, you really can't complain. They claim about 30m accuracy when in 3-d mode. I can live with that. Magellan will send you (for free) a set of three technical guides which describe the receiver pretty well. If you have any specific questions about it, just send me mail (or post). -- Rich Gopstein gopstein@squibb.com rutgers!squibb.com!gopstein -- Rich Gopstein gopstein@squibb.com rutgers!squibb.com!gopstein