How About Making The LCD Modules and Serial Backpack Available Seperately
Geekgirl
Posts: 50
Hey Team,· What do you all think?
I've searched and can't find anything on it, but it would be really great if we could buy the serial adapter·backpack and the LCD display seperately, or at least without the backpack soldered on. (just blank tabs so we could add a header or ribbon cable or whatever we need)
Removing the backpack and reconnecting it with·a ribbon cable·is a serious PITA, but gains a much lower profile for cramped enclosures.· (These things were not made to be disassembled)
Being able to buy just the backpack would also open the door to using a wide variety of different LCD modules with additional colors not offered in the Parallax catalog, while still being Parallax code compatable.
Anyway, I'd sure buy some if they were available.
Darlene
I've searched and can't find anything on it, but it would be really great if we could buy the serial adapter·backpack and the LCD display seperately, or at least without the backpack soldered on. (just blank tabs so we could add a header or ribbon cable or whatever we need)
Removing the backpack and reconnecting it with·a ribbon cable·is a serious PITA, but gains a much lower profile for cramped enclosures.· (These things were not made to be disassembled)
Being able to buy just the backpack would also open the door to using a wide variety of different LCD modules with additional colors not offered in the Parallax catalog, while still being Parallax code compatable.
Anyway, I'd sure buy some if they were available.
Darlene
Comments
Another customer called and made the same request.
We could offer it for you as a backpack alone, but I don't know if it would save any expense for you. But it seems like this isn't about saving money, it's more about having the darned pins free so you don't have to remove the display from the backpack in order to connect an LCD of your choice. Removing such a connector is. . . what you appropriately called a PITA.
I'm not an LCD expert, but are all HD 44780 (is that the right parallel LCD controller?) specifications portable among a variety of LCDs (backlit, VFD, etc)? I think there are some minor firmware changes required to control different LCDs. Our 2x16 has different firmware than our 4x20. If this is the case then we could be making more upset customers than happy ones.
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How about this - I think I've got a better idea that's already underway.
Our current LCD backpack uses an SX chip and these have been EOL'd (long story). But, we're replacing the SX with an AVR and the PCB revisions are nearly finished. Switching our manufacturing to our new AVR Serial Backpack would provide a timely opportunity to sell the backpack separate from LCD. And, we can open source the whole thing - many of you already program AVRs so this would give those developers the flexibility to change the firmware to accommodate an LCD of their choice. And you'd also have the backpack alone. The whole product would also be a 100% Creative Commons 3.0 release - PCB files, firmware, etc.
This is what we would like to do - does it work with you? You wouldn't be able to buy your backpack for another 90 days or earlier, however. In the meantime you could check Scott Edwards Electronics because I think he sells the backpack alone.
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Ken Gracey
Parallax Inc.
Follow me at http://twitter.com/ParallaxKen for some insider news.
Post Edited (Ken Gracey (Parallax)) : 5/11/2010 4:47:44 AM GMT
These units are PIC based and include automatic RXD polarity setting for RS-232 or logic level and include TX output, and I2C interface. The receive data is buffered so you don't need delays and the buzzer output is self-timed. The backlight and contrast are software controllable and the control codes are a superset of the SEETRON displays.
I supply it with a connector to mate to a 10-pin reversible IDE cable for ease of connection although it only needs 3 wires.
Would this do?
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*Peter*
Hey Darlene,
Another customer called and made the same request.
We could offer it for you as a backpack alone, but I don't know if it would save any expense for you. But it seems like this isn't about saving money, it's more about having the darned pins free so you don't have to remove the display from the backpack in order to connect an LCD of your choice. Removing such a connector is. . . what you appropriately called a PITA.
I'm not an LCD expert, but are all HD 44780 (is that the right parallel LCD controller?) specifications portable among a variety of LCDs (backlit, VFD, etc)? I think there are some minor firmware changes required to control different LCDs. Our 2x16 has different firmware than our 4x20. If this is the case then we could be making more upset customers than happy ones.
= = = = =
How about this - I think I've got a better idea that's already underway.
Our current LCD backpack uses an SX chip and these have been EOL'd (long story). But, we're replacing the SX with an AVR and the PCB revisions are nearly finished. Switching our manufacturing to our new AVR Serial Backpack would provide a timely opportunity to sell the backpack separate from LCD. And, we can open source the whole thing - many of you already program AVRs so this would give those developers the flexibility to change the firmware to accommodate an LCD of their choice. And you'd also have the backpack alone. The whole product would also be a 100% Creative Commons 3.0 release - PCB files, firmware, etc.
This is what we would like to do - does it work with you? You wouldn't be able to buy your backpack for another 90 days or earlier, however. In the meantime you could check Scott Edwards Electronics because I think he sells the backpack alone.
Ken,
Seems like an outstanding idea!·· I'm probably the "other customer" who made the same request. I asked about it the last time I ordered displays.
I'm not an LCD guru by a long shot either, but they tout these things as HD44780 compatable, so I should thing that at least the firmware should be portable at least within a configuration; 4X20 or 2X20 etc. (Looks like I should start learning AVR just in case though)
I have a boatload of programs and projects built around Parallax LCDs, and I'd really like to use some of the high contrast or different color displays from various suppliers as drop in (at least no code changes) replacements or alternate choices.
Some of the projects are for my rebreather controllers and would really benefit from having the serial board seperated from the display module to effect a lower profile, and hence a·more ergonomic handset housing.
I'll check out your suggestion, and keep watching for the new backpacks to appear.
Darlene
Post Edited (Geekgirl) : 5/11/2010 9:17:41 AM GMT
I too have the Parallax Serial LCD·(item code 27979) and I very much like if it was possible to take the Serial adapter off and reconect it again with another LCDs of the same type, as I have some of these HD44780 LCDs with differnt colors. It was much·more·practical·if·the Serial adapter·was not solder to·the LCDs pins, in that case we·could have·both Serial and (Parallel LCD, when removing the Serial adapter)
The 4 line serial LCD is one of my favorite tools! Yes, being able to remove to serial adapter would be
a great idea! In my current project, it would help in being able to locate the adapter further away from
the LCD itself.
OBC
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OBC, that statement goes almost contrary to having a serial backpack in the first place I would think. The serial backpack cuts down on cabling and I/O but if you move the backpack away then you have to run all those lines to the LCD. Why would you want it further away then? I'm just trying to figure this out as I know that my backpacks at least are flat to the back and when I measure the maximum depth it's only 0.25" (there's an optional contrast pushbutton I leave off). I was just wondering how big the Parallax display is so I downloaded the datasheet and it only has the drawing of the backpack but nevertheless it still looks like it's a bit large I guess but not sure how deep.
BTW, I use the amber FSTN amber backlight 20x4 LCDs as they also work the best in really bright sunlight and the backpacks are SEETRON/PARALLAX code selectable with many enhancements.
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*Peter*
Darlene
Hopefully the new one or any future versions will be designed with an eye toward thinness. The current one is a little bulky.
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- Rick
Note the links midway down the page for ModernDevice and Wulfden, who sells this chip and a custom board to make a backpack.