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How should i go about adding a TFT LCD display? — Parallax Forums

How should i go about adding a TFT LCD display?

CameronMCameronM Posts: 57
edited 2010-08-14 14:43 in Propeller 1
Hi, could somebody tell me or point me in the right direction on how I should go about adding my own TFT LCD display (something like this http://www.microtipsusa.com/pdfs/products/TFT/MTF-TQ35SN741-AV.pdf) to a project. Like what kind of parts would I need, would i need some type of controller or could I hook this up directly to the propeller with a breakout board? I would like to be able to use the VGA text object with this LCD or a equivalent.

Thank You,

CameronM

Comments

  • RaymanRayman Posts: 14,889
    edited 2010-08-13 05:20
    Ok, that's a 3.5" lcd with RGB interface. I sell a very similar item with a touchscreen on my website. I also sell boards and provide software to drive them....
  • Clock LoopClock Loop Posts: 2,069
    edited 2010-08-13 06:57
    CameronM wrote: »
    Hi, could somebody tell me or point me in the right direction on how I should go about adding my own TFT LCD display (something like this http://www.microtipsusa.com/pdfs/products/TFT/MTF-TQ35SN741-AV.pdf) to a project.

    Thank You,

    CameronM


    I would connect 3 props to a master prop.

    I would then split all 3 color channels. D0-D7 on one prop... etc...
    Yes i know prop has many cogs, but it doesn't have many pins.

    So split the operation up into parallel-able chunks.
    You do this by programming the same program on many props at once so their function can be exactly the same, but the data they work with can go to different pins.

    Using 4 props, one that acts as a master, for clock and data. (sd card)

    The color data would be chunked out to respective color props. Color props could do decompression of data only keeping color it wants?

    Color props would watch the SPI or I2C interface for proper Data retrieval.

    Or that is what I would try to do. Figuring it out as i did it. But I don't have that display.

    I would focus then on making a 3d environment that had ps2 interface....

    Perhaps start with a cad design program.

    Or you could choose option A, Rayman's post above and be done with it?
  • wjsteelewjsteele Posts: 697
    edited 2010-08-14 07:05
    Rayman wrote: »
    I sell a very similar item with a touchscreen on my website.

    That brings up a great point, Ray... your drivers actually work quite well with other types of screens as well because most use the same I/O but maybe a slightly different order in the connector.

    For example, I used the Samsung 4.3" LCD Touchscreen and a Toshiba 4.3" Touchscreen... one used a 60 pin connector, the other a 50 pin connector, but the logic to drive them was nearly identical to your driver. The one major diffrence between them was the backlight driver circuit. One used 24v the other only 10v.

    Bill
  • laser-vectorlaser-vector Posts: 118
    edited 2010-08-14 09:10
    Rayman wrote: »
    Ok, that's a 3.5" lcd with RGB interface. I sell a very similar item with a touchscreen on my website. I also sell boards and provide software to drive them....

    Ray's touchscreens are very user friendly! comes with everything you would need and they are very reliable. im thinking about getting a few more myself as soon as they finish the enclosures.
  • magdropmagdrop Posts: 13
    edited 2010-08-14 09:57
    Ray's touchscreens are a very good product. I need to get a few more myself. Eliminating a bunch of switches on things is really a slick way to go.

    I still haven't figured out how to get the 2-bit (four color) bitmaps out of the SD drive and onto the display, but I think I'll figure it out eventually. Displaying text and tiles is pretty straightforward, and I'm very new to the prop and this level of programming in general.
  • RaymanRayman Posts: 14,889
    edited 2010-08-14 11:12
    I hope to adapt Visual Spin to my LCDs soon... That should make buttons and bitmaps very easy to work with.
  • wjsteelewjsteele Posts: 697
    edited 2010-08-14 12:52
    Rayman wrote: »
    I hope to adapt Visual Spin to my LCDs soon... That should make buttons and bitmaps very easy to work with.

    Ray,

    I'm actually taking a bit of your VisualSpin generated code and adapting it to the LCD as we speak.

    I'm actually not using your driver, however, but the other one (can't seem to remember who wrote it off the top of my head.) I'm also going to add some of the SD I/O stuff to it.

    Bill
  • CameronMCameronM Posts: 57
    edited 2010-08-14 14:43
    Thank you everyone,

    I think i will go with ray's LCD and breakout board.

    Thank you,

    CameronM
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