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re-use LCD — Parallax Forums

re-use LCD

Jonathan AllisonJonathan Allison Posts: 96
edited 2005-02-24 16:04 in BASIC Stamp
Has anyone ever attempted (with any success) to re-use an LCD display from say a calculator or VCR or whatever and interface it with a bs2?

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Johnny

Comments

  • Chris SavageChris Savage Parallax Engineering Posts: 14,406
    edited 2005-01-18 15:55
    Those kinds of LCD Displays don't typically have the needed drivers or circuitry to directly interface to a BS2 or other MCU.· There is usually a specialized chip inside driving the display.· What you need is a Serial or Parallel character LCD display.· If cost is an issue, I can tell you a few places to get these as low as $5.00 for a 16X2.



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    Chris Savage

    Knight Designs
    324 West Main Street
    P.O. Box 97
    Montour Falls, NY 14865
    (607) 535-6777

    Business Page:·· http://www.knightdesigns.com
    Personal Page:··· http://www.lightlink.com/dream/chris
    Designs Page:··· http://www.lightlink.com/dream/designs
    ·
  • Jim McCorisonJim McCorison Posts: 359
    edited 2005-01-18 18:40
    Chris,

    How about inexpensive 20x4's?

    Also, do you know if it is possible to find graphing, or pixel addressable, LCDs for less than $100?

    Jim
  • Chris SavageChris Savage Parallax Engineering Posts: 14,406
    edited 2005-01-18 23:59
    Hello everybody,

    ·· I will share two of my favorite places for getting LCD Displays...Remember, I am offering suggestions for what works for me, if things don't work for you please don't blame the messenger!·

    ·· Since I am a designer, by default, I rarely order things in production quantity, unless it's my own project.· That being said, getting good prices on LCD Displays can be tricky, at best.

    ·· I prefer surplus dealers, but so many of them deal in SO MUCH that they don't get good deals on LCD Displays.· Many people are familiar with B.G. Micro.· It's where I often find great deals on LCD Displays of varying configurations.· Often they are new pulls, which means they were built into some product that probably didn't make it, and now the parts are being sold off as surplus.

    ·· Sometimes you have to remove bezels or plastic covers and brackets to get the display out, but 99% of the time it's worth it.· In fact B.G. Micro currently has a deal on a 24X2 LED Backlit for $4.95 which is pretty darn good.· My personal experience is that 95% of the time I get a great deal.· One time I ordered 3 40X2 displays and later found that they required a negative voltage for the contrast, which they weren't advertised as requiring.· They offered to give me credit, but I declined, yet still haven't used the displays.

    ·· Here's the wesbite:·· http://www.bgmicro.com/

    ·· The other place I used to get alot of great deals on displays is a place called, Timeline.· They always have displays, and many are backlit, and they have a wide variety, as well as graphics displays.· They have GREAT prices, but not very good tech support (Translated into, if you have a question, it takes time to get an answer).· But I have purchased many displays from them, and they are usually they cheapest for the bigger displays.

    ·· Recently I purchased a 40X4 and a 20X4, both LED backlit to see what they were carrying and determine if I wanted to place a bulk order.· The 40X4 works great, although it had a premounted connector.· But the 20X4 wouldn't work for anything.· Later I found out that it required almost -5VDC for the contrast, which is very unusual.· Many displays with negative requirements only need like -0.3VDC, but whatever.· Their website is:

    http://www.timeline-inc.com/

    To get directly to character displays use:· http://www.timeline-inc.com/lcd.html#alpha

    I hope this helps those that are tired of paying·high prices·for displays, or, like me, simply can't afford more expensive displays.


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    Chris Savage

    Knight Designs
    324 West Main Street
    P.O. Box 97
    Montour Falls, NY 14865
    (607) 535-6777

    Business Page:·· http://www.knightdesigns.com
    Personal Page:··· http://www.lightlink.com/dream/chris
    Designs Page:··· http://www.lightlink.com/dream/designs
    ·
  • Jim McCorisonJim McCorison Posts: 359
    edited 2005-01-19 00:38
    Chris,

    Thanks much. I just took a quick look at Timeline and their prices are really good.

    Jim
  • Chris SavageChris Savage Parallax Engineering Posts: 14,406
    edited 2005-01-19 23:09
    n/p...But as I said, request data, and get one unit to start to see if it will work out for you.· Make sure they have more of the SAME model...Caution is always advised when dealing with surplus companies...Not trying to make anyone paranoid, but rather, cautious.· You always know what you get when you buy a display from Parallax, Matrix Orbital, or Scott Edwards...Anything else and you have to do a bit of research.



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    Chris Savage

    Knight Designs
    324 West Main Street
    P.O. Box 97
    Montour Falls, NY 14865
    (607) 535-6777

    Business Page:·· http://www.knightdesigns.com
    Personal Page:··· http://www.lightlink.com/dream/chris
    Designs Page:··· http://www.lightlink.com/dream/designs
    ·
  • ForrestForrest Posts: 1,341
    edited 2005-01-20 05:12
    I've had good experiences buying electronic products, including an LCD from Amazon Electronics at http://shopping.netsuite.com/electronics123
    They sell a 16 x 2 HD44780 based LCD with backlight for $5.65.
  • JurgenJurgen Posts: 8
    edited 2005-02-22 09:48
    Hi,

    I usually get my LCD displays for free roll.gif

    When I'm looking for one I go to the local dealer of fax machines and usually he has a few old machines that contain LCD displays I can salvage.

    He's happy to get rid of his junk and I get the LCD display (and sometimes some other stuff I can use).

    Most LCD displays I have got this way are with the usual Hitachi chipset, so they are not too difficult to hook up.
  • Pinoy NYCPinoy NYC Posts: 30
    edited 2005-02-22 22:22
    .



    Nice Post...

    You can also try, All Electronics... This is where I got my LCD's, they work great.

    http://www.allelectronics.com/roll.gif
  • Jonathan AllisonJonathan Allison Posts: 96
    edited 2005-02-23 02:43
    Thanks Jurgen, I'll look into that [noparse]:)[/noparse]

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    Johnny
  • BushmanBushman Posts: 4
    edited 2005-02-24 16:04
    Jurgen said...
    Hi,

    I usually get my LCD displays for free roll.gif

    When I'm looking for one I go to the local dealer of fax machines and usually he has a few old machines that contain LCD displays I can salvage.

    He's happy to get rid of his junk and I get the LCD display (and sometimes some other stuff I can use).

    Most LCD displays I have got this way are with the usual Hitachi chipset, so they are not too difficult to hook up.

    Jurgen, I come across tons of printers like this myself, but I've never tried using the LCDs. Could you give us an example of one that worked for you and how you found the info on it etc?
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