Small platform with a screen

Graham Stabler · 2012-04-27 03:15

I am looking for a small propeller module with the following features:

1. Battery powered preferably
2. Display capable of plotting graphs with a reasonable refresh rate
3. Some digital inputs
4. An analogue input (or enough digital to implement) for audio.
5. Touch screen would be good but not essential.

I have an idea for a little product which could use something like this at its heart, I want to mock it up quick and see if there is any interest.

Graham

MacTuxLin · 2012-04-27 03:32

This, to me, is the smallest I've seen.

Graham Stabler · 2012-04-27 03:34

Does not have to be the smallest but that is very cool. But can I buy one?

Graham

MacTuxLin · 2012-04-27 03:35

You'll need to check with Steve/Jazzed for that

Dr_Acula · 2012-04-27 05:08

YES - uses switch mode regulators for less heat wastage 1. Battery powered preferably
YES with maybe 50 lines of spin. 2. Display capable of plotting graphs with a reasonable refresh rate
YES with an addon board with one HC237 and some HC244 chips 3. Some digital inputs
NO - but it has stereo analog outputs using two prop pins so you could reconfigure those 4. An analogue input (or enough digital to implement) for audio.
YES 5. Touch screen would be good but not essential.

All very experimental at the moment. But we have a calculator, text keypad, photo album, buttons, radio boxes, checkboxes, any font you like, a slider bar that you can move up and down on the touchscreen, play movies on a small area of the screen.

Not small yet but others say it can be shrunk. Once we finalise a schematic.

Nothing like close to a commercial product yet though, sorry.

jazzed · 2012-04-27 09:12

Graham Stabler wrote: »

Does not have to be the smallest but that is very cool. But can I buy one?

Graham

Graham, I have 3 extra GameBaby PCBs (enclosure version) and 2 BeanieBadge PCBs for the devices MacTuxLin mentioned.
There are SOIC-8 pads available on both either for 10 available pins or soldering QuadSPI flash, SPI-SRAM, and/or even SPI-ADCs with a few cuts/jumps.

The BeanieBadge PCB has a 3.0v coin-cell holder and optional regulator. The coin-cell is not much good if the LCD is on all the time.
It also has an IRDA chip on it - I'm working on a "social" idea for this where the LCD only comes on as required.

GameBaby is the best solution since it has a LiPo charger and many other frills.

Let me know the best way to ship you something. PCBs can go first class USPS.
If you want something assembled, we must talk about price and features. PM me if you like.

Thanks,
--Steve

Graham Stabler · 2012-04-27 09:35

Hi guys,

I was hoping that someone had a product ready to go off the shelf, I remember there was something once that looked a lot like an ipod touch that someone was selling.

I think the Gamebaby looks really neat but I was hoping to avoid a lot of work, basically because I don't actually have time for this project. I'll PM you if something else doesn't come along to blow my socks off in the mean time.

Cheers,

Graham

Leon · 2012-04-27 09:55

I've got a small video monitor (NTSC/PAL) that I've used with the Propeller, it's about 3" diagonal. You could mock something up with one of those and a Proto board.

Graham Stabler · 2012-04-27 10:10

I have the same, that level of mock up is no problem but I want something that can be demonstrated and used as I intend the finished article to be used. I could use this if I get really desperate:

http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?90575

I have run it off a PP3 for a bit in the past.

Graham

Oldbitcollector (Jeff) · 2012-04-27 11:16

I've personally had great luck with both those automotive screens and portable dvd players.
(You can pick up a portable dvd player with a broken mech very cheaply on Ebay)

OBC

Graham Stabler · 2012-04-27 12:37

I'm not looking for a screen, I want something I can plug in, program and use really.

Graham

jazzed · 2012-04-27 12:49

Looking for this ? http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?119673-PropPad-mini.-Bare-PCB-5-Serial-LCD-driver-with-7-x-21-chars-and-262k-Font-colors.&p=887820&viewfull=1#post887820

Duane Degn · 2012-04-27 13:01

Rayman makes a couple of different boards with touchscreens.

His 4.3" breakout boards don't come with a Prop but the fit nicely behind the screen.

One problem I've had with the various touchscreens I've used it the video driver uses so many resources there's not much RAM or I/O pins left over for other uses. I've started adding a second Prop to most of my touchscreen projects and use one of the Props as a graphics slave to monitor and drive the touchscreen.

Rayman · 2012-04-27 13:12

I used to sell a PSM module that sounds like it might have fit the requirements...

I'm slowly working toward PSM2 with 2.4" touchscreen and PSB2 with 4.3" touchscreen.
Both of these will have graphics controllers, so Duane shouldn't need that second Prop anymore...
I should have these ready a couple months before Propeller 2 is for sale

Mike Green · 2012-04-27 13:28

SparkFun has a Nokia6100 "knockoff" breakout board that just needs a cable or jumpers for 4 signal lines plus power (5V and 3.3V). I have a driver that does graphics and text. It has two push buttons on the display board and a tricolor led that have separate connections. It works nicely with a QuickStart board or a PropBOE. For the QS board, you'd need to solder on the missing sigma-delta passive components for the ADC while the PropADC is ready to go there.

Oldbitcollector (Jeff) · 2012-04-27 13:40

GG usually has these, but we are waiting for a large shipment from China to re-stock.

OBC

Graham Stabler · 2012-04-28 08:37

Steve, yep that would do the trick, seems to be out of stock, not sure if he still does them.

Ray, sounds good, I will keep watching that space.

Mike, that looks neat, the quickstart board is new to me and looks excellent much better than the old protoboard for my stuff at least.

Looks like there are no simple answers right now but plenty of options if I can make some time to follow them up.

Graham

jazzed · 2012-04-28 08:59

Graham Stabler wrote: »

Looks like there are no simple answers right now but plenty of options if I can make some time to follow them up.

Graham

Maybe a collaboration that builds on an existing design would be a reasonable idea.
One of the small LCDs would be easy to work with and I already have good PCBs.

I could finish a version of this project if you care for it: http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?130974-PropTouch-Propeller-Platform-Handheld-Kit&p=991492&viewfull=1#post991492

jmg · 2012-04-28 16:14

Graham Stabler wrote: »

I'm not looking for a screen, I want something I can plug in, program and use really.

Perhaps something like :
http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/dso-nano-v2-p-681.html
or the bigger sibling,
http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/dso-quad-aluminium-alloy-black-p-1034.html?cPath=174

It should be a more stable form-factor and display/battery/buttons, if you needed to drop-in a custom PCB.

WBA Consulting · 2012-04-28 18:11

Too bad the Wingman isn't offered as a hardware platform because it would probably work very well. The main board without some of the accelerometers, etc, would be a great mini propeller hardware platform.

Graham Stabler · 2012-05-01 08:45

Sorry guys AFK for the weekend and Monday,

Steve, I would happily give you cash for one of those!

Jmg, not sure what you are suggesting, strip out and use with propeller or ditch the propeller? It would be less work for me to make something basic I think.

Andrew, neat product but looks like they were bought out by Garmin as all links lead there now, price was interesting especially when considered cheap in the business!

Cheers,

Graham

Rayman · 2012-05-01 10:25

BTW Graham, I just got a new 4.3" plugin board working for the "DVI Graphics Shield" that connects to a Propeller Platform.
It works with both Newhaven and the Samsung 4.3" touchscreens.
Sounds like you want something smaller, but this gives you 480x272 resolution in 24-bit color. So, it can make pretty good graphs...

Graham Stabler · 2012-05-01 11:38

I can live with that size, right now my main aim is plug and play and battery powered, I have a platform or two and could battery power.

Portability and lack of effort are the reasons for the thread, I was hoping for a link to a "buy now" button when I posted.

Graham

Rayman · 2012-05-01 12:34

Graham, I do happen to have 2 more prototype 4.3" plugin-boards. If you don't mind that there is one minor flaw that requires a jumper to fix, I can sell that to you.
You'll also need a screen and the DVI Graphics Shield, in addition to a Propeller Plaform.
I actually have some non-touchscreen 4.3" Newhaven displays that I can sell at a low price too, if you really don't want the touchscreen...

Graham Stabler · 2012-05-01 12:48

I was thinking the whole lot would just sit on top of the prop platform but that would not be the case there would be a cable between etc?

The graphics look good and the screen size is fine but perhaps it will end up being a bit bulky.

Graham

Rayman · 2012-05-01 13:30

You can run a 40-pin (2 row) connector between the DVI board and the Plugin board (at least I don't see why not).
Or, you can just let it set on top.

I just got the DVI demo running on the 4.3" screens and was getting ready to take photos/videos...
I'll try to post a picture for you tonight... Then, you can see how big it is...

jazzed · 2012-05-01 14:38

Graham Stabler wrote: »

Steve, I would happily give you cash for one of those!

Made a cheaper PropTouch single board layout over the weekend, but then found out the LCD is end of life.

I've had some inquiries about the design since I posted it last year. Guess I'll finish it with a different LCD when I have more time.

When will I have more time? LOL.

Thanks
--Steve

jmg · 2012-05-01 15:15

Graham Stabler wrote: »

Jmg, not sure what you are suggesting, strip out and use with propeller or ditch the propeller? It would be less work for me to make something basic I think.

Either, or a combination - it really depends on how close you are now, and how 'finished' it needs to look for your customers.
Something with a case+battery+display+buttons already done, lets you focus on the actual Operational design.

If (when?) it hits full volumes, then you can choose final silicon for best power/performance and even tool your own case ....

Rayman · 2012-05-01 17:26

Here's a photo of the 4.3 plugin running the demo, showing pixels, lines and circles.
I think you can also see the brown jumper wire

jazzed · 2012-05-01 22:42

Rayman wrote: »

Here's a photo of the 4.3 plugin running the demo, showing pixels, lines and circles.
I think you can also see the brown jumper wire

Nice work Rayman. Is that an Austria Microsystems A1103 LED backlight driver in the SOT-6?

Rayman · 2012-05-02 06:46

It's a LT something or other with PWM input. The SSD1963 has a PWM output for setting the backlight...
I was going to point you to my new NH4 breakout for Newhaven 4.3" to see the schematic, but I just remembered that I hadn't put it on my website yet...

Small platform with a screen

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