1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

Guide Make your own USB LCD controller!

Discussion in 'Modding' started by ch424, 23 Jun 2006.

  1. SteveyG

    SteveyG Electromodder

    Joined:
    23 Nov 2002
    Posts:
    3,049
    Likes Received:
    8

    If I remember correctly, the code is pushing the limits of the lcd timing, so cable length becomes a big factor in whether or not the LCD works. The cables can be 100m if the timings are changed ;)
     
  2. vaderag

    vaderag I know what a Dremel is...

    Joined:
    19 Jul 2007
    Posts:
    209
    Likes Received:
    0
    I wish i had the skills to make one of these :(
     
  3. aidlover

    aidlover What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    31 Jul 2007
    Posts:
    4
    Likes Received:
    0
    i have setup everything on the breadboard, however when i connect the usb, it says USB Device not recognised. anyone knows what the problem?
     
  4. ch424

    ch424 Design Warrior

    Joined:
    26 May 2004
    Posts:
    3,112
    Likes Received:
    41
    Might be an oscillator problem? Are you using a 4MHz crystal?
     
  5. aidlover

    aidlover What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    31 Jul 2007
    Posts:
    4
    Likes Received:
    0
    yup. everything same as you provide in the 1st place
     
  6. Scorpia

    Scorpia What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    17 Jul 2006
    Posts:
    62
    Likes Received:
    0
    a couple of guesses.

    1. did the pic verify when you programmed it? try a reprogram anyway.

    2. is it asking for the driver file or just coming up with an error?

    3. disconnect the lcd from the pic and try just the pic with the crystal and associated caps etc plugged into the pc

    whats giving the error , can you give a screenshot of the error to see what else is happening?

    scorpia
     
  7. aidlover

    aidlover What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    31 Jul 2007
    Posts:
    4
    Likes Received:
    0
    1) i ask my friend use serial to program, so i guess its not the pic problem
    2) you know those windows error say it cant recognise the usb device.

    something like this [​IMG]
    3) i try reconnect everything and now it cannot detect the pic at all. can the pic been burnt or something?
     
    Last edited: 10 Aug 2007
  8. SteveyG

    SteveyG Electromodder

    Joined:
    23 Nov 2002
    Posts:
    3,049
    Likes Received:
    8
    Lots of things can cause this.

    - Bad decoupling, particularly with respect to placement of decoupling capacitors to power supply pins etc.
    - Insufficient capacitance or use of poor quality capacitors for decoupling of Vusb. Capacitors must be tantalum or ceramic.
    - Oscillator not running properly - distance between oscillator pins and crystal too great, or unmatched capacitors used with crystal.
    - Wrong crystal type used - series cut instead of parallel cut.
    - Config word not programmed correctly. Depending on the programming software used, it may or may not use the config word embedded into the source code.
    - Drawing too much power from the USB port before the device has been enumerated.
    - USB lead length too great or badly routed.
     
  9. aidlover

    aidlover What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    31 Jul 2007
    Posts:
    4
    Likes Received:
    0
    dont know whats wrong. gonna troubleshoot it again in the next few days :)
     
  10. vaderag

    vaderag I know what a Dremel is...

    Joined:
    19 Jul 2007
    Posts:
    209
    Likes Received:
    0
    Couple of question - they've probably been answered before but I dont have time to scan the entire thread!

    1) What does the knob do?
    2) Is it possible to get the PCB from somewhere already printed, coz that's the bit that I wouldnt be able to do...
    3) Can you buy these things already made from anywhere?

    EDIT: I've now had chance to scan the thread and realise what the knob does. I'd still like the answers to the other q's tho.
    In addition, where are people getting the LCD's from in the UK? Found this: http://www.coolcomponents.co.uk/cat...id=36&osCsid=a47c50989707a67473fde1c3ec7f7d2e
    but i really want an 4 row version of this.

    Finally, could somebody please explain the best way to go about doing this for a n00b?! I know how to solder, but I dont know how to make a PCB and I don't know how to go about programming a chip... Thanks
     
    Last edited: 11 Aug 2007
  11. Wayneeboy

    Wayneeboy What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    5 Mar 2007
    Posts:
    28
    Likes Received:
    0
  12. vaderag

    vaderag I know what a Dremel is...

    Joined:
    19 Jul 2007
    Posts:
    209
    Likes Received:
    0
    Wayneeboy, that'd be great - how much would you charge?
    The rest of it looks like it's just standard parts I can pick up from Maplin - is that right?

    Also, i was really wanting a display like One~Zero has here:
    [​IMG]
     
  13. Wayneeboy

    Wayneeboy What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    5 Mar 2007
    Posts:
    28
    Likes Received:
    0
    if One~Zero posts the eagle files i will make up that board
    however he had a problem with the last characters on
    lines 3 + 4. I can do you the board posted by ch424 and
    the programmed pic for £6 inc postage ( price is for UK only )
     
  14. vaderag

    vaderag I know what a Dremel is...

    Joined:
    19 Jul 2007
    Posts:
    209
    Likes Received:
    0
    Yeah, i'm in the UK so that'd be great! Was just wondering - does the board need to be different depending on what LCD panel you use? I wasnt really referring to the board in the pic above, when i said i wanted it to be like that, i was referring the the screen! Ideally, i'd like the board to be similar dimensions to the screen, so i could just stick it to the back of it (if that makes sense).
    Does that set-up above still have the knob?

    Also, does anyone know where i can get that kind of LCD sceen (or OLED or whatever it is) in the UK?
     
  15. One~Zero

    One~Zero What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    9 Sep 2004
    Posts:
    214
    Likes Received:
    2
    The problem is that the 4x20 PLED displays are no longer made and I can't get them any longer :sigh:
    There was a slight design problem with the module in that it would swap the upper most line of the last characters in row 3 and 4. Not a big deal if you didn't use those characters, but a little annoying if you were scrolling text or did use them continualy.
     
  16. vaderag

    vaderag I know what a Dremel is...

    Joined:
    19 Jul 2007
    Posts:
    209
    Likes Received:
    0
    Aw, that's a real shame. Will that happen with any 4x20, or the the PLED ones?
    If i get the one that Wayneeboy linked above would that have the same prob with the last two rows?
     
  17. One~Zero

    One~Zero What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    9 Sep 2004
    Posts:
    214
    Likes Received:
    2
    Last edited: 12 Aug 2007
  18. vaderag

    vaderag I know what a Dremel is...

    Joined:
    19 Jul 2007
    Posts:
    209
    Likes Received:
    0
    Oh yeah, how bizzare.
    Well, since i cant get any of them anywhere, i'm just going to go for the one linked above i think!
    Probably fits with my setup better anyway!

    Can i just check - is the parts list that's on page 1, still the list that people are using, or has anything been updated since then!?
     
  19. SteveyG

    SteveyG Electromodder

    Joined:
    23 Nov 2002
    Posts:
    3,049
    Likes Received:
    8
    You can usually find PLED displays on ebay. I recall sureelectronics on ebay were selling quite a large variety of display modules at good prices. Haven't ordered from them though so can't tell you about the service.
     
  20. Wayneeboy

    Wayneeboy What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    5 Mar 2007
    Posts:
    28
    Likes Received:
    0
    Ive made a board that connects directly to the
    back of a 4 x 20 lcd, I have removed the buzzer
    and all related components. but with the usb
    socket and the pic in a socket the standard
    pin headers are not long enough, does anyone
    know where i can get longer pin headers ???

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: 13 Aug 2007
Tags:

Share This Page