Guide Make your own USB LCD controller!

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

  1. paul_s57

    paul_s57 What's a Dremel?

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    @ Latvian3Dman: yes I have all of this working, however I still need to add the Remote Control code section into the main program, but other than that yes it all works fine.

    However once made I would like to spend more time on the PC based sodtware, becasue it does not use LCD Smartie or any other programs like that but instead it uses a program I have written in c# to get the information from programs (e.g. WinAmp, etc) and sends them down the USB link to the PIC.


    @misaki: the rotary encoder is essentually a dial that can be turned either clockwise or anti-clockwise and it is used for effectivley whatever you want, (providing the code / program is set right), in this instance I am using it to control the volume on my computer. Glad to have helped with the idea for your PCB, mod on....
     
  2. misaki

    misaki What's a Dremel?

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    Thanks Paul.

    Would you please post some pictures of your product for reference?

    Misaki.
     
  3. sgufa

    sgufa What's a Dremel?

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    @ch424
    Great work! You're a magician! It works flawlessly. I was thinking about adding mce remote support to your project and make the device HID compatible. For the first thing i've something regarding rc6-6-32 command hanling... for the 2nd I've to wok on it for a while. Can you send me the source code you use?
     
  4. The_Pope

    The_Pope Geoff Richards Super Moderator

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  5. Scorpia

    Scorpia What's a Dremel?

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    can i ask why you would want to make the device HID compatable?

    from what i understand it would mean that you dont need to load the .inf file.

    the down side being that the device would no longer look like a serial port to the system and would need to have software written to access the LCD .

    the range of software available for serial LCD is great, why would you want to write your own software.

    maybe i misunderstand something about HID devices (im no expert).

    Let me know

    Scorpia
     
  6. RustySpoon

    RustySpoon What's a Dremel?

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    question

    Does this support 40x2 lcds?
     
  7. Hoopstar

    Hoopstar What's a Dremel?

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    Yes.
     
  8. RustySpoon

    RustySpoon What's a Dremel?

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    Ok, so i built this up on a breadboard, and I'm getting some weird results.
    It starts up and is recognized by windows. I get a com port. And the lcd starts blinking, but its about a third of the way down the first line.
    [​IMG]
    then if i try to start up lcdsmartie it gives me some characters and then freezes lcdsmartie.
    [​IMG]
    and heres what the wiring looks like at the moment
    [​IMG]
    this is the lcd I'm using
    http://www.jhdlcd.com.cn/old/PDF_file/JHD402A-E.pdf
    I haven't really done much with lcd's before, so any help would be appreciated.

    oh, also i only had a 20mhz crystal, so i had to change the config bits to match
    [​IMG]
    just the ocs to HS and the pll prescaler
     
    Last edited: 29 Jul 2007
  9. ch424

    ch424 Design Warrior

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    I'm really sorry, but I really don't know much about how my code works any more, and I no longer have access to the computer I wrote it on and the test setup. Please could you try a 4MHz crystal?
     
  10. Scorpia

    Scorpia What's a Dremel?

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    just having a quick look i would say shorten the cable from the chip to the lcd, it loooks like your using an old fdd cable or something.

    i found when building mine the shorter the cable the better.

    try and make it less than 5-6cm,

    edit: since lcd smartie crashes after a little while i would get a 4mhz crystal. but since it detects under windows it cant be far from working. maybe try hyper terminal to type characters to the lcd manually.



    Scorpia
     
    Last edited: 30 Jul 2007
  11. One~Zero

    One~Zero What's a Dremel?

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    Cableing definitely looks a little long. I had to bring mine down to about 5cm just like Scorpia mentioned and then it worked perfectly.
     
  12. RustySpoon

    RustySpoon What's a Dremel?

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    sweet

    Thanks guys, I didn't realize the cable would make that much of a difference.
    that was basically just to see if it will work. im working on a board to piggyback the lcd now, so there wont even be a cable.
    It works great now. running with lcdsmartie
    [​IMG]

    :)
     
  13. One~Zero

    One~Zero What's a Dremel?

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    Glad you got it working without too many troubles. Looks good! :thumb:
     
  14. Scorpia

    Scorpia What's a Dremel?

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    yeah, great work,

    are you making a custom PCB or vero board?

    if your making a Custom board dont forget to share.

    Scorpia
     
  15. ch424

    ch424 Design Warrior

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    Thanks you two, saving the day again! Good job RustySpoon! :thumb:
     
  16. paul_s57

    paul_s57 What's a Dremel?

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    Well, I have just finished populating my PCB (pictures to follow very shortly) as I am currently trying to find where I put my programmer!!
    However I was curious to hear of the problems people have been having with the length of cable to the LCD as I have used LCD’s like this many times and never experienced any such problems regardless of the length of cable.

    If anybody has a copy of the code (just the LCD bit will do) I would be intrigued to see it and where any differences might occur.
     
  17. ch424

    ch424 Design Warrior

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    If you PM me your email address I can send it to you...

    Looking forward to pictures :D
     
  18. MrAlbatross

    MrAlbatross What's a Dremel?

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    Has anyome written code to be able to use this on a Mac? (I know... I know... tantamount to blasphemy... but I use Macs on a daily basis)
     
  19. paul_s57

    paul_s57 What's a Dremel?

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    Well here is semi-finished result of my project:

    [​IMG]

    and the back of the board:

    [​IMG]

    Appoligies for the poor piccy quality, I left my camera at work.

    If you remember from my previous thread I am not using the same code as you, as this is a HID device, so i still have to add on my IR sensor (for the apple remote) and make a stand for it, just a basic plastic jobby similar to the others.

    Also I am still currently working on my C# program which makes up the computer based side of the project where almost full control of the LCD is a available, and it should all hopefully be customisable for interfacing to WinAmp, iTunes etc.
     
  20. ch424

    ch424 Design Warrior

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    Should work with OSX no problem - just plug+play, then download lcdproc - Do post back and say if it works or not though! (or could someone else with a Mac test this?)

    Good job Paul!
     
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