opened up printer to get: and found it wasn HD44780 but that it was M50530 seems to be pretty common tho so i was thinkin i cud maybe hook this up to parallel port? anyone know any programs or if this is possible.. i found some controller datasheets for the chip or w.e but dunno what to do with those any help wud be much appreciated
Possible Even though I have never worked with that controller, I can only offer my help to a fellow grab-an-LCD-from-any-device-that-has-one-and-hook-it-to-the-PC doer! So, that controller must somewhere have the neccesary connectors. Look in the controller's datasheet for the data line, read/write, chip select(/enable) and enable pins, as well as Vcc and GND. Then, use a multimeter and find the correspondence between the controller and the connector pins. Then, hook the data lines to the data lines of the parallel port, the Enable pin to the Strobe pin of the parallel port (pin #1) and the Read/Write and Chip Select pins to two of the other control pins, namely Auto Feed (#14), Init (#16) and Select In (#17). Connect the Vcc and GND CORRECTLY (ESSENTIAL, CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH), because if you don't, the circuitry on the LCD (the glass-like thing) goes bye-bye. After all is done, you can start experimenting with your favorite programming language, reading the controller's datasheet carefully. Good luck mate!
what did you just say? lol sorry Luda = total n00b heres a link to the datasheet if anyone wants to take a look http://www.lc-design.de/Download/LCDLSI/Mitsubishi/m50530.zip thanx for the help tho mate
OW Well, your status IS in fact "modder" while mine is "What's a dremmel", so you ought to know better than "n00b"! Moreover, you knew enough to pluck that LCD out of the printer... didn't you??? Just kidding, though ! However, I really don't know how to make this simpler for you, since I don't think it gets any simpler. I too found that datasheet zip, and I see the pin-out of the controller, but that LCD module you plucked out MUST have some pins somewhere, through which it was connected to the main circuitry of the printer. These are the pins you have to "decypher". Note that the board of the LCD also has some button pads, from what I can see in the pictures, so, these leads must also appear in the pins --you'll have to leave these unused. If this is still complicated, the next step I can think of is you to mail me the module! How's that?
ooooh well n00b in terms of this stuff but the only way it was connected to the printer was through a cable which went to under where u see J1 and other for J2 on the backside, but i think J2 is just power.. i dont currently have a multimeter.. but i thought it was odd that it was only connected to the printer through 8 pins.. i found a program called MLCD but apparently it is only for linux.. sorry for not clarifying this is where it gets connected
Huh Since that's a proprietary LCD design, and there are just 8 pins available, I'd say these people have probably added a parallel-to-serial shift register, and transformed the module to serial. But that's just my guess. I'd have to check on all the other ICs on there, and see where these 8+2 pins go, see where the data and control pins of the controller go, and then I'd tell you. If you don't have a multimeter, I'd say you go invest in a good one, if you plan on doing some electronics work. Especially one with an audible continuity checker. Using that feature (and your eyes) you can trace the circuit board and see where these pins' traces end and what they're connected to. Along with some search for the IC datasheets, you're done! That's IF you still want to use that LCD!
well, i dint get much done, i found that putting a +5 wire to the single input, then toughing different pins on the chip i could get some rows and columns to show up on the LCD, but i found it strange that i could never produce anything by touching any of the 8 pins.. anyway.. dad came home from london today and was very about me takin apart the printer.. so i soldered the ribbon wire back up and put everything back together [luckily all is still working].. so now im thinking of buying a HD44780 chipped LCD from eio.. i found some great deals (4x40 for 15$ ), has anyone bought from them or know if they are good? thanx
ok making order.. what do u think, i should get, 2x40 backlight LCD or 4x40 non backlight?.. is 2 rows enough for things like the winamp plugin with the audio meters? thanx
Never knew I was in London... Wonder if I had a good time... Yes, I've ordered from them a few times. Very speedy.
i just wish i cud order online instead of send in money.. what do yall suggest, 2x40 backlight LCD or 4x40 non backlight?..
They take PayPal... A 4x20 will fit inside your case while a while a 4x40 won't if that helps... Also remember, they have a minimum order of $20...
