Re: [OT] Possible bulk buy on 128 by 64 graphic displays with touch screen

["Paul Robinson" <ukcueman@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I have lots of questions, and since you *did* offer to answer some... :-)

I'm quite happy to write my own C application, but soldering is not my
thing. With that in
mind, what would be involved in building something like this? Would I be
right in thinking
the PIC would be on a separate board (that you won't supply), and the board
you're talking
about producing would connect to the PIC board? Would this be a plug-socket
connection or
a soldered connection? Would I have to build the board for the PIC from
scratch?

I've been thinking for a while I could do with several of these. Is this a
difficult
project for somebody who knows little about electronics but has a
programming background?

Can you recommend anywhere for buying the bits I'd need?

What PIC/compiler and other bits will you be using? (just so I can see an
example of what
things I would need). Can you recommend a compiler? (linux or windows) Or
does that depend
on the particular PIC?

Are any of the PIC books worth buying, or would I be better off just
jumping in?

I have a lot of reading to do...

Thanks,
Paul


----- Original Message -----
From: <ian.bird@xxxxxxx>
To: <ukha_d@xxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, November 07, 2005 7:08 PM
Subject: Re: [ukha_d] [OT] Possible bulk buy on 128 by 64 graphic displays
with touch
screen


> Hi Paul
>
> It is not quite that simple. You will need some glue in the middle.
> Typically this may be a PIC or similar as these applications tend to
be
> embedded.
>
> The parallel bit is the way of communicating with the LCD chip.
Actually
> it can talk by both serial and parallel (no relation to the PC
versions).
> My implementation is parallel as it is quicker for a given clock
speed. In
> parallel mode there are 13 i/o lines including 8 for data, reset,
clock
> and some others. This requirement can be reduced by using it in serial
> mode. At a guess you would lose the requirement for 7 lines so about 6
> lines would be needed. On top of that your PIC would need a serial
port to
> receive the data from the touch screen. The PIC would then do all the
> magic and print stuff on the screen. If you had switches the PIC would
> monitor these and send something back to the host on the other end of
the
> MSS100.
>
> To enable it to receive from an MSS100 you would need a PIC with two
> serial ports, one for the touch screen and one for the MSS100. Some
> programmatic glue in there and you are most of the way there. Whilst
it
> would be possible to convert the C routines I have into assembler I
would
> recommend using a C compiler for the PIC or similar.
>
> I am actually doing this except I have a 10 base T Ethernet
presentation
> so plug in the RJ45 directly and off you go. I do not intend to offer
this
> as a solution however because no-one would be able to work with it as
I
> have made the compiler and chip choice.
>
> Any more questions fire away
>
> Thanks
>
> Ian
>
> "Paul Robinson" <ukcueman@xxxxxxx>
> Sent by: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
> 07/11/2005 13:08
> Please respond to ukha_d
>
>
>         To:     <ukha_d@xxxxxxx>
>         cc:     (bcc: Ian Bird/CV/Novartis)
>         Subject:        Re: [ukha_d] [OT] Possible bulk buy on 128 by
64 graphic
displays with
> touch screen
>
>
> Is it practical to use this remote from a PC? Can't be a simple MSS100
to
> give it ethernet
> because you're talking about serial+parallel access, but what about
20-30m
> of cat5?
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <ian.bird@xxxxxxx>
> To: <ukha_d@xxxxxxx>
> Cc: <ian@xxxxxxx>
> Sent: Monday, November 07, 2005 5:06 PM
> Subject: [ukha_d] [OT] Possible bulk buy on 128 by 64 graphic displays
> with touch screen
>
>
> > Hi all
> >
> > I am looking at buying some of these (see below) touch screen
displays
> > from Apollo for a project I am working on but the supplier has
upped the
> > minimum order quantity to 1000 pounds plus VAT and delivery. This
is a
> > little more than I wanted to spend so I am looking to share the
burden.
> >
> > The displays are available in either blue/white mode or
amber/dark blue
> > mode. They have a 4 wire resistive touch screen pre bonded onto
them.
> You
> > can see the non touchscreen version in action at the beginning of
the
> last
> > UKHA video. You can get a taster of the work I will do from this
page
> > although there are no details of the touch controller chip on
there.
> >
> > http://www.mollyology.com/ProjectsGraphicDisplayInterface.php
> >
> > I am thinking it would be best to sell these on with the touch
> controller
> > and other hardware fitted onto a small daughter board otherwise
> > interfacing would be problematic for most. I would bring out the
> > connectors to standard headers unless anyone wanted something
different.
> > The PCB's would be professionally produced - not home made.
> >
> > Here is the link to the suppliers page about the screens
> >
> > http://www.apollodisplays.co.uk/51553.php
> >
> > This would mean anyone could get into really neat touch screens
for
> their
> > home made devices at relatively low cost.
> >
> > I also have some C code to talk to these units using the parallel
> > interface as well as a library of functions for circles, ovals,
lines,
> > rectangles, text, custom characters and pictures which I will
share. The
> > code is written for the AVR CodeVision C compiler but should be
pretty
> > portable. I ported some of it from another compiler in the first
place
> > anyway.
> >
> > The touch screen outputs the touch coordinates with a T prefix
followed
> by
> > two 4 digit comma separated sets of coordinates. A release action
sends
> > the same string but the prefix is an R e.g. T0123,0232 or
R0212,0232.
> > Coordinates are sent across a serial link at 9,600 or 19,200 as
long as
> > the screen is being pressed. This enables dragging to be
supported if
> you
> > are really keen.
> >
> > If anyone is interested please mail me at ian at mollyology dot
com or
> on
> > list if applicable.
> >
> > I would expect the screen, associated electronics and PCB
completely
> > assembled and tested to be about 50 to 60 quid. I am not making
any
> money
> > out of this, just breaking even. I simply cannot afford the have
1200
> > quids worth of screens sitting on the bench for the next year or
two
> until
> > I complete my current rather complex project.
> >
> > I am not knocking the LCD shop or other sources of screens but I
do
> > believe these prices compare very favourably with lesser screens
e.g.
> the
> > 20 by 4 line display Keith mentioned earlier at 20 pounds in
single
> > quantities. They are simpler to interface but have no touch
screen
> option
> > and are far less versatile.
> >
> > As always, feedback and suggestions welcome.
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > Ian




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