#141617 - 12/06/2003 05:10
Re: Ext VFD Disp signup
[Re: foxtrot_xray]
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new poster
Registered: 04/08/1999
Posts: 16
Loc: Central TX, USA
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I'm definitely wanting one of these displays. I would be willing to pay in advance.
Also, tried the signup site, but 'cannot find server' error.
thanx
_________________________
Rio 30gb 1999 SAAB 9-5SE
Mark1 10gb '87 SAAB 9000T
glad I don't shuffle tapes/CDs anymore
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#141618 - 12/06/2003 10:57
Re: Ext VFD Disp signup
[Re: falconvp]
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addict
Registered: 03/03/2002
Posts: 687
Loc: Atlanta, Georgia
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Yeah, there was a problem with the DNS servers this morning.
It is back up, go ahead and give it a show now..
Thanks!
Mike.
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Mike 'Fox' Morrey
128BPM@124MPH. Love it!
2002 BRG Mini Cooper
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#141619 - 10/07/2003 04:46
status update
[Re: foxtrot_xray]
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new poster
Registered: 04/08/1999
Posts: 16
Loc: Central TX, USA
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It has been about a month since the last post.
I was wondering what the status is on this project?
thx
_________________________
Rio 30gb 1999 SAAB 9-5SE
Mark1 10gb '87 SAAB 9000T
glad I don't shuffle tapes/CDs anymore
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#141620 - 10/07/2003 05:19
Re: status update
[Re: falconvp]
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addict
Registered: 03/03/2002
Posts: 687
Loc: Atlanta, Georgia
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Not a problem. Had to put things aside for a week and a half as I drove almost-cross-country on a vacation. I'm back now, and got the PCB prototype. 'Debugging' and testing right now to make sure everything's thrown together right now. Once that is done (oh, I'm guessing a week or so) I will order finilazides PCBs, and start sending e-mails out for real orders..
Mike.
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Mike 'Fox' Morrey
128BPM@124MPH. Love it!
2002 BRG Mini Cooper
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#141621 - 10/07/2003 07:16
Re: status update
[Re: foxtrot_xray]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 15/08/2000
Posts: 4859
Loc: New Jersey, USA
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Is there any (easy) way to be able to reverse or flip the display signal, so it could be used in reflection (like a heads-up display)?
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Paul Grzelak
200GB with 48MB RAM, Illuminated Buttons and Digital Outputs
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#141622 - 10/07/2003 10:21
Re: status update
[Re: pgrzelak]
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addict
Registered: 03/03/2002
Posts: 687
Loc: Atlanta, Georgia
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Is there any (easy) way to be able to reverse or flip the display signal, so it could be used in reflection (like a heads-up display)?
I forgot that you sent me an e-mail on this..
I looked at the display, and as far as I can tell, it depends..
If sending standard text, using the display's own built-in fonts, no. I can't see an easy way to do it.
Using graphics, sure, just 'reverse' the direction and starting point of the draw..
It's probably too late, but according to the docs, they can 'custom program' the displays. Maybe they could add a command to 'flip'/mirror the display...
Me.
_________________________
Mike 'Fox' Morrey
128BPM@124MPH. Love it!
2002 BRG Mini Cooper
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#141623 - 11/07/2003 07:14
Re: status update
[Re: foxtrot_xray]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31597
Loc: Seattle, WA
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Maybe they could add a command to 'flip'/mirror the display... I have reason to believe that this may already exist in the kernel as a compiler option. Have a peek.
(Was part of a topic of conversation in Amersfoort last weekend.)
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#141624 - 11/07/2003 07:31
Re: status update
[Re: tfabris]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
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I'm 99% sure that this is only for the driver to the on-board VFD. It would do nothing for the out-of-band display he's talking about.
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Bitt Faulk
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#141626 - 11/07/2003 18:33
Re: status update
[Re: pgrzelak]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 24/12/2001
Posts: 5528
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Stupid question but can't you just mount the display the other way up? Unless I'm missing something important here...
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#141627 - 11/07/2003 23:42
Re: status update
[Re: tman]
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pooh-bah
Registered: 02/06/2000
Posts: 1996
Loc: Gothenburg, Sweden
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If you use it for a heads up display, I imagine you'd want to flip it up/down only - if you rotate the physical display you'll flip both up/down and left/right.
/Michael
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/Michael
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#141628 - 12/07/2003 02:16
Re: status update
[Re: mtempsch]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 24/12/2001
Posts: 5528
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Ahh okay. I thought I was missing something. I must remember not to post at 2:30am without thinking it over again 
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#141629 - 12/07/2003 05:24
Re: status update
[Re: tman]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 15/08/2000
Posts: 4859
Loc: New Jersey, USA
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Greetings!
Not a problem. That was why I was asking, though.
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Paul Grzelak
200GB with 48MB RAM, Illuminated Buttons and Digital Outputs
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#141630 - 12/07/2003 06:42
Re: status update
[Re: mtempsch]
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enthusiast
Registered: 08/08/2000
Posts: 351
Loc: chicago
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...and how is it that the mirror knows to flip one axis, but not the other? 
--dan.
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#141631 - 12/07/2003 06:57
Re: status update
[Re: djc]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 15/08/2000
Posts: 4859
Loc: New Jersey, USA
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Now, now. Such questions are best asked and speculated about late at night while intoxicated. First thing in the morning (well, US Eastern Time) is not the right time. You will likely get a boring, physics / optics related answer...
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Paul Grzelak
200GB with 48MB RAM, Illuminated Buttons and Digital Outputs
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#141632 - 12/07/2003 07:05
Re: status update
[Re: djc]
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pooh-bah
Registered: 02/06/2000
Posts: 1996
Loc: Gothenburg, Sweden
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Ack... my thinking was bass-ackwards. 
Actually you need to flip the display right/left, or up/down, depending on which axis you rotate it.
Rotate it along the horizontal axis (left-right axis) and you need to flip the display vertically as what used to be up when facing you is now down when facing away. Left and right is preserved.
If you instead rotate it on the vertical axis, what is up and down remains but what was left when facing you is right when facing away...
Just tried it in front of a mirror with a newspaper...
/Michael
Edit to Paul: 8.42 in the morning seemed to be a bit early for me 
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/Michael
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#141633 - 12/07/2003 07:24
Re: status update
[Re: mtempsch]
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enthusiast
Registered: 08/08/2000
Posts: 351
Loc: chicago
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perhaps it depends on whether your mirror is vertically or horizontally polarized.
--dan.
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#141634 - 12/07/2003 12:31
Re: status update
[Re: pgrzelak]
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addict
Registered: 03/03/2002
Posts: 687
Loc: Atlanta, Georgia
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...You people scare me sometimes.
_________________________
Mike 'Fox' Morrey
128BPM@124MPH. Love it!
2002 BRG Mini Cooper
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#141635 - 12/07/2003 12:33
Re: status update
[Re: foxtrot_xray]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 15/08/2000
Posts: 4859
Loc: New Jersey, USA
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... Just sometimes??? We are not trying hard enough...
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Paul Grzelak
200GB with 48MB RAM, Illuminated Buttons and Digital Outputs
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#141636 - 01/08/2003 13:10
It's ALIVE!!
[Re: foxtrot_xray]
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addict
Registered: 03/03/2002
Posts: 687
Loc: Atlanta, Georgia
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Allrighty.. After getting over a quirk of the VFD (which noone will have to worry about), it's complete.
Right now it's connevted up to my Empeg, sitting on top of my monitor here at work. The display is rather tiny, yet bright.
I have an incredibly simple program that runs on the empeg, and updates the display everytime the song changes. Not fancy, and very crude. I'll leave it up to someone else to actually make a program worth running on it.
I'm awaiting a quote now to get a set of PCBs made..
Me.
_________________________
Mike 'Fox' Morrey
128BPM@124MPH. Love it!
2002 BRG Mini Cooper
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#141637 - 01/08/2003 13:31
Re: It's ALIVE!!
[Re: foxtrot_xray]
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veteran
Registered: 21/03/2002
Posts: 1424
Loc: MA but Irish born
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#141638 - 01/08/2003 13:50
Re: It's ALIVE!!
[Re: Phoenix42]
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addict
Registered: 03/03/2002
Posts: 687
Loc: Atlanta, Georgia
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Certainly.. Got pics now, just can't upload them until I get home...
Stay tuned, don't move!
Me.
_________________________
Mike 'Fox' Morrey
128BPM@124MPH. Love it!
2002 BRG Mini Cooper
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#141639 - 01/08/2003 16:42
Re: It's ALIVE!!
[Re: foxtrot_xray]
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addict
Registered: 03/03/2002
Posts: 687
Loc: Atlanta, Georgia
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The only thing I'm kinda worried about is my +5V regulator. After an hour of being on (while I was testing and playing with it), it got really, really hot.. I'm kinda hoping this is because of my +12V wall adapter which really seems to be putting out 14V.. I'm gonna let it sit in the car for a while, and see if it still gets rather hot. If so, I need to add a resistor or something to drop volts..
Me.
_________________________
Mike 'Fox' Morrey
128BPM@124MPH. Love it!
2002 BRG Mini Cooper
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#141640 - 01/08/2003 19:22
Re: It's ALIVE!!
[Re: Phoenix42]
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addict
Registered: 03/03/2002
Posts: 687
Loc: Atlanta, Georgia
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Okay, attached are three pics. (I think..)
#1 and #2 are of it "in Use", and #3 is an example of what happens on bootup.
_________________________
Mike 'Fox' Morrey
128BPM@124MPH. Love it!
2002 BRG Mini Cooper
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#141641 - 01/08/2003 19:23
Re: Pin #2..
[Re: foxtrot_xray]
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addict
Registered: 03/03/2002
Posts: 687
Loc: Atlanta, Georgia
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Okay. So you can only upload one file at a time.
Here's #2.
Attachments
172000-vfd_2.jpg (684 downloads)
_________________________
Mike 'Fox' Morrey
128BPM@124MPH. Love it!
2002 BRG Mini Cooper
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#141642 - 01/08/2003 19:24
Re: Er, Pic #3..
[Re: foxtrot_xray]
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addict
Registered: 03/03/2002
Posts: 687
Loc: Atlanta, Georgia
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..And, #3.
Pay no attention to the "Evildoer Beware" stickys. My work e-mail is "evildoer@...", so I get alot of slak for it..
(And yes, that one that looks like it's from South Africa, is, in fact.)
Me.
_________________________
Mike 'Fox' Morrey
128BPM@124MPH. Love it!
2002 BRG Mini Cooper
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#141643 - 02/08/2003 00:16
Re: It's ALIVE!!
[Re: foxtrot_xray]
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pooh-bah
Registered: 02/06/2000
Posts: 1996
Loc: Gothenburg, Sweden
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After an hour of being on (while I was testing and playing with it), it got really, really hot.
How much current does it draw? After all, 14-5=9V, and if it draws 1A that is 9W of heat...
IIRC you're using a 7805 regulator? What package is it (TO-220, ....)?
You can drop some of the voltage over a resistor or a number of series connected diodes to redistribute the heat generating, or attach a heat sink to the regulator. Putting the circuit in a small aluminum box and bolting the regulator to it should be enough (beware of which terminal the regulator case is attached to though...) Another option (more expensive) is a switching regulator which is more efficient.
/Michael
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/Michael
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#141644 - 02/08/2003 07:45
Re: It's ALIVE!!
[Re: foxtrot_xray]
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 08/02/2002
Posts: 3411
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I'm kinda hoping this is because of my +12V wall adapter which really seems to be putting out 14V
Most alternators put out 13.8V anyway so don't expect that to help. Assuming that the current and power are within the regulators specified limits, then you will need to heatsink it.
I don't see much to be gained in dropping volts across series resistors or diodes unless you are close to or exceeding the regulators power rating, in which case you should be able to get safely within spec by doing so. But ultimately, the series diodes/resistors in conjunction with the regulator will be dissipating the same power anyway, and putting the circuit in a plastic box will likely lead to heat buildup with the same eventual result regardless of the presence of any additional diodes or resistors.
So do yourself a favor and use an aluminium box. It's trivial to drill and tap a TO220 mounting position, and the aluminium will heatsink the regulator and dissipate the heat outside of the box. An added benefit is that if you ground the box then you will help reduce any EMI issues.
One other solution is to use a switching regulator, although this will add cost and another potential EMI source.
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Mk2a 60GB Blue. Serial 030102962
sig.mp3: File Format not Valid.
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#141645 - 03/08/2003 17:40
Re: It's ALIVE!!
[Re: genixia]
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addict
Registered: 03/03/2002
Posts: 687
Loc: Atlanta, Georgia
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Most alternators put out 13.8V anyway so don't expect that to help. Assuming that the current and power are within the regulators specified limits, then you will need to heatsink it.
I don't see much to be gained in dropping volts across series resistors or diodes unless you are close to or exceeding the regulators power rating, in which case you should be able to get safely within spec by doing so. But ultimately, the series diodes/resistors in conjunction with the regulator will be dissipating the same power anyway, and putting the circuit in a plastic box will likely lead to heat buildup with the same eventual result regardless of the presence of any additional diodes or resistors.
So do yourself a favor and use an aluminium box. It's trivial to drill and tap a TO220 mounting position, and the aluminium will heatsink the regulator and dissipate the heat outside of the box. An added benefit is that if you ground the box then you will help reduce any EMI issues.
Yeah, actually. It had occured to me that even if I added resistors, it'd still make the same amount of heat.
Already have the hole for the TO220, and a part number for the heatsink.. I just hope it dos allright; I really DON'T want to have the thing die on me. It wouldn't make me look good in front of everyone else here.
What I *DON'T* have is an enclosure for the PCB. I haven't even LOOKED at enclosures.. (Actually, even worse - it never crossed my mind that an enclosure would be wanted.. I'm not going to be using one for mine..)
Thanks!
Mike.
_________________________
Mike 'Fox' Morrey
128BPM@124MPH. Love it!
2002 BRG Mini Cooper
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#141646 - 11/08/2003 08:52
Re: It's ALIVE!!
[Re: foxtrot_xray]
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new poster
Registered: 22/04/2003
Posts: 9
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How much for an PCB Assembled, W/VFD Display?
(isn't Display redundant)
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-Richard
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