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Have a good idea for a new product for SFE or Olimex? Let us know!
By YeagerTheCat
#8095
Ok, I ask for too much, but what I would really like to see is a color transflective, 320 x 240 say.

Also, I would like world peace, clean air and really cheap alternative fuel source. Probably more luck with the latter.

Any thoughts anyone?

Thanks

YtC
User avatar
By sparky
#8097
I saw some interesting stuff on Dontronics the other day.

-Nathan
By YeagerTheCat
#8103
Yes, me too - the microVGA by some chance? The MicroLCD is just a little small for me at 1.5", but hey, I like the idea.

I would like to point out that Mr Dontronics is a fellow Australian from Melbourne. Unlike me, he can be trusted.
User avatar
By sparky
#8117
:D We were looking at the small color LCD. Looks like fun.

Let us know if you turn anything else up in your search.

-Nathan
By YeagerTheCat
#8131
Yeah I wrote to that guy today - apparently he has something bigger in the works...

YtC
User avatar
By sparky
#8203
That's pretty much exactly what we need - but bare. Does anyone have any luck digging up the original mfg? China I assume.

-Nathan
By SOI_Sentinel
#8226
Here's something else to consider.

I'm personally interested in pairing the common 240x160 Sony LCD 2.7" that EarthLCD likes to toss about with an Epson video chipset. It's on my "to do list". I have one via a different provider at a very steep discount compared to EarthLCD, and while they only do 512 colors (9 bit active matrix), the higher resolution is nice for some projects.

This might be an option if Sparkfun feels like ever rolling their own boards.

Sony datasheet (from web search):
http://www.ortodoxism.ro/datasheets/sony/a6802566.pdf

Epson controllers
http://www.erd.epson.com/vdc/html/products.htm

Pick your poison:
S1D13A04 (160K SRAM, direct and USB client interface, sprite engine)
http://www.erd.epson.com/vdc/pdf/13A04/ ... 3a04tm.pdf

S1D13A05 (256K SRAM, direct and USB client interface, sprite engine)
http://www.erd.epson.com/vdc/pdf/13a05/ ... 3a05tm.pdf

S1D13706 (80K SRAM, direct interface)
http://www.erd.epson.com/vdc/pdf/1376/tm/s1d13706tm.pdf

As a home hobbyist, my perference is for something that's available (you can source these through digikey) and doesn't need an Xray machine to inspect (although I can do BGAs if need be, but I don't want to do 4+ layer boards). Only issue I see for the "normal" hobbyist is the sheer complexity of a video chipset.

I'm personally in favor of the 160K SRAM variant. Lots of room to grow with that design, especially if some kind of swappable header is designed so you can change the video interface and keep the core (and cost) the same as you with various LCDs. The only reason I wouldn't go for the 256K RAM variant is the difficulties dealing with PFBGA-121 packaging.
By SOI_Sentinel
#8238
Hmm... I'm getting errors trying to edit my post... anyway...

I know EarthLCD also carries a 16 bit color 128x128 cell phone display, but that's obviously a problem. Same with my listed Sony display. They're technically "surplus". Of course, that's why I think a semi-universal board with swappable drive header boards would be nice :)

Epson driver interfacing:
Given the standard parallel bus architecture, a large PIC18, an ARM with external memory bus, or a large ATMEGA should be able to just add the display to its address space. Of course, some ARMs already have a display driver :)

Also, given the demise of the Juicebox, maybe Giantplus has some spare LCD's in inventory in Taiwan?

http://www.giantplus.com.tw

Their 1.8" 320x240 12 bit and 2.5" TFT 480x234 16 bit color screens looks kinda interesting :)
User avatar
By sparky
#8467
No response from Giantplus, but we do have a source for the color Nokia 6210? LCD and connector. Should have samples this week and pieces before 2006.

Oh boy! Color LCD!

-Nathan
By Nutter
#8479
Any word on pricing on those 6210 LCDs? :D
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By sparky
#8516
The knock-off Nokia LCDs should be $25-$35 with connector depending on how customs treats us - sound ok? :wink: This assumes we approve the samples. The unit might not be worth it.

We like dev boards! So expect a breakout board as well.

I called OSD and got a sales rep immediately. Wow, that was easy. They didn't really understand the SFE business model, so they may take some work, but the 128x128 OLED is available and looks very pretty.

-Nathan
By jayjay
#8517
Nathan

Do you guys need to pay customs/import duties for electronic items?

Regds
Jay