You guys have given up on using laptop LCD's way too early.
After much investigation I am firmly of the opinion that laptop LCD screens are indeed connected to the laptop motherboard by primarily an LVDS system. This is based on two main factors.
Is LVDS a workable system
Is it used by a lot of manufacturers.
(1) National semiconductors 1991 developement of fast serial transmision which was adopted as a method to reduce the number of wires connecting the LCD to the motherboard through the laptop hinge. Prior to National offering their system manufacturers used a number of systems including large and expensive triple screened cables passing through the laptop hinge.
Using either a costly cable or cheap semiconductor transmitter/receiver option with only 4 unscreened cable pairs to send the red/green/blue/clock to the LCD is a cost effective and sensible technical solution.
(2) National offered this option at very low royalty to others almost cost free. Several documents I have read indicate 80 percent of laptops use the National Semiconductor LVDS system.
My last drawing shows the basic system.
As you can see from the drawing I show two items missing. One is the LVDS transmitter which is normally incorporated into the laptop motherboard and hence not easily avaliable and secondly the bios needed to give timing details via the graphics section and on to the LCD.
These two problems slowed my research down quite considerably. I assumed that a laptop LCD would have its LVDS receiver already built into the LCD and if you read my posts you see how I arrived at confirming to a good level of probability that this is the case. This being the case all I needed was an LVDS transmitter. But not one from a laptop motherboard because it would be hard to extract as different laptop manufacturers would probably have different physical executions of the transmitter.
What really was needed was a separate LVDS transmitter.
Finally I found one at Advantech. From a link by Zardoz. LVDS transmitter receiver type PCM-3540R/T.
The transmitter is $80. Transmitting distance 2-5 meters.
Undoubtably the transmitter will be fed with cmos TTL so some way still has to be found to couple the TTL from your regular video card into the LVDS transmitter board.
The situation could be like this
A laptop LCD complete with LVDS receiver board
A LVDS transmitter board from Avantech
Leaving still to be done
How to connect the LVDS transmitter to your video card
How to control the bios.
How to connect power/bias to the laptop LCD
This is a step forward because only two items remain hopefully, one of which could be realatively simple that of connecting the TTL to the LVDS transmitter board and still leaving the unknown problem of bios signals. Providing power to the board is probably a relatively simple matter, but like all things needs some investigation.
Anyone wanting to look into this further look at some laptop LCD's. If a number show a 20 pin connector you can bet they are LVDS models with LVDS receiver built in.
There is a large document at www.eio.com which details exactly why it is impossible or expensive to connect a laptop LCD to a computer. Personnaly I think they are being a bit negative. Part of the fun of being a DIY person is taking an impossible situation and breaking it down into a number of sections each of which becomes easier to solve.
Those wishing to look further at LCD controllers here are a few links. Zardoz's link is the last one.
Google lcd controller
www.lcdcontrollerkits.netfirms.com
Model ACG-1024 70 UK pounds
www.electronicstalk.com/news/dig/dig102.html
www.mansky.co.uk/view-tek.htm
www.reachtech.com/display/analoglcd.html
www.sageinc.com
http://www.averlogic.com/LCD_controller/AL300.html
earthlcd.com/downloads/earthvid.pdf
http://www.horizontechnology.com/products/controller-boards.html
www.aurora.se/lcd/controllers/ac-1024v3.htm
www.amtex.com.au/display_pdf/P31.pdf
www.smartasic.com/PDF/SD1010pr.pdf
www.eetimes.com/sys/news/OEG19981209S0027
http://216.239.33.100/search?q=cach...lview.com/news/+lcd+controller&hl=en&ie=UTF-8[/url]
www.lcdcontrollerkits.netfirms.com
http://130.236.229.26/?section=hard&project=vgalcd
www.ite.com.tw/productInfo/ProductLCD.html
http://earthlcd.com/controllers.htm.
www.adm-electronic.de/xga01.htm
www.digitalview.com
Sharp LQ6NC02 6" display.
Sold at Ebay October 2002 for $66 US
Text from Ebay seller
Surplus Sharp 6 inch active matrix TFT color LCD monitor. Accepts composite video (right out of your VCR, playstation, TV) as well as NTSC\PAL and some form of digital input (can use VGA output from your video card) Original intended use was for personal inflight audio\ video entertainment systems. Sticker with stylized logo on the back of the LCD says "GEC-Marconi Inflight Systems."
240(v) x 720(h) (Total 172,800 pixels) Delta Configuration.
Built in video interface circuit including chroma demodulator, picture tone, video AGC circuit and control circiut responsive to composite video.· Also responsive to standard analog RGB video signals
Links to many hardware/software controller info
www.panelsoft.com/uihwsw.htm
Description of National Semiconductor LVDS and RSDS
www.chipcenter.com/analog/product_archives/prod28.htm
www.sensoray.com/html/322data.htm
www.adm-electronic.de/vga01.htm
www.asiabiztech.com/wcs/frm/ nea/200103/peri_124539.html
******************************
Google video lcd controller
www.gendig.com/products/monkit/oemmkov.htm
www.innovaelec.com/cps1000.htm
www.averlogic.com
www.eio.com/lcdconnect.htm
www.gendig.com/products/standalone/rgbindov.htm
fsc-pc.de/KnowHow_DriverCD/E/Produkte/ Mobile/Kompatib/Display.htm
www.smartasic.com/PDF/SD1010pr.pdf
www.spectrah.com/LD-S270.htm
www.winsystems.com/products/datasheets/ppmfpvga.pdf
www.emacinc.com/pc_compatible_sbcs_info/pcm5864.htm
www.spectrah.com/arv-400.htm
www.electronicstalk.com/news/dig/dig000.html
www.siimage.com/products/display.asp
www.opencores.org/projects/vga_lcd
www.techwellinc.com/Products
www.horizontechnology.com/product_display.html
www.karbosguide.com/hardware/module7a6.htm
Zardoz link. Lvds transmitter/receiver boards
http://www.advantech.com/estore/products/Model_Detail.asp?model_id=1-9B1ZR
After much investigation I am firmly of the opinion that laptop LCD screens are indeed connected to the laptop motherboard by primarily an LVDS system. This is based on two main factors.
Is LVDS a workable system
Is it used by a lot of manufacturers.
(1) National semiconductors 1991 developement of fast serial transmision which was adopted as a method to reduce the number of wires connecting the LCD to the motherboard through the laptop hinge. Prior to National offering their system manufacturers used a number of systems including large and expensive triple screened cables passing through the laptop hinge.
Using either a costly cable or cheap semiconductor transmitter/receiver option with only 4 unscreened cable pairs to send the red/green/blue/clock to the LCD is a cost effective and sensible technical solution.
(2) National offered this option at very low royalty to others almost cost free. Several documents I have read indicate 80 percent of laptops use the National Semiconductor LVDS system.
My last drawing shows the basic system.
As you can see from the drawing I show two items missing. One is the LVDS transmitter which is normally incorporated into the laptop motherboard and hence not easily avaliable and secondly the bios needed to give timing details via the graphics section and on to the LCD.
These two problems slowed my research down quite considerably. I assumed that a laptop LCD would have its LVDS receiver already built into the LCD and if you read my posts you see how I arrived at confirming to a good level of probability that this is the case. This being the case all I needed was an LVDS transmitter. But not one from a laptop motherboard because it would be hard to extract as different laptop manufacturers would probably have different physical executions of the transmitter.
What really was needed was a separate LVDS transmitter.
Finally I found one at Advantech. From a link by Zardoz. LVDS transmitter receiver type PCM-3540R/T.
The transmitter is $80. Transmitting distance 2-5 meters.
Undoubtably the transmitter will be fed with cmos TTL so some way still has to be found to couple the TTL from your regular video card into the LVDS transmitter board.
The situation could be like this
A laptop LCD complete with LVDS receiver board
A LVDS transmitter board from Avantech
Leaving still to be done
How to connect the LVDS transmitter to your video card
How to control the bios.
How to connect power/bias to the laptop LCD
This is a step forward because only two items remain hopefully, one of which could be realatively simple that of connecting the TTL to the LVDS transmitter board and still leaving the unknown problem of bios signals. Providing power to the board is probably a relatively simple matter, but like all things needs some investigation.
Anyone wanting to look into this further look at some laptop LCD's. If a number show a 20 pin connector you can bet they are LVDS models with LVDS receiver built in.
There is a large document at www.eio.com which details exactly why it is impossible or expensive to connect a laptop LCD to a computer. Personnaly I think they are being a bit negative. Part of the fun of being a DIY person is taking an impossible situation and breaking it down into a number of sections each of which becomes easier to solve.
Those wishing to look further at LCD controllers here are a few links. Zardoz's link is the last one.
Google lcd controller
www.lcdcontrollerkits.netfirms.com
Model ACG-1024 70 UK pounds
www.electronicstalk.com/news/dig/dig102.html
www.mansky.co.uk/view-tek.htm
www.reachtech.com/display/analoglcd.html
www.sageinc.com
http://www.averlogic.com/LCD_controller/AL300.html
earthlcd.com/downloads/earthvid.pdf
http://www.horizontechnology.com/products/controller-boards.html
www.aurora.se/lcd/controllers/ac-1024v3.htm
www.amtex.com.au/display_pdf/P31.pdf
www.smartasic.com/PDF/SD1010pr.pdf
www.eetimes.com/sys/news/OEG19981209S0027
http://216.239.33.100/search?q=cach...lview.com/news/+lcd+controller&hl=en&ie=UTF-8[/url]
www.lcdcontrollerkits.netfirms.com
http://130.236.229.26/?section=hard&project=vgalcd
www.ite.com.tw/productInfo/ProductLCD.html
http://earthlcd.com/controllers.htm.
www.adm-electronic.de/xga01.htm
www.digitalview.com
Sharp LQ6NC02 6" display.
Sold at Ebay October 2002 for $66 US
Text from Ebay seller
Surplus Sharp 6 inch active matrix TFT color LCD monitor. Accepts composite video (right out of your VCR, playstation, TV) as well as NTSC\PAL and some form of digital input (can use VGA output from your video card) Original intended use was for personal inflight audio\ video entertainment systems. Sticker with stylized logo on the back of the LCD says "GEC-Marconi Inflight Systems."
240(v) x 720(h) (Total 172,800 pixels) Delta Configuration.
Built in video interface circuit including chroma demodulator, picture tone, video AGC circuit and control circiut responsive to composite video.· Also responsive to standard analog RGB video signals
Links to many hardware/software controller info
www.panelsoft.com/uihwsw.htm
Description of National Semiconductor LVDS and RSDS
www.chipcenter.com/analog/product_archives/prod28.htm
www.sensoray.com/html/322data.htm
www.adm-electronic.de/vga01.htm
www.asiabiztech.com/wcs/frm/ nea/200103/peri_124539.html
******************************
Google video lcd controller
www.gendig.com/products/monkit/oemmkov.htm
www.innovaelec.com/cps1000.htm
www.averlogic.com
www.eio.com/lcdconnect.htm
www.gendig.com/products/standalone/rgbindov.htm
fsc-pc.de/KnowHow_DriverCD/E/Produkte/ Mobile/Kompatib/Display.htm
www.smartasic.com/PDF/SD1010pr.pdf
www.spectrah.com/LD-S270.htm
www.winsystems.com/products/datasheets/ppmfpvga.pdf
www.emacinc.com/pc_compatible_sbcs_info/pcm5864.htm
www.spectrah.com/arv-400.htm
www.electronicstalk.com/news/dig/dig000.html
www.siimage.com/products/display.asp
www.opencores.org/projects/vga_lcd
www.techwellinc.com/Products
www.horizontechnology.com/product_display.html
www.karbosguide.com/hardware/module7a6.htm
Zardoz link. Lvds transmitter/receiver boards
http://www.advantech.com/estore/products/Model_Detail.asp?model_id=1-9B1ZR
remp
I agree remp! I think if we can get a lap top panel to work we will be able to do this project with some style. As I said I'm just a retired army mechanic turned computer tech....if you can give me a reasonable idea of what to look for I have nothing better to do with my time than to look.
have I posted this one yet? http://www.unigraf.fi/PAGES/testeq/viatmds.htm
Again to all concerned...if I post a dead end or one that has been explored and defeated just ignore it......ya never know I might just stumble on the answer for you. And if I do (find an answer) please let us all know.. cuz I might not recognize it
Zardoz
I agree remp! I think if we can get a lap top panel to work we will be able to do this project with some style. As I said I'm just a retired army mechanic turned computer tech....if you can give me a reasonable idea of what to look for I have nothing better to do with my time than to look.
have I posted this one yet? http://www.unigraf.fi/PAGES/testeq/viatmds.htm
Again to all concerned...if I post a dead end or one that has been explored and defeated just ignore it......ya never know I might just stumble on the answer for you. And if I do (find an answer) please let us all know.. cuz I might not recognize it
Zardoz
Good for you, Remp!
Thanks for going to all this trouble and effort, it is appreciated by those of us that can't or don't have the knowledge in the field. Nothing is really impossible...it may be impractical, or it may not be practical YET, but just think of all we can learn on the journey. I'm not much help with this part of things...but if you need something taken apart just let me know Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for going to all this trouble and effort, it is appreciated by those of us that can't or don't have the knowledge in the field. Nothing is really impossible...it may be impractical, or it may not be practical YET, but just think of all we can learn on the journey. I'm not much help with this part of things...but if you need something taken apart just let me know
Thanks for sharing.Thanks for the thumbs up guys. The way I look at it, it certainly is a bit of a difficult problem but the laptop can communicate with its LCD so if we figure out how that happens we might be succesful.
I keep remembering what Stoko said and I hope he is right that you can get not bad LCD screens from broken laptops for a few dollars.
I should tell you guys I am no expert on this. Just another DIY person but I sure am interested if we can get a MUCH better LCD for not a lot of money
Smoke eater.
You took apart your laptop LCD didn't you. Could you do it again and see what sort of cable you got from the motherboard up to the LCD.
If it has an LVDS connector it should be a 20 pin. No other wires to the LCD apart from maybe a couple of wires for the backlight and maybe for power but its the 20 pin connector I am interested in.
Zardoz
You posted the link I was looking for about the Advantech PCM-3540r/t LVDS transmitter receiver. Good on you.
Anyone have access to several broken Laptops. Doesnt matter even if the screen is broken.
Zardoz maybe you could go around all the service depts in your area. See if you can pick up any broken laptops.
We need to be convinced the LVDS system is a goer. Since I do not have access to any in my area you might. Stoko gave a link to a video that shows how to take an LCD panel out of a laptop. I mentioned about it in my last or second last post. Have a look, shows you how to do it.
If you do get any, pull them apart and check the cable from motherboard to LCD. Should be a 20 pin connector.
I have not looked at your link yet but will do soon.
What I think is a reasonable way of investigation is to first read all I can about how laptops talk to the LCD. Done that and it seems the LVDS system is a very commonly used system. Next step is to see if that is true by sampling a few broken laptop LCD and see if they have the LVDS 20 pin connection.
If that turns out to be true, we have some good info on how the laptop communicates with the LCD. If we do actually get an LVDS lcd, and a transmitter from Advantech there is still the unsolved problem of connecting the transmitter to a PC video card and how to handle the BIOS.
So we are waiting now for confirmation that a good number of laptops use a 20 pin connector to connect to the laptop lcd.
I keep remembering what Stoko said and I hope he is right that you can get not bad LCD screens from broken laptops for a few dollars.
I should tell you guys I am no expert on this. Just another DIY person but I sure am interested if we can get a MUCH better LCD for not a lot of money
Smoke eater.
You took apart your laptop LCD didn't you. Could you do it again and see what sort of cable you got from the motherboard up to the LCD.
If it has an LVDS connector it should be a 20 pin. No other wires to the LCD apart from maybe a couple of wires for the backlight and maybe for power but its the 20 pin connector I am interested in.
Zardoz
You posted the link I was looking for about the Advantech PCM-3540r/t LVDS transmitter receiver. Good on you.
Anyone have access to several broken Laptops. Doesnt matter even if the screen is broken.
Zardoz maybe you could go around all the service depts in your area. See if you can pick up any broken laptops.
We need to be convinced the LVDS system is a goer. Since I do not have access to any in my area you might. Stoko gave a link to a video that shows how to take an LCD panel out of a laptop. I mentioned about it in my last or second last post. Have a look, shows you how to do it.
If you do get any, pull them apart and check the cable from motherboard to LCD. Should be a 20 pin connector.
I have not looked at your link yet but will do soon.
What I think is a reasonable way of investigation is to first read all I can about how laptops talk to the LCD. Done that and it seems the LVDS system is a very commonly used system. Next step is to see if that is true by sampling a few broken laptop LCD and see if they have the LVDS 20 pin connection.
If that turns out to be true, we have some good info on how the laptop communicates with the LCD. If we do actually get an LVDS lcd, and a transmitter from Advantech there is still the unsolved problem of connecting the transmitter to a PC video card and how to handle the BIOS.
So we are waiting now for confirmation that a good number of laptops use a 20 pin connector to connect to the laptop lcd.
Originally posted by Zardoz
have I posted this one yet? http://www.unigraf.fi/PAGES/testeq/viatmds.htm
Dont think so.
It is a link to various test equipment for testing LCD panels in service shops/manufacture and research. Other video test gear available as well.
One of the features is it/they comes with a disk with various common LCD timing parameters supplied and one can edit and save these for non standard LCD's. Pretty useful. I think this test gear would not be cheap. If one was on Ebay for $5 snap it up.
have I posted this one yet? http://www.unigraf.fi/PAGES/testeq/viatmds.htm
Dont think so.
It is a link to various test equipment for testing LCD panels in service shops/manufacture and research. Other video test gear available as well.
One of the features is it/they comes with a disk with various common LCD timing parameters supplied and one can edit and save these for non standard LCD's. Pretty useful. I think this test gear would not be cheap. If one was on Ebay for $5 snap it up.
Could somebody who understands Russian please have a look at this link.
It shows a picture of a video card with some words in English. It seems to have the usual CRT monitor output and also a LVDS output. Maybe a list of outputs and if they mention a price in US dollars would be good. Looks like a PCI card. Thanks
www.icn.ru/i/a.nsf/nm/20-0/$FILE/icos_v20.pdf
It shows a picture of a video card with some words in English. It seems to have the usual CRT monitor output and also a LVDS output. Maybe a list of outputs and if they mention a price in US dollars would be good. Looks like a PCI card. Thanks
www.icn.ru/i/a.nsf/nm/20-0/$FILE/icos_v20.pdf
Google lvds lcd shows a number of interesting links.
This one
http://www.mite.cz/etxlvds-en/etxlvds-en.html
Shows a picture of a small computer board with an LVDS driver built in driving an LCD panel.
Note the connecting cable with a small number of wires.
This type of system from this company or similar is interesting. If it is cheap enough worth looking at because they may have bios settings for a number of different panels.
I cannot imagine one can get a small size computer board with a good quality video card at a low price. It may be possible but I dont know at present so I have been thinking someone must have a box that takes VGA from a pc and puts out LVDS for not too much money. The box should have the ability to configure for different panels. Using VGA from a PC is a backward step away from full digital but as an interum solution it is good enough.
The link is almost what we want but not quite.
This one
http://www.mite.cz/etxlvds-en/etxlvds-en.html
Shows a picture of a small computer board with an LVDS driver built in driving an LCD panel.
Note the connecting cable with a small number of wires.
This type of system from this company or similar is interesting. If it is cheap enough worth looking at because they may have bios settings for a number of different panels.
I cannot imagine one can get a small size computer board with a good quality video card at a low price. It may be possible but I dont know at present so I have been thinking someone must have a box that takes VGA from a pc and puts out LVDS for not too much money. The box should have the ability to configure for different panels. Using VGA from a PC is a backward step away from full digital but as an interum solution it is good enough.
The link is almost what we want but not quite.
remp
Just like a dog with a bone.....I dont know how to quit. I think this will help ...I'll get a price for it today.
http://www.spectrah.com/LD-S270.htm
(main product page http://www.spectrah.com/product.htm )
Zardoz
Just like a dog with a bone.....I dont know how to quit. I think this will help ...I'll get a price for it today.
http://www.spectrah.com/LD-S270.htm
(main product page http://www.spectrah.com/product.htm )
Zardoz
Dismantling Laptop
Remp, I still have mine apart, but just started a 24 hour shift at the fire station, I'll get home in the morning and get you the info about the ribbon. There is just one flat ribbon cable to the screen (not including the backlight connections), but I can't tell you for sure about the pin count until tomorrow. If need be, I'll take a photo of it and post it.
Remp, I still have mine apart, but just started a 24 hour shift at the fire station, I'll get home in the morning and get you the info about the ribbon. There is just one flat ribbon cable to the screen (not including the backlight connections), but I can't tell you for sure about the pin count until tomorrow. If need be, I'll take a photo of it and post it.
Just a thought
Hey guys,
I've been reading this thread w/ great interest as this is exactly the kind of setup i want to run in my car...
But from what i see it can be a really complicated process because of the required controllers for the lcd panels...
I did however come by this link
Mp3Car
The third item down is a 6.4" lcd display that takes composite input...
My question regarding that is look at the adapter that is used to convert from composite to direct lcd input, its tiny...Now i know that just because its tiny dont mean it aint expensive, but perhaps that's all we need?
Hey guys,
I've been reading this thread w/ great interest as this is exactly the kind of setup i want to run in my car...
But from what i see it can be a really complicated process because of the required controllers for the lcd panels...
I did however come by this link
Mp3Car
The third item down is a 6.4" lcd display that takes composite input...
My question regarding that is look at the adapter that is used to convert from composite to direct lcd input, its tiny...Now i know that just because its tiny dont mean it aint expensive, but perhaps that's all we need?
lcd conversion
youo are right but......... the screen you are looking at is a 5.6 or 7" screen it is not the same as a 10.x screen
then you need some 'larger' conversionboard
jest my 2 cents
however , i think there is an easy solution out there that suits us fine i just haven't found it yet!
youo are right but......... the screen you are looking at is a 5.6 or 7" screen it is not the same as a 10.x screen
then you need some 'larger' conversionboard
jest my 2 cents
however , i think there is an easy solution out there that suits us fine i just haven't found it yet!
TriggerHappy
Thanks for the link Mp3car. That 3rd item down the board shown is not the bit that converts analogue to the panel, its the control panel with the knobs for brightness tint analogue input.
Sorry thats not what we are looking for but the item should be good for your application.
Zardoz
That link you posted looks interesting. Complete video card with LVDS output and lcd size/type support right on the board.
http://www.spectrah.com/LD-S270.htm
Smoke Eater
Forgot to mention when handling your lcd panel good idea to be very careful to keep fingers away from delicate electronic parts because its most likely Cmos and damaged by static electricity. See if you can ground yourself like they do in service shops.
TriggerHappy makes a good point about controllers being complicated. We are trying to use laptop lcd's that might be avaliable at cheap prices. No one else has figured out how to use surplus laptop lcd's so they have low resale value. Thats good for us. Its only half the story though. Even if we find a way to drive a laptop lcd it is not much use if there are electronics in the way for projection.
Thanks for the link Mp3car. That 3rd item down the board shown is not the bit that converts analogue to the panel, its the control panel with the knobs for brightness tint analogue input.
Sorry thats not what we are looking for but the item should be good for your application.
Zardoz
That link you posted looks interesting. Complete video card with LVDS output and lcd size/type support right on the board.
http://www.spectrah.com/LD-S270.htm
Smoke Eater
Forgot to mention when handling your lcd panel good idea to be very careful to keep fingers away from delicate electronic parts because its most likely Cmos and damaged by static electricity. See if you can ground yourself like they do in service shops.
TriggerHappy makes a good point about controllers being complicated. We are trying to use laptop lcd's that might be avaliable at cheap prices. No one else has figured out how to use surplus laptop lcd's so they have low resale value. Thats good for us. Its only half the story though. Even if we find a way to drive a laptop lcd it is not much use if there are electronics in the way for projection.
Zardoz
Your Sharp LM64C353 is a 10.4 inch LCD originally for Compaq laptop. It is a DSTN x 2 panel which means its no use for full motion video. Thats probably why it was dirt cheap. The 31 pin connector uses TMDS signalling which is similar to LVDS but different. Sorry. Good info though because now we know a 31 pin connector is most likely TMDS.
Your Sharp LM64C353 is a 10.4 inch LCD originally for Compaq laptop. It is a DSTN x 2 panel which means its no use for full motion video. Thats probably why it was dirt cheap. The 31 pin connector uses TMDS signalling which is similar to LVDS but different. Sorry. Good info though because now we know a 31 pin connector is most likely TMDS.
remp
Yes once I found the kyocera part number it was easy to track it to an old compaq laptop....end of a short but intense hope ~L~
On to bigger and better things! I have been to ALL of the service shops that I could find in town plus all of my supplier's (as I said I'm a A+ tech...but this field is past my realm of expertise) tech rooms...and from what I've seen all the laptop screens have had a single ribbon connector.
Now I hadnt at that point in my quest for a projector resorted to counting pins....I will be now... but my point is all of the "worthy" screens I have seen have had a single ribbon connector with what looks like it should be 20 pins...they've all been kinda scary thin ya know what I mean? On the other hand every LCD monitor I have seen has used TWO ribbon connectors....the monitors that I have seen apart looked tough to seperate the electronics from the screen. The laptop panels that I have seen off didnt look too bad.. that is to say the backlight gear comes off easily...but at least one had a "sub card" that was attached with an even smaller and short and scarier ribbon (back to the backside of the LCD itself). Most however looked to have unemcumbered view of the entire LCD front or back.
The prices I found locally for screens was decent I think if I knew for a fact I could drive them.. the most expensive I found was off a Dell laptop....model unknown.....15 inchs of gorgeous! $150.00 canadian if I knew I could drive it I'd have it now...
My plan is to buy one of these spectra cards if they are less than $300.00 canadian(and they will push the screen I want) then put together a microATX machine...one of the cheap and dirty VIA/Cyrix all in one boards....mount the stuff in either a projector box and a micro ATX box (but this brings on data/transmit distance issues as I understand it) or a projector with the computer built into it. OK the projector with it's own dedicated computer with DVD drive and associated crap built in it is! Well that was a simple problem at least. ~LOL~
Via board complete with 800 mhz processor $120.00
stick of ram 256 meg flavour $47.00
16X DVD drive $72.00
TV tuner card $65
20 gig HD $100.00
that sweetheart of a screen I saw for $150.00
power supply $35.00
keyboard and mouse $18.00
Spectra card...assuming it works....$$$...????
frezzies and projection lenses? (didnt care to look till I knew I could do it in style)
Getting more expensive......are we passing the point of vanishing returns?
Zardoz
Yes once I found the kyocera part number it was easy to track it to an old compaq laptop....end of a short but intense hope ~L~
On to bigger and better things! I have been to ALL of the service shops that I could find in town plus all of my supplier's (as I said I'm a A+ tech...but this field is past my realm of expertise) tech rooms...and from what I've seen all the laptop screens have had a single ribbon connector.
Now I hadnt at that point in my quest for a projector resorted to counting pins....I will be now... but my point is all of the "worthy" screens I have seen have had a single ribbon connector with what looks like it should be 20 pins...they've all been kinda scary thin ya know what I mean? On the other hand every LCD monitor I have seen has used TWO ribbon connectors....the monitors that I have seen apart looked tough to seperate the electronics from the screen. The laptop panels that I have seen off didnt look too bad.. that is to say the backlight gear comes off easily...but at least one had a "sub card" that was attached with an even smaller and short and scarier ribbon (back to the backside of the LCD itself). Most however looked to have unemcumbered view of the entire LCD front or back.
The prices I found locally for screens was decent I think if I knew for a fact I could drive them.. the most expensive I found was off a Dell laptop....model unknown.....15 inchs of gorgeous! $150.00 canadian if I knew I could drive it I'd have it now...
My plan is to buy one of these spectra cards if they are less than $300.00 canadian(and they will push the screen I want) then put together a microATX machine...one of the cheap and dirty VIA/Cyrix all in one boards....mount the stuff in either a projector box and a micro ATX box (but this brings on data/transmit distance issues as I understand it) or a projector with the computer built into it. OK the projector with it's own dedicated computer with DVD drive and associated crap built in it is! Well that was a simple problem at least. ~LOL~
Via board complete with 800 mhz processor $120.00
stick of ram 256 meg flavour $47.00
16X DVD drive $72.00
TV tuner card $65
20 gig HD $100.00
that sweetheart of a screen I saw for $150.00
power supply $35.00
keyboard and mouse $18.00
Spectra card...assuming it works....$$$...????
frezzies and projection lenses? (didnt care to look till I knew I could do it in style)
Getting more expensive......are we passing the point of vanishing returns?
Zardoz
Zardoz
I think a lot will hinge on the price of the video card with LVDS output that you posted. Lot of the things you have on your list you need anyway.
Start counting pins if you can. LVDS should be 20 pin hirose connector. Whats that panel you like got. 15 inch is getting a bit large to put on an OHP unless you have other lighting plans.
There is an interesting new thread here about a guy (maddog) who stripped his laptop and put the lcd on an OHP. He says its much better than what he had before. He has a problem with needing a longer flex cable. Maybe someone can help him out.
I think a lot will hinge on the price of the video card with LVDS output that you posted. Lot of the things you have on your list you need anyway.
Start counting pins if you can. LVDS should be 20 pin hirose connector. Whats that panel you like got. 15 inch is getting a bit large to put on an OHP unless you have other lighting plans.
There is an interesting new thread here about a guy (maddog) who stripped his laptop and put the lcd on an OHP. He says its much better than what he had before. He has a problem with needing a longer flex cable. Maybe someone can help him out.
remp
The Dell panel I fell for was a cable about 8 inchs long, and it did not look to have had more than 20 pins....of course it did have the CCFL wires on it, as for it's size I dont mind...I have hopes of putting together a dedicated projector with a metal halide lighting system
(that is to say scrapping the OHP alltogether)...after all if it can be put in one package......full multimedia....DVD... USB ports...lan connections...modem...crt...5.1 surround... just connect a set of surround speakers....wireless keyboard and mouse(extra$100.00) plug in your modem or high speed net connection... aim at the appropriate surface and distance...
I can see watching movies without having to do all this line doubler stuff, power DVD works great, I can see classroom potential...boardroom...of course video games...hehe....kick *** lan party stuff...video dances ...karaoke(if thats your thing..)
BTW I'm building a 24 foot geodisic dome....thats where this is going to live
Zardoz
The Dell panel I fell for was a cable about 8 inchs long, and it did not look to have had more than 20 pins....of course it did have the CCFL wires on it, as for it's size I dont mind...I have hopes of putting together a dedicated projector with a metal halide lighting system
(that is to say scrapping the OHP alltogether)...after all if it can be put in one package......full multimedia....DVD... USB ports...lan connections...modem...crt...5.1 surround... just connect a set of surround speakers....wireless keyboard and mouse(extra$100.00) plug in your modem or high speed net connection... aim at the appropriate surface and distance...
I can see watching movies without having to do all this line doubler stuff, power DVD works great, I can see classroom potential...boardroom...of course video games...hehe....kick *** lan party stuff...video dances ...karaoke(if thats your thing..)
BTW I'm building a 24 foot geodisic dome....thats where this is going to live
Zardoz
Remp
Got home this morning to look at the laptop, found out it has a 41(?) pin connector. (I hope that's right, it was early in the morning after a 24 hour shift and those little things are hard to count!) Thought this was strange as you were expecting 20 pins. Found my laptop manual and found out the screen is DSTN and not TFT. That is probably the difference, don't you think? I can attach a photo of it later if you need one.
Got home this morning to look at the laptop, found out it has a 41(?) pin connector. (I hope that's right, it was early in the morning after a 24 hour shift and those little things are hard to count!) Thought this was strange as you were expecting 20 pins. Found my laptop manual and found out the screen is DSTN and not TFT. That is probably the difference, don't you think? I can attach a photo of it later if you need one.
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