DAISY Display Kit

[sebastian_s]

Hi all!

I'm trying to get the display kit from DAISY-Laser working. I have made PCBs according to the schematic provided on their website (http://www.daisy-laser.com/products/CD/displaykit/displaykit1/displaysection.PDF), but when I switch everything on, the display remains dark.
The VFD itself seems to be ok. At least I can get some segments glowing when I connect pins manually.

Actually, everyting working instantly would have surprised me. But now that I'm sitting here in front of the dark display, any hint how to start debugging is appreciated. Maybe somebody out there has any experience with this kit...

Does anybody know how the display controller behaves when it does not get any input? Will it display anything?

Any help is very much appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

Sebastian

 

[Alien8]

Have you programmed the controller ?

 

[SSassen]

Have you programmed the controller ?

That would be my first question as well, without the proper code in the microcontroller you won't see anything happening I'm afraid

Best regards,

Sander Sassen
http://www.hardwareanalysis.com

 

[Chris Jennings]

Daisy provide the driver pre-programmed.

Have you tried disconnecting the 80c32 from the display driver and manually pulling the test pin on the driver?

Chris

 

[sebastian_s]

Hi Chris,

thanks for highlighting the existence of the "test" pin. I wasn't aware of it.
When I connect it to +5V, some segments of the display lighten. When I disconnect it and reconnect it again, other segments lighten.

Unfortunately, I did not find any reference to what it should display when the test pin is used. I'd assume that it should run through some kind of test cycle, displaying various thing on its own without the test pin being triggered...

Anyway, being able to make the display do something was kind of rewardng

Cheers

Sebastian

P.S.: Yes, the DAISY kit includes a pre-programmed EPROM...

 

[Guido Tent]

Hi Chris,

thanks for highlighting the existence of the "test" pin. I wasn't aware of it.
When I connect it to +5V, some segments of the display lighten. When I disconnect it and reconnect it again, other segments lighten.

Unfortunately, I did not find any reference to what it should display when the test pin is used. I'd assume that it should run through some kind of test cycle, displaying various thing on its own without the test pin being triggered...

Anyway, being able to make the display do something was kind of rewardng

Cheers

Sebastian

P.S.: Yes, the DAISY kit includes a pre-programmed EPROM...

Hi Sebastian,

I'd suggest to start checking all supply voiltages

good luck

Guido