HxC SD using a VFD display.

[futureman]

I just got my HxC today which I'll be using for my Emulator II sampler.

I'd like to use a VFD display such as this

http://artronic.pl/o_produkcie.php?id=1101?

From my previous experience of using VFD's, the generally pull a fair bit more current than usual LCD's.

Looking at the board, I don't see any onboard regulation (7805's etc) so I'd assume that it should be fine to run this VFD?

Also, looking at the HxC SD manual, it seems that J2 only has LCD-D4 -> D7 .. are the others not used for this 2x16 LCD display ? (D0 -> D3)

-> Edit , looking at the WC1602A LCD data sheet, I can see that D0->D3 are not used.

Much thanks for such a great bit of kit!
Kind regards
Mike

[Jeff]

I just got my HxC today which I'll be using for my Emulator II sampler.

I'd like to use a VFD display such as this

http://artronic.pl/o_produkcie.php?id=1101?

From my previous experience of using VFD's, the generally pull a fair bit more current than usual LCD's.

Looking at the board, I don't see any onboard regulation (7805's etc) so I'd assume that it should be fine to run this VFD?

Also, looking at the HxC SD manual, it seems that J2 only has LCD-D4 -> D7 .. are the others not used for this 2x16 LCD display ? (D0 -> D3)

-> Edit , looking at the WC1602A LCD data sheet, I can see that D0->D3 are not used.

Much thanks for such a great bit of kit!
Kind regards
Mike

The lcd use directly the 5V power supply. however the device is fused at 750mA, so avoid to increase to much the current (actual current without lcd :140mA)
the LCD is in 4bits mode, that's why you don't need the bits D0-D3.

[futureman]

Cool. Thanks for swift reply.

It looks like that VFD pulls 150mA, so that should be fine.

(Otherwise, I could take the 5v directly off J4)

How would I know if this display supports 4bit mode?

Regards
Mike

[Jeff]

Cool. Thanks for swift reply.

It looks like that VFD pulls 150mA, so that should be fine.

(Otherwise, I could take the 5v directly off J4)

How would I know if this display supports 4bit mode?

Regards
Mike

the WC1602A support the 4bits mode.

[maroon2k]

I'd like to use a VFD display such as this

http://artronic.pl/o_produkcie.php?id=1101?

Have you had any success with this?
I bought just that VFD from artronic.
I just connected it to the HxC and managed to get it to work partly, but only the first line of text is shown, the second line is empty.

Also, when browsing disk images, the first three characters of the name are not shown properly, just faintly flickering, but then when you choose your disk image and the red led lits up, the flickering stops and the name is shown properly (but still only the first line).

After examinig the circuit board, it seems this VFD is actually Zheijang BOE model VFM162SDA1.
A better datasheet than the one Artronic provides can be found here:
http://www.pribor-systems.ru/pdf/ZBOE/vfm162sda1.pdf

This seems to be pretty standard, if you compare it to the datasheet of the WC1602A display that came with the HxC, i don't see any significant differences, the N bit on DB3 selecting between 2-line and 1-line mode is the same.

I've connected all the pins except 3 which is contrast and 15-16 which are power for the lcd backlight, these of course aren't applicable to the VFD.

Could there be a timing problem? Any Ideas?

[Jeff]

Could there be a timing problem? Any Ideas?

Yes probably. Can you make a small video of the LCD ?

[maroon2k]

Could there be a timing problem? Any Ideas?

Yes probably. Can you make a small video of the LCD ?

Ok, so I made a video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWoio8XEdO4

Do you think anything can be done?
I'm willing to send you the display if you'd like to try it out yourself.

Also, I could try working on the timing myself if I was able to change the firmware but the source code isn't public, only for the windows gui, right? (I completely understand why, not complaining, just checking so I didn't miss it somewere..)

I could get another brand of VFD but these are really expensive and I wouldn't know which one to get, the ones from Futaba and Noritake are like 50-80 eur and then maybe it wouldn't work anyway..

thanks, Ville (Sweden)

[Jeff]

Could there be a timing problem? Any Ideas?

Yes probably. Can you make a small video of the LCD ?

Ok, so I made a video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWoio8XEdO4

Do you think anything can be done?
I'm willing to send you the display if you'd like to try it out yourself.

Also, I could try working on the timing myself if I was able to change the firmware but the source code isn't public, only for the windows gui, right? (I completely understand why, not complaining, just checking so I didn't miss it somewere..)

I could get another brand of VFD but these are really expensive and I wouldn't know which one to get, the ones from Futaba and Noritake are like 50-80 eur and then maybe it wouldn't work anyway..

thanks, Ville (Sweden)

email sent !

[maliburoad]

Hi,

I have also the same problem with the same Artronic VFD display.

Yes, I know, I should expect this kind of problem but I thought that maybe new firmware will fix this issue.

Is there any solution I can apply?

VFD is looking much better for me then LCD so it would be nice to have it working with 2 lines. I think also other users may want to use VFD in future so it would be nice to be able to attach this kind of display.

Best Regards.

[maliburoad]

Its said this is not possible.

Lets go back to the poor LCD then.

[Jeff]

I don't have this VFD display... i cannot fix the software without it.

[maliburoad]

Seems that Artronic VFD is not fully compatybile with HD44780 (but it schould). I'll try with tip Lotharek gave me but don't think this would help.