Thread: NEC 8.4" Transflective Solution - Custom Kit

The LVDS-07G user's guide has pictures that use the channel two wiring. I rewired for channel two, but I see the same problem. I probed the PANEL jumper block and determined the TVD4/DVPOD4 and TVD5/DVPOD5 positions. The TVD5 modified the colors (for DVI), but they were still corrupted.

I have submitted a request to the VIA EPIA technical forums. We'll see what they can do. The EPIA/VIA documents are very lacking!

In my recent Googling, I came across Kontron. These guys are serious about systems solutions. They include panel kits with supported LCD list.

MiniITX Family
http://emea.kontron.com/index.php?id=82&cat=61

Panel Configurator
http://emea.kontron.com/index.php?id=1139#

It comes down to cost and time. I may just buy an external LCD controller, such as the ALR-1400, and sell my custom LVDS cabling. An external LCD controller would also provide auxiliary support for a second video source (i.e. back-up camera). In the end, I just want something that works with this panel!

The Digital View LCD configuration page states that the ALR-1400 has not been officially tested with the NL8060BC21-03, but it does support the NL8060BC21-02. I found the "-02" panel specifications and LVDS receiver is the same. I ordered the ALR-1400 from Digikey and it should arrive on Friday.

My initial post links to the Multicell website for the NEC panel specification. I visited their main page to find they offer a wealth of LCD panel information. They market a family of LCD controllers. Their site offers a search tool for locating cataloged specifications for LCD panels, inverters, and cable assemblies.

Multicell Controller Matrix
http://www.multicell.it/index.php?body=104&lang=eng#

TFT Panel Search
http://www.multicell.it/index.php?bo...=eng&ricerca=1

Inverter Search
http://www.multicell.it/index.php?bo...=eng&ricerca=1

Cables - Adapters - Accessories
http://www.multicell.it/index.php?body=41&lang=eng

This site serves as a model for how to organize and present LCD-related specifications.

One benefit of ditching the VIA LVDS-07 is that I can now reconnect the LinkSys WMP300 Wireless-N PCI adapter. This card connects to an external antenna array that is handy for car PC installations.

I received the ALR-1400 today. I had to rewire the Digital View cable back to the original configuration. I ordered the inverter power and control cables later in the week. They should arrive tomorrow or early next week. In the interim, I am leveraging the LVDS-07G to power the backlight on the panel. I double-checked all the jumper/switchblock settings on the ALR-1400, and configured for the NL8060BC21-02 panel, which has the same config as my -03 flavor.

After checking my power connections, I connected the ALR-1400 to the NEC panel and powered on the system. ALL WHITE PANEL! I quickly powered everything down and took a deep breath.... I remembered that I was using the LCD only settings in the BIOS, but now I was connected to the VGA port on the EPIA. I cleared CMOS and rebooted. I reconfigured for CRT+LCD and rebooted. Once again, all white panel. I probed all the CN1 pins to learn that the ALR-1400 was powered, but turned off.

I reviewed the ALR-1400 and I noticed the JP6 jumper was open. I thought this was automatic on. I shorted JP6 and rebooted. I can't tell you how many times I have looked at a corrupted EPIA BIOS boot logo. Seeing it in 24-bit unadulterated color was a beauty to behold. Unfortunately, I am now battling Win XP. It senses the LVDS-07G card and kills the VGA port. Once I wire in the inverter control on the ALR-1400, I can finally ditch the LVDS-07G.

If I ever become outrageously wealthy, I'm going to fund a global recall of all LVDS-07G cards. They will be hand destroyed in unique and creative ways. The remains will be flown, via rockets, into the sun.

Here's a few pics of the ALR-1400 wiring and the 24-bit BIOS color image. As you can see, this setup is way too fragile to move in its current condition. I'll try to get some outdoor pictures next weekend.

Originally Posted by turbocad6

^^^that's some funny **** right there

Man, it would feel great to watch that final rocket lift off.

Originally Posted by turbocad6

glad it's getting closer. have you tried it on another pc to see it at high res?

I can't connect to my main PC and I don't have a laptop. I threw a Linux KNOPPIX CD into a nearby shell PC (no HDD) and pulled a few test images from the web. Note that I think the color may not be set to true color on the Linux setup and I am too tired to dig around. See the last pictures below, I think it should appear with a smoother gradient.

I turned up the brightness to highest on the LCD inverter potentiometer and I disabled the camera flash. This yields a longer exposure and I don't have a tripod mount. I viewed 1024x768 and 800x600 resolutions. The pictures below are 800x600. I can also tweak the ALR-1400 via the serial port control, but I may have to roll my own control software. I need to contact Digital View to see if they can provide something.

It's been a hell of week. I need to sleep. More tomorrow or Sunday.

I received the inverter cabling on Saturday. It turns out that the ALR-1400 only supplies 12V on the CNB1 inverter connector. The NEC 84PW041 inverter needs 5V. Also, the 5V on the CNB2 connector is limited to 500 mA. The inverter needs 5V @ 1.5 amps. This meant direct integration into the PC power supply cabling.

I started prototyping the mounting for the panel, inverter and ALR-1400. This was to better understand how things would go together. In the end, I think I will get the aluminum CNC drilled, as my measurement and manual drilling skills were lacking. I'll discuss this later.

I am still having problems with the EPIA-EN controlling the ALR-1400. With the LVDS-07 gone (FINALLY!!!!!!!1111one!!!!11one!!!), I set the BIOS to CRT and booted Win XP into VGA mode (via F8). I uninstalled all the displays and video driver, then reinstalled. I still have to boot into VGA mode with 640x480. Everytime I select anything other than the VGA mode setting, I lose the video! I may need to include the EPIA-EN on the rockets as well.

I couldn't wait until next weekend to get some outdoor pictures. I leveraged the shell PC with KNOPPIX and moved the rig out on the front porch. These were taken in the late afternoon, with direct sunlight exposure. The KNOPPIX setup has no problems with the ALR-1400 receiving 1024x768 @ 75 Hz. I used 800x600 @ 75 Hz for the photos below.

For reference, I pulled out the Shark SHK804. I set brightness to 80% with contrast at 50%. The SHK804 had huge glare which gave the auto-focus some problems. See the last photo below.

The NEC NL8060BC21-03 rocks in direct sunlight!! I really wanted to get video, but I needed to dig out the equipment, charge battery, etc. Maybe next weekend. I want to get some high-noon shots with intense sunlight exposure! I also want to add the IRTOUCH touchscreen with the 3M AR film. This will add some reflection and decrease brightness a bit.

Here are a few close-ups of the prototype mounting. I purchased a DIY aluminum electronics enclosure and scrounged up mounting hardware that I had on hand. I need to find a cost effective way to get a backplate cut and drilled to my specifications. I have precise measurements from the various specifications. I need to explore the dash internals to understand how much clearance is available.

Now that things are winding down on this front, I wanted to step back summarize the BOM. I also wanted to compare cost-to-date against my $800 budget cap.

Code:

===================================================  ==========  ======
  Description                                         Supplier    Cost
===================================================  ==========  ======

NEC ST-NLT NL8060BC21-03 LCD Panel                    Future    $378.00
  (Transflective, 800x600, 600cd/2, 600:1, 16.8M)
NEC 84PW041 Inverter                                  Future    $ 35.00
Digital View ALR-1400 VGA-to-LVDS (4171000XX-3)       Mouser    $134.00
Digital View LVDS Cable (426493000-3)                 Mouser    $ 40.00
Digital View Power Cable (426013800-3)                Mouser    $ 13.00
Digital View Inverter Cable (4260583-00)              Mouser    $  9.00
Digital View RS-232 Control Cable (4260902-00)        Mouser    $ 11.00
8.4” IRTOUCH E-08-U-BC IR Touchscreen w/ 3M AR-MR200  MCT       $185.00
Aluminum Hobby Enclosure (10” x 14”)                  Fry’s     $ 25.00 
                                                                -------
                                                                $830.00

Not so bad, right? Well, the astute reader will realize that I am wearing my Enron accounting hat.

Code:

Unused Parts/Materials
Custom Cabling Assembly (now cannibalized)            MCT       $ 80.00
LVDS-07G (awaiting rocket launch)                     Mini-Box  $ 33.00
                                                                -------
                                                                $113.00

So, I have spent about $945 total. Let's not get into tax and shipping, it's not that much. Note that Digikey sells the IRTOUCH TS and the 3M AR-MR200 film. You will need to find an off-the-shelf cable assembly for the NEC 84PW041, or crimp your own. Whenever possible, I leverage a machine assembled wiring assembly and splice into my application.

I still need to remove the potentiometer and wire in the inverter brightness controls to the ALR-1400. This should be the last bit of tweaking, other than the mounting hardware. I will try to use a small USB hub to consolidate the IRTOUCH and a USB-to-RS-232 adapter into a single USB line that I run to the dash.

Given my display budget overrun, I will definitely be doing my own fab work on the dash. If I draft the measurements for the aluminum plate on the PC, I can print out a drill template at actual size and avoid the parallax errors from marking the holes with a mechanical pencil.

I will stop posting to the IRTOUCH thread and combine with this thread. Hopefully I will get some pictures and video of this setup with the IRTOUCH in direct sunlight this weekend. Note I have resumed my dash fabrication journey here:
1998 Honda Accord Fabrication

I resolved the issue with the loss of VGA upon boot into Windows XP with help from members on the VIA tkArena forum. See this thread. This was a common problem. If you have the EPIA-EN with a VGA connection here are a few pointers:

• Set the Display Device to CRT + LCD in the Advanced Chipset BIOS menu. For my NEC panel, I use Panel Type 0x1. If you have been scratching your head wondering what the 16 panel types represent, martinh on the tkArena found the mapping.
• You may need to boot into safe mode <F8>, remove the VIA/S3G UniChrome Pro IGP in Device Manager->Display Adapters, reboot, and reinstall the driver. You will end up with two entries in the Monitor group: (1) Plug-and-Play Monitor and (2) Digital Flat Panel (800x600).
• When the "(Default Monitor)..." number 2 is selected, DO NOT select the "Extend my Desktop option to this monitor". This will split the screen and you will not be able to see the Display Settings options to disable (when you right-click->Properties on the desktop). I tried grabbing the window off screen, <ALT><TAB>-ing, task manager access, etc. In the end, I invoked MMC via Start->Run and loaded compmgnt.msc to access Device Manager and remove the VIA/S3G UniChrome Pro IGP adapter.
• After installing the UniChrome Pro drivers from the VIA site, Microsoft Update offers newer WHQL drivers, which I installed. Once the driver (either older or latest) is installed, the ALR-1400 was displaying the 800x600 @ 60 Hz on only part of the screen. Since I don't yet have a solution for the software control of the ALR-1400 (using RS-232), I decided to un-check the "Hide modes that this monitor cannot display". This opened up the "11" option on the dial. I clicked the List All Modes button for the Adapter and picked the "800 x 600 @ 75Hz". BOOM, the display snapped into field and it looks beautiful.

I'll send a request to Digital View to see if they will provide the Display Config Tool for the serial port. It looks like I don't really need it, but I like to know what's possible. If you want hard buttons, you can shell out $50 for their controller button board. The serial control cable is $11 (coincidence, I think not). It appears that you can do more with this connection versus the button board. You could roll you own serial cable and solder onto the board. I personally like detachable connections. Note that all of the connectors on the ALR-1400 have latching holds, so they will function well in the Car PC environment. I'm delaying metal backplate design until I can fit the IR TS in the spare dash. This will take time.