VFD 256x64 display...anyone still using one?

**stimps** · 03-21-2005, 12:56 AM

I hope I don't get flamed for this, but all the info about these on this site seems to have rolled off the other end, they are so old, but anyway, I got given one of these from work, unwanted and unrepairable so they say (i got it working!) but I dont know how to interface it with a PC. I dont know what software will work with it either, to make it do anything at all!
Before You ask how I got it working, I simply plugged it into another interface we had at work, which you cant get on the market, and also would be useless in a car, and it worked *shrug*
anyway, now its mine hehehe, and I want to get her working in the car, hopefully.

Is there anyone who still is using one of these and can tell me how to get her up and running doing something kewl?

Will the winamp LCD plugins work with these?

The Model I have is a Gu256X64 - 372 (have no idea what the 372 means, but i know its a 256x64 graphic display, from Noritake.

cheers

EDIT, so far I have found that it is NOT a seriel interface one, it has only a 26 pin parrallel port, nothing else, So I guess I will need to buy a serial converter of some sort?

**Henri** · 03-21-2005, 02:46 AM

One program that I know to work with this display in parallel mode is LCDInfo. Check www.lcdinfo.com and the forums.

http://forum.lcdinfo.com/viewtopic.php?t=963
http://forum.lcdinfo.com/viewtopic.php?t=622

I wouldn't recommend a serial port interface with a graphics display like this if you'd like to enjoy fast graphics. Also I don't know if there's software support for any serial interface.

I'm currently working on USB interface board that plugs in to the back of the display. I just received first prototype PCBs for the board last friday.

**stimps** · 03-21-2005, 05:13 AM

Just spent some time searching for a wiring diagram to connect it to the Printer/parralel port of a pc. No good, can you point me in that direction? and thanks for your information, thats exactly what I was hoping to find!

**stimps** · 03-21-2005, 08:27 PM

thanks. I actually found that last nite about an hour later :P
In the process of soldering up a connecting cable now.

thanks.

**stimps** · 03-22-2005, 03:30 AM

OOOKay this is nice....Cant get it to work *sigh*
One site says i need Portlinx 95 whatever that is, i got it started it....now what? No idea what im supposed to do with it, no one has thought of mentioning it in the approriate place. I hate asking.
Next, which software should I be using? I have LCDC and LCDinfo, again, no idea what to do with it, Not enough information comes with the software to bridge the gap between my empty head and the device to get it to do anything!

*sigh*

Help!

**stimps** · 03-22-2005, 06:38 AM

well now its got something on the screen happening, with LCDinfo running. Didnt load that Port95 driver thing. The screen is showing flashes of garbled rubbish. I checked my wiring again and again and it seems to be right.
Anyone have any idea what im doing wrong?

**Henri** · 03-22-2005, 09:56 AM

Ok to get started with the GU256x64-372 display:

1. Make sure you got LCDInfo v0.6.
Get it here: http://forum.lcdinfo.com/viewtopic.php?t=387
Forum about it: http://forum.lcdinfo.com/index.php?c=4

2. Getting started: http://forum.lcdinfo.com/viewtopic.php?t=471
For 0.6 version of LCDInfo you don't need to install DLPortIO as it's not used by it.
So when running LCDInfo select the Noritake 372 driver as the current driver in the driver selection dialog and go to the Noritake 372 driver configuration dialog and make sure the wiring settings there match your wiring and restart LCDInfo. This should get something to your display. Also some users have reported problems with the port driver without administrator rights.

3. How to edit screens: http://forum.lcdinfo.com/viewtopic.php?t=386
You probably want to edit the screens to match your needs.

I hope this would help you a little.