How about a motorized fold down screen (NOT LCD)

**chuckster** · 12-16-2004, 10:58 AM

Hey Folks,

Been thinking of something creative to do with my install. I haven't purchased all my parts yet but just to let you all know what I was thinking of doing with my LCD Display just for added security measures. I haven't drawn out any plans yet but here is a description of it.

I'm looking at a way to have a motorized shade (similar to a garage door) that will close when I turn the ignition off and open when the ignition is on. This concept would use a similar approach to a garage door where the screen would fold up into my dash exposing the LCD Screen under it. Many challenges materialize with this idea such as what to do for a track that the screen will follow, what circuit to use to signal the screen to open and close, what is the best motor to use, will all this fit in my dash!!

I figure there are many different ways to come at this such as opening moving up into the dash, opening down into the dash, maybe even using a solid screen versus a folding one.

Obviously just rough thinking.....Has anyone tried something like this before?

Chuck

**omar** · 12-16-2004, 01:23 PM

Not exactly an answer to your question, but an example of what I did for security to thwart theives. In my previous car I had a high end head unit ( the eclipse double din lcd if I recall). I took an older double din factory radio ( tape player not CD--nobody's wants to steal a tape unit) and dremeled just the front of it off. Now, when I leave my car, I would put this faceplate over my radio and It looked completly stock. It depends on the style of dash you have, but for me it worked great. Just an idea.

**chuckster** · 12-16-2004, 01:32 PM

Omar,

That sounds cool. I remember seeing that in the forums I think unless it was someone else that posted it. Maybe this concept could work for me except make it motorized so it moves out of the way on its own

Thanks for the idea.

Chuck

**RedGTiVR6** · 12-16-2004, 04:01 PM

I see what your question is and I faced the same problem in my car the first time around chuckster. The way I got around it!? I molded the screen in and painted the rest of it flat black to match my dash. Looked completely factory. As a matter of fact, when people would hear that I had a computer in my car they would want to see it. I would open the door and they couldn't find it till I pointed it out to them. Everyone thought the dash was 100% OEM and not custom. It took a lot of work but I bet you it was less work than what you are talking about doing....hehe

IMO, the trick is to make it look factory, not to cover it. It's much easier to use that way. I am aware however that there are some vehicles out there that just don't allow for such modifications, and that there are some people who just don't want to get that indepth with their install.

**Bugbyte** · 12-16-2004, 06:46 PM

I have installed a motorized screen in my car. See it here . You can use the exact same parts and techniques to make a motorized shade.

Also, I have seen a thread here somewhere about a guy who built an anti-theft shade into his minivan console. Had a link to a movie of it in action, too.

**Quattro** · 12-16-2004, 07:04 PM

Originally Posted by Bugbyte

Also, I have seen a thread here somewhere about a guy who built an anti-theft shade into his minivan console. Had a link to a movie of it in action, too.

Do have a link to the thread, or do you know the person user name?

@chuckster

I been playing around with this idea for a while now. To make it work similar to a garage door, it will require extra room above your lcd for the cover to go up. If you look at a garage door from the inside you will see that the track it goes back on is about a foot from the top, so i'm guessing you need an extra inch or so above the screen. What I've been think of doing is have one solid cover. It will first flip up and then it will slide back, see the attached pics for a visual.

To control the cover is the hard part. I'm thinking of using a servo motor to flip the cover and a stepper motor to slide the cover back. There may be some issues with space behind the dash so I have to find small motors. To control the motor I will use a Basic Stamp. I will connect on input from the ign. so the cover open and closes with whe starting and turning off the car. I've never worked with servo, stepper or a basic stamp, but I've been reading up on them. I going to start ordering the parts soon. I've got an month off from school now, so I'm going work on this on my spare time when I'm off from work.

**thanatos106** · 12-16-2004, 07:18 PM

Estima CarPC v2.0 build up pics this the thread of the guy motorized sharde.

**wastingtape** · 12-17-2004, 04:16 AM

Originally Posted by Bugbyte

I have installed a motorized screen in my car. See it here . You can use the exact same parts and techniques to make a motorized shade.

Also, I have seen a thread here somewhere about a guy who built an anti-theft shade into his minivan console. Had a link to a movie of it in action, too.

"So my intent was not just to get a PC in my car. Building your own PC these days is about as difficult as following a set of furniture assembly instructions from IKEA. I was pretty sure I could make that happen. What I wanted was a platform that appeared stock, as if it came with the car."

I think that sums up my sentiment perfectly. Well stated. I haven't yet reviewed your slides yet (but i did open them in a 2nd browser window), but am looking forward to doing so. I'm just getting started and have the same feeling about carputers. Hope mine comes out as cool as yours.

**chuckster** · 12-17-2004, 12:32 PM

WAY WAY Cool! Exactly the type of ideas I've been hoping for.

Quattro-A4:

Looks like we will be working on very similar projects. I have a lot of room inside my console. My project vehicle is a 2002 Toyota Highlander. The center console and dash portion are simple to take apart and there might be room to my my computer in there as well. I have not started any fabrications yet but I'm drawing up ideas of how to lay this project out.

It appears through the post that the best way to have any Radio is to keep a head unit because the USB Radio/PC Radios don't appear to be very good at pulling in reception. By the time I get to installing this computer maybe there will be a decent PC radio.

I plan to have slot DVD player molded into my dash, not exactly sure where I'll put it yet.

I will upload pics of my dash and center console along with basic measurements as soon as I get the chance. This will kick my project off.

Thanks for the help all,

Chuck