Saab 93 OEM installation (Now running Android)

Hello,

Since I saw the first factory colour screen in a car I always liked to expand the functionality of this display, mantaining the factory looking of the dash. That is my main goal. I think factory screens have the perfect resolution/quality for the purpose they are designed for.

My car is a MY05 Saab 93 SS. It comes with the ICM3 colour display. The first problem was it does not have any external video input. So I had to disassemble the whole unit and spend some weeks of reverse engineering the LCD. Internally, it was like some other screens I have seen, analog RGB with NTSC timings. Time to design a video switch circuit.

But I wanted to convert into touch screen too, and, why not, connect to the CAN network and catch events like reverse gear insertion (intended for automatic reverse camera switching) or button pushing (manual video switching using factory buttons). The CAN network (GM SWCAN) takes me another couple of weeks of decoding commands. How to sniff the SWCAN here


The circuit. It has the USB touch panel controller integrated:

http://i45.tinypic.com/a1og15.jpg


The adapter integrated inside the screen ecu:

http://i46.tinypic.com/wtj7f9.jpg


The touch panel installation

http://i49.tinypic.com/4t8xgk.jpg


And the external connection:

http://i45.tinypic.com/300y05w.png


Testing the results. PC connected through the VGA connection of the converter and an special driver:

http://i48.tinypic.com/n5n4ev.png


Running emulated Windows Mobile in XP:

http://i45.tinypic.com/161168.jpg


Note: the display is 400x234 pixel res.


The next step was the reverse camera connection. But most of the cameras are CVBS video signal (composite). So I had to design a CVBS (RCA) to RGB video converter. I know there are some converters of this kind in the market, but I want to make it myself, according with my personal requirements. After a few "fights" with old analog TV ICs, I decided to go into fully digital conversion. The results were worth it.

The converter has two CVBS (RCA) inputs and one RGB (VGA). One RCA is reserved for reverse camera, the other one is generic. The VGA input is intended for connecting the Carpc.


The installation diagram I have planned:
http://i45.tinypic.com/j9na5j.png
Here is the converter internals:

http://i47.tinypic.com/2j61ru1.jpg


And externally:

http://i50.tinypic.com/2znx3wn.jpg

http://i50.tinypic.com/2dcj2qb.jpg


Drilling the trunk:

http://i49.tinypic.com/154uijb.jpghttp://i45.tinypic.com/29pf4mc.jpg


Rear camera installed:

http://i49.tinypic.com/34gn781.jpg


Routing the camera wires through the trunk lid:

http://i45.tinypic.com/349fble.jpg


Video converter instaled in the trunk:

http://i49.tinypic.com/11glphl.jpg


And the final result:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1FY9xCyicA

looks really nice.

What frontend are you planning to use?

I think with a low resolution like that you wont have a good picture, if you do , -> pics :D

Nice project. Your skillset is very impressive to be able to interface with stock equipment like that.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by eugenweij

looks really nice.

What frontend are you planning to use?

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I do like OS used as frontend, obviously Windows XP is not suitable for this resolution, Windows CE 'as is' has the same problem, even using an skin, it is an obsolete OS with a very limited software set.

I think Android is the best option at this point, it is perfectly usable at 320x240 pixel res. (there are some smartphones running android at this res.)

So I'm developing an Android box with VGA (analog RGB) output to be plug and play with the video converter I have installed in the trunk.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rray

Nice project. Your skillset is very impressive to be able to interface with stock equipment like that.

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Thank you. Electronic engineering is my passion and cars are too.

This is excellent work. I love the fact that yo keep the OEM look of things and just expand the functionality.

android sounds good , what are you looking at for functionality of your system ? e.g gps odbII etc.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by eugenweij

android sounds good , what are you looking at for functionality of your system ? e.g gps odbII etc.

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I'm planning to add GPS, 3G, audio out, some USB ports, CAN, and maybe composite video input, for security purposes or travel recording. The development is well advanced, I hope I can upload a video soon.

that would be nice :)

That looks absolutely amazing!

I have been wondering about the possibilities of such a thing for a while! I would love to be able to use the OEM system but with a more...up to date back-end (eg: Windows + Centrafuse / Android / RaspberryPi).

You have got some very impressive skills to be able to pull off such a neat solution!

How long did it take you to complete? If you dont mind me asking, what were the costs of building the modification minus the reversing camera?

Also, i dont suppose that you know how easy it would be to build a module that can effectively replace the stock car amplifiers? I love my music and the stock stereo is simply dreadful...i even have the Premium 150 sound system and its awful. =(

I look forward to see what you end up doing with this set up!

Regards
Giz