Lilliput in Sun Visor Project - Page 2

antimatter · 09-01-2004, 07:20 PM

So here is an update.

Sorry for not posting pictures but some will be up very shortly.

I am overcame 2 very large obsticles today.

1. create a faceplate for the front of the visor

I brought the front peice of the visor shell that i bought from armen and had them machine out the part that i want to use (It helps to work at a design and development firm). This will serve as a front piece to hide the cut edges of the fabric and will give it a professional OEM look.

2. remove metal tube that all current wiring was going through.

This one was easier than i thought. I thought i was going to have to unsolder all of the wires from the back of the Controller board and pull them through removing them from the metal tube and then resolder them back to the pc board. I ended up using a dremmel and cutting it open (very carefuly) and then prying it slipping the wires through.

Although these two large hurtles are overcame i have one large dissapointment. I scratched up my bran new touchpannel

I will be posting pics when i get home tonight

antimatter · 03-06-2005, 12:44 AM

Okay first off i am liar about the pictures... Now that is out of the way... here is an update.

I Cut a rough square hole in the front of the visor shell. And had the guys at my prototype shop at work cut me an exact fit out of a thin peice of plexiglass.

I then Epoxied it on. Then i Put back on the foam/fabric peice and hot glued it in place.

Next was time for the internal wire routing. I made slots for the wires to run. Unfortunatly all of the wires wont fit throught the elbow peice without some major work so i had to make alowances for that.

Next i worked on the buttons and the IR sensor.

I had the shop cut me out a round window for the IR sensor and hot glued it in place.

I cut holes for the buttons and verified wiring. The buttons were mounted to a thin peice of circut board. I used a mixture of hot glue and RTV silicone to create standoffs and attach the buttons and board so that when the button is pushed it will hold in place.

Now i am very close to being complete and i will reveal pictures when i score a digital camera.

To Do list:
-Create some sort of sticker to attach to the front to label the buttons
-Fabricate a front bezel that will allow for the space that the LCD sticks out in front (about 1/4 inch) and attach to front
-Mount it in place

I am almost there. I verified that the LCD works (after a little ribbon cable fiasco) and the buttons work too

antimatter · 03-11-2005, 12:07 AM

First post updated with write up and pictures

finally

antimatter · 03-11-2005, 01:43 PM

I finally post pictures and nobody cares

Enforcer · 03-11-2005, 03:09 PM

well of the 19 posts so far 9 have been by you, so that's a maximum of ten people that will have email notification of this thread. Some have posted more than once , some may not go online every day.

which leaves just you and me.

And I want to see pics in the car before comment

studmonk3y · 03-11-2005, 03:12 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by antimatter

I finally post pictures and nobody cares

I care man! It looks great. You make me want to come by and see it for myself in person. Want to see if you can give me tips on making my screen install look nicer too. I'll have more free time after damn finals week is over.

antimatter · 03-11-2005, 04:08 PM

Thanks man!

Yea we should hook up sometime

sxott · 03-11-2005, 04:50 PM

I am really likeing this thing. I was wondering what I wanted to do, but this has real merit and possibilities.

I think it might be feasible to use a regular LCD screen not a touchscreen and put a touch pad next to it on the visor... I dunno why that seems like a good idea to me for some reason, but it would probably suck.

The reason I was likeing it is that you could get a much cheaper set up that way and have more acurate control possibly. Touchpads are selling on Ebay for like $5.00
here

Is heat going to be an issue for these do you think? The backlight in the visor seems to have the possibility to really make a lot of heat.

Also one other idea, it might be neat to make a switch that autoatically turned off the LCD if you put visor up. You know a little spring loaded button that cuts the current when you fold it up... like I said I really like this idea.

Rafster · 03-11-2005, 05:16 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by sxott

I am really likeing this thing. I was wondering what I wanted to do, but this has real merit and possibilities.

I think it might be feasible to use a regular LCD screen not a touchscreen and put a touch pad next to it on the visor... I dunno why that seems like a good idea to me for some reason, but it would probably suck.

The reason I was likeing it is that you could get a much cheaper set up that way and have more acurate control possibly. Touchpads are selling on Ebay for like $5.00
here

Is heat going to be an issue for these do you think? The backlight in the visor seems to have the possibility to really make a lot of heat.

Also one other idea, it might be neat to make a switch that autoatically turned off the LCD if you put visor up. You know a little spring loaded button that cuts the current when you fold it up... like I said I really like this idea.

Or you could just make windows shut off the screen after 1 min of non-use.

Right click-Properties-Screen Saver-Power Options

Peace,

Rafster

antimatter · 03-11-2005, 07:16 PM

Good Point about the power options.

I still need to cut the slits in the back for heat dissapation. Currently mine isn't a touchscreen although i do have an extra touchpannel and usb controller if i find that i need that capabilites. You can definitly do the touch pad idea. The only problem i would see is actual useability. You would have to have some good support evertime you left or right click.

Update:
I have done some research and i am going to buy some inkjet heat transfer paper and test out the creation of labeling so it looks professional. It looks promising and cost effective

sxott · 03-11-2005, 08:40 PM

rafaelsherman I don't particularly like that idea b/c in my lack of knowledge, I would think that it would take longer to turn on in that case. If you were watching a video it would obviously turn off to soon.

But I still have a CRT, so I do not know how fast an LCD turns on. For example I assume it doens't have to warm up, but perhaps it has to get the resolution correct or something. Anyway if it only took a second literaly to turn on and display then I think the spring loaded button would be a better idea. As far as control goes it seems good. Flip down get what you want flip up. No time for it to heat up. However, for watching video the heat would be a problem.

djXternal · 03-28-2005, 12:43 PM

ok... im gonna be doing this soon with my lilliput, i havent attempted taking my visor apart yet, but i wanted to know what did you use as a front bezel for the screen to hold the touch panel and screen together and stationary...

also how did u find was the best way to mount all the internals in the visor?

Punisher · 03-28-2005, 03:29 PM

I checked the sun-visor idea out in my Celica.. definitly not going to work.. couldn't get a nearly big enough screen in. Plenty of room with the width but no height.. like 6" at most.. but like could do nearly 11" long lol

Enforcer · 03-29-2005, 03:57 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Punisher

I checked the sun-visor idea out in my Celica.. definitly not going to work.. couldn't get a nearly big enough screen in. Plenty of room with the width but no height.. like 6" at most.. but like could do nearly 11" long lol

Yes, but a 7" screen is not 7" high. In fact the actual screen of the lilliput for example.

4 3/16ths high which gives you at least an inch on either side.

antimatter · 03-29-2005, 01:08 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by djXternal

ok... im gonna be doing this soon with my lilliput, i havent attempted taking my visor apart yet, but i wanted to know what did you use as a front bezel for the screen to hold the touch panel and screen together and stationary...

also how did u find was the best way to mount all the internals in the visor?

Hot glue mounts and RTV silicone to mount

I am Milling out a custom front bezel. It is not necesarry. You could use none at all.