Corsa C Van + Atom + Gentoo Linux + 9" Capacitive touchscreen

simplex · 10-28-2009, 10:31 AM

Car:
Bought an 2001 Opel Corsa C Van 1.2 for cheap, now upgrading.

Working on the engine, exterior, interior and on the audio system parallel with the pc.

Mechanical mods

-plans to put in a Z18XE (125 bhp) or Z20LET (197 bhp) paired with new brakes and suspension.

Interior

-redesigning in a black/red/silver theme
-modifications are needed for the 3-way speakers and for the 10.4" touchscreen

Audio

-planning: 3-way composite speakers, sub, amp depends on sound card / dac

Hardware

-9" custom built sunlight readable screen with 3M capacitive touchscreen
-Intel D945GCLF2D & Intel Atom 330 1.6Ghz - working on custom cooling fan
-2GB RAM
-16 GB SSD, but using a 40GB SATA HDD until final assembly
-Looking for a decent sound card / DAC
-Currently running on my desk with a 420W power supply

Software

-Gentoo Linux, fully optimized, will be cleaned up before the final assembly
-Custom written frontend/window manager integration
-Igo8 with wine

simplex · 11-03-2009, 04:19 PM

Testing on desk - Installing Gentoo

Working on my TV with wireless desktop. Using USB-stick for temporary wifi access.
I will add detailed info about the install when it's done, now pictures:

I didn't had a smaller display in my room

A little messy, but working

simplex · 11-03-2009, 05:00 PM

Custom 9" capacitive touchscreen - Part 1

Plan

Replace the old CCFL backlight of a cheap TFT with automatically adjustable LED backlight ,
and add a capacitive touchscreen to it.

Ingredients

9" tesco value 12V vga screen, made in china

3M capacitive touchscreen with usb controller from ebay ($39)

LEDs, with an adjustable circuit (in progress)

Part 1

So, first, I stripped my "reasonably priced" screen a bit, removing some parts:
-the case
-speakers
-the high-voltage backlight panel

Stripped

Then I realized, that I don't need the front panel with the remote infra led and the buttons

Also, I taken apart the TFT panel, and removed the backlight (and temporary, the filter/mirror sheets under it)

Now, we are going somewhere...

So, now i have the TFT with it's circuit, the controller panel, and a panel for the connectors.

The energy consumption of the screen was 13-14W with the backlight.
Now, without it, it's almost nothing (<1W), and it's still viewable (a bit) in low-light conditions.

TODO next time:
-Remove the connector panel, and attach 12V and 15 pin d-sub to the controller directly.
-Maybe remove unnecessary from the panel (TV-tuner, AV-in)
-Add LED backlight
-Fit the touchscreen on the TFT
-Make a new case for the TFT with the new backlight and sheets
-Make a manually adjustable backlight circuit to test
-Make an automatic backlight circuit (adjusting the luminance depending on light conditions)

hexxamillion · 11-04-2009, 10:20 AM

Cool. So what apps or front end you installing on Gentoo?

simplex · 11-04-2009, 11:21 AM

No apps, no frontend

I'm using linux in my project because:
a) I'm a gentoo geek

b) I want performance
c) I want custom UI and programs that satisfy my needs

My needs are:
-Audio (using the pc as a DSP)
-GPS
-maybe OBDII info

Setup
Simple minimal Xorg setup, USE flags staring with "-*"

Using ICC as compiler where possible.

Window manager/frontend
I start off from DWM code, and add
multitouch gestures, an audio player integration, and a wine integration (for Igo8) to it.

When it will be safe & stable, i'll release it to the community.

Phase 1
Install a basic gentoo system, test the WM, optimize, remove things that will be
a problem later for the SSD (disable swap, portage in tmpfs, etc).
Strip programs used for testing/compatibility.
Make a documentation of the system.
Test it in the car 'til it works.
Backup (this is the backup for upgrading the system)

Phase 2
The finalized installation will contain alot of garbage.
(unneded programs, config files, gcc, portage, source code, distfiles)

So I need to strip/reinstall the whole thing with the final config files and programs.
Backup (this is the system restore backup)

Phase 3
Disconnect the HDD, connect SDD, copy backup on it.
Set /etc/fstab and others to live happily with the SSD.
Put it in the car.

hexxamillion · 11-04-2009, 11:32 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by simplex

No apps, no frontend

I'm using linux in my project because:
a) I'm a gentoo geek

b) I want performance
c) I want custom UI and programs that satisfy my needs

My needs are:
-Audio (using the pc as a DSP)
-GPS
-maybe OBDII info

Setup
Simple minimal Xorg setup, USE flags staring with "-* minimal"

Using ICC as compiler where possible.

Window manager/frontend
I start off from DWM code, and add
multitouch gestures, an audio player integration, and a wine integration (for Igo8) to it.

When it will be safe & stable, i'll release it to the community.

Phase 1
Install a basic gentoo system, test the WM, optimize, remove things that will be
a problem later for the SSD (disable swap, portage in tmpfs, etc).
Strip programs used for testing/compatibility.
Make a documentation of the system.
Test it in the car 'til it works.
Backup (this is the backup for upgrading the system)

Phase 2
The finalized installation will contain alot of garbage.
(unneded programs, config files, gcc, portage, source code, distfiles)

So I need to strip/reinstall the whole thing with the final config files and programs.
Backup (this is the system restore backup)

Phase 3
Disconnect the HDD, connect SDD, copy backup on it.
Set /etc/fstab and others to live happily with the SSD.
Put it in the car.

Gentoo is good. I've used it in the past. As far as I'm concerned Redhat,Gentoo or Debian work well for me. It's nice to see more LINUX users in here. Although I feel like a traitor using Windows 7 this time in my project.

simplex · 11-04-2009, 11:44 AM

Gentoo is like women.
Altough she looks very simple to use, she can bite your head off for the smallest mistake.
The mistakes of the past will come up in the worst moment, suddenly
And, it doesn't matter how you deal with her, softly or hard,
her reaction will be total random

latest example: forgot to add xml USE flag for python, didn't give a ***** about
the warning (there were no blinking red lights or something like that), system ruined

Windows 7 is nice, I'm using it on my laptop (I need MS stuff for my work).

rdholtz · 11-04-2009, 12:23 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by simplex

Gentoo is like women.
Altough she looks very simple to use, she can bite your head off for the smallest mistake.
The mistakes of the past will come up in the worst moment, suddenly
And, it doesn't matter how you deal with her, softly or hard,
she's reaction will be total random

latest example: forgot to add xml USE flag for python, didn't give a ***** about
the warning (there were noblinking red lights or something like that), system ruined

Windows 7 is nice, I'm using it on my laptop (I need MS stuff for my work).

Good comment -- got a laugh out of me (at the metaphor, not the tragedy).

Going with your sig, "My english is crappy, please correct me

", I'll make one correction: change "she's reaction will be total random" to "her reaction will be totally random".

And one comment: your english is far from crappy. Good job, overall.

hexxamillion · 11-04-2009, 01:10 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by simplex

Gentoo is like women.
Altough she looks very simple to use, she can bite your head off for the smallest mistake.
The mistakes of the past will come up in the worst moment, suddenly
And, it doesn't matter how you deal with her, softly or hard,
she's reaction will be total random

latest example: forgot to add xml USE flag for python, didn't give a ***** about
the warning (there were noblinking red lights or something like that), system ruined

Windows 7 is nice, I'm using it on my laptop (I need MS stuff for my work).

LOL! Funny. Yeah gotta be careful with the USE flags.

simplex · 11-04-2009, 03:22 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by rdholtz

Good comment -- got a laugh out of me (at the metaphor, not the tragedy).

Going with your sig, "My english is crappy, please correct me

", I'll make one correction: change "she's reaction will be total random" to "her reaction will be totally random".

And one comment: your english is far from crappy. Good job, overall.

Corrected, thank you

simplex · 11-06-2009, 03:20 AM

Calculations, measurements, energy

The idle energy consumption is about 50-53W, up to 70-71W when turning on the pc.

However, I'm using a 420W power supply, and it eats around 9-10W alone, when the PC is off.

Also, I'm still using the hdd instead of the ssd, and got a wireless keyboard, wireless usb stick,
so I think 70W is the worst-case scenario.

simplex · 11-06-2009, 03:23 AM

Tip of the day

If you are using wireless usb keyboard, and it stops working after you boot from
the linux liveCD / install disk, try a quick plugout-plugin, it will solve the problem.

simplex · 11-06-2009, 07:29 PM

Today's Special

Kernel

So, I made a basic kernel < 2MB:
-using embedded options, removed printk, core dumps, debug info, legacy stuff
-no serial port, no cdrom, no firewire (I don't need them)
-no kernel modules
-very basic networking (I only need net for emerge fetch)
-removed all security-related thingies, no need of them (no internet connection)
-added touchscreen and audio support

Result: some kernel panic first (and second)

After that, lightning-speed startup.

Plans to compile with ICC

USE flags

Well, the "minimal" USE flag is a crap. Vim is useless with it. xorg-server too.
I will only use it case of emergency (bloatware). Using a small amount of global
USE flags, the most of the are package-specific, in /etc/portage/package.use,
to keep the install small.

Problems

Baked touchscreen controller accidentally :S
Does anyone have one? (3M EXII-7010UC USB)

Problems with the wireless usb stick, no WPA. Not a big problem (only need for fetching).

Not very happy with the Intel mainboard, maybe I will go with Gigabyte GA-GC330UD,
or an other Atom330 alternative, any advice would be appreciated.
(no zotac ion, power hungry and expensive)

The main problem with the Intel board is cooling. Gigabyte has 3 heatsinks (NB, SB, CPU),
and you can easily swap them with a bigger aftermarket one. Almost the same price as intel.
Also, more durable (better capatitors, MOSFET, heatsink)

Audio

Still thinking about the sound card, now I'm using the integrated Intel HD,
but thinking about a more audiophile solution (Hippohifi Bloat DAC with RCAfor example).

rdholtz · 11-06-2009, 07:47 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by simplex

. . . Not very happy with the Intel mainboard . . . The main problem with the Intel board is cooling. Gigabyte has 3 heatsinks (NB, SB, CPU),
and you can easily swap them with a bigger aftermarket one. Almost the same price as intel.
Also, more durable (better capatitors, MOSFET, heatsink)

I have the D945GCLF2 board, and I wanted more cooling, too. I upgraded the fan and heatsink on the GPU, and moved the GPU fan and heatsink over to the CPU, which previously had only a heatsink. Here's the link to the post where I wrote about it.

And here's a link to a subsequent post with a closer view.

Finally, here's a link to the post where I flipped the new fan over (because I had it blowing down when I first installed it -- oops).

The fan and heatsink I used are similar to the smaller fan/heatsink systems used on processors back in the days of sub-1GB systems. There should be a lot of them around at pretty attractive prices -- or you could pull one from a scrapped machine.

simplex · 11-06-2009, 08:03 PM

Thanks. I'm planning a full-passive system, but the clips that fix the heatsink are useless,
so it's hard to put a factory replacement copper piece on the board. Also, Southbridge
could use some cooling too. Maybe I will put a custom-made heatsink on the board.

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