Altitude Posted June 15, 2014 Report Share Posted June 15, 2014 (edited) So I got these wonderful displays in and unfortunately the documentation is sparse and this is my first outing with these so I'm a bit lost. Can anyone shed some light on how to get these up and running? http://www.8051projects.net/files/public/1338569803_38288_FT0_c20045-uw5a_adatlap.pdf Edited June 16, 2014 by Altitude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawkeye Posted June 15, 2014 Report Share Posted June 15, 2014 (edited) ... in a MB6582? Got one running (and loving it!), but had to hack the assembly, and it has been a few years! :-) You can have the .hex, if I can find it! :-) Edit: moar info here: Edit2: you should be able to get it up and running by replacing the app_lcd.inc, then recompiling: Edit3: and please replace the .hex only on the display core - it will crash on the others :-D Best of luck! Many greets, Peter Edited June 15, 2014 by Hawkeye Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Altitude Posted June 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 15, 2014 (edited) yes! That's where it's headed. Thanks for the documentation, will go over it and report back Edited June 15, 2014 by Altitude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Altitude Posted June 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2014 (edited) Ok, Problems. Recompiled the hex and I just get a couple of dots. I gave the wrong part number though, its a CU20045-UW5A, these are older parts but Noritake is selling them for $18 at their store in Illinois so I couldn't resist. When in 4 bit mode could having the pins that are normally not used cause a problem? http://noritake-vfd.com/cu20045-uw5a.aspx http://www.8051projects.net/files/public/1338569803_38288_FT0_c20045-uw5a_adatlap.pdf I have a spare one of these with your name on it if you have nothing better to do ;) Edited June 16, 2014 by Altitude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawkeye Posted June 17, 2014 Report Share Posted June 17, 2014 (edited) Argh, it´s always the same with these things! :-) As far as I can remember, the problem was entirely timing-related. So a few NOPs (or removal of them) here and there solved it - I think. Another idea would be to try and use 8-bit mode (see all those recent OLED threads and success stories). (In 4-bit mode, the open pins were not a problem for my VFD, but I don´t have much EE knowledge, you could try to ground them) If you´d live next door, i´d love to step in for some old school driver hacking session, but as it is now, I don´t have a spare 8bit core (will not touch the MB6582, it is essential for life :-)), and what´s even worse - customs will intercept your parcel, resulting in 2 hours of drive+wait+explanations what that scary bit of wire spaghetti inside the parcel is doing and why i receive that from the U.S. from a private sender and what the "real" price is... oh, i don´t like them, did I ever tell that story? :-). You´ll solve it, just be persistent! :-) Many greets, Peter Edited June 17, 2014 by Hawkeye Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Altitude Posted June 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2014 (edited) thanks for the input. I'll go over the data sheets and see if I can find the difference. should I just comment out the "switch to 4bit mode" commands to go into 8 bit mode? also, with the nops, should I start here? "function which toggles the strobe line USER_LCD_Strobe_Toggle nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop rcall USER_LCD_Strobe_Set nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop nop rcall USER_LCD_Strobe_Clr return ;; ========================================================================== " ps. I know all about German custom's "eccentricities" I've had my monotribe midi kits sit in customs for 6 weeks before being delivered and had some even returned (7 months later) Edited June 17, 2014 by Altitude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawkeye Posted June 17, 2014 Report Share Posted June 17, 2014 Hi Altitude, yes, if I remember right, the display is initialized in 8-bit mode - commenting out this part could work - but it is highly experimental - you´d also need to connect the other four data wires, and change something on the MB6582 baseboard as well... I think someone around here has an OLED running in 8-bit mode - would be best to get his driver and instructions on how to connect everything... Regarding the NOPs - yes, i remember - as it was timing critical, i added those - afterwards the display worked. You could try with more or less NOPs - but again, highly experimental... If nothing works, and you´ve also got an 8-bit core lying around and have some time at hands - i´d give it a go - have to visit customs from time to time anyways. But the cost will be prohibitively high (shipping alone) - If you really want to do it, please declare as a Gift, 10$ value on the package and write me an email saying, that you want to get rid of this old electronics stuff and that I should take it as a present - the customs guys (although they grumble a lot) sometimes accept it like this, especially if there is wires hanging out and it is looking like a movie prop from "Back to the Future" :-). Many greets and good luck! Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Altitude Posted June 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2014 Peter, Will do. I DO have 8 bit core's (albeit old ones) and PICs on hand so I very well may take you up on that. I know what paper work is needed to get things through the Deutsches Customs and seeing that Noritake has 150 of these parts @ $18 each at their local office (to me) it may be well worth it for more than just me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawkeye Posted June 17, 2014 Report Share Posted June 17, 2014 Ok, maybe someone could snatch a few of these displays (the Noritake site will unfortunately sell only to the U.S) and reserve them for future MB6582 builders, that are insane enough (like us) to go for the VFD option :-). The price is really hot! I paid >80€ for mine, if I remember right... I can´t promise anything though, regarding success. PIC assembler is no part of my C.V. :-). Although TK. lives nearby and it is really time for some relaxed real-life beers again :-). Many greets, Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawkeye Posted July 13, 2014 Report Share Posted July 13, 2014 To conclude this thread - these 18$ Noritake VFDs do work on our 8bit cores - and the price is really low, maybe someone U.S. based could reserve a few for us fellow MIDIbox builders, i´d certainly take 2 more... No way any LCD can compete with the display clarity and update speed... :-D. Many greets! Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Altitude Posted July 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2014 I'll call them and see what they can do, it's an obsolete part (hence the price) but a VFD for $18 is a VFD for $18... I've never seen the regular part, how does this differ? The only difference I could spot was the little bulb on the front of the display.. I ordered a set of the colored covers so I'll snap some pics once I am up and running.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawkeye Posted July 13, 2014 Report Share Posted July 13, 2014 Awesome - it just looks like my original (paid 80€+ for it). If you can grab one or two for me and just put it in storage, that would be nice, the link above lists 100+ still in stock! :) .hex and source is on the way... Many greets, Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jojjelito Posted July 14, 2014 Report Share Posted July 14, 2014 If I could pony up the cash at the moment I'd buy the whole shebang for distribution... It would be nice to toy with a couple :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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