lcd4linux-users — lcd4linux users

[lcd4linux] Re: Lcd4linux4debian

[Michael R. <re...@eu...>]

Hi there,

first: is anyone of you not subscribed to lcd4linux-users? Maybe CCing 
all of you is annoying if you get the mails twice...


>> One should edit the version to 0.9.12, because that's what the current 
>> CVS code is called.
> 
> The version should be either 20040106cvs (or something similar) or 
> 0.9.11 (and the debian directory would best not be part of any release).

with "release" you mean tarball and so on? I think it's not part of 
something, but exists in CVS only.

regarding the version: I like 20040106cvs until we have the nexct stable 
release. But who updates this version number? Shouldn't it be updated 
whenever something changes in CVS (which _should_ happen very regular). 
Or should this be updated only when creating a debian package?


> * there should be done an autotools update (libtoolize --force 
> --copy;aclocal-1.4;autoconf)

Done, thank you.
How do I know if I should do such an update?

> * there should be a manpage
Hrmmm... Any volunteers? :-)
I will post a "Help wanted" announcement on SourceForge.

> * config.log should not be in the sources: either altogether, either 
> removed in debian/rules in the clean target
config.log isn't even in CVS. Where did you find it?

> * debian/copyright should mention the years (after Copyright:) and 
> copyrightholders (on the next line),
Who are the copyright holders? Should I specify everyone who contributet 
some code?

> the GPL mentioning should be:
Done.

> * debian/control should mention xlibs-dev as a Build-Depends and a Depends.
NOT done. I don't know how. Samuel/Xavier? Please send patch or chein to 
CVS.

> * debian/postinst should be added with the folowing:
Same as above.

> * debian/watch can be added (recomended) with the folowing 2 lines:
Same as above.

What's this watch? Can I use this, too? For other packages?

> I would like someone to step forward to become the Debian maintainer. I 
> certainly will be happy to help the volunteer, but as I do not use the 
> package as I do not have a lcd display, I want to be no more than a 
> comaintainer.

I understand, Luk. I don't want to be the maintainer, because I know far 
too little about debian. Xavier hasn't got a useable internet connection 
(is this right?)

Samuel, I'm counting on you! You're my last hope!


bye, Michael

-- 
Michael Reinelt                                   Tel: +43 676 3079941
Geisslergasse 4                                   Fax: +43 316  692343
A-8045 Graz, Austria                          e-mail: re...@eu...

[lcd4linux] Documentation for Plugins available

[Michael R. <re...@eu...>]

Hi List,

I just finished a small documentation for writing new Plugins for 
lcd4linux, which use the Evaluator.

See the README.Plugins and the "template" plugin_sample.c in CVS.

Enjoy!


bye, Michael

-- 
Michael Reinelt                                   Tel: +43 676 3079941
Geisslergasse 4                                   Fax: +43 316  692343
A-8045 Graz, Austria                          e-mail: re...@eu...

[lcd4linux] Re: Lcd4linux i2c_sensors()

[Michael R. <re...@eu...>]

Hi List, Hi Xavier,

>>You could add/modify the "%x" (execute) tokens to call the evaluator in 
>>the meantime.
> 
> How can I do it ? %x tokens are for executing shell calls, am I wrong ?
> Having tokens to call the evaluator would be a good migration, is that
> implemented ?

Ok, I did it. In the latest CVS, you find new %y1..%y9 Tokens, which 
call the Evaluator. The corresponding expression is specified as a 
y1..y9 config entry (just like the exec stuff, where it's called x1..x9 
Basically I did copy the Execute functions and renamed %x to %y

This way, you can use and test the evaluator. Note that these tokens are 
just a workaround, until the Evaluator will control almost everything in 
lcd4linux!

Almost everything? Well, think of a display with backlight. You have an 
entry "Backlight 130" in the lcd4linux.conf.

Now think of a plugin that reads a little external light sensor: light()

Now we want our backlight do adopt to the ambient light:

Backlight "25+0.14*light()"

Same goes for Displays which have Temperature Sensors and Fan Outputs 
with RPM controlling features.


Here are some sample entries for lcd4linux.conf:


Row1 "Ex1: <%y1>"
Row2 "Ex2: <%y2>"
Row3 "Ex3: <%y3>"
Row4 "Ex4: <%y4>"

y1 "2*(3+4)"
y2 "cfg('Display')"
y3 "cfg('y1')"
y4 "xmms('Title')"


Have Fun!

-- 
Michael Reinelt                                   Tel: +43 676 3079941
Geisslergasse 4                                   Fax: +43 316  692343
A-8045 Graz, Austria                          e-mail: re...@eu...

Re: [lcd4linux] backlight Control

[Michael R. <re...@eu...>]

Hi Stefan,

>>> My LCD runs under WinXP with jaLCD really good. backlight is on. 
>>> But if i use lcd4linux i can make screens but the backlight can't
>>> be turned on. My lcd is connected like this : 
>>> http://www.jalcds.de/images/4x20backlight.gif

>> I see. They control the backlight with the SELECT signal and a
>> transistor.
>> 
>> lcd4linux does not support this.
>> 
>> You could hardwire your backlight so it stays on all the time.
>> there are several possibilities: either connect the base of the
>> transistor to +5V (including the resistor 150 ohm!!!), or shortcut
>> collector-emiiter.

> Ok i connected the backlight directly it runs. Thx a lot Would be
> nice if in next version i can control this port.
Good Idea. I will add it to my ToDo-List. But there are so many other, 
more important items, so it will take its time...

On the other hand, if you have some spare time, are you willing to write 
a patch? I will support you as much as I can. There are other display 
drivers which have software-controlled backlight, so sample code is 
available.

> But can you tell me
> how i can display different rows on after the other. I mean like
> first a screen for CPU than after 30 sec  a Screen for Ram and....

At the moment lcd4linux does not really support such "screens", but this 
will change. I planned to get a lot of this rework done over the 
christmas holidays, but unfortunately I got "SpellForce" as a christmas 
present. I spent about 100 hours on playing the last days :-)

There are two possible workarounds:

1. the ugly one: provide more than one config file, each containing one 
screen. use a shellscript which rotates the config file (symlink?) every 
30 seconds, and send a SIGHUP to lcd4linux so it rereads its config.

2. the not-so-ugly one: Use "virtual rows" for this. See the doc on the 
web page.


bye, Michael

-- 
Michael Reinelt                                   Tel: +43 676 3079941
Geisslergasse 4                                   Fax: +43 316  692343
A-8045 Graz, Austria                          e-mail: re...@eu...

Re: [lcd4linux] backlight Control

[Michael R. <re...@eu...>]

Hi Stefan,

> My LCD runs under WinXP with jaLCD really good. backlight is on. 
> But if i use lcd4linux i can make screens but the backlight can't be turned 
> on. My lcd is connected like this : 
> http://www.jalcds.de/images/4x20backlight.gif

I see. They control the backlight with the SELECT signal and a transistor.

lcd4linux does not support this.

You could hardwire your backlight so it stays on all the time. there are 
several possibilities: either connect the base of the transistor to +5V 
(including the resistor 150 ohm!!!), or shortcut collector-emiiter.


bye, Michael

-- 
Michael Reinelt                                   Tel: +43 676 3079941
Geisslergasse 4                                   Fax: +43 316  692343
A-8045 Graz, Austria                          e-mail: re...@eu...

Re: [lcd4linux] backlight Control

[nef17 <ne...@gm...>]

HI thx for your answer.
My LCD runs under WinXP with jaLCD really good. backlight is on. 
But if i use lcd4linux i can make screens but the backlight can't be turned 
on. My lcd is connected like this : http://www.jalcds.de/
images/4x20backlight.gif

Display HD44780
Port 0x378
Size 20x4
#Delay 503
Bits 8
Wire.RW AUTOFD
Wire.RS INIT

MY QUESTION:
How can i turn my Backlight On???

Thx a lot

Stefan


Am Sonntag, 28. Dezember 2003 09:38 schrieb Thomas Siedentopf:
> Hi Stefan,
>
> ne...@gm... schrieb:
> | Hi can anyone tell me how to turn my backlight on with using lcd4linux??
> |
> | I have got Suse 9.0 and a HD447.. Display I get Screens on the Display
> | but the Backlight is off??
>
> This is a hardware issue and has nothing to do with the software.
>
> The backlight is a simple lamp which can be connected over a little
> resistor to +5V. On most HD44780 display modules this can be achieved by
> connecting Pin 16 to GROUND and PIN 15 to the slider of a 100 ohm
> potentiometer. The other end (does not matter which of both Pins) of the
> resistor goes to +5V, the third end stays unconnected.
>
> After this you should have the backlight which can be changed in its
> intensity by adjusting the slider of the potentiometer.
>
> But:
> Please make sure that you have a *real* HD44780 compatible module first. If
> not you may destroy your module because I am refering to real HD44780
> compatible Pinouts only.
>
> If the above method dos not work then it might be possible that your
> backlight lamp has become defective.
>
> | Please help me Thx a lot
> |
> |
> |
> | Stefan
>
> CU,
> Thomas.

Re: [lcd4linux] HD44780 20x4 no Screens??

[Michael R. <re...@eu...>]

Hi Stefan,

> my Problem is:
> 1. I get no Splashscreen
> 2. My Display is dark and there is nothing Displayed

Did you check your contrast settings?


bye, michael

-- 
Michael Reinelt                                   Tel: +43 676 3079941
Geisslergasse 4                                   Fax: +43 316  692343
A-8045 Graz, Austria                          e-mail: re...@eu...

Re: [lcd4linux] backlight Control

[Thomas S. <th...@gm...>]

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

Hi Stefan,

ne...@gm... schrieb:
| Hi can anyone tell me how to turn my backlight on with using lcd4linux??
|
| I have got Suse 9.0 and a HD447.. Display I get Screens on the Display
| but the Backlight is off??

This is a hardware issue and has nothing to do with the software.

The backlight is a simple lamp which can be connected over a little resistor
to +5V. On most HD44780 display modules this can be achieved by connecting Pin
16 to GROUND and PIN 15 to the slider of a 100 ohm potentiometer. The other
end (does not matter which of both Pins) of the resistor goes to +5V, the
third end stays unconnected.

After this you should have the backlight which can be changed in its intensity
by adjusting the slider of the potentiometer.

But:
Please make sure that you have a *real* HD44780 compatible module first. If
not you may destroy your module because I am refering to real HD44780
compatible Pinouts only.

If the above method dos not work then it might be possible that your backlight
lamp has become defective.

|
| Please help me Thx a lot
|
|
|
| Stefan
|

CU,
Thomas.
- --
thomas siedentopf - public key available.
This is Linux Country. On a clear silent night, you can hear Windows
reboot.
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Version: GnuPG v1.2.2 (GNU/Linux)
Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org

iD8DBQE/7pZtdERBopHyS4MRAlueAJ9nNKMhTEBF2EhBAPNEypLIH9JYlwCg4rRB
zW3A4ZATi5jVWNF40avm8qw=
=UcR0
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

[lcd4linux] backlight Control

[<ne...@gm...>]

Hi can anyone tell me how to turn my backlight on with using lcd4linux?? 

I have got Suse 9.0 and a HD447.. Display I get Screens on the Display but
the Backlight is off??

Please help me Thx a lot

 

Stefan 

[lcd4linux] HD44780 20x4 no Screens??

[nef17 <ne...@gm...>]

Hi 
i have got a HD44780 20x4 backlight Display its connected with this Schematic 
to the Parallel Port : http://www.jalcds.de/images/4x20backlight.gif
i use Suse 9.0 and i change my lcd4linux.conf file like this :
Display HD44780
Port /dev/parport0
Size 4x20
#Delay 503
Bits 8
Wire.RW AUTOFD
Wire.RS INIT
Wire.ENABLE GND
Wire.GPO GND
Wire.ENABLE2 GND

And if i start lcd4linux it looks like this :
kami:/home/kami # lcd4linux -F -vvv
Version 0.9.11 starting
lcd4linux.c: initializing driver HD44780
HD44780: controlling 0 GPO's
wiring: using display with 1 controllers
wiring: using 8 bit mode
wiring: [DISPLAY:RS]<==>[PARPORT:INIT]
wiring: [DISPLAY:RW]<==>[PARPORT:AUTOFD]
wiring: [DISPLAY:ENABLE]<==>[PARPORT:GND]
wiring: [DISPLAY:ENABLE2]<==>[PARPORT:GND]
wiring: [DISPLAY:GPO]<==>[PARPORT:GND]
udelay.c: CPU supports Time Stamp Counter
udelay.c: CPU runs at 1670.336000 MHz
udelay.c: using TSC delay loop, 1671 ticks per microsecond
parport.c: using ppdev /dev/parport0

my Problem is:
1. I get no Splashscreen
2. My Display is dark and there is nothing Displayed

Can anyone help me??

Thank a lot 

Stefan

Re: [lcd4linux] XMMS - Datenquellen fertiggestellt

[<Mar...@t-...>]

Am Freitag 19 Dezember 2003 07:35 schrieb Michael Reinelt:

> I modified your code a bit, and committed it to CVS. It works, at least
> for me.
>
> How to test:
> - get latest CVS release
> - compile it
> - run 'lcd4linux -i'
> - at the eval prompt, enter: xmms('Title')
>
> Thanks a lot for your contribution!
>
Thanks for solving the Bugs!!

>
> Question: How often does the content of /tmp/xmms-info change? (Once a
> second?)
>
I think its near realtime.

> You should add some buffering of the key:value pairs, and add a
> conditional like "if the last file parse was less than one second ago,
> do not parse again, but use my buffered content"
>
Thats a good idea! But i will need some Time to learn some ANSI-C!

> I also renamed client.[c|h] to plugin.[c|h] and extracted some of the
> basic functions to plugin_math.c and plugin_string.c
>
> I really like this new structure....
I like it too

-- 
Markus Keil
Saxony, Germany

Re: [lcd4linux] XMMS - Datenquellen fertiggestellt

[Michael R. <re...@eu...>]

Hi Markus,


> I have tried to convert the Sourcecode form C++ to ANSI-C, but i think my port 
> is very buggy. :-|

Well, you were right :-)

I modified your code a bit, and committed it to CVS. It works, at least 
for me.

How to test:
- get latest CVS release
- compile it
- run 'lcd4linux -i'
- at the eval prompt, enter: xmms('Title')

Thanks a lot for your contribution!



But I think there's a lot of 'optimization' possible for your plugin. 
The current major drawback is that for every access, the whole file will 
be read in and parsed.

Question: How often does the content of /tmp/xmms-info change? (Once a 
second?)

You should add some buffering of the key:value pairs, and add a 
conditional like "if the last file parse was less than one second ago, 
do not parse again, but use my buffered content"



I also renamed client.[c|h] to plugin.[c|h] and extracted some of the 
basic functions to plugin_math.c and plugin_string.c

I really like this new structure....



-- 
Michael Reinelt                                   Tel: +43 676 3079941
Geisslergasse 4                                   Fax: +43 316  692343
A-8045 Graz, Austria                          e-mail: re...@eu...

Re: [lcd4linux] XMMS - Datenquellen fertiggestellt

[<Mar...@t-...>]

Am Donnerstag 18 Dezember 2003 13:31 schrieb Michael Reinelt:
> Hi Markus,
>
> Ok, I'll have a look at this.
>
> Can you provide me some sample files from /tmp/xmms-info?
>
> bye, Michael

Here it is!
-- 
Markus Keil
Saxony, Germany

Re: [lcd4linux] XMMS - Datenquellen fertiggestellt

[Michael R. <re...@eu...>]

Hi Markus,

> I have tried to convert the Sourcecode form C++ to ANSI-C, but i think my port 
> is very buggy. :-|
> My first compiling of the plugin as a normal programm was succesfull, but when 
> i run the programm i get a "Speicherzugriffsfehler".

Ok, I'll have a look at this.

Can you provide me some sample files from /tmp/xmms-info?

bye, Michael

-- 
Michael Reinelt                                   Tel: +43 676 3079941
Geisslergasse 4                                   Fax: +43 316  692343
A-8045 Graz, Austria                          e-mail: re...@eu...

Re: [lcd4linux] XMMS - Datenquellen fertiggestellt

[<Mar...@t-...>]

> > @Michael Reinelt
>  > How should I integrate the Code (C++)?
>
> Uh. Good Question. No idea here. lcd4linux is normally C, no ++. Is it
> possible to use any "wrappers"?
>
I have tried to convert the Sourcecode form C++ to ANSI-C, but i think my port 
is very buggy. :-|
My first compiling of the plugin as a normal programm was succesfull, but when 
i run the programm i get a "Speicherzugriffsfehler".

Also have i search for Wrappers on some Forums and on google, but i didn't 
found anything. :-(

I have attached the 2 Sourcefiles One is C++ and the other my ANSI-C port.
-- 
Markus Keil
Saxony, Germany

Re: [lcd4linux] XMMS - Datenquellen fertiggestellt

[Michael R. <re...@eu...>]

Hi Markus,

For lcd4linux-users is an english mailing list, I'm translating your=20
Mail before answering it!


Markus Keil schrieb:
> Ich hab mein XMMS Plugin fertig!
 > I finished the XMMS-Plugin!

Great!

> Es ist bereits auf den Evaluator-Schnittstellen geschrieben.
 > it's written on top of the new "evaluator"-Interface

Great, too! Christmas is near, which means one or another free day for=20
me, which means I've some time for lcd4linux.

> Ben=F6tigt wird extra noch das XMMS-Plugin XMMS-Infopipe um an die Date=
n zu=20
> kommen.

 > you will need the "XMMS-Infopipe" Plugin for XMMS to get the needed=20
data out of XMMS.

> @Michael Reinelt
> Wie soll ich den Code einbinden (C++ Code)?
 > How should I integrate the Code (C++)?

Uh. Good Question. No idea here. lcd4linux is normally C, no ++. Is it=20
possible to use any "wrappers"?

> In die client.c ?
No, definitely not. Write your own "client". btw, they have been renamed=20
to "plugins" because of the good old "who is the client and who is the=20
server?" question :-)

I'd like to use a prefix "plugin_". So I'd call your file=20
"plugin_xmms.c" You have to include "client.h" to get the eval-register=20
funktions.


> Und wie lad ich ihn hoch, ohne das ich etwas im CVS-Tree kaputtmache?
 > How should I upload it, to not distroy anything in the CVS tree?

Do not upload. Run "cvs diff -u" and send me the output. If your changes=20
reside in a seperate file where the CVS doesn't know anything about,=20
send me this file as a whole.


bye, Michael

--=20
Michael Reinelt                                   Tel: +43 676 3079941
Geisslergasse 4                                   Fax: +43 316  692343
A-8045 Graz, Austria                          e-mail: re...@eu...

[lcd4linux] XMMS - Datenquellen fertiggestellt

[<Mar...@t-...>]

Hallo!

Ich hab mein XMMS Plugin fertig!
Es ist bereits auf den Evaluator-Schnittstellen geschrieben.

Ben=F6tigt wird extra noch das XMMS-Plugin XMMS-Infopipe um an die Daten zu=
=20
kommen.

=46olgendes kann abgefragt werden:
 - Titel
 - Dateiname
 - Status (Pause, Play, usw.)
 - Liedanzahl in der Playlist
 - Aktuell gew=E4hlter Playlisteintrag
 - Position im Titel (als Zeit und als Sekunden)
 - Gesamtl=E4nge des Titels (Zeit und Sekunden)
 - Bitrate in bit
 - Kan=E4le
 - Samplingrate

@Michael Reinelt
Wie soll ich den Code einbinden (C++ Code)?
In die client.c ?
Und wie lad ich ihn hoch, ohne das ich etwas im CVS-Tree kaputtmache?

Gr=FC=DFe Markus
=2D-=20
Markus Keil
Saxony, Germany

[lcd4linux] Re: icon-problem

[Michael R. <re...@eu...>]

Hi Jan,

> I have a HD44780 4x20 display and so far its working fine. My problem is that 
> i cannot get any icons working, i tried some from the manualpage or my own. 
> It has 8 Rows defined, all starting Icon1.BitmapN. The only output i get on 
> the display when i put &1 is a *, whatever icon i have defined.

An asterisk ('*') is displayed instead of an icon if an error occurs, 
most of the time this means that you want to display an icon number 
which is higher that the reversed number of icons.

I suppose you're missing an "Icons 1" entry in lcd4linux.conf (replace 
"1" with the number of icons you want to use)

If this does not solve your problem, please run "lcd4linux -F -vv -q" 
and post the output.


bye, Michael

-- 
Michael Reinelt                                   Tel: +43 676 3079941
Geisslergasse 4                                   Fax: +43 316  692343
A-8045 Graz, Austria                          e-mail: re...@eu...

Re: [lcd4linux] lcd4linux does not compile

[Michael R. <re...@eu...>]

Hi Samuel,

> You asked for help with debianization of lcd4linux and I think I can help by doing it.
 > However I've had a [big] problem: I did not manage to compile it... 
The configure
 > went on without any problem. Here are the relevant informations of 
the make errors :
 >
> /usr/include/linux/list.h:576:2: warning: #warning "don't include kernel headers in userspace"
This is the problem.

> I think the problem could come from the fact I'm running a 2.6-test11 kernel
> (I did not try with 2.4 headers). I did not have time to do any further investigations.
> Have you already faced this problem?

Yes, I have, but even with 2.4 The problem seems to be not the kernel 
itself, but the debian kernel headers. I'm using the following 
workaround at the moment, which is available from CVS:

file isdn.c:

// Fixme: my debian has some bugs with kernel headers
#if 0
#include <linux/isdn.h>
#else
#define IIOCGETCPS  _IO('I',21)
#endif

I only need the value of IIOCGETCPS from the isdn header, so I hardcode 
it here.


bye, Michael

-- 
Michael Reinelt                                   Tel: +43 676 3079941
Geisslergasse 4                                   Fax: +43 316  692343
A-8045 Graz, Austria                          e-mail: re...@eu...

[lcd4linux] lcd4linux does not compile

[Samuel M. <sam...@en...>]

Hello,

You asked for help with debianization of lcd4linux and I think I can help by doing it. However I've had a [big] problem: I did not manage to compile it... The configure went on without any problem. Here are the relevant informations of the make errors :

gcc -DHAVE_CONFIG_H -I. -I. -I.    -I/usr/X11R6/include -D_GNU_SOURCE -Wall -g -O2 -c isdn.c
In file included from /usr/include/linux/timer.h:5,
                 from /usr/include/linux/isdn/fsm.h:15,
                 from /usr/include/linux/isdn.h:17,
                 from isdn.c:83:
/usr/include/linux/list.h:576:2: warning: #warning "don't include kernel headers in userspace"
In file included from /usr/include/linux/timer.h:6,
                 from /usr/include/linux/isdn/fsm.h:15,
                 from /usr/include/linux/isdn.h:17,
                 from isdn.c:83:
/usr/include/linux/spinlock.h: In function `bit_spin_lock':
/usr/include/linux/spinlock.h:413: error: invalid type argument of `->'
/usr/include/linux/spinlock.h: In function `bit_spin_trylock':
/usr/include/linux/spinlock.h:430: error: invalid type argument of `->'
/usr/include/linux/spinlock.h:433: error: invalid type argument of `->'
/usr/include/linux/spinlock.h:433: error: `TIF_NEED_RESCHED' undeclared (first use in this function)
/usr/include/linux/spinlock.h:433: error: (Each undeclared identifier is reported only once
/usr/include/linux/spinlock.h:433: error: for each function it appears in.)
In file included from /usr/include/linux/timer.h:6,
                 from /usr/include/linux/isdn/fsm.h:15,
                 from /usr/include/linux/isdn.h:17,
                 from isdn.c:83:
/usr/include/linux/spinlock.h: In function `bit_spin_unlock':
/usr/include/linux/spinlock.h:451: error: invalid type argument of `->'
/usr/include/linux/spinlock.h:451: error: `TIF_NEED_RESCHED' undeclared (first use in this function)
In file included from /usr/include/linux/isdn/fsm.h:15,
                 from /usr/include/linux/isdn.h:17,
                 from isdn.c:83:
/usr/include/linux/timer.h: At top level:
/usr/include/linux/timer.h:11: error: field `entry' has incomplete type
make: *** [isdn.o] Error 1

I think the problem could come from the fact I'm running a 2.6-test11 kernel (I did not try with 2.4 headers). I did not have time to do any further investigations. Have you already faced this problem?

Feel free to write to me if you want some more details.

Thank you for your help,

Sam.

PS: please CC your answers directly on my email since I didn't have subscribed to the ml.


-- 
Samuel Mimram

sam...@en...

Please READ the license.
If I would have said something like: "By running this software, all your file are belong to 
us, then we will delete every file on your computer, and trash your BIOS", and
you wouldn't have read it, you wouldn't have been able to do anything legal about it.

 -- Eternal Lands licence

[lcd4linux] Photos from LinuxDay.at 2003

[Michael R. <re...@eu...>]

Hi there,

I put some photos from lcd4linux present at the LinuxDay.at fair in 
Dornbirn/Austria onto the homepage http://lcd4linux.sourceforge.net

enjoy!

bye, Michael

-- 
Michael Reinelt                                   Tel: +43 676 3079941
Geisslergasse 4                                   Fax: +43 316  692343
A-8045 Graz, Austria                          e-mail: re...@eu...

[lcd4linux] KS0108 based Displays supported?

[Alexander W. <xw...@ka...>]

Hello,

is a display based on this controller(s) supported?

Here is a link to the datasheet:
http://www.lcdinfo.com/lcd/datasheets/ks0108b.pdf

I have some more links for some code howto code it - but this beyond my
possibilities to write a driver for it.

Alex

Re: [lcd4linux] Can Optrex/M50530 display module be used?

[Michael R. <re...@eu...>]

Dag Wahlberg wrote:

> IC1: Philips 1325956 | 2358C199540hC |(c) LEXMARK 1993 | INTEL 1980 |
> PHILIPS 1987 IC2: SCI7661MOA | U48 366 | ... IC3: Mitsubishi
> M50530-001FP | ... IC4: Mitsubishi M50524FP | ...
> 
> Judging from your reply, IC1 is probably some sort of
> micro-controller, I couldn't find any info on it by google-ing, which
> could mean it is custom-built for Lexmark and this printer.

Same here. I found this website, too, and a small thread in a french 
mailinglist or something (can't tell for shure, as it's french :-)

> So without knowing the protocol used in the 5-pin connection, it
> seems rather hopeless to give the display an "after-life", outside
> the printer...

Right.

> Even if I somehow did manage to get at the protocol, it might just
> contain Lexmark specific instructions such as "print Test Menu",
> "print Warming up" etc, in other words there would be no way of
> getting at the display "M50530"-wise so it could be used in a generic
> manner, e.g "print an A at lower left" or whatever you tell it...  Of
> course, I don't know this for sure...

I don't think so. Chances are good that it uses some standard protocol.

> but no protocol. IC1, Philips 1325956 is probably a u-controller.
> Custom-made for the printer? Ideas anyone?

Two ideas come to my mind:

- try to get in contact with lexmark (good luck :-)

- post a question at the lcdproc mailing list


bye, Michael

-- 
netWorks                                          Vox: +43 316  698260
Michael Reinelt                                   Fax: +43 316  692343
Geisslergasse 4                                   GSM: +43 676 3079941
A-8045 Graz, Austria                          e-mail: re...@eu...

Re: Re: [lcd4linux] Can Optrex/M50530 display module be used?

[Dag W. <dag...@ho...>]

About the Optrex DMC-50461N display (from a Lexmark printer). There is a pi=
cture and pin-out at

http://users.skynet.be/langewouters/lcd.html

but no protocol. IC1, Philips 1325956 is probably a u-controller. Custom-ma=
de for the printer? Ideas anyone?

/Dag

---
dag...@ho...                     0706 - 38 02 22

Re: [lcd4linux] Can Optrex/M50530 display module be used?

[Michael R. <re...@eu...>]

Hi Dag,

> I have taken a Optrex DMC-50461N display module from a scrapped
> Lexmark printer. It contains a 4x20 LCD on one side and on the other
> the ICs: M50530-001FP, M50524FP, a Philips 1325956 and a few other
> smaller components. It has a 5-pin connector and 6 soft plastic
> buttons.

There's a M50530 driver fo lcd4linux, which works fine. But as you only 
have 5 pins, I'm afraid one of the other chips is a microcontroller, 
which drives the M50530 and the buttons, and has something like a 
"serial" interface on the 5 Pins.

> Questions: 1) Would it be possible to use the display with lcd4linux?

I'm shure it would be possible, but one had to write a special driver 
for it. Following your Question 2, you don't have and data sheet. So 
this will be quite difficult, if not a "mission impossible".

> 2) How would it connect? I do not have any specs at all of how the
> module interfaces, so no data on what the pins mean, timing, etc..

The connection would depend on the protocol. If it's nearly standard 
serial, you could use a serial interface, and benefit from the 
ready-made serial implementation in the kernel. The other possibility 
would be a connection to the paralle port, wehre you can and have to 
control every single bit yourself.

> 3) It this display generic enough to be used for other purposes than
> status display for a Lexmark printer, or is it effectively "closed"?

Hard to tell. Is the display working with the printer? You could use a 
voltmeter, an oscilloscope and/or a logic analyzer, and try to figure 
out what the pins are, and what protocol the use.


> This is my 1st posting to the list, hope it is not too off-topic.
It is definitely very on-topic!

bye, Michael

-- 
netWorks                                          Vox: +43 316  698260
Michael Reinelt                                   Fax: +43 316  692343
Geisslergasse 4                                   GSM: +43 676 3079941
A-8045 Graz, Austria                          e-mail: re...@eu...