LCD & CPU Modules For Game Cockpit Panels? 16
Milo_Mindbender writes "I'm working on designing a simulator cockpit, similar to the one shown here (about half way down the page) that I helped design while Chief Engineer at Virtual World Entertainment, in the mid 90's, for playing high-end multiplayer simulation games. I need a device to use for multiple small 'instrument panel' screens as seen in the photos. It needs to be off-the-shelf, panel mountable, color, under $400 in quantity, have USB to connect to the cockpit's main PC and have a CPU so it can generate or update simple graphics locally. The perfect thing would be a PDA minus batteries, case and with the ability to poll 8 or so buttons. Support for Embedded Linux would be nice too. Any ideas?"
Virgen webplayer (Score:1)
cheap(less than 200$), color, fairly small, x86 computer--strip it to screen and motherboard, and should be easily mountable, has uh...40meg? of DOC, etc.
contact boundless or the webplayer coop for more info -- mine is on it's way to me at them moment, from the coop.
the screen is probably a bit large, but you could use it to display several instruments, screen of part of it, etc.
Re:These may be helpful... (Score:1)
Re:Hate to reply to myself... (Score:1)
Re:D&B (Score:1)
but he was working for large company, and had a nice LARGE spending budget.
one of those things cost atleast 3k$ if not 5-6k$
You sure as hell aren't going to be builidng something like that in your spare time with pocket change.
So, even if he knows how to go the expensive route, do you really need it, if all your doing is hooking it up to a 1.2ghz computer, and playing a flight simulator?
Although it would kick butt to be in one of those, and be whooping peoples butts in multi-playuer acrost the internet!
Re:D&B (Score:1)
nothing like getting goldfingers and beer, playing videogames for an hour, then going back to work.
________________________________
Re:D&B (Score:2)
if you even read this guy's page you will see HE BUILT WHAT YOU SEE AT DAVE & BUSTERS.
WHAT A REVELATION!
peace,
-Davidu
LCD VGA Screens - Cheap! (Score:2)
http://www.allelec.com/VGALCD.html
They've got alot of different ones ranging price
640 x 480 Passive Monochrome VGA LCD with ISA controller. 89.00
640 x 480 Passive Matrix Color VGA LCD with 512K Cirrus Logic ISA controller 199.00
640 x 480 TFT Active Matrix Color VGA format Module (SCREEN ONLY) NEC NL6448BC33-31 169.00
Glutious
Re:D&B (Score:2)
If they cost $3000, they are a steal. Dance Dance Revolution stations cost around $3k. And they are a bunch of neon, two big standard CRTs, a good sound system, two hard pads, and a stock playstation (you can see where they cap the controller ports next to where you insert your memory card).
A good friend of mine is VERY much into DDR, and he's looking into getting one imported. The two biggest problems are that shipping is hideous (tack a grand on for that), and the power consumption/ heat output of the units are incredible.
I'm giving him my Smash Brothers cabinet for space reasons - he's got room for a DDR unit and several other cabinets, and I would not be surprised if he had one within the next six months - they won't let him practice freestyle in his rollerblades (dressed as one of the characters) in the arcade.
--
Evan
Hate to reply to myself... (Score:2)
Worldcom [worldcom.com] - Generation Duh!
Yet again (Trident Displays, UK)... (Score:2)
Worldcom [worldcom.com] - Generation Duh!
Third time's a charm? (Score:2)
http://www.bolandcom.com/
http://www.mars-cam.
http://www.designtechengin
http://www.shabria.com/ba
http://www.densitron.com/displ
http://www.flat-panel.com/
http://www.eea.ep
http://www.kentdisplays.com/prod/products_hm.
http://www.semiconductor.agilent.com/led/intd
BTW - that last line should be "intdisplays.html" and NOT "intdispla ys.html"...
Look at all those displays! EXCELLENT!
Worldcom [worldcom.com] - Generation Duh!
Thanks for posting... (Score:2)
Arggh! I hate these bookmarks! I have in mind to create a web server for hosting my bookmark collection, so I can add-change-delete bookmarks at will, anywhere on the net, and give permissions and access to others, etc (I have a ton of ideas for this here). I have around 500k (!) of bookmarks, and I want to search them, shown by rating into categories, so as to allow links to be cross-category indexed and such.
BTW, on the LCDProc thing - has anyone written a driver/interface to display data from the LRP (or an LRP distro)? I am going to soon be building such a box, and having that kind of a panel on the front would really make the box perfect.
Worldcom [worldcom.com] - Generation Duh!
D&B (Score:2)
I looked into building one myself, and I found out it is extremly costly.
Anyways, what you are asking for is a Magic Awnser, Their is no such thing, I would suggest getting a Backlit old-style security-alarm Panel (they sell them at radioshack for 23$) And you can write anything inside the little button panel you want.
Some more ideas... (Score:2)
Well, I see that somebody already posted about where to get LCD screens..
For the actual CPU module, I suggest you check out a place like EMJ Embedded [emjembedded.com] systems (or a better deal you find via the web -- They are the only URL I've got).
Really, one of the MIPS or StrongARM heavily integrated processors with the LCD controller integrated would be rather nice. But it seems that nobody's selling general purpose SBCs based on those chips -- at least not as far as I can tell from my limited glances. Linux Devices [linuxdevices.com] might have some information you want, however.
Hope that helps. I've been yearning for inexpensive devices like you are wanting that because I'd love to put that sort of feature into my game [wirewd.com].
These may be helpful... (Score:3)
Matrix Orbital [matrix-orbital.com] and CrystalFontz [crystalfontz.com] both sell serial capable LCD modules in a variety of formats. I didn't see any true graphic modules, but they may be able to get them. Most all have the capability to be backlit (and the backlights are BRIGHT) - note to those making custom PCs: They both sell drive bay insert kits for the LCDs, too...
Scott Edward's Electronics [seetron.com] sells small serial graphic LCD displays, and also sells text only VFD displays (VFDs are vacuum flourescent displays - extremely bright). He sells one bay enclosure for one of the VFDs. His largest serial LCD graphic display is 128x64 pixels, backlit, and measures 88 x 38.8 mm.
Finally, Micro Electronics (MEC) [microelect.com] sells a variety of LCDs - ma ny are HD44780-based, or compatible, so they are easy to wire up. However, they seem to have a line of graphics modules as well - I don't know if they are bare or have controllers, but the largest (SG320240B) has a resolution of 320x240 (viewable area of 120 x 90 mm). Unfortunately their pages seem to be having problems or something - call them up though, and talk to them. They have a very friendly and helpful staff.
Another option you might try looking into would be small TVs, driving them with a VGA->TV converter. A good converter will give nice results (I have an Averkey iMicro that is excellent and cheap - $100), even on a cheesy small TV. For simple status displays, it might work out well.
Hope this helps somewhat...
Worldcom [worldcom.com] - Generation Duh!
Maybe I Wasn't clear.... (Score:3)
Actually, the priciest bit was the flight-simulator-style infinity optics system which makes the display seem like looking out a window, but that's another story.
I don't think what I'm asking for is exactly a "magic answer" (note I'm looking for less than $400 PER SMALL SCREEN, not for the whole thing)...I mean, I could buy PDA's off-the-shelf (wholesale, quantity) for under $400 each and come up with a way to mount them on the panel. I was hoping someone would have seen something similar but easier to mount/use...considering I don't need a super-compact design with batteries, touch screen...etc. you would think there MIGHT be a cheaper solution out there than buying a PDA.
I have looked into multi-head video cards (which are expensive because not a lot are sold) but seeing as how I want to drive 5-6 of these little screens by the time you deal with (Linux) driver integration, cost of card, monitors and a motherboard with enough slots it can easily come to around $400 per monitor. A little programmable box has the potential to work so much better, and it moves all the drawing overhead off of the main CPU.