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Driving the M5120 Display

techknight

Well-known member
There is no context so what is the point of this thread? Not sure what the mission here is. Replacing the LCD display? Or driving the existing one from something else? 

 

Trash80toHP_Mini

NIGHT STALKER
Patience, my good man. I ran out of time at lunch so I couldn't elaborate. Obviously, or not from the title, I'm looking to drive the Portable's LCD from something besides the Portable Logic Board  .  .  .  that's been done! :lol:

I've been assembling these research materials for a few days. I'll look this information over for a bit at work, but haven't had much free time for such things since the epidemic.

At home I'll be working out a schematic for the display controller itself as best I can. For that I'll need help translating my visual/graphical schematic development into a PCB design schematic.

Panel's controller board appears to be all off the shelf logic and just two layers with all  components opposite the LCD.

I only need to go deeply enough into the controller board so I can see where what goes from the cable.

I'm thinking the first step will be developing an interface board driven by Pi or other SBC that'll use the LCD as its display.

Was bouncing this off @bigmessowires and he got me thinking about grabbing the image straight off the video buffer section of a VidCard.

We've got the fully documented, right down to the GAL formulas Micron Xceed SE306-48.

_____chop 80 lines off its output, giving 640x400 resolution.

_____tweak the timings to match what the Portable's LCD likes to display.

PROJECT:

Develop a "Video Card" shield/whatever that will eventually be meshed with the frame buffer of the 306-48 with an SBC using it as a display in that or like manner as that first step.

Adapt the 306-48 baseline design to output Portable res & timings.

Whatever layer may need to be developed between the SBC VidCard shield and the bodged 306-48.

Getting a capable SBC running the M5120 LCD from somewhere within the Portable's case, interfaced with the Portable's Peripherals will be satisfying enough for a bit, but just a bit.  [:)]

 

techknight

Well-known member
Well im not sure where you are going with this. Are you trying to achieve grayscale? 

That LCD panel is only capable of 1 bit per pixel aka black and white display. 

 

LaPorta

Well-known member
I, for one, would someday like to try and tackle getting something running off the Portable's external video port (when I learn more about electronics). Otherwise, I'm with TechKnight...I don't get it...

 

Trash80toHP_Mini

NIGHT STALKER
Well im not sure where you are going with this. Are you trying to achieve grayscale?
Very long term target: Portable Res in B&W on Apple's Panel from a custom SE/30 logic board designed to fit the Portable Subframe Assembly's mounts.

I, for one, would someday like to try and tackle getting something running off the Portable's external video port (when I learn more about electronics). Otherwise, I'm with TechKnight...I don't get it...
That is in the spec already, so long as you don't mind having lots of pixels in 24bit. Sorry that to do so, it'll require you to do a Portable SE30 board upgrade. :))

 
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