LCD help (Sharp LM64148Z)

Auken · Post by **Auken** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 12:08 pm

I picked up 3 of these... They claim to be VGA and have a 16-pin connector on the ribbon cable..

If I connected the right pins, would a standard VGA connector run this, or would I need some sort of controller?

If more info is needed I can scan the spec sheet and take pictures of the screens themselves later on.

(Not intended for Portables. But a few 10-inch LCD's could come in handy for other projects)

hailrazer · Post by **hailrazer** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 12:49 pm

Here's a quick answer for those who wants to use a laptop LCD as a display .

A basic LCD monitor you buy over the counter is already prepackaged with everything you need to hook up to a common video input jacks such as VGA, RCA, S-Video. The basic components are LCD screen, controller, and backlight inverter. The controller has an input and output. The input connections are either VGA, RCA, or S-Video. The output then connects to the LCD screen. The backlight inverter takes low voltage power like 12v and steps it up to a few hundred or thousand volts for the backlight to light up the LCD.

Laptop LCDs come with the LCD screen and the backlight built in. But it does not have a seperate controller. The controller is built into the laptop. This is the part that most people dont understand why they cant use a laptop LCD. You need a controller to convert standardized VGA, RCA, S-video signal to non standardized LVDS signal.

The controller has to be specially programed for the specific Lcd you are going to use. Also a special Lvds cable has to be made to connect the Lcd to the controller.

Right now the only one easy option for getting a controller for your laptop lcd is Ebay. Ebay seller tywong888 with Ebay Store Electronics Kits and Parts Store has 2 different controllers .

*edit* It seems that he is no longer selling these. You might have to contact him and see if he will still sell you one.

Auken · Post by **Auken** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 12:54 pm

-EDIT- I should have clarified...These are -OLD- displays... 640x480 Monochrome VGA screens according to the specs sheet.

I'm not so sure they're laptop displays... I copied down the pinout though...

Pin # Symbol Description Level
1 S Scan Start-up Signal High
2 CP1 Input Data Latch Signal High->Low
3 CP2 Data Input Clock Signal High->Low
4 NC -- --
5 NC -- --
6 VDD Power Supply for Logic and LCD + --
7 VSS Ground Potential --
8 VEE Power Suply for LCD - --
9 DU0 Display Data Signal (Upper) High(ON) Low (OFF)
10 DU1 Display Data Signal (Upper) High(ON) Low (OFF)
11 DU2 Display Data Signal (Upper) High(ON) Low (OFF)
12 DU3 Display Data Signal (Upper) High(ON) Low (OFF)
13 DL0 Display Data Signal (Lower) High(ON) Low (OFF)
14 DL1 Display Data Signal (Lower) High(ON) Low (OFF)
15 DL2 Display Data Signal (Lower) High(ON) Low (OFF)
16 DL3 Display Data Signal (Lower) High(ON) Low (OFF)

hailrazer · Post by **hailrazer** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 12:56 pm

Doesn't matter it's for almost all Lcd's. They are just about the same, just used in laptops, monitors, flip-downs, headrests , etc.

I have a LOT of knowledge about them

hailrazer · Post by **hailrazer** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 1:02 pm

Auken · Post by **Auken** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 1:08 pm

nm? @_@x I'm confused...Do I need to find/make a controller or not, to feed this thing a bog-standard DB15 VGA line?

hailrazer · Post by **hailrazer** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 1:10 pm

Auken wrote:nm? @_@x I'm confused...Do I need to find/make a controller or not, to feed this thing a bog-standard DB15 VGA line?

As I mentioned you have to have a controller for all loose lcd's.

That's how they are made. Loose Lcd's which a manufacturer then pairs with a controller that has the inputs they want and the graphics chip for their needs.

So you need a controller which from my experience will cost about $75 from China.

Auken · Post by **Auken** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 1:16 pm

Okay, another avenue... how about the VESA Feature connector on some older GFX cards? I hear some folks have had sucess driving controllerless LCD's from that?

hailrazer · Post by **hailrazer** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 1:35 pm

Auken wrote:Okay, another avenue... how about the VESA Feature connector on some older GFX cards? I hear some folks have had sucess driving controllerless LCD's from that?

If it has an lvds feature then it theoretically could work. But you would need a datasheet with the lcd's timings on it so you could program them into the card.

And finding a datasheet can be quite tough.

Auken · Post by **Auken** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 2:13 pm

-FFIX Victory Fanfare- When I purchased the screens, they had a spec sheet. full pinout, Electro-Optical Cahrachteristics, Voltage ratings, and... Interface timing Ratings.

hailrazer · Post by **hailrazer** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 4:20 pm

Auken wrote:-FFIX Victory Fanfare- When I purchased the screens, they had a spec sheet. full pinout, Electro-Optical Cahrachteristics, Voltage ratings, and... Interface timing Ratings.

I can pm you the email of my connection in China if you want it. He can get basic boards with VGA or boards loaded with HDI or DVI or Component / etc.

Most boards are around $60-$70 shipped , some cheaper some more expensive.