Using a cell phone screen?

[zzaz3]

I'm working on my first project ever, so bare with me.

I have one of those Namco Plug-in-Play systems. I took it apart and now I'm not to sure how to get any kind of screen working with it. I had an old broken cell phone laying around, so I decided to try and see if I could get that to work.

I've managed to get the screen out and now I'm lost. Can this screen work? I have no idea where to solder what.

I'll take a picture of it as soon as I can. Thanks for your help!


EDIT: Oh, and here's the type of phone I'm using:

[jjhammerstein]

Won't work, ever.
Read the sticky if you want to know why.

[exploding.monkey]

Especially if its broken.

[Twilight Wolf]

I'd assume it's the phone itself that's broken, not the screen.

But yes, using a cell phone screen won't work.

[XCVG]

A cell phone screen will work. Just wrap the ribbon around the AV cables and spread hot glue all over it. If it doesn't work, then the screen is probably broken. That's not my fault. This technique works .99% of the time for me.

As you could probably tell, I was only joking. A cell phone screen is completely unusable without a suitable controller. Sorry if that was confusing, but I'm really bored right now.

[Gordon1]

Why would you want a screen that small anyways? People are so frickin stupid!

[Twilight Wolf]

Because it would make for a small portable.

Don't go calling people stupid; it makes you look like a jerk.

[exploding.monkey]

Its just a matter of opinion, some people HAVED used screens that small.

[Gordon1]

No, no they HAVE not. That is probably less that 1.5 inches across. Way to small to practically use.

Why? You ask..... Well, let me think... oh yeah, once you take an image and compress it into composite and then make that little screen convert it back to digital from composite the picture is so fractured the image quality is just garbage.

Small screen small portable you say. Last time I checked you need batteries, controls, and the system all to fit. with this tiny of a screen it will look stupid and be unusable.

.... I look like a jerk, oh well. At least I'm a jerk who can back up most of what he says. It's the internet, get used to it.

[Twilight Wolf]

You know, you don't have to be a jerk. It is possible to provide facts and opinions in a non-inflammatory way. Yeah, it's the internet, but it doesn't give you license to be one.

However, this and the screen size are beside the point. The original poster was just asking if the screen could be used or not, and we reached the conclusion that it cannot. I will leave it at that.

[palmertech]

No, no they HAVE not. That is probably less that 1.5 inches across. Way to small to practically use.

Why? You ask..... Well, let me think... oh yeah, once you take an image and compress it into composite and then make that little screen convert it back to digital from composite the picture is so fractured the image quality is just garbage.

Small screen small portable you say. Last time I checked you need batteries, controls, and the system all to fit. with this tiny of a screen it will look stupid and be unusable.

.... I look like a jerk, oh well. At least I'm a jerk who can back up most of what he says. It's the internet, get used to it.

Back up? How about doing a bit of research before spewing what is really nothing but your opinion, and false facts to back it up?

That phone is a Samsung SGH-A737, and it has a 262,000 color 2" LCD at 176 x 220. While you are correct to say it cannot be used within reason, screens LIKE that are fine! The image quality is fine for NES or Atari 2600, and in the end, it comes down to the LCD controller.

"No, no they HAVE not"? Please! Many people have used 2.0"/2.2"/2.5" LCDs at LOWER resolutions in portables before! Checking your facts is an absolute MUST if you are going to "back them up".

And I have been working on an NOAC in a dreamcast VMU for a while, running off a onestation cart NOAC and using itty-bitty batteries from a RC helicopter (Around 20 minutes of play time, but they re-charge from 4x AAs in only 2 minutes). For me, this screen would be too big! It all depends on the application, there is no reason to say that people who use small screens are stupid.

[Gordon1]

No, no they HAVE not. That is probably less that 1.5 inches across. Way to small to practically use.

Why? You ask..... Well, let me think... oh yeah, once you take an image and compress it into composite and then make that little screen convert it back to digital from composite the picture is so fractured the image quality is just garbage.

Small screen small portable you say. Last time I checked you need batteries, controls, and the system all to fit. with this tiny of a screen it will look stupid and be unusable.

.... I look like a jerk, oh well. At least I'm a jerk who can back up most of what he says. It's the internet, get used to it.

Back up? How about doing a bit of research before spewing what is really nothing but your opinion, and false facts to back it up?

That phone is a Samsung SGH-A737, and it has a 262,000 color 2" LCD at 176 x 220. While you are correct to say it cannot be used within reason, screens LIKE that are fine! The image quality is fine for NES or Atari 2600, and in the end, it comes down to the LCD controller.

"No, no they HAVE not"? Please! Many people have used 2.0"/2.2"/2.5" LCDs at LOWER resolutions in portables before! Checking your facts is an absolute MUST if you are going to "back them up".

And I have been working on an NOAC in a dreamcast VMU for a while, running off a onestation cart NOAC and using itty-bitty batteries from a RC helicopter (Around 20 minutes of play time, but they re-charge from 4x AAs in only 2 minutes). For me, this screen would be too big! It all depends on the application, there is no reason to say that people who use small screens are stupid.

I was under the impression that the screen was a lot smaller that that. Also, screens LIKE that don't work because they use a digital signal.

Well everybody, I guess I'm sorry for liking the ability to actually see what i'm playing. I am also really sorry for not spending the time looking up a bunch of useless facts about a screen that won't work in the first place. I guess I have better things to do.

When did I say people who use small screens are stupid? I would really like to know. I said this guy was stupid for asking such a stupid question.

WOW, your just amazing in your ability to produce an endless supply of portables your "working on". I don't know about you but if I did something that amazing I WOULD SURE POST PICTURES of my amazing achievement. So, The way you describe this thing is if I am playing it and want to play for longer than 20 minutes I need to carry 4 AA batteries with me? And there is no way you can power a screen, and NOAC off of those batteries for 20 minutes. NO WAY.



I guess cell phone screens need to be added to the list of screens that will not work.

[jjhammerstein]

Why would you want a screen that small anyways? People are so frickin stupid!

Right here, this is where you said it.

[palmertech]

WOW, your just amazing in your ability to produce an endless supply of portables your "working on". I don't know about you but if I did something that amazing I WOULD SURE POST PICTURES of my amazing achievement. So, The way you describe this thing is if I am playing it and want to play for longer than 20 minutes I need to carry 4 AA batteries with me? And there is no way you can power a screen, and NOAC off of those batteries for 20 minutes. NO WAY.

If you look at my past history with stuff like this, you will see a pattern:
1. I post about something that seems improbable
2. Somebody accuses me of lying
3. I refute them
4. They keep bugging me
5. If I care enough, or think it is damaging my reputation, I will post pictures to prove I am being truthful

I never said I was anywhere near done, did I? I am currently at the "most of the parts I need in a box/planning the final layout" phase. If you honestly want pictures of this amazing achievement, I suppose I could post some pics. And as I describe it, yes, you would need to carry around the 4 AA batteries if you want to recharge it. The goal here is not to have a super awesome portable, it is to have the smallest "real" portable ever made.

As for me having an "endless supply" of things I am working on... Yeah, pretty much. I love starting projects but finishing them is hard for me. If you want, I can post pics of my pretty far along N64p, GP2X with 5" lcd, PSone portable, countless gamebuy mods in progress, etc, but I don't seen any reason to doubt me. I am not the kind to post a bunch of "in progress" pics, and because my projects often get delayed for real life reasons, it does not make sense to keep people hanging on something that may take a long time/never be finished.

"NO WAY"? My onestation cart can be powered by as low as 2.7v at 40ma, and the screen runs on 6v at 70ma. If I am using a 70ma battery pack at 6v, what exactly makes this a "NO WAY"? 20 minutes is a conservative estimate! My main problem at this stage is that the composite out off the cart is wonky in NTSC mode, gotta try and fix the color.

And when I said "Screens like that", I meant screens of that size (Which according to you, are frickkin stupid). I was just pointing out that some people do use them, and that a portable small enough to use them is completely possible.

Look, you were wrong, then wrong again, then wrong again! The only "correct" thing you have said is your own personal opinion, and even that is obviously flawed.

I fail to see why you have such a beef with me, not like I ever did anything to you, and then I notice some guy hates me enough to make a sig with no real relevance to anything hating on me.

[jjhammerstein]