Screen Modulization idea...maybe?

[bacteria]

Not an issue NR1224 at all, I want people to take on my ideas and develop/use them, if I didn't I wouldn't post my WIP's so detailed after all; I only took to the comment "he mentioned bacteria's multiconsole, no need for ridicule )" as negative (although I see eurddrue didn't mean it that way, so no issue) as whilst, sure it was ugly by my current standard, however it was innovative.

Magnets are fine, the ones I used for the back plate on my IntoPlay project are excellent, probably a dozen magnets will be more than enough for the job; however, if you want to make a screen universal in your systems you need to make a recess in each console made to take the screen properly - also, I am sure you don't want to use the controllers in the consoles, rather to hold the system as a proper portable? If that is the case, you are talking about an interchangeable screen and also controls and batteries - now you are getting into the scenario I made. You then have to have enough contacts to facilitate power (7.4v, 3.3v), negative, grounds, audio, RGB, composite, joysticks, d-pad, buttons (several) - I needed to use two N64 cart slots to make it all work, especially to stop interference on the lines.

[NR1224]

thanks for the reply, and I would really appreciate your help and experience on this, however, the way I imagine this project working is that you would build your portable(s), all with their own batteries and controls built in, sans screen, with the female plug. They would be unplayable in this state. The single screen would have the male plug, and each console would have to be adapted so as to not short out the screen with an over or under voltage. Also, we would need to decide on a common format, i would think AV, but again, I'm the noob, and you all are the authorities. Portabilizing as usual, but since your only gonna need one console at a time, why not carry the screen over to whichever you want to use?

[eurddrue]

heh, gotta love that avatar

[NR1224]

ya, I saw it on youtube...nearly pooped my pants laughing

[eurddrue]

that's great, I seen that a long time ago

[NR1224]

i think I'm gonna try using a serial cable...sturdy quality, and it has plenty of pins...I just need to buy a Psone screen. AV seems like the format to go with, simply because every console uses it. I also gotta find some magnets.

[eagle5953]

i think I'm gonna try using a serial cable...sturdy quality, and it has plenty of pins...I just need to buy a Psone screen. AV seems like the format to go with, simply because every console uses it. I also gotta find some magnets.

I think that's a very good idea, and I might go with it myself for these reasons:

- even Radioshack only charges $2 for them
- easy to connect
- scaleable*

*Why not set it up this way:
- power
- ground
- composite video
- left audio
- right audio
- red (component)
- green (component)
- blue (component)

That way, you can connect whatever the screen supports on the screen side and whatever the portable will output on the portable side.

Is there a way to force the screen to use component instead of composite? We have a spare pin if we need it...

[Dark-Aries]

i think I'm gonna try using a serial cable...sturdy quality, and it has plenty of pins...I just need to buy a Psone screen. AV seems like the format to go with, simply because every console uses it. I also gotta find some magnets.

I think that's a very good idea, and I might go with it myself for these reasons:

- even Radioshack only charges $2 for them
- easy to connect
- scaleable*

*Why not set it up this way:
- power
- ground
- composite video
- left audio
- right audio
- red (component)
- green (component)
- blue (component)

That way, you can connect whatever the screen supports on the screen side and whatever the portable will output on the portable side.

Is there a way to force the screen to use component instead of composite? We have a spare pin if we need it...

Component is basically digital RGB. You need three lines. One for Chroma, Luma and I forget the last one. Basically one is 480P or I greyscale, then one gives one half of the colour spectrum, then the other half. Becasue black and white compresses easier then colour, you get a better image.

[bacteria]

Other method, as I suggested in the other thread is to make the connections via small magnets onto metal tabs - would save using male and female plugs, and their unsightliness. Project isn't a hard one to make work but it would be far harder to make it look good and integrated certainly.

[NR1224]

While I think that serial would be the way to go, another thing I need to keep in mind is the actual measurements and placing of the plugs/magnets. I can see this becoming a nightmare if not everything lines up...still worth it, but it will take some extra work. Also, what advantages would be gained from component or RGB? I'm honestly not very familiar with the formats, do they have better picture quality?
Also, thanks for the plugout, eagle. I think that looks great, easy to remember, and leaves a pin open, which is ideal.
Last, bacteria, is what your saying that you would use magnets as the pins in the connection? That's a great idea, because it saves the unsightliness of the plugs, but would there be any interference with the current? I'm not sure, in fact, I'm gonna do a little research...

[eagle5953]

While I think that serial would be the way to go, another thing I need to keep in mind is the actual measurements and placing of the plugs/magnets. I can see this becoming a nightmare if not everything lines up...still worth it, but it will take some extra work. Also, what advantages would be gained from component or RGB? I'm honestly not very familiar with the formats, do they have better picture quality?
Also, thanks for the plugout, eagle. I think that looks great, easy to remember, and leaves a pin open, which is ideal.
Last, bacteria, is what your saying that you would use magnets as the pins in the connection? That's a great idea, because it saves the unsightliness of the plugs, but would there be any interference with the current? I'm not sure, in fact, I'm gonna do a little research...

Component video is superior to composite. However, you can get composite video on almost anything, whereas component is not so.

According to an earlier thread on this same topic, the magnets shouldn't affect the screen. I wasn't the one who said it, though.

It does need to align well, though, because serial has rather exposed pins. For lining it up, do this:
- wire up and hot glue the female end inside your screen's 'cartridge'
- plug the male end (not yet wired) into the screen's female end
- put the screen into the body of the system (as if you were going to play it)
- hot glue the male end where it currently is (ensures perfect alignment)
- wire the sucker up!

I propose this:



Comments or corrections?

[NR1224]

Ok, now i understand, that plug diagram is great, gives full potential for composite or component...that's really awesome.
Bacteria, would it be possible to clarify what you said about the magnets? I'm a little confused
BTW, I'm saving this pinout for future use

I guess the only thing left to check is that before I, or anyone else, can get down to this, we need to make sure that there are no obvious logistical reasons that this won't work. I'm thinking bad wire gauges for the power lines, cable interference, etc. If no one can think of anything, I'm gonna get ready to buy this stuff and give it a shot

This is my basic idea for anyone who hasn't got a clue what I'm talking about, it's a VERY simple diagram of how I beliee I'm going to end up doing my project. (it's the attachment) it might not work, this new layout still has me little confused

[bacteria]

Ok, now i understand, that plug diagram is great, gives full potential for composite or component...that's really awesome.
Bacteria, would it be possible to clarify what you said about the magnets? I'm a little confused

RGB is better than composite, however you won't see difference on the N64, SNES or NES, in fact, composite looks better on a PSone screen.

What I mean is to have a bank of magnets, secured to the back of the PSone screen, each connecting to a different wire to the PSone (R,G,B, power+, power-, composite, ground, right audio (RGB), left audio (RGB), right audio (composite), left audio (composite)) and a circle of metal the same size as the magnets on each console (in the same places) to connect to the PSone screen magnets. Magnets conduct, so you can connect your wiring to them; the metal circles you use (eg steel, etc) also conduct; and the magnets will attract the metal circles to make and maintain contact - you use the contacts you need in the right places.

Quite straightforward.

[NR1224]

that's a great idea bacteria...I'm going to look into it, because of how much more ascetically pleasing and practical that would be. The only problem i could see is that it would be more expensive, which I personally would have no problem with. Off to the webz!

[blaze3927]

but the magnetic field created by the use of magnets, along with the conjuction of the moon being on an axis of 23 degrees with venus, along with the radiation given of by the psone's backlight could cause a nuclear holocaust....