Hip Gear screens...Backlight issues!

If you're making a portable you probably need something to watch it on. (Unless you want to guess what's happening in the game, but I wouldn't advise that) Anyway, this forum is your "Hacking a pocket TV/screen" one-stop solution. Share your experiences and knowledge here.

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G-force
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Hip Gear screens...Backlight issues!

Post by G-force »

Okay so I finished wiring all the colot, bright, and contrast pots for the screen on my NES p0cket. I figured that was the only problem. Wrong. It turns out that after an hour of playing on four Ni-Mh 2000 mah AA's, the screen backlight suddenly fades and the screen gets almost dark after just an hour of playing! I have it running straight off the batterys, no regulators.

I think that a voltage booster would fix this problem, since the screen is fine when the voltage is above 5V. When freshly charged, the batterys are 1.4V each (5.6V together). But after a while of playing the batterys drop to the normal voltage of 1.2V each (4.8V together). I think a 6V voltage booster would be about perfect. Does anybody know where I could buy one on Digi-Key? (I really suck at using their site :( )

Also, the screen looks nothing like a pocket TV. It's much easier to read text on, but not as bright and the colors are different. My dad is bringing a camera from work so I can take some comparison pics to whow you what I mean.

Bottom line: Does any body know of a 6V voltage booster?
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new york cheech
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Post by new york cheech »

i could of sworn i saw something like that on digikey, but i guess not cause i cant find it.
I'm a noob....and lazy....i like to do things the simple way.
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usbcd36
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Post by usbcd36 »

Look for a low dropout/boosting regulator that outputs 6v, or just replace the backlight with LEDs…
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G-force
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Post by G-force »

Replacing the backlight with LED's wouldn't fix it. The whole screen, back light, color, and everything get's darker. It appears that it NEEDS at least 5.6V to run correctly. It runs just fine on alkalines but they are too pricey.

And I already tryed looking on Digi-Key. I found nothing that would work :( I know they have something, I just can't find it.
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Triton
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Post by Triton »

use one more battery? sorry i cant help more
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SNESguy
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Post by SNESguy »

I have experimented with this also. The backlight won't work very well on just 5v, I tried to use a switching regulator for the entire screen, but only one side of the tube lit.

Cold Cathode lamps are finicky; they will run with almost full brightness until the inverter voltage drops to a point where the gas won't ionize anymore.

I suggest using more batteries for the screen and a normal regulator for the system board.

The Hip Gear backlight simply will not work after dropping below 6v.
If all else fails, take it apart!
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G-force
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Post by G-force »

Seems like somebody should have warned about this. Oh well... Live and learn.
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LethalMeatball
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Post by LethalMeatball »

G-Force, u ought to get the Digi-key magazine, i got mine today, and its like 2000000000000000 items in one BOOK of items to buy :D gl with ur monitor problems... ive got some of my own, but i think its my system, not the screen.... :(
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gannon
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Post by gannon »

lol, I have a digikey cataloge. It's a bit easier to find items on their site though :P
I mostly used it when I wanted to find some parts while I was at school.
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G-force
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Post by G-force »

I ordered a catalog a LONG time ago and it never came :( So I just use their site (or rather, TRY to use the site ;) ).
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Jeff
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Post by Jeff »

Good luck G-Force. One of my clients purchases depends on this ;) (You buying more is what I'm refering to).
PS360Wii Fanboy FTW!
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bioniclebert
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Post by bioniclebert »

Mabye you should add another battery for the screen only. If this happens to mine, I may just do that.
But for now, Im sticking to My computer, or the car for power. :)
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G-force
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Post by G-force »

I wish I could add another battery, bu there is no room in the GBO case. Hmm...Perhaps I could make the 4 AA holder a 5 (or 6)AAA holder! That's just crazy enough to work...
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bioniclebert
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Post by bioniclebert »

mabye you could add a button battery holder if youre concerned about size. Or do the AAAs thing.
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