Dual Displays Project

[shefftronics]

Good Morning All,

I'm just starting my last year of uni and have been thinking about projects. What I'm trying to desing and make is a Counter Call system simalr to what you get a the post office/ super market cheese counter. With a twist that it can drive a regular large x2 7segment display aswell as have the possiblity of driving a TFT display! Eash display shows a number and is then incremented on the press of a button.

Having looked round at display drive IC's I came across the CH7017 from Chrontel. (http://www.chrontel.com/pdf/7017-7018ds.pdf) But this seems rather complex for what I'm wanting to do, it also appears to need a Graphics card input which I didnt want to have to use. I would like to make the counter system as basic as possible I had something like this in mind (http://www.doctronics.co.uk/4510.htm)

I'm not really sure if I'm heading in the right direction with this. Has anyone else come across a project like this? It would be great to hear from you if you have any ideas,

Many thanks

Rich

[Theatronics]

how big of a TFT display?
Are you talking about a little 2 line by 16 char type of a larger Computer flat screen type?

And how large is the 7 Segment display?

I guess it comes down to what you are trying to prove.  If you want to show that you can build the circuit then skip the TFT and just use the 7 Segment displays.  For larger displays look into “Flip-Dot” displays. They don’t need as much power as large LED signs.

If you want to show off and display the output on video then you are talking about something entirely different, the whole counter BCD circuit is insignificant to the video interface and TFT driver circuit, that is assuming you want to build the whole thing from scratch..

There is a device called a “BOB-II” that converts serial data into graphics for TV sets.
You might be interested in that.  Then just use off the shelf flat screen TV sets for the displays. (LCD or Plasma are most common, that’s why I was wondering about the size of the TFT display you wanted to use)

More details gets you more answers.

-Mike

[shefftronics]

Thanks Mike

I was looking to use a Computer Type TFT probably no igger than 19 inches (or small flat screen TV's). It only really needs to display numbers 0 - 99.

The idea of the project is that it can give the end user the option of having a 7 segment display/Flip-Dot or a TV screen, depending on their budgets and trying to intergrate it in to one package. Its a flexiable project and at the moment its in its early stages. Its more than just an up counter because thats just too easy.

The BOB 2 products look good, they remind me of the text that comes up on the old video camcorders. Maybe there is a way to cannibalise one.

Thanks for the ideas

[Theatronics]

If you want a "Way Cool" challenge.
Connect a row of SMT leds on a stick and spin it.
Then using accurate timing, draw the next number
in mid air.  (Put one digit on the left of center
and the other on right of center)

Hows that for wizzy bang ?

-Mike