Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!lll-winken!quintro!bpdsun1!rmf
From: rmf@bpdsun1.uucp (Rob Finley)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Favorite LCD display?
Message-ID: <1991Mar5.220310.11677@bpdsun1.uucp>
Date: 5 Mar 91 22:03:10 GMT
References: <1991Mar4.143802.18640@spool.cs.wisc.edu> <1991Mar4.131814.874@ulkyvx.bitnet> <1268@soleil.UUCP>
Reply-To: rmf@bpdsun1.UUCP (Rob Finley)
Organization: Harris Broadcast Div., Quincy, IL
Lines: 48

In article <1268@soleil.UUCP> gopstein@helix.squibb.com (Rich Gopstein) writes:
>In article <1991Mar4.131814.874@ulkyvx.bitnet> meharp01@ulkyvx.bitnet writes:
>>Check out TimeLine Electronics or DigiKey.  They sell integrated LCD displays
>>with the Hitachi chip for about $25.  TimeLine sells surplus 16x1 alphanumeric
>>displays 3/$25.  A good deal and you don't have to worry about blowing one up. 
>>As far as I can tell, DigiKey and TimeLine sell the same displays, Timeline is
>>just cheaper and I think the ones they have are surplus.
>
>Timeline (and Gott Electronics) have a 480x128 dot graphic/alphanumeric
>LCD display for about $20.  They both claim that it "comes with built-in
>CMOS LCD driver and controller", yet Timeline offers a $60 driver board
>for use with it!  What is going on?
>
rest deleted

I can't find a version of the ad that actually says that.  What I can tell
you is that the display itself does need a controller and that the controller
that they supply is very much worth the $60 bucks.  

I thought about hacking one up on maybe a 6845 but found the four serial
inputs (one each for the four quadrants) rather daunting.

The controller board is not made by Hitachi but contains the two controller
IC's and static rams needed to make the thing tick.

I suspect that while they were able to get a large number of display panels
with the rather neat Federal Express packaging and a nondescript board with
three large LED's on it, they had to go to a different company (TEC?)
for the controller board as I imagine FedEx had the brains to incorporate
this function on their motherboard.  

For Around $100 it still isn't that bad unless you have the facilities to
design a board and solder a quad flat pack with .7mm pins.  Hmmm?

Now, they have a 640 by 200 LCD for $39.00 that is a Toshiba TLC365121
used in the T1100+ laptop by the same manufacturer.  I think I can find
the chip itself but no controller board (so far).  Any one got any clues?
As far as I can tell, it is a non-backlit supertwist display.  B-)
And, it has four serial inputs also...

Good luck and Try Timeline!
-----
"We know what the reponse of the American people will be, and it's not
attractive.  They really do believe the Bill of Rights gave them unleaded
regular for $1.06 a gallon, and they better get it or, by God, they'll get
the bums out of Office."  -- Energy Secretary James Watkins on taxing energy.

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