Author Topic: EEVblog #413 - Mailbag  (Read 25802 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.


Offline mikeselectricstuff

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 13695
  • Country: gb
    • Mike's Electric Stuff
Re: EEVblog #413 - Mailbag
« Reply #1 on: January 21, 2013, 11:27:10 pm »
I did a vid a while ago on the memory LCDs - they are awesome, and ex-stock at Mouser.
Note you can get them a lot cheaper than Mouser's price - don't recall exactly but I think it was something close to 50% of Mouser's price for 100x from (I think) Future Electronics.

I used the larger 400x240 ones for this project .

I'm surprised nobody's already done an Arduino based OSHW watch with them.
 


« Last Edit: January 21, 2013, 11:32:09 pm by mikeselectricstuff »
Youtube channel:Taking wierd stuff apart. Very apart.
Mike's Electric Stuff: High voltage, vintage electronics etc.
Day Job: Mostly LEDs
 

Offline janekm

  • Supporter
  • ****
  • Posts: 515
  • Country: gb
Re: EEVblog #413 - Mailbag
« Reply #2 on: January 22, 2013, 01:59:17 am »
It is a real shame that Sharp just seem to be so disinclined to actually sell them (unless you want a million, no doubt)... This particular model is already listed "EOL" on Mouser and everyone else seems to be out of stock already.
And the cost would be very expensive even at half of Mouser's price...

Now they are moving to the zebra strip versions it seems, but good luck getting hold of small volumes of zebra strips...
It's a bit ridiculous, for the money they charge they really could have included the zebra strip (it's not like those cost anything if you buy them in volume...).
 

Offline tinhead

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 1918
  • Country: 00
    • If you like my hacks, send me a donation
Re: EEVblog #413 - Mailbag
« Reply #3 on: January 22, 2013, 02:12:18 am »
actually only the older models are EOL, the new models are listed as "new product".
I don't want to be human! I want to see gamma rays, I want to hear X-rays, and I want to smell dark matter ...
I want to reach out with something other than these prehensile paws and feel the solar wind of a supernova flowing over me.
 

Offline Andlier

  • Contributor
  • Posts: 21
Re: EEVblog #413 - Mailbag
« Reply #4 on: January 22, 2013, 07:46:47 am »
actually only the older models are EOL, the new models are listed as "new product".
And the display that Dave demonstrated isn't any of those on mouser either, it is the new 3.0 V version 128*128 pixels, LS013B7DH03.
http://www.sharpsme.com/press/2011/Sharp-Expands-Its-Line-Memory-LCDs
I believe the pebble watch amongst others are using this new 3.0 V display, shouldn't be EOL'ing that soon...
 

Offline mikeselectricstuff

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 13695
  • Country: gb
    • Mike's Electric Stuff
Re: EEVblog #413 - Mailbag
« Reply #5 on: January 22, 2013, 09:37:17 am »
actually only the older models are EOL, the new models are listed as "new product".
And the display that Dave demonstrated isn't any of those on mouser either, it is the new 3.0 V version 128*128 pixels, LS013B7DH03.
http://www.sharpsme.com/press/2011/Sharp-Expands-Its-Line-Memory-LCDs
I believe the pebble watch amongst others are using this new 3.0 V display, shouldn't be EOL'ing that soon...
I thought the Pebble was e-ink, or have they changed it now?

One problem with the earlier Sharp ones was they were specced to run at 5V, although we found the 400x240 would just work at 3.3v , but not much lower, so coin-cells would have needed some voltage boosting.
Looks like they've updated them to be more 3V friendly.
For a watch, I though the Zebra version would be more suitable as the case wouldn't need to accommodate the (fragile) flex tail.

Cheap LCD watches, or pretty much any low-cost consumer LCD product are  good sources of small zebra strips.

Youtube channel:Taking wierd stuff apart. Very apart.
Mike's Electric Stuff: High voltage, vintage electronics etc.
Day Job: Mostly LEDs
 

Offline Andlier

  • Contributor
  • Posts: 21
Re: EEVblog #413 - Mailbag
« Reply #6 on: January 22, 2013, 12:36:55 pm »
I was under the impression that the Pebble guys wanted to ride the e-ink craze and its low power advantages so they called it e-ink. Not many has heard of "memory lcd"... but everyone knows what the kindle is and know that it is low power. They would need a memory lcd for fast refresh rates I guess. Check out this video which demonstrates animations and refresh rate possible with the memory lcd. That firmware with capacitive touch should be available shortly in an application note:

Yes, they have changed the supply voltage for the latest line of displays, at least for the smaller ones. That is a huge benefit for the efm32, since the display can run from the same supply as the efm32.

I agree that the zebra strip type would be better for a watch assembly. We had some problems with the flex-connection breaking off from the glass substrate when we worked on this slim watch project: http://forum.energymicro.com/topic/462-the-slimwatch-a-super-slim-efm32-wristwatch/

Mike: Do you know of any good source for capacitive touch film with sliders/buttons in the size of a the memory lcd? I would guess the normal route is to contact a manufacturer and agree on a minimum order quantity and have it custom made... Not cheap when just prototyping stuff for fun...

-Anders (Energy Micro employee)
 

Offline mikeselectricstuff

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 13695
  • Country: gb
    • Mike's Electric Stuff
Re: EEVblog #413 - Mailbag
« Reply #7 on: January 22, 2013, 02:04:13 pm »
Mike: Do you know of any good source for capacitive touch film with sliders/buttons in the size of a the memory lcd? I would guess the normal route is to contact a manufacturer and agree on a minimum order quantity and have it custom made... Not cheap when just prototyping stuff for fun...
No but I have had some success etching breaks into sheets of solid ITO coated glass using high voltage to spark it off - not sure if it would work as well on plastic. http://electricstuff.co.uk/transparent.html
Youtube channel:Taking wierd stuff apart. Very apart.
Mike's Electric Stuff: High voltage, vintage electronics etc.
Day Job: Mostly LEDs
 

Offline ftransform

  • Frequent Contributor
  • **
  • Posts: 728
  • Country: 00
Re: EEVblog #413 - Mailbag
« Reply #8 on: January 22, 2013, 06:59:25 pm »
Did you ever do any kind of projection experiments with it mike? That's the most interesting use of it for me.
 

Offline mikeselectricstuff

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 13695
  • Country: gb
    • Mike's Electric Stuff
Re: EEVblog #413 - Mailbag
« Reply #9 on: January 22, 2013, 07:07:52 pm »
Did you ever do any kind of projection experiments with it mike? That's the most interesting use of it for me.
The mirror displays look like thay may be good for projection, however in practice you get a lot of reflection off the glass surface, so the contrast ratio isn't nearly as much as you'd like.
Youtube channel:Taking wierd stuff apart. Very apart.
Mike's Electric Stuff: High voltage, vintage electronics etc.
Day Job: Mostly LEDs
 

Offline tom66

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 6680
  • Country: gb
  • Electronics Hobbyist & FPGA/Embedded Systems EE
Re: EEVblog #413 - Mailbag
« Reply #10 on: January 22, 2013, 08:49:32 pm »
SRXD displays (LCoS or liquid crystal on silicon) had similar issues, though, with contrast ratios.  Cheaper brother of DLP.
 

Offline John C

  • Newbie
  • Posts: 4
Sharp Memory LCD
« Reply #11 on: January 22, 2013, 08:52:44 pm »
I have a similar memory LCD out on the desk right now, while watching Dave's mailbag video (instead of working), so just shot this demo...



And yes, in case anyone is interested I will share my clunky Spin driver for the thing on the Parallax object exchange - just as soon as it's 'done'.   

I don't need the refresh any faster for my application, so can let a cog or two happily deal with the four LCDs I need while other cogs get on with other stuff.   However, I really should try to do at least the bitmap to pin twiddling bits in assembler, one day...
« Last Edit: January 22, 2013, 09:04:08 pm by John C »
 

Offline nardev

  • Supporter
  • ****
  • Posts: 411
  • Country: ba
Re: EEVblog #413 - Mailbag
« Reply #12 on: January 23, 2013, 12:10:25 am »
Dave, i'm sorry for name on post card.

Few days before i sent the postcard i watched very long Live show for #400 episode and i heard your opinions about religion etc.. I did it because i thought it would be funny.

Anyway. I apologies for mentioning that because although we are all different, in my opinion, our differences should not ever be an issue while we talk about electronics and respect each other.

Sarajevo is the city where in less than 300 meters away you can find Roman Catholics Church, Orthodox Church, Synagogue and Mosque. Sharing ans respecting builds community.

In my opinion, if any issue is going to rise tensions, that should be completely put away.

Greetings.
 

Offline Andlier

  • Contributor
  • Posts: 21
Re: EEVblog #413 - Mailbag
« Reply #13 on: January 23, 2013, 09:42:27 am »
Mike: Do you know of any good source for capacitive touch film with sliders/buttons in the size of a the memory lcd? I would guess the normal route is to contact a manufacturer and agree on a minimum order quantity and have it custom made... Not cheap when just prototyping stuff for fun...
No but I have had some success etching breaks into sheets of solid ITO coated glass using high voltage to spark it off - not sure if it would work as well on plastic. http://electricstuff.co.uk/transparent.html
Interesting, I'll have to try out that some time. I was thinking of just rubbing it off or scraping it off with a knife. Maybe one could do the toner transfer trick and etch unwanted ITO off as well...
 

Offline EEVblogTopic starter

  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 37663
  • Country: au
    • EEVblog
Re: EEVblog #413 - Mailbag
« Reply #14 on: January 23, 2013, 09:46:38 am »
In my opinion, if any issue is going to rise tensions, that should be completely put away.

Nope, I'm not going to stop speaking my mind because it might offend someone. If someone is offended by something I say, that's their fault, not mine for just speaking my mind  :P

Dave.
 

Offline Andlier

  • Contributor
  • Posts: 21
Re: EEVblog #413 - Mailbag
« Reply #15 on: January 23, 2013, 01:51:05 pm »
Nope, I'm not going to stop speaking my mind because it might offend someone. If someone is offended by something I say, that's their fault, not mine for just speaking my mind  :P

Dave.
Totally agree!  :)
 

Offline NiHaoMike

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 8973
  • Country: us
  • "Don't turn it on - Take it apart!"
    • Facebook Page
Re: EEVblog #413 - Mailbag
« Reply #16 on: January 23, 2013, 03:06:06 pm »
Mike: Do you know of any good source for capacitive touch film with sliders/buttons in the size of a the memory lcd? I would guess the normal route is to contact a manufacturer and agree on a minimum order quantity and have it custom made... Not cheap when just prototyping stuff for fun...
No but I have had some success etching breaks into sheets of solid ITO coated glass using high voltage to spark it off - not sure if it would work as well on plastic. http://electricstuff.co.uk/transparent.html
For something more controlled (better resolution) than a high voltage arc, low voltage EDM can be used.
Cryptocurrency has taught me to love math and at the same time be baffled by it.

Cryptocurrency lesson 0: Altcoins and Bitcoin are not the same thing.
 

Offline Alexei.Polkhanov

  • Frequent Contributor
  • **
  • Posts: 684
  • Country: ca
Re: EEVblog #413 - Mailbag
« Reply #17 on: January 23, 2013, 05:07:24 pm »
For something more controlled (better resolution) than a high voltage arc, low voltage EDM can be used.

If I remember right production version of this technology called "electro erosion". It is when subject is submerged in liquid solution of salts and graphite electrode is used to erode metal off the surface. Results obtained this way look much sexier. I am not sure if ITO can be edged out this way because it is an oxide not metal after all.

BTW there is cheap ITO glass on ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/160950837028?var=460146246628&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649 I guess I will have fun playing with it when it arrives :-) Also it is a "low resistance" kind - 10-12 ohm/m^2. I am puzzling on how to calculate resistance of 5x50mm strip given ohm/m^2.
« Last Edit: January 23, 2013, 05:12:16 pm by Alexei.Polkhanov »
 

Offline marshallh

  • Supporter
  • ****
  • Posts: 1462
  • Country: us
    • retroactive
Re: EEVblog #413 - Mailbag
« Reply #18 on: January 23, 2013, 07:07:24 pm »
In my opinion, if any issue is going to rise tensions, that should be completely put away.

Nope, I'm not going to stop speaking my mind because it might offend someone. If someone is offended by something I say, that's their fault, not mine for just speaking my mind  :P

Dave.

And this is why I still watch you Dave
Verilog tips
BGA soldering intro

11:37 <@ktemkin> c4757p: marshall has transcended communications media
11:37 <@ktemkin> He speaks protocols directly.
 

Offline nardev

  • Supporter
  • ****
  • Posts: 411
  • Country: ba
Re: EEVblog #413 - Mailbag
« Reply #19 on: January 24, 2013, 12:21:41 am »
Nope, I'm not going to stop speaking my mind because it might offend someone. If someone is offended by something I say, that's their fault, not mine for just speaking my mind  :P

Dave.
Totally agree!  :)

People, that is very easy for you to think like that.

You never lived through a conflict based on national/religion issues so you have no idea where it can get you to. Fortunately, my experiences in past war is something you never had chance to see.

Sorry for off topic.
 

Offline NeoMorph

  • Contributor
  • Posts: 13
Re: EEVblog #413 - Mailbag
« Reply #20 on: January 26, 2013, 06:26:00 am »
In my opinion, if any issue is going to rise tensions, that should be completely put away.

Nope, I'm not going to stop speaking my mind because it might offend someone. If someone is offended by something I say, that's their fault, not mine for just speaking my mind  :P

Dave.

Nooo Dave... don't do it. Religion has caused more wars than any other reason in history.

I think the gods invented religion so they can sit back on high and laugh at the humans while they beat each other up... perhaps religion is the gods version of WWF? Hence why I'm an agnostic.
 

Offline perfect_disturbance

  • Regular Contributor
  • *
  • Posts: 144
  • Country: us
Re: EEVblog #413 - Mailbag
« Reply #21 on: January 26, 2013, 07:13:49 am »
I'm not offended by Dave's religious opinions and its his blog so he obviously has a right to share them. But I also generally don't come here for extended rants about guns, or religion.  I think Dave gets that. It seems like that's why he likes to lock down the hot of topic threads before they overcome the on topic ones. It seems like he knows that a conversation about religion and politics is OK but a lot is a distraction from they main reason people come here. Which is to learn and talk about electronics engineering.
 

Offline chickenHeadKnob

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 1054
  • Country: ca
Re: EEVblog #413 - Mailbag
« Reply #22 on: January 26, 2013, 08:02:16 am »
For something more controlled (better resolution) than a high voltage arc, low voltage EDM can be used.

If I remember right production version of this technology called "electro erosion". It is when subject is submerged in liquid solution of salts and graphite electrode is used to erode metal off the surface. Results obtained this way look much sexier. I am not sure if ITO can be edged out this way because it is an oxide not metal after all.

BTW there is cheap ITO glass on ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/160950837028?var=460146246628&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649 I guess I will have fun playing with it when it arrives :-) Also it is a "low resistance" kind - 10-12 ohm/m^2. I am puzzling on how to calculate resistance of 5x50mm strip given ohm/m^2.

If you are oogle-googleing it the search phrase "electrochemical discharge machining" is what is normally used to refer to the process that employs salty water. It is similar to EDM but has some differences. The main one is that if you are milling /eroding a long bore the metal can be removed from walls as well as the active front face.

You guys have to stop coming up with new stuff to play with, now I have to add ITO glass to my list. Damm.
 

Offline EEVblogTopic starter

  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 37663
  • Country: au
    • EEVblog
Re: EEVblog #413 - Mailbag
« Reply #23 on: January 26, 2013, 11:43:25 am »
Nooo Dave... don't do it. Religion has caused more wars than any other reason in history.

All the more reason for those of reason to stand up against the silly, childish, and archaic mass delusion that is organised religious belief.  :palm:
If someone brings it up, I'll set'em straight, you're welcome in advance  ;D
Just like if you believe a $5 meter is good value... %-B

Dave.
 

Offline SeanB

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 16272
  • Country: za
Re: EEVblog #413 - Mailbag
« Reply #24 on: January 26, 2013, 12:29:07 pm »
Hey, I just bought a $3 meter........... No stock of the $5 ones.
 


Share me

Digg  Facebook  SlashDot  Delicious  Technorati  Twitter  Google  Yahoo
Smf