Request for PicoLCD support

apcyberax · Post by **apcyberax** » March 30th, 2008, 5:41 pm

Hi. just a quick request for support for the picoLCD.
I have gotten myself one of http://linitx.com/viewproduct.php?prodid=11294 but there isn;t alot of support for it. all it has is a command line client and a winamp dll. Not alot of good for displaying anything useful.

If anyone can help me find or make one that would be great.

the details for the lcd are below

software and manuals are all on http://www.mini-box.com/picoLCD-20x2-OEM?category=490

also when you open the server software for this it says the following

ITUNER HIDDaemon ver 1.0.0.13
Manuf:ITUNER INC Prod:USB-LCD-20x2/USB-LCD-20x2 Flasher vendor=4d8 pid=1,2 TCP/I
P port:10000
HID device ITUNER INC USB-LCD-20x2 opened

Post by **caesar** » June 16th, 2008, 8:18 am

I have some spare time now, please tell me if there is still interest.
Please note that you must be avaiable to test some versions of the display dll and make some bug reports!

apcyberax · Post by **apcyberax** » June 16th, 2008, 8:39 am

Hi,

Yes i am still intrested. i will be willing to test and report any bugs.

Thanks for your help

Post by **caesar** » June 16th, 2008, 4:13 pm

Please try the first version:

HERE

If it works, it should display text, set custom chars and set contrast/backlight.

apcyberax · Post by **apcyberax** » June 16th, 2008, 4:58 pm

i have set the plugin but nothing on the LCD. will this plugin need picolcd server running or will it talk to the lcd directly?
i tried it with the lcd server running and not running/

as i have never had it working i included a screen shot of the serring incase i did anything wrong

http://www.aj-services.com/tmp/lcd/ScreenShot003.jpg

Post by **caesar** » June 16th, 2008, 5:41 pm

yes you must open the server first, then smartie.
please post a screen with the server window too, after starting smartie!

make sure the display is set as 2x20 in smartie and please try 127.0.0.1 instead of localhost as startup parameters.

apcyberax · Post by **apcyberax** » June 16th, 2008, 5:54 pm

looking like its talking to it but in what language who knows

good first try.

http://www.aj-services.com/tmp/lcd/ScreenShot006.jpg

Post by **caesar** » June 16th, 2008, 6:49 pm

New version, same download location.

Please maximise the pico server window this time.

This new version should at least teoretically show text at least in the server window.

apcyberax · Post by **apcyberax** » June 16th, 2008, 7:13 pm

connects this time but dosnt try and send anything.

http://www.aj-services.com/tmp/lcd/ScreenShot007.jpg

Post by **caesar** » June 17th, 2008, 5:59 pm

Don't worry, I'll do another version soon, but will have to write some things from scratch, will take some time.
(it's hard for me to test all the changes without a picoLCD, will try with some tcp listeners).

apcyberax · Post by **apcyberax** » June 17th, 2008, 6:10 pm

ok thanks.

The server itself is just like a telnet server. to set the text you send
set text 0 0 Then some text
this sets on row 0 col 0

you can test this by setting terminal to listen on port 10000 and see what the program sends to the server.

i do not know enough about programming to help you but i hope this information is helpful.

Post by **caesar** » June 19th, 2008, 9:40 pm

New version, same location.
This time it really should display something useful!
Please attach a nice screenshot of the server window.

apcyberax · Post by **apcyberax** » June 19th, 2008, 9:52 pm

http://www.aj-services.com/tmp/lcd/ScreenShot010.jpg

displaying OK on line 1.

i think i told you the details wrong. its Col, Row
so for the 2nd line it would be set text 0 1 Text

thats my fault. but its looking great so far. working like a dream on line 1

Post by **caesar** » June 19th, 2008, 10:09 pm

How about now?

New version added, same location.

PS: nice wallpaper!

apcyberax · Post by **apcyberax** » June 19th, 2008, 10:26 pm

thanks that seems to work pretty well.

I will test it alot over the next few days and see if i see any problems

http://www.aj-services.com/tmp/lcd/PIC080619221938.jpg

thanks again

Post by **caesar** » June 19th, 2008, 10:33 pm

glad it works so far!

please tell me how the command for custom characters works (extract some samples from the picolcd program) as I can't get any clue from the manual.

Will post a new version soon with brigtness and contrast settings.
Custom chars will be in if you can provide some sample.

Later edit:
same location, please test backlight on/off and contrast setting.

apcyberax · Post by **apcyberax** » June 21st, 2008, 8:21 pm

contract works well only think is its backwards. you move the slider all the way to the right and it is dim and all the way left its bight

Post by **caesar** » June 21st, 2008, 10:58 pm

please tell me how the command for custom characters works (extract some samples from the picolcd program) as I can't get any clue from the manual.

will fix contrast in the next version.

apcyberax · Post by **apcyberax** » June 21st, 2008, 11:05 pm

i have no idea now they work. i think they are writen to its memory and you can only set 8 of them or something. i have worked that out

Post by **caesar** » June 22nd, 2008, 12:23 am

ok, thanks, I'll see what I can do.

Later edit: same place, new version.
Custom characters should work fine now.

Contrast: text should be darker when the slider is on the left side and become invisible on the right side. This is normal behavior.

Please report how custom chars work!

Post by **caesar** » June 23rd, 2008, 3:58 pm

Did you have time to test the last version?
Is everything ok?

apcyberax · Post by **apcyberax** » June 23rd, 2008, 5:29 pm

it looks ok. not sure not to test the custom char

Post by **caesar** » June 23rd, 2008, 9:08 pm

use the winamp spectrum plugin

it's a good test, or display the degree symbol, it is also a custom char.