Re: LCD Dash......Can It Be Done??

[Speriod Ducum <htay@indiana.edu>]

Maybe he can build one and we can buy them. It seems like a pretty cool
idea! we can even design a cool interface for it too!!!!

Alfred

On Mon, 19 Oct 1998, Ewan Marshall - Frans Maas Linlithgow wrote:

> My dad is an Electrical Engineer BSc Honours Degree in Electrical engineering,
> with 30 years computering experience.Currently builds and programs CPU's  
> that control fire alarm system in nuclear reactor plants.He seems to think a 
> LCD dash could be done....I'm not going to argue with him.
> 
> So,I guess thats one for no and one for yes
> 
> Ewen
> 
> 	From: Vic Watson <vicw@bristol.st.com>
> 	To: scirocco-L@scirocco.org
> 	Subject: Re: LCD Dash......Can It Be Done??
> 	Mime-Version: 1.0
> 	
> 	On Oct 19,  2:08pm, Ewan Marshall - Frans Maas Linlithgow wrote:
> 	> Could a LCD monitor replace the job of all the analog dials in Mk2
> 	> European Rocco??
> 	
> 	Theoretically - yes. In practise - probably not.
> 	
> 	>(After having a look at the Electrical wiring diagram
> 	> last night,a monitor could be used,powered by a processor capable
> 	> of taking the work.
> 	
> 	An LCD monitor is not exactly cheap, and gives problems of viewing angle 
> /
> 	contrast (esp. in bright sunlight conditions).
> 	
> 	> Most of the messages sent from the engine to dash
> 	> are in the good ole analog messages,but adding a AC/DC converter,
> 	
> 	Well, a DAC...
> 	
> 	> would let the processor process the information.Obviously, the
> 	> processor would have to be programed,which,so I'm told would be very
> 	> easy indeed,
> 	
> 	Errr... who told you this? Producing a graphical instrument display will 
> take a
> 	certain amount of programming - getting it to run in real time (anything 
> else
> 	is useless in a vehicle) is not a trivial task.
> 	
> 	> even putting in extras like custimising your dash every
> 	> time you get in the car!!!
> 	
> 	Again, more design effort...
> 	
> 	> More information about the cars performance
> 	> could be given aswell,in numerical and/or analog type by simply adding
> 	> a sensor in the area to be monitored.Coolant temp gauges in more than
> 	> one part of the cooling system,air temp,road temps
> 	
> 	All this is true.
> 	
> 	> and even the car stereo
> 	> could be linked into it.
> 	
> 	Well, that depends on the stereo.
> 	
> 	> I feel
> 	> thats its time cars caught up with technology and join the digital
> 	> revolution,
> 	
> 	IMHO technology should only be added if it improves the usability of 
> something.
> 	I don't think this is true of an instrument cluster.
> 	
> 	> with the added great benefits in digital technology.
> 	
> 	Those benefits being ...?
> 	
> 	> Anyway,does anyone on the list have comments,opinions or ideas about 
> this???
> 	> I think it could be done relatively easy,probably the hardest part 
> being
> 	> fitting the LCD itself.Would it need the whole dash converting,or will
> 	> the LCD fit in the original gap where the old analog dials once 
> proudly
> 	> sat??
> 	
> 	Physical positioning of the LCD is, in fact, fairly easy compared to the 
> amount
> 	of work needed to realise such a system.
> 	
> 	Aside from the R&D to get it working, you then need to think about 
> legality;
> 	the speedo needs to be accurate to avoid speeding tickets, and you need 
> to come
> 	up with an anti-tamper system for the odometer.
> 	
> 	I would not undertake this project as a one-off; if any major car 
> manufacturers
> 	want me to undertake a feasability study, please email ;)
> 	
> 	Vic.
> 	
> 	
> 	--
> 	+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
> 	| Vic Watson                              SGS-THOMSON Microelectronics |
> 	| Applications Engineer                   1000 Aztec West, Almondsbury |
> 	| Chameleon - UK / USA                    Bristol, BS12 4SQ, UK        |
> 	+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
> 	| Phone: Direct  [+44] (0)1454 611409        _________                 |
> 	| Phone: Main    [+44] (0)1454 616616       /         \|\_             |
> 	| Fax:           [+44] (0)1454 620688      /            @ \            |
> 	| Voicemail:     [+44] (0)1454 611409     /  __     //-\___)           |
> 	| Email: [Internet] vicw@bristol.st.com  /  //\\ _-/ +---************  |
> 	|                                        |     \\  ***********         |
> 	|                                      **|  /--\***                    |
> 	|                                      ** \ \_/|                       |
> 	|                                          \__/                        |
> 	+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
> 	
> 	--
> 	To subscribe or unsubscribe, send email to 
> scirocco-L-request@scirocco.org,
> 	with your request (subscribe, unsubscribe) in the BODY of the message.
> 
> --
> To subscribe or unsubscribe, send email to scirocco-L-request@scirocco.org,
> with your request (subscribe, unsubscribe) in the BODY of the message.
> 

- --
To subscribe or unsubscribe, send email to scirocco-L-request@scirocco.org,
with your request (subscribe, unsubscribe) in the BODY of the message.

------------------------------