Here’s a very common chip used in older LCD monitors. This converts the incoming VGA signal into LVDS for the panel itself.
The gmZAN3 is a graphics processing IC for Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) monitors at XGA resolution. It provides all key IC functions required for the highest quality LCD monitors. On-chip functions include
a high-speed triple-ADC and PLL, a high quality zoom and shrink scaling engine, an on-screen display (OSD) controller and digital color controls.
A while back I posted about a 3M Touch Systems industrial monitor that I’d been given. I had previously paired it with a Raspberry Pi Model B+, but for general desktop use it was just a little on the slow side.
Since the release of the Raspberry Pi 2, with it’s 4-core ARM Cortex CPU, things are much improved, so I figured I’d post an update with the latest on the system.
The monitor I’ve used is a commercial one, used in such things as POS terminals, service kiosks, etc. It’s a fairly old unit, but it’s built like a tank.
It’s built around a Samsung LTM170EI-A01 System-On-Panel, these are unusual in that all the control electronics & backlighting are built into the panel itself, instead of requiring an external converter board to take VGA to the required LVDS that LCD panels use for their interface.
The touch section is a 3M Microtouch EXII series controller, with a surface capacitive touch overlay.
Above is the touch controller PCB, with it’s USB-Serial converter to interface with the Pi.
As there is much spare space inside the back of this monitor, I have mounted the Pi on a couple of spare screw posts, fitted USB ports where the original VGA & Serial connectors were in the casing, and added voltage regulation to provide the Pi with it’s required 5v.
Here’s the entire back of the panel, the Pi in the middle interfaces with a HDMI-VGA adaptor for the monitor, and the serial adaptor on the right for the touch. A small voltage regulator at the bottom of the unit is providing the 5v rail. There’s a switch at the bottom next to one of the USB ports to control power to the Pi itself. The panel won’t detect the resolution properly if they’re both powered on at the same time.
At 13.8v, the device pulls about 2A from the supply, which seems to be typical for a CCFL backlighted LCD.
Now the Raspberry Pi 2 has been released, it’s much more responsive for desktop applications, especially with a slight overclock.
A full disk image enabled for Desktop & 3M touch monitors is available below for others that have similar panels. This image only works for the Pi 2!
[download id=”5591″]
Here is an old type KVM switch, PS/2 & VGA interface.
Details Label
Top removed from the main body, the cables coming in from the bottom connect to the VGA, keyboard & mouse ports on the slave computers, the connectors at the top connect to the single monitor, keyboard & mouse.
PCB removed from the body. This is driven by a PIC16C57C-04 microcontroller.
The pair of LEDs indicate which computer is using the peripherals at any one time.
This is an adaptor to convert computer VGA to composite & S-Video output for a normal TV.
Bottom of the unit with option select switch.
PCB removed from the casing, CPU in centre, buffer RAM on the right.
Reverse side with the VGA connections at the top & the S-Video/composite outputs on the bottom.
Inputs. USB connector provides power, pair of VGA connectors provides passthrough function.
Outputs. Standard S-Video on the left & composite video on the right.
Here is a more modern phone, the Motorola V360v. Features include Dual screens, 640×480 VGA camera, full col
our TFT Main LCD, SD-Micro slot.
Here on the back the grey scale LCD can be seen, with the camera lens to the right of the Motorola logo
Here the phone is opened showing the keypad & the full colour TFT LCD display.
Here the battery is removed from the unit, showing the SIM connector. The antenna cover is still on at the bottom.
The antenna cover has been removed in this shot, the antenna is the white section at the bottom, With the loudspeaker & the external antenna connector hidden at the right.
Here is the main PCB. Parts from left are the Bluetooth module at the top, supplied by Broadcom, the SD Card socket at the bottom. Main CPU next to that is the Freescale SC29343VKP. Above right of the CPU is the Freescale SC13890P23A Charger, Power & Audio IC. Below is the SIM card socket. Under the main CPU is the Intel Flash memory IC. ICs inside the shields are the RF sections for transmit & receive.
Rear of the display unit showing the monochrome LCD. The camera module on the bottom left. Ear speaker on the far right of the unit.
Main colour TFT LCD.
Camera module removed from the LCD unit.
The vibration motor attached to one of the LCD looms.
