LCD photo frames

[jaspar]

with the explosion of low cost 7" and 10" lcd photo frames on the market has anyone with technical expertiese tryed to convert them to low cost lcd monitors for use on our sims.
they seem to me to be a perfect solution to for us at a reasonable cost if they could be adapted similar to the PS1 displays.

[ian@737ng.co.uk]

well done that man !
now this is an interesting idea, but i'm just wondering about driving the moving image.
maybe someone can enlighten us.
thanks ... ian

[Tomlin]

This is exactly what Ive been wondering myself...hoping someone can answer definately on this.

[bgoodwin]

Perhaps wx updates if you could link to map feature of ASX?

[jaspar]

Im guessing its just a LCD monitor with an internal driver for jpg files so providing we can I/P a video source in might be able to display anounciator pannel lights, radio / nav displays etc that doesnt need a fast refresh rate.

whth the likes of PC WORLD ( uk computer supermarket ) selling 7" ones for £25.00 and 9" for around £50.00 ( and the price set to drop in the sales after xmas) it would be a very cheap source of small displays

[JSpahn]

Basically its a LCD panel...you would need to buy a separate controller in order to drive the display since the controller included in the photo frame more then likely wouldnt be able to accept a VGA signal.

Additionally you would need to find a compatible cable to connect the panel to the controller. If you are proficient in electrical engineering you can get the data sheet for the LCD panel and design your own cable...

My opinion is it wouldnt be worth it since the availability of LCD controllers to the consumer market is very limited, and if you were able to find a compatible one the cost wouldnt justify using the photo frame in the first place...There are open frame monitors already on the market..

Here is a link to a VGA controller:
http://store.earthlcd.com/NK-GM2221-421-LCD-Controller-KIt?sc=7&category=99

And a LCD kit:
http://store.earthlcd.com/SK-1009T-SK1009T?sc=7&category=255

[737NGDriver]

I bought a fujitsu LT-500 Tablet I use for that http://www.pencomputing.com/images/fujitsu_lt500.jpg
I bought it like 4 years ago for approx $80 dollars. Its an awsome little thing, since its an actual PC lots of posibilites.

[Kennair]

I remember reading in a thread some time ago that someone was using one of these photo frames to display his check list items. He'd simply store the checklist as several jpg images and cycle through them as needed. Not really what you were asking i.e. full integration into the PC, however a clever idea for using the stock LCD photo frame all the same.

Ken.

[dnoize]

I bought a fujitsu LT-500 Tablet I use for that http://www.pencomputing.com/images/fujitsu_lt500.jpg
I bought it like 4 years ago for approx $80 dollars. Its an awsome little thing, since its an actual PC lots of posibilites.

I'm using the exact same tablet. perfect for an electronic flightbag, jeppessen simcharts, navigraph maps, etc.

I also have its bigger brother the 4120. Bit faster, bigger screen. Perfect as an instructors station.

to get back on topic: I think converting digital photoframes will be quite a job. Possible ? sure !
The photoframes dont take a video input by standard. So you will need to find the correct electronics to feed it the vga or video signal.
There are oem manufacturers that sell the vga bit seperately and the tft displays seperately. But at a price !!

i think in the end you will be cheaper off buying a cheap chinese 10 inch tft on ebay.
I have seen 10 inch touchscreens go on ebay for 100 euro's.

Stef

[Mike.Powell]

Samsung has some interesting photo frame products. Some update through WiFi, others through USB. From the Samsung website: "The SPF-85H does much more than display your photos. You can use it as a second PC monitor with a simple USB connection. (UbiSync Technology)" There are several related products.

I don't know what the update speed is. Going through a USB connection, it's likely to be on the slow side, but perhaps is fast enough to be useful in some applications.

[Sweetwater]

Hi Ken,

I am the person using the checklists on one... I am in the market now for a larger one with keys on the front. My original idea worked well but the setup and picture advance keys were on the side and it was a little cumbersome.

My thought now is a larger one and the checklists and airport diagrams/charts being there as well.. Been watching the Christmas flyers in hopes of finding one with a minimal frame around it and front buttons..

Then I will be in business..;););)

Jeff .

[dnoize]

the samsung one is an interesting find. Indeed i wonder how fast the refresh is. Going to search for a review now.

Here in europe the 8 inch version retails at around 120 dollars.

in that price range the next is an interesting find too. 8 inch touchscreen at 150 dollars:

http://cgi.ebay.com/8-VGA-AV-Touch-Screen-Car-PC-TFT-LCD-XGA-Monitor-CA_W0QQitemZ110318833686QQihZ001QQcategoryZ48609QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262

regular vga AND A/V input

stef

[Michael Carter]

I have an RFQ out to this company for a 12.1" LCD TFT kit.

I hope they come through for me.




Basically its a LCD panel...you would need to buy a separate controller in order to drive the display since the controller included in the photo frame more then likely wouldnt be able to accept a VGA signal.

Additionally you would need to find a compatible cable to connect the panel to the controller. If you are proficient in electrical engineering you can get the data sheet for the LCD panel and design your own cable...

My opinion is it wouldnt be worth it since the availability of LCD controllers to the consumer market is very limited, and if you were able to find a compatible one the cost wouldnt justify using the photo frame in the first place...There are open frame monitors already on the market..

Here is a link to a VGA controller:
http://store.earthlcd.com/NK-GM2221-421-LCD-Controller-KIt?sc=7&category=99

And a LCD kit:
http://store.earthlcd.com/SK-1009T-SK1009T?sc=7&category=255

[phil744]

Bit of a confession from me, I am one of these geeks who has a windows PC in my car (sounds odd i know) that i use for sat nav and music and back in the day when this was all new there was no real choice in small sub 10" tft's that would run on VGA before Liliput and Xenarc brought out there 7" VGA screens, so we obtained screens from anywhere we could, usually POS and free samples from China but all these screens would run on LVDS and i think digital photoframe screens still run on the same system. we used VIA ITX motherboards because they had LVDS built in as standard and I know some people have got these things working, the more popular choice were boards like Kontron DVI2LVDS interfaces but i think they are now discontinued.
http://uk.kontron.com/_etc/scripts/download/getdownload.php?downloadId=NA==

May be worth reading through some posts at mp3car to see how it can be done, its been years since ive tried anything like this as i am no expert

[colt45]

"in that price range the next is an interesting find too. 8 inch touchscreen at 150 dollars"{


I have been starting to think and plan on building a GPS unit. Searching for a PSOne Lcd screen to convert and then work on putting together buttons, encoders, panel etc to make it a go. However since I am just getting started and in the vein of "walk before you run" I am wondering if a touchscreen as mentioned earlier in this thread would be a good start. Set it up as a third monitor and undock the 530W GPS and drag and drop it. If I understand these touch screens right will I then be able to operate the buttons and dials with a touch of the finger instead of a mouse.

Am I on the right track?

Thanks, Dave

[project 727]

Perhaps the link below can be helpful

http://lcdtft.com/search_result.asp?MANUFACTURER=Computer%20LCD%20Monitors&CATEGORY=LCD%20Monitors

Happy Holidays To All

Joe Maldonado
PROJECT 727
www.xsn.net/project727 (http://www.xsn.net/project727)