The serialVFD-driver should work with all NEC FIPC8367 based VFDs:
NEC FC20X2JA
NEC FM20X2KB-AB
NEC FC20X1SA-AB/AA
...
Tested only on: NEC FM20X2KB-AB
The driver also works (tested) on "KD Rev 2.1" (an ATMEL AT90S....
based FM20X2KB-AB replacement).
Note: Above char. 128 the FIPC-displays and KD's charactersets
are different.
The driver may work or will be easy to get working on the following
Displays / Controllers (not tested!).
Display: Controller:
FUTABA M204SD01AA FUTABA 5P00A016
Noritake CU20026SCPB-T (microcontroller)
Noritake CU20045SCPB-T28A ?
... or compatible.
(most Futaba/Noritake 7x5 dot VFDs with serial(rs232) interface
(including serial(rs232)/parallel types))
Maybe there are little changes in the commands to do to get all
functions to work correctly. But because of the similarity of the
protocols, it wont be much work.
If you want to add a new device to the driver add a new section
to the displaytype-switch-case in the init-function and fill it
with the correct commands for the display.
(Try which displaytype works best with your display, copy and modify
it's section that is the easiest way I guess.)
On this page I found pictures and datasheets from the VFD's:
http://www.maltepoeggel.de/html/vfd/index.html
It is possible to switch the display off and back on while the server is
running. It may take a few minutes untill the next full refresh makes
the display show everything correctly.
To enable the bignumbers on 2-line displays (only this driver supports
this yet) you have to edit "/clients/lcdproc/chrono.c" before compiling.
In function "big_clock_screen" you have to replace the "4" by a "2" in
this line: "if (lcd_hgt < 4)"
This driver uses the serial mode of the displays.
It is NOT possible to connect most of the displays directly to the
serialport. The signal has to be inverted. I use the following
circuit to do that job.
Computer Display
(signal)
HDD Powerconnector
color(Voltage)
red(+5V) --------------------------------o----- +5V
|
black(GND) --------------------o |
| R
| R 10k
Serial(SUB-D 9Pin female) V* R
pin(signal) |
|
3(TxD) --RRRR--o--o o-----------------o----- RxD
10k | | |
| | C|
| | ----- BC547c (or similar NPN)
R | B| / |
10k R o--|-| |
R | \ |
| --->- A*
| E| |
| | |
5(GND) --------o----------o----o----------------- GND
Shield ------------------------------------------
optional
*connect near display
The pins on the different displays vary.
FM20X2KB-AB:
CN1:
Pin 33 <--- RxD
(Testmode: connect pins 25 & 26 then power up)
CN2:
Pin 1 <--- +5V
Pin 2 ---- GND
KD Rev 2.1:
blue connector (6pin in a row) (the important one!):
--------------------------------
| +5V +5V RxD GND GND GND |
--------------------------------
NOTE: hold the display in that position where you can read
the "KD Rev 2.1" marking normally!
gray connector (10pin 2 rows):
Do not use. (the ATMEL ISP connector I guess)
The two jumpers next to the gray connector:
Normally not used.
You can activate two different testmodes with them.
