Our new official repo is on github
LCD Smartie version 5.6 is released!
Download it now: https://github.com/LCD-Smartie/LCDSmartie/releases

FUTABA VFD 2x20 working on linux not in windows

Discussion about LCD's and other related hardware

Moderators: _X7JAY7X_, caesar, IFR, mattcro, limbo, Fast351, hydrolisk1792

Post Reply
Rodrigez
Posts: 7
Joined: March 23rd, 2009, 7:58 pm

FUTABA VFD 2x20 working on linux not in windows

Post by Rodrigez »

I have FUTABA VFD 2x20 model M202SD08GR_e PDF. connected via LPT port.

In LCDProc LINK under Ubuntu 10.8 VFD is working just fine. With MythTV is outstanding...

..but in windows (XP pro, Vista x86) using LCDsmartie with Futaba VFD driver set on LPT port (both LPT1 and $378) the text is showing with strange characters. Also randomly because first character is not on the first line and place it changes place scrolling along with text. (basically LCDsmartie driver recognize VFD module as the one line). I have also no brightness controll.

The only change I have made to LCDproc config file after setting proper port configuration is section

Code: Select all

# Number of Custom-Characters [default: displaytype dependent]
Custom-Characters=0
where I changed value to 0 (zero). I can control brightness with four levels.

Any hints for windows! I need to make this working....please help.


Whole LCDd.config file:

Code: Select all

# LCDd.conf -- configuration file for the LCDproc server daemon LCDd
#
# This file contains the configuration for the LCDd server.
# 
# The format is ini-file-like. It is divided into sections that start at
# markers that look like [section]. Comments are all line-based comments,
# and are lines that start with '#' or ';'.
#
# The server has a 'central' section named [server]. For the menu there is
# a section called [menu]. Further each driver has a section which
# defines how the driver acts.
#
# The drivers are activated by specifiying them in a driver= line in the
# server section, like:
#
# Driver=curses
#
# This tells LCDd to use the curses driver.
# The first driver that is loaded and is capable of output defines the
# size of the display. The default driver to use is curses.
# If the driver is specified using the -d <driver> command line option,
# the Driver= options in the config file are ignored.
#
# The drivers read their own options from the respective sections.



## Server section with all kinds of settings for the LCDd server ##
[server]

# Tells the server to load the given drivers. Multiple lines can be given.
# The name of the driver is case sensitive and determines the section
# where to look for further configuration options of the specific driver
# as well as the name of the dynamic driver module to load at runtime.
# The latter one can be changed by giving af File= directive in the
# driver specific section.
#
# The following drivers are supported:
#   bayrad, CFontz, CFontz633, CFontzPacket, curses, CwLnx, ea65, 
#   EyeboxOne, g15, glcdlib, glk, hd44780, icp_a106, imon, IOWarrior,
#   irman, joy, lb216, lcdm001, lcterm, lirc, MD8800, ms6931, mtc_s16209x,
#   MtxOrb, NoritakeVFD, picolcd, pyramid, sed1330, sed1520, serialPOS,
#   serialVFD, sli, stv5730, svga, t6963, text, tyan, ula200, xosd
  Driver=serialVFD

# Tells the driver to bind to the given interface
Bind=127.0.0.1

# Listen on this specified port; defaults to 13666.
Port=13666

# Sets the reporting level; defaults to 2 (warnings and errors only).
ReportLevel=2

# Should we report to syslog instead of stderr ? Default: no
ReportToSyslog=no

# Sets the default time in seconds to displays a screen.
WaitTime=5

# User to run as.  LCDd will drop its root priviledges,
# if any, and run as this user instead.
User=rycho

# If yes,  the the serverscreen will be rotated as a usual info screen. If no,
# it will be a background screen, only visible when no other screens are
# active.
#ServerScreen=no

# The server will stay in the foreground if set to true.
#Foreground=no

# Where can we find the driver modules ?
# IMPORTANT: Make sure to change this setting to reflect your
#            specific setup! Otherwise LCDd won't be able to find
#            the driver modules and will thus not be able to
#            function properly.
# NOTE: Always place a slash as last character !
DriverPath=/usr/lib/lcdproc/

# GoodBye message: each entry represents a display line; default: builtin
GoodBye="    Linux  Ubuntu    "
GoodBye="  Home Media Center "

# The "...Key=" lines define what the server does with keypresses that
# don't go to any client.
# These are the defaults:
# ToggleRotateKey=Enter
# PrevScreenKey=Left
#NextScreenKey=Right
#ScrollUpKey=Up
#ScrollDownKey=Down

# If you have only 4 keys, you can choose to use this:
#ToggleRotateKey=Enter
#PrevScreenKey=Up
#NextScreenKey=Down

# If you have only 3 keys, you can choose to use this:
#ToggleRotateKey=Enter
#PrevScreenKey=Up



## The menu section. The menu is an internal LCDproc client. ##
[menu]
# You can configure what keys the menu should use. Note that the MenuKey
# will be reserved exclusively, the others work in shared mode.

# The following works excellent with 4 keys or more.
#MenuKey=Escape
#EnterKey=Enter
#UpKey=Up
#DownKey=Down
# If you have 6 keys you may define these as well
#LeftKey=Left
#RightKey=Right

# If you have only 3 keys, you could use something like this:
#MenuKey=Escape
#EnterKey=Enter
#DownKey=Down



### Driver sections are below this line, in alphabetical order  ###

## Drives various (see below) serial 5x7dot VFD's.  ##
[serialVFD]

# Specifies the displaytype.[default: 0]
# 0 NEC (FIPC8367 based) VFDs.
# 1 KD Rev 2.1.
# 2 Noritake VFDs (*).
# 3 Futaba VFDs
# (* most should work, not testet yet.)
Type=3

# "no" if display connected serial, "yes" if connected parallel. [default: no(=serial)]
use_parallel=yes

# Number of Custom-Characters [default: displaytype dependent]
Custom-Characters=0

# Portaddress where the LPT is. Used in parallelmode only. Usual values are 0x278, 0x378 and 0x3BC
Port=0x378

# Device to use in serial mode. Usual values are /dev/ttyS0 and /dev/ttyS1
#Device=/dev/lp0

# Specifies the size of the VFD.
Size=20x2

# Set the initial brightness [default: 1000; legal: 0 - 1000]
# (4 steps 0-250, 251-500, 501-750, 751-1000)
Brightness=750
# Set the initial off-brightness [default: 0; legal: 0 - 1000]
# This value is used when the display is normally
# switched off in case LCDd is inactive
# (4 steps 0-250, 251-500, 501-750, 751-1000)
OffBrightness=250

# set the serial port speed [default: 9600; legal: 1200, 2400, 9600, 19200, 115200]
#Speed=9600

# enable ISO 8859 1 compatibility [default: yes; legal: yes, no]
CharEncoding=iso8859-1
ISO_8859-1=no

# EOF

caesar
Forum Supporter
Posts: 734
Joined: October 15th, 2005, 10:39 am
Location: Romania
Contact:

Post by caesar »

You must setup Smartie with the display size too!
Just select 2x20 from the drop down menu. That setting should get you out of the special addressing the dll uses for 1x16 screens.

Rodrigez
Posts: 7
Joined: March 23rd, 2009, 7:58 pm

Post by Rodrigez »

I have already set the proper size 2x20. I have also played around with this feature setting 1x40 as well. I have also checked others .dll drivers where I could set LPT port. no luck :( f....

I am going to buy LPT to USB connector to use USB driven .dll to find out if some of that type LCD drivers will support mine VFD display.

caesar
Forum Supporter
Posts: 734
Joined: October 15th, 2005, 10:39 am
Location: Romania
Contact:

Post by caesar »

Rodrigez wrote:I am going to buy LPT to USB connector to use USB driven .dll to find out if some of that type LCD drivers will support mine VFD display.
USB-LPT cables do not work! don't throw your money.

You can check the wiring to match these circuits: http://lcdsmartie.sourceforge.net/circuits.htm

Rodrigez
Posts: 7
Joined: March 23rd, 2009, 7:58 pm

Post by Rodrigez »

Wiring is OK. I have checked cables on diferent PC running Vista, XP and linux. On linux is working OK when changing Custom-Characters to 0!
In Windows environment both on XP and Vista VFD has the same issue.

So I thing I need to work on FutabaVFD.dll source code and change its values to described in serialVFD linux settings. Does anyone else can do it... I am better in soldering then programming :?

caesar
Forum Supporter
Posts: 734
Joined: October 15th, 2005, 10:39 am
Location: Romania
Contact:

Post by caesar »

Do you have any link to the wiring diagram you used?
I'll have a look at it later.

Got the datasheet and need your current wiring diagram.

Rodrigez
Posts: 7
Joined: March 23rd, 2009, 7:58 pm

Post by Rodrigez »

This is my wiring
20 pin connector on futaba VFD module to LPT parallel port
Image

caesar
Forum Supporter
Posts: 734
Joined: October 15th, 2005, 10:39 am
Location: Romania
Contact:

Post by caesar »

There is something fishy with that diagram.

On LPT pins 14 and 16 should have been used and pins 10-13 should be unconnected.

Do you know what the naming of the VFD pins?

Rodrigez
Posts: 7
Joined: March 23rd, 2009, 7:58 pm

Post by Rodrigez »

VFD module Pinout
1. D7
2.+5V
3. D6
4. +5V
5. D5
6 +5V
7. D4
8. GND
9. D3
10. GND
11. D2
12.GND
13. D1
14. GND
15. D0

so far so good
and now

16. TEST (always to +5V or unconnected otherwise if you want see all characters table connect to GND)
17. WR ?
18. SEL ?
19. RXD (not connected via LPT)
20. BUSY ?

Any ideas how to connect to respective LPT pins?
Last edited by Rodrigez on April 3rd, 2009, 8:04 am, edited 1 time in total.

caesar
Forum Supporter
Posts: 734
Joined: October 15th, 2005, 10:39 am
Location: Romania
Contact:

Post by caesar »

Well, I found this datasheet and it explains a little more clear your display.

As I see it, D0 to D7 are ok, the ground must be connected together at printer port, display and power connection.

LPT pins 1, 10 to 13 are unconnected
WR is to be tied to LPT pin 14

VFD pins TEST is unconnected, SEL is tied to GND

Test this and report back.

Rodrigez
Posts: 7
Joined: March 23rd, 2009, 7:58 pm

Post by Rodrigez »

Not working switching pin 1 to 14 ( (has to be pin1) other changes according your suggestion... now I have only moved back from LPT1 pin14 to pin1

I improved description labels
16. TEST (always to +5V or unconnected otherwise if you want see all characters table connect to GND)
17. WR ?
18. SEL ?
19. RXD (not used via LPT)
20. BUSY ?

now I am looking to timing issues according to manual and LPT port just like here

Eugene
Posts: 22
Joined: May 10th, 2006, 7:48 pm

Post by Eugene »

I'm in the process of preparing v2.0 of FutabaVFD_LCD.dll driver.

I made this mod of original HD44780.dll some time ago and it worked fine with my Futaba M242SD04AJ display. But after a hardware update I have got problems with garbled characters.

Your post gave me a clue - the problem is with custom chars. Now I'm investigating parallel interface timings and cleaning up the code. Hope new version will be available shortly.

caesar
Forum Supporter
Posts: 734
Joined: October 15th, 2005, 10:39 am
Location: Romania
Contact:

Post by caesar »

Thanks Eugene! Please add it to the forums when it's ready.

Rodrigez
Posts: 7
Joined: March 23rd, 2009, 7:58 pm

Post by Rodrigez »

Eugene, I am waiting for the fruit of your work.

Eugene
Posts: 22
Joined: May 10th, 2006, 7:48 pm

Post by Eugene »

The work is still in progress. Rodrigez, could you test beta versions as they are ready?

Custom chars are not the only reason of corrupted display. There is an error somewhere in code that corrupts CGRAM and DDRAM of the display.

I made a version without CC and it is more stable, but after some time display gets garbled. It would be interesting to try this build on your PC.

Eugene
Posts: 22
Joined: May 10th, 2006, 7:48 pm

Post by Eugene »

Cannot add attachments to the forum... Anybody can help me?

caesar
Forum Supporter
Posts: 734
Joined: October 15th, 2005, 10:39 am
Location: Romania
Contact:

Post by caesar »

post a link to mediafire or rapidshare and I'll add it here.

PS: under the message there should be a "Add an Attachment" region.

Eugene
Posts: 22
Joined: May 10th, 2006, 7:48 pm

Post by Eugene »

Rodrigez

Version 2.5 beta 1 of FutabaVFD_LCD driver is out. Look into this thread for download link:

http://forums.lcdsmartie.org/viewtopic.php?t=1907

This new version works perfectly for me for a week. Try it and put your comments on the forum.

Post Reply