BlackThornDemon

Sounds awesome, right?

I've yet to find some type of lcd gauge cluster for our 4th gens. So I had the thought of making a custom one. Right now I'm still researching, but any info would be helpful.

In theory I only need a few things:
1) LCD Panel (cut to shape of oem cluster)
2) LCD controller (gpu, nvidia makes some but I think that price point would be too high)
3) Input controller (the logic, it tells the lcd controller what to display)
4) Raw inputs (via the oem harnesses, not obd2)

Here's the information I have so far (may not be accurate):
1) The brake, cel, battery, etc. lights are simple. If they receive 12 volts, they're on, if not they're off.
2) The speed, rpms, fuel, and temp are resistive. Basically the voltage changes based on the sensor (I think?). If that's true, I would only need to figure out the ohms for max and min. The rest would be a little bit of math.

Now, I could use a bluetooth obd2 adapter for this. It would give me more information than the standard oem cluster, and let me read out obd2 codes on the dash (AWESOME!). But, I've found that bluetooth obd2 connectors are not 'real time'. They take maybe half a second to actually poll the results. Which would not work at all. Please let me know if you have a suggestion about this.

I could still use the bluetooth obd2 connector to read out obd2 codes on the display. But, that would require a touch screen, which would raise the price point quite high. Obviously a touch screen would be an *option*.

If I do ever get past a prototype stage I would like to offer it to the org. It would also be based on a plug and play style. You'd take out your old cluster, then gut it. Insert the lcd panel and controllers into the cluster assembly. Hook it up to the oem harnesses, and put it back in.

Cebby

iTrader: (6)

I had something similar to this one built for my Celica I had.

http://www.dakotadigital.com/index.c...rod/prd487.htm

I had put a remote radio display in my cluster along with the digital gauges for IASCA sound off comps.

rayrobot

really cool idea, good luck.

nismomaxgtr18

iTrader: (5)

Subscribed. Sounds interesting.

BlackThornDemon

So you can get small lcd panels for less than $10.

Sounds pretty cheap for the prototype stage. Which means I can fry up as many small lcd panels as I want.

eddie982

iTrader: (10)

is it worth the trouble?

BlackThornDemon

Trouble?


Or learning experience?

BlackThornDemon

Update.

Just ordered an Arduino: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11021
And small LCD: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10168

As for the actual LCDs, I was quoted $1200 min 'tooling cost' and need a min of 1,000 orders. So I must find some other method of getting a custom LCD.

Morpheus2010

iTrader: (2)

Im def interested. Check out tru vue monitors they make custom lcd touchsreen monitors. I just for them to make me one for my car pc.
http://www.tru-vumonitors.com/
just doing some research here is one guy that did it for his 2003 eclipse