Re: LCD Dash......Can It Be Done??

[Ewan Marshall - Frans Maas Linlithgow <Ewan.Marshall@UK.Sun.COM>]

My dad is an Electrical Engineer BSc Honours Degree in Electrical engineering,
with 30 years computering experience.Currently builds and programs CPU's  
that control fire alarm system in nuclear reactor plants.He seems to think a 
LCD dash could be done....I'm not going to argue with him.

So,I guess thats one for no and one for yes

Ewen

	From: Vic Watson <vicw@bristol.st.com>
	To: scirocco-L@scirocco.org
	Subject: Re: LCD Dash......Can It Be Done??
	Mime-Version: 1.0
	
	On Oct 19,  2:08pm, Ewan Marshall - Frans Maas Linlithgow wrote:
	> Could a LCD monitor replace the job of all the analog dials in Mk2
	> European Rocco??
	
	Theoretically - yes. In practise - probably not.
	
	>(After having a look at the Electrical wiring diagram
	> last night,a monitor could be used,powered by a processor capable
	> of taking the work.
	
	An LCD monitor is not exactly cheap, and gives problems of viewing angle 
/
	contrast (esp. in bright sunlight conditions).
	
	> Most of the messages sent from the engine to dash
	> are in the good ole analog messages,but adding a AC/DC converter,
	
	Well, a DAC...
	
	> would let the processor process the information.Obviously, the
	> processor would have to be programed,which,so I'm told would be very
	> easy indeed,
	
	Errr... who told you this? Producing a graphical instrument display will 
take a
	certain amount of programming - getting it to run in real time (anything 
else
	is useless in a vehicle) is not a trivial task.
	
	> even putting in extras like custimising your dash every
	> time you get in the car!!!
	
	Again, more design effort...
	
	> More information about the cars performance
	> could be given aswell,in numerical and/or analog type by simply adding
	> a sensor in the area to be monitored.Coolant temp gauges in more than
	> one part of the cooling system,air temp,road temps
	
	All this is true.
	
	> and even the car stereo
	> could be linked into it.
	
	Well, that depends on the stereo.
	
	> I feel
	> thats its time cars caught up with technology and join the digital
	> revolution,
	
	IMHO technology should only be added if it improves the usability of 
something.
	I don't think this is true of an instrument cluster.
	
	> with the added great benefits in digital technology.
	
	Those benefits being ...?
	
	> Anyway,does anyone on the list have comments,opinions or ideas about 
this???
	> I think it could be done relatively easy,probably the hardest part 
being
	> fitting the LCD itself.Would it need the whole dash converting,or will
	> the LCD fit in the original gap where the old analog dials once 
proudly
	> sat??
	
	Physical positioning of the LCD is, in fact, fairly easy compared to the 
amount
	of work needed to realise such a system.
	
	Aside from the R&D to get it working, you then need to think about 
legality;
	the speedo needs to be accurate to avoid speeding tickets, and you need 
to come
	up with an anti-tamper system for the odometer.
	
	I would not undertake this project as a one-off; if any major car 
manufacturers
	want me to undertake a feasability study, please email ;)
	
	Vic.
	
	
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	| Vic Watson                              SGS-THOMSON Microelectronics |
	| Applications Engineer                   1000 Aztec West, Almondsbury |
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