Hi,
Finally, I got around to gather the parts and build the USB LCD backpack already mentioned here: viewtopic.php?f=60&t=3862 (http://dangerousprototypes.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=60&t=3862)
When I connected it to the PC (Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit) it recognized the new hardware and installed all the necessary files automatically from Windows Update. I now have 2 new devices (USB Serial converter and something else I can't remember) working properly in Device Manager. It also prompted me to restart the computer, which I did.
With the test applicaiton (USB_LCD_Backpack_V03.exe) I can switch the backlight on and off, but nothing else. It doesn't give me any error messages either. I can set the backlight and the contrast with the pots on the board, although I have to mention, that I had to add a jumper wire to the board connecting the unconnected end of the pot that controls contrast to GND to make it work (although I don't think this is the problem).
The LCD shows that familiar screen with black blocks until halfway, which usually means it's not properly initialized.
I have double checked the soldering and each wire between the FT232 and the LCD and found no shorts and no missing ones.
I suspect the test app is not designed for this version of the board. Any idea, anybody?
thanks!
vitya
Hi vitya,
Unfortunately you are correct, the test app was only designed for the biggest version of the LCD backpack.
[quote author="ian"]Hi vitya,
Unfortunately you are correct, the test app was only designed for the biggest version of the LCD backpack.[/quote]
Hmmmm, OK, but then can you point me to some documentation that does apply to this version? Otherwise I'm stuck.... I have never done any USB-Serial projects and I planned to learn it from this :)
thanks!
vitya
There is software for the bigger board that might serve as an example, but I don't think there is any documentation for this version, it was just an alternate prototype.
http://code.google.com/p/dangerous-prot ... p%2Fsource (http://code.google.com/p/dangerous-prototypes-open-hardware/source/browse/#svn%2Ftrunk%2FLCD_Backpack_FT232_Universal%2FSoftware%2FMcZ-app%2Fsource)