adding Matrix Orbital VK204-24 to LCD Driver

[mholgate]

Hi there,

The Matrix Orbital vk204-24 is not available as a device in LCD Driver's Settings dialog.

For the moment I have set LCD Driver to think I have a 204-25 attached as these devices are similar.

However, the 'brightness' setting does not work at all, probably due to differences in the raw commands send to the device.

Does anyone know how to change the current brightness setting in the definition file to be:

hex: FE 59 [brightness]
decimal: 254 89 [brightness]

Thanks,

Marc.

[MMcM]

The Set brightness command is FE 59 for both.
For the -25, the data byte is 0 = 100%, 1 = 75 %, 2 = 50%, 3 = 25%.
For the -24, the data byte is 0 - FF with larger = brighter.
So, both the range and sign have changed.

It should be an easy addition. Everything else looks compatible.

I'm putting it on the list to get to as soon as I can. There's a bit of a backlog, and I apologize to everyone for that.

[Ron]

Hi Mike,

Welcome back!

[mholgate]

Mike,

ok, thanks for the response.

PS> forgot to mention that i have the Matrix Orbital vk204-24-USB version.

[MMcM]

I checked the various online datasheets more carefully and they are contradictory. Each of the two sizes (2 and 4 lines) and each of the two interfaces (RS-232 and USB) makes four devices. Each manual explains the codes twice, once in detail and once in summary. These eight places give conflicting answers. I am waiting for someone from Matrix Orbital to clear this up.

In the meantime, 2.10 takes a stab at it, assuming 0-FF larger is brighter as I said above. This seems likely since the manual says it's the same one place, and we know that isn't true since it doesn't work. And this is what it says in the other place.

Download this new version from SourceForge and give it a try. Let me know if it works now.

Once I get a straight answer from the manufacturer, I'll see that the code is up to date.

[mholgate]

Excellent :D - Brightness setting now appears to work using LCD Driver 2.10 with VK204-24-USB
Thanks Mike.

In the Settings dialog, the Brightness setting produces dimmer brightness with the slider to the right. Is this the correct way round it should be?

However, although the Brightness setting in the furthest right position results in a dimmer display, I would have thought it would be possible to make the display even dimmer. Hum, perhaps this is a hardware limitation?


Marc.

[OzWiz]

Mike,

Thanks for your great work on this driver. I have the same setup as Marc, right down to the case. MO VK204-24 USB

I am using Mike Cumming's LCD Master .. (Marc I have made a new MBM display if you would like a copy)

I have downloaded the 2.10 version of the LCD plugin, but I am unable to get any keypad events in Girder. I did have a problem with the display originally, but Matrix Orbital has replaced the display and I am able to get keypad events on LCDC and LCD Tester from MO.

I do have the 'enable keypad input' checked in the settings. I am able to display text .. so clearly part of the functions are working.

UPDATE: Marc gave me some ideas and one of them solved the problem. I had set the port settings for the MO Com3 driver OK, but had neglected to set the Com Port settings to 19200 themselves. This corrected my keypad issues.


Thanks in advance,

Tom

[OzWiz]

Mike,

What type of skills would it take to adapt the driver to provide more specific functionality -- namely more transition effects, scrolling, etc. that are supported by this device?

Thanks,

Tom