A newbie question

blarson · Post by **blarson** » Wed Oct 10, 2001 3:54 am

I am really wanting to get an LCD for my computer, but I had a couple questions first.

1. Can I add a couple buttons to the LCD4041 or LK404-55, so that they would look like the BLK202A? The purpose of this would be to scroll through the various information that is sent to the LCD.

2. I would like to have some LEDs below the LCD that would act as a VU (Show the volume coming out of the speakers)... Preferably this would be done through the same serial cable. Does this sound feasible?

Thanks a lot for any and all help!

-Brad Larson

Post by **Aniso** » Wed Oct 10, 2001 4:54 am

Sure, you can add buttons to the LK404-55 (55 of them if you want).

As for the LEDs, I think that unit has just 1 (or none) outputs for that, so the VU is out. Might I suggest, though that since the display is as large as it is, that you use the display itself for the VU function. I have done this and it looks cool.

PatO · Post by **PatO** » Fri Nov 02, 2001 5:52 pm

Why not?
This graphic of the 4041:
http://www.matrixorbital.com/manuals/lc ... 9Cable.jpg
Shows that the display only uses 3 (or 4) wires. Would you be able to use the remaining 6 wires for another signal? I don't have a spec sheet about 9-pin serial ports in front of me but I'd imagine there has got to be another pair of hots and grounds in there....

jodynicH · Post by **jodynicH** » Sun Nov 04, 2001 1:33 pm

ground wires are identical in every way to other wires, just are grounded

Post by **linear** » Mon Nov 05, 2001 9:51 pm

You know, the LM3915 makes a wicked VU meter for just a couple bux. The circuit is on page two of the datasheet: http://www.national.com/ads-cgi/viewer. ... =sppig4100

Post by **linear** » Mon Nov 05, 2001 9:54 pm

Hey, sorry to reply to myself, but I just noticed your location blarson. Greets from Overland Park, dude. (That's on the east coast of Kansas for the rest of you peeps.)