Replies interleaved
On 11/6/2021 9:54 PM, peter bunge
wrote:
Thanks Harvey; I am not ruling anything out. I
would like the skills that NewScopes has.
High speed board design, FPGA programming, possibly some
microprocessor programming in C or C++.
I will take a look at those displays you mentioned. I can
do graphics on a 128x64 LCD using a Digole adapter driven?by a
PIC. That is easy.
The F469I-Disco board is an ST micro "discovery" board.?
Processor, SDRAM, FLASH RAM, SDcard interface, I2C, USB, built in
programmer, SPI, 800 x480 DSI MIPI (an interface) LCD display.
I would like a "C" compiler for my PC. with a useful
Graphics library. I just?installed one and wrote a
program. Next I will try drawing a box.
Microsoft's Visual C has a "community" version which is free (IIRC).
I would like to learn graphics on the RaspberryPi but?I
cannot find the right area. It seems to be all games
written in Python. It has always seemed?Mickey Mouse to
me.
The hardware isn't, some of the users might be.? Python is nice,
but I don't use it.? I do use C and C++, and have used Pascal.
I also need to learn to use the VESA library and find
out what software can use it. Is it free? I'm using
Prologix and EZGPIB now. It works.
You may just use the graphics additions to your compiler.
Everyone has free software but the free MS Visual C++
turned out to be $50/month. I wasted 2 weeks on?that when
I got?a?message saying my trial period was over.?
Community version....
I don't remember anything that?said?trial when I
downloaded?it. I thought it?was a stripped?down version.
I don't mind a few hundred $ like CCS C that?I use
often for programming PICs.
I am reluctant to learn Python (or Pascal for EZGPIB,
or R to?plot, or all the other suggestions that I am told
are so easy).
Well, let's see.
STMicro has a free C/C++ compiler based on eclipse which has a
chip configuration tool built in for their ARM processor.? If the
display on the board you get has a graphics display, you can use
it.? Chip setup and low level drivers are provided (drivers in 2
flavors HAL (higher level) and LL (lower level).? Their demo
packages use BSP drivers which are a bit more of a complete
package and combine some of the chip inits directly.
I've been doing microprocessor graphics for a bit, and am sitting
next to a Disco board running an LCARS display with buttons,
screen selection, Icons and an RTC.? There are easier ways to do
some of that, though.
I'd go for free to start with, and see what you can do.?
You may want to try the ProgramIO platform (IIRC), it also does
C, and may do it for the PC.? I think that there's a solution out
there that may do graphics in C++, though.? I just don't really
program on the PC in C++ for the PC.
You can likely (if you want) use either a Disco board, or maybe a
Nucleo 64 board and use an arduino compatible LCD display, which
takes care of the graphics angle, although it may only be 320 x
240.
ST also has FreeRTOS as an add-on and it is integrated into their
development system.
If you decide to do C++, (which you can) you need to know the
limitations of C++ in their system, do contact me off list.
Harvey
On Sat, Nov 6, 2021 at 9:04 PM
Harvey White <
madyn@...>
wrote:
You don't need to read the entire 1700 page book.? It's
useful for finding out exactly what a section does, or if
you wish to program in assembly (depending on which 1700
pages).? More important would be the board manual.
Once you start messing with graphics, things can be
complicated, but that very much depends on how you do it.?
There are drivers available that work on the board,
though.?
The one F469I-disco board needs only scaled inputs.? An
arduino style breadboard plugged in can likely give you
that and you can access the 4 ADC converter inputs and
protect the chip with op amp buffers.? The display is 800
x 480 with a 4 inch screen, similar to a cell phone.
There are ways to configure the chip fairly easily.? All
you need to do is write C code.?
If you can design and make PC boards, then a Nucleo-144
board with a homemade board can drive an LCD display.?
You'll have to roll your own software for that, though,
since most of the display hardware would not be
supported.?
For smaller projects, there's a Nucleo-32 board which has
the same form factor as an arduino Nano.? The Nucleo 64
boards (more powerful processor) have an arduino plugin
capability.
Harvey
On 11/6/2021 4:33 PM, peter bunge wrote:
I looked at the 1700 page data sheet for
the Arm Cortex 32 bit CPU and the much smaller
development board data sheet (30 pages?).
It looks complicated!
I have a RaspberryPi 3 inserted in a SmartiPi Touch
Case with wireless ISB keyboard. I think it would be
easier to use and it has a higher resolution screen.
$350 Cdn if I remember correctly.
It may be easier to replace in 5 years time when
the ST becomes obsolete.
I am impressed with the video and would
love to add an LCD to my HP4192A Impedance Analyzer
that has no CRT and expects an XYY analog pen
plotter.
Anyone interested please contact me privately
and maybe we can do something.
I also have a Tek 576 Curve Tracer but the CRT
is good and I have a spare. I can see the
advantages of updating it. Keep me in the loop,?I
may be able?to contribute.
I updated my HP8753B with the Newscope LCD and
am delighted with it. My HP8757C has a colour LCD
and is excellent but a bit dim in bright lighting,
as is my HP54542C DSO.
Getting a digital screen capture would be great
as well. My 3 HP mentioned have ways to get a
screen capture (John Miles 7470A emulator,
Prologix USB/GPIB, and a USB floppy reader).
What language is the software written in? I am
struggling with a decision to learn Python but
have pretty well decided to stick to C which I use
for programming PICs. Python would be a huge
distraction and time burner for me.
Peter
hi,
In the event of instrument CRT death, one might
want to do a replacement having an LCD display:
The question is:
-- are there any existing modules ( or schematics,
or projects )? that might be used for an HP older
instrument having an XY (XYZ or Vector) type CRT
that would allow replacement of the CTR with an
LCD ( & also provide a laptop connection for
data manipulation & saving ) ?
This question is for a Vector type XY or XYZ CRT??
found in some older scopes, ... & ? for
example the Tek 576 Curve Tracer ( CT ) :
??? {??? Raster type CRT to VGA type modules can
be had inexpensively on eBay for ~ $29,etc.? ....
and is not the topic in this thread }
There has been some recent discussion about this
for the Tek 576 CT on that Groups .io .... without
a resolution as of yet,
but the same solution *might* be of use to older
HP instruments as well ?
/g/TekScopes/topic/86718765
and
/g/TekScopes/topic/69490299#164207
Anyway, looking for a solution to this XY ( XYZ,
Vector )? type CRT to LCD problem.
{ Not wanting to replace the CRT with another CRT
! }
There is an example of someone doing a retrofit
add-on LCD module for an HP 141T 18GHz SA:
The individual did not make any further YouTube
video upgrades to that project; but it is a start
!
The discussed ST LCD module is not too expensive (
$55 to $130 ).
The video Arcade Game folks do have an expensive
module that can do this for their Vector type
CRT's,
... discussed in the Tek Curve Tracer CRT
discussion : /g/TekScopes/topic/86718765
However, this Tempest module ( ~$525 !! ) &
the NewScope modules are way too expensive !
-- So, would not be buying those at all !
So, looking for a less expensive module or
schematics of such to attempt a DIY for the XY
(XYZ or Vector) CRT to LCD replacement.
>> Anyone having specific detailed technical
knowledge for an XY (XYZ, Vector) to LCD module,
or schematics? to the above issue ?
? would be appreciated.
thank you,
rick
