LCD & CPU Modules For Game Cockpit Panels?

Milo_Mindbender writes "I'm working on designing a simulator cockpit, similar to the one shown here (about half way down the page) that I helped design while Chief Engineer at Virtual World Entertainment, in the mid 90's, for playing high-end multiplayer simulation games. I need a device to use for multiple small 'instrument panel' screens as seen in the photos. It needs to be off-the-shelf, panel mountable, color, under $400 in quantity, have USB to connect to the cockpit's main PC and have a CPU so it can generate or update simple graphics locally. The perfect thing would be a PDA minus batteries, case and with the ability to poll 8 or so buttons. Support for Embedded Linux would be nice too. Any ideas?"

Comments

These may be helpful...

[cr0sh]

While they may not be the ideal thing you are looking for, maybe they can help: LCD modules. A number of places sell them:

Matrix Orbital and CrystalFontz both sell serial capable LCD modules in a variety of formats. I didn't see any true graphic modules, but they may be able to get them. Most all have the capability to be backlit (and the backlights are BRIGHT) - note to those making custom PCs: They both sell drive bay insert kits for the LCDs, too...

Scott Edward's Electronics sells small serial graphic LCD displays, and also sells text only VFD displays (VFDs are vacuum flourescent displays - extremely bright). He sells one bay enclosure for one of the VFDs. His largest serial LCD graphic display is 128x64 pixels, backlit, and measures 88 x 38.8 mm.

Finally, Micro Electronics (MEC) sells a variety of LCDs - ma ny are HD44780-based, or compatible, so they are easy to wire up. However, they seem to have a line of graphics modules as well - I don't know if they are bare or have controllers, but the largest (SG320240B) has a resolution of 320x240 (viewable area of 120 x 90 mm). Unfortunately their pages seem to be having problems or something - call them up though, and talk to them. They have a very friendly and helpful staff.

Another option you might try looking into would be small TVs, driving them with a VGA->TV converter. A good converter will give nice results (I have an Averkey iMicro that is excellent and cheap - $100), even on a cheesy small TV. For simple status displays, it might work out well.

Hope this helps somewhat...

Worldcom - Generation Duh!

Maybe I Wasn't clear....

[Milo_Mindbender]

The cockpits you see in Dave & Busters, Jillians and some other places are the ones I helped design and write software for and yes, they were quite expensive to make!

Actually, the priciest bit was the flight-simulator-style infinity optics system which makes the display seem like looking out a window, but that's another story.

I don't think what I'm asking for is exactly a "magic answer" (note I'm looking for less than $400 PER SMALL SCREEN, not for the whole thing)...I mean, I could buy PDA's off-the-shelf (wholesale, quantity) for under $400 each and come up with a way to mount them on the panel. I was hoping someone would have seen something similar but easier to mount/use...considering I don't need a super-compact design with batteries, touch screen...etc. you would think there MIGHT be a cheaper solution out there than buying a PDA.

I have looked into multi-head video cards (which are expensive because not a lot are sold) but seeing as how I want to drive 5-6 of these little screens by the time you deal with (Linux) driver integration, cost of card, monitors and a motherboard with enough slots it can easily come to around $400 per monitor. A little programmable box has the potential to work so much better, and it moves all the drawing overhead off of the main CPU.