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Ask Slashdot: Hobbyist-Ready LCD Touch Panel For Embedded Projects?

Posted by timothy on from the you-could-take-my-stack-of-dead-laptops dept.

michael_cain writes "I've been asked (by family, friends) to consider several small embedded controller projects. A good starting point for all of them would be a backlit LCD graphics module with touch screen pre-mounted in a plastic enclosure with enough room behind the display for a custom circuit board. 320-by-240 pixels, 3.5 to 4.5 inch diagonal measure, monochrome is sufficient (but color is always cool), easily driven by an AVR or PIC type microcontroller. And priced at a reasonable point for a hobbyist! Anyone seen anything like this?"

8 of 142 comments (clear)

  1. Largest I've found so far. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    http://www.adafruit.com/products/376

    2.8", touch screen, colour. /shrugs/

  2. Here's an Arduino by YasonRohan · · Score: 5, Informative

    http://arduino.cc/playground/SmartGPU/SmartGPU

  3. Mikroe has them (no package) by Matt_Bennett · · Score: 4, Informative

    MikroElectronika has some for various microcontrollers- they don't have packaging, but the whole thing is pretty self contained. The link above is for Microchip PIC32, but there are a bunch of other microcontroller boards available from them.

  4. AdaFruit or SparkFun by zerosomething · · Score: 4, Informative

    http://www.adafruit.com/category/63 http://www.sparkfun.com/categories/76

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    It all starts at 0
  5. Sparkfun by subreality · · Score: 4, Informative

    Sparkfun has lots of hobbyist-friendly parts, including LCDs: http://www.sparkfun.com/categories/76?sort_by=price_desc

    The only thing they're missing from your requirements is an enclosure, but certainly you can hack something together.

  6. Re:Old smart phone by LanMan04 · · Score: 4, Informative

    Yes, this is the way to go. Grab an older Android phone.

    Fuck micro-controllers, just write an app. It's got wifi, bluetooth, ethernet (I assume that can be done over USB easily), haptic feedback...what else do you want on a hobby board?

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    With the first link, the chain is forged.
  7. Re:7 and 8 inchs sizes at LogicSupply by cstdenis · · Score: 4, Informative

    These should give you some ideas

    http://www.sparkfun.com/products/8977
    http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10089
    http://www.sparkfun.com/products/11075

    http://www.sparkfun.com/categories/76

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    1984 was not supposed to be an instruction manual.
  8. Missing the point by michael_cain · · Score: 5, Informative

    Clearly, I didn't make my point in the original post; my bad. The "pre-mounted in a plastic enclosure" is perhaps the most important feature. I know where to find naked displays; what I want to avoid is the homemade plastic box, with things cut/fastened ever so slightly off center, odd screws showing, etc. And while I appreciate the "just write an app" suggestions, in some cases the box will end up mounted on a wall, in at least one the controller will be driving relays to switch higher voltages, in another there will be some odd sensors, and so forth. Don't need processor boards, don't need an unmounted display. Need an LCD with touch panel mounted very neatly and solidly in a reasonable-looking box. Apologies for not being clearer.