New gLCD E-blocks

[beambase]

Hello
some months ago there was a thread about some new E-blocks based on 4D Systems LCD screens. Any news when they will be available and what the spec will be?

[Steve]

They are currently in production and will be available within a few weeks. There are 4 new products based on these displays:

• 1.44" TFT LCD (with joypad)
• 1.5" OLED (with joypad)
• 3.2" TFT LCD (with touchscreen)
• VGA output

Each has an integral SD card socket which can be used to display images, videos and sound files.

More details will be released shortly.

[JohnCrow]

Sounds like my credit card will be getting some more execise

[medelec35]

Wow 3.2" TFT LCD (with touchscreen),
That's definitely on my wish list to purchase when available!

[Steve001]

Sounds like my credit card will be getting some more execise

SNAP !!

[benp]

I have some project on 4dsystem 0.96" display.
The macro for 1.5" EB075 should almost work(maybe nothing to modify).
Is it possible for you to adapt the simulation to 0.96"?
Is it possible to simulate SD card?

[Steve]

I have some project on 4dsystem 0.96" display.
The macro for 1.5" EB075 should almost work(maybe nothing to modify).
Is it possible for you to adapt the simulation to 0.96"?
Is it possible to simulate SD card?

Simulations in Flowcode are surprisingy difficult to create and maintain, so this is not as easy as you'd expect. So in the short term, we have no plans to make these changes.

However, we are currently rewriting the component interface so that component creation is much simpler. We intend to publish this component creator tool (either as an interim release of V5, or as part of a V6 release next year) so that all Flowcode users can create or modify Flowcode components.

[Benj]

Hello,

The Flowcode component macros should all work fine with the display as long as you select the correct display type in the properties i.e. goldelox or picaso.

I would also strongly recommend using a hardware UART on your project if possible. The software UART works but can be a bit less reliable due to the nature of the data polling. Also any interrupts in the program can effect the software RS232 baud. There are known work arounds for these problems if you must use a software UART.

I'm afraid there is no current gLCD simulation regarding the SD card functions and indeed any of the advanced 4D functions.

[Jay Dee]

Hi,
Has anyone made any good progress with these new 4D eblocks yet? A customer has asked for a graphic display to be added to a project, (I'm sure they think its a simple 5 minute job ) it would require several text and numerics updating as well as some graphical indicators and possibly bar level indicators. I checked the FC component and it covers drawing graphics pixel at a time or importing compleate images. The 4D site seems to imply they have widgets or similar which would significantly simplify the work, has anyone used such things?
Cheers guys, J.

[Benj]

Hello,

I have had a go with printing sprites from the sd card mounted on the back of the displays. It works pretty well but you have to spend some time getting to grips with the 4D graphics composer. Probably looking at a few hours to really get to grips with it all and then design a good looking GUI.

[benp]

I did one project with a 4d system display before it was mount on an eblock.
The development was not very easy because no simulation was possible.
It is possible to do a nice design with circles, point, text...
But the best and quickest way to design nice screens is the use of bmp or jpg images from sd card.
The easiest way to store images is with the usb to serial adapter from 4d system and the software provided by 4d system.
You can copy the command number shown int the software intoflowcode to use successfully the display!

Now, with the new EBlocks, it should be easier because there are macro and simulation(I didn't test it).

[Benj]

Now, with the new EBlocks, it should be easier because there are macro and simulation(I didn't test it).

I think the simulation only goes as far as the standard gLCD E-blocks and does not support things like reading / writing sprites or drawing circles etc.