[Lcdproc] Make a driver for Mplay blast vfd from VLsystem corp.

[Benoit Laurent]

Le mardi 17 avril 2007 19:31, Peter Marschall a =E9crit=A0:
> Hi Benoit,
>
> On Sunday, 8. April 2007 18:30, Benoit Laurent wrote:
> Benoit Laurent <ben905@free.fr>> Hi all,
>
> > I have in project to write a driver for the mplay module (mine is the o=
ne
> > in HD135 Zalman case) and i want to know if anybody is interesting in
> > helping me to write or test it.
> >
> > The module is compose with a 20x2 vfd display, a remote controle, 2 fans
> > and 2 thermo sensors.
> >
> > The vfd is compatible with the LIS2 driver exept that we need to modify
> > the baud rate. I actualy use this hack but I'm not fully satisfy and my
> > goal is to write a driver that enable all the features of the module
> > (backligth control, modificable font, remote control (with lirc), fan
> > control and thermal sensor) . I actualy have all the information that i=
'm
> > need about the protocol but i don't really know where to start for the
> > rest, if you have any ideas about possible driver architecture or advis=
e,
> > this will be welcome.
>
> if the display is almost compatible with the LIS2, as a first step you can
> write a patch to allow the lis2 connection type to set the interface speed
> depending on the Speed config option.
>
> BTW I quite convinced that the display in your case is one of the LIS
> series made by vlsys.co.kr.
> So I'd rather have it supproted using the lis2 driver than another one.
>
> Regarding the features you mention, I guess a lot is already in LCDproc:
> - backligth control: supported by the server core, but maybe not yet
>   by the HD44780 driver (resp. the lis2 connectuion type in the hd44780
>   driver)
> - modificable font: horizonal/vertical bars as well as large numbers are
>   supproted by LCDproc
> - remote control (with lirc): have a look at the lirc input driver
> - fan control and thermal sensor: LCDproc does not have an infrstructure
>   for that.
>
> Hope it helps
> Peter

Hi Peter,

Vlsys have two series of vfd the LIS serie and the mplay serie like we can =
see=20
on her web site ( http://vlsys.co.kr/English/product.php ). The LIS is only=
 a=20
VFD/LCD indicator whereas the MPLAY serie associate an indicator with a=20
remote controller. The one in my case (=20
http://www.zalman.co.kr/eng/product/view.asp?idx=3D219&code=3D029 ) really =
seem=20
to be a MPLAY (blast) because it support a remote controller, auto fan=20
controlling, remote pc power on/off, the remote of mplay blast is the same =
as=20
myne and the case is sold with a soft call mplay control center.

Write a patch, as a first step, is a good idea and i will try to make one b=
ut=20
i think that we will probably need at end different drivers for mplay and=20
lis.

Backlight control is not supported by the lis2 driver. It export a function=
=20
call lis2_HD44780_backlight() but the body is just this comment: /* No=20
backlight control */.=20
The LIS driver has too a function call SetFan() that configure fan speed bu=
t=20
the protocol is not compatible with mplay one.

By modificable font, I mean that at start the mplay modify the char 0x00 to=
=20
0x08 to display a logo animation and the driver (if i write it ;-) ) need t=
o=20
modify this 8 char to be compliant with the one use by lcdproc.

Can you say me in wich files modificable font are define in lcdproc
and can you explain your idea with the lirc input driver ?

Thanks for your answer,
Regards, Ben.