IbmPosDisplay: Difference between revisions
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The characters on the display are of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacuum_fluorescent_display VFD] type, in blue/cyan. | The characters on the display are of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacuum_fluorescent_display VFD] type, in blue/cyan. | ||
== Interface == | |||
The interface to the display consists of 4 wires, probably an RS485 interface, possibly: | The electrical interface to the display consists of 4 wires, probably an RS485 interface, possibly: | ||
* ground | * ground | ||
* power (5V?) - red | * power (5V?) - red | ||
* | * data A (inverting), D- | ||
* | * data B (non-inverting), D+ | ||
A very simple RS232-to-RS485 conversion can be done by simply biasing the inverting data pin (data A) to half the supply voltage, and connecting the RS232 data line directly to the non-inverting data pin (data B). | |||
== TODO == | |||
* Are we really sure this it has an RS485 interface? (where did that idea come from?) | |||
* Figure out baud rate | |||
* Write software to control the display | |||
External links: | == External links == | ||
Possible protocol descriptions: | |||
* possible protocol description: [http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=pos1R1004948 SurePOS 500 Device Commands: 2x20 Customer Display] | * possible protocol description: [http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=pos1R1004948 SurePOS 500 Device Commands: 2x20 Customer Display] | ||
* appendix G ("Input/Output device commands ", page 56) of [http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=pos1R1003129&aid=1 SurePOS 500 Model XX3 Technical System Reference, version 1.3] | * appendix G ("Input/Output device commands ", page 56) of [http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=pos1R1003129&aid=1 SurePOS 500 Model XX3 Technical System Reference, version 1.3] | ||
Revision as of 16:14, 20 March 2014
| Project IbmPosDisplay | |
|---|---|
| Status | Initializing |
| Contact | bertrik |
| Last Update | 2014-03-20 |
In this project, an old IBM point-of-sale (POS) display is reverse engineered to display arbitrary text. The goal of this project is not entirely clear.
The display in question contains two rows of 20 characters each. The characters on the display are of the VFD type, in blue/cyan.
Interface
The electrical interface to the display consists of 4 wires, probably an RS485 interface, possibly:
- ground
- power (5V?) - red
- data A (inverting), D-
- data B (non-inverting), D+
A very simple RS232-to-RS485 conversion can be done by simply biasing the inverting data pin (data A) to half the supply voltage, and connecting the RS232 data line directly to the non-inverting data pin (data B).
TODO
- Are we really sure this it has an RS485 interface? (where did that idea come from?)
- Figure out baud rate
- Write software to control the display
External links
Possible protocol descriptions:
- possible protocol description: SurePOS 500 Device Commands: 2x20 Customer Display
- appendix G ("Input/Output device commands ", page 56) of SurePOS 500 Model XX3 Technical System Reference, version 1.3