Matrix user forums

Greetings all,

I have a feeling I will need to use a Touch enabled GLCD in the near future which devices, if any, are supported?

I've been looking at the 4D systems uLCD-43pt (4dLCD-FT843) for no other reason that a good looking panel bezel can be purchased to go with it

Thanks
Matt

Hi Matt,

Have you seen this display, it's using one of our new ST ARM devices and features a large colour screen with cap touch. Maybe a bit cheaper and faster than a 4D display too.
http://uk.farnell.com/stmicroelectronic ... dp/2480961

Here is another one to look at.
http://uk.farnell.com/stmicroelectronic ... dp/2500227

The 4D display is a good option for you if you want to use a certain processor e.g. a standard PIC or AVR device.

Thanks Hun ,

Perhaps I could ask you elaborate a little further on these type of devices - (I still don't fully 'get' what these type of displays are!)

I thought they were just a display with a touch facility which ran some code to make the touch coordinates be easily read by a uP - yes/no? The units I have found, and the ones you have kindly posted, seem to be a much more fully loaded bit of kit.

When I looked at the 4D site they offer a piece of free programming software where by you had to write Some C to be able to use their display and it seems for which I was going to use FC. This is why I asked the original question about FC able to support these devices or program these type of devices/displays. I don't know enough about these things to ask the RIGHT question here to get a meaningful answer - sorry!

Perhaps if I tell you my issue you (or the forum) could suggested a way forward.

I have a problem whereby I have run out of space on a display panel and now need to add about 20led indicators, about 4 switches and possible some textual information.Now, I was already going to incorporate a basic Arduino Uno to do a couple if time delay 'things', monitor temperature and a switch and carry out some consequential switching. So I assumed I could just add a basic touch display do away with panel engraving, and and an illuminated switch -voila, happy days, kerching, jobs a good un etc etc and let FC deal with the rest. It seems things are not that straightforward!

As hinted at previously, I need something which is also aesthetically pleasing hence the 4d stuff (panel bezel). Therefore, with your experience with FC and what hardware is supported what is the best way forward.

Answers on a post card to:-
I hate narrowboats,
I'm p****d off doing favours,
C/O Hell Cutting
London

Matt

Hi Matt,

4D displays should work fine, Nextion displays are another option for you with a similar mode of operation.

The 4D displays do work well and look nice but they are expensive and slow to refresh and draw.

The Nextion displays are again very nice and a fair bit cheaper but the serial communications to get them to work can be a bit daunting to some users. I want to make a component to aid these displays but at the moment am a bit unsure the best way to do this.

The ST ARM products I recommended are really fast and at a competitive price and also feature capacitive touch which is far superior to resistive touch on the other two displays. These also come with the host microcontroller so it's more of an all in one solution. If you already have the micro then these are probably out of the question.

Thanks Ben for the reply

Buying something is not a problem. When you say the 4d's are slow - in what context - displaying a movie, rapidly moving waveform or flashing a virtual Led at 1Hz?

Can you confirm the units you recommended are able to use the screen draw and touch facilities by FC? If not could you briefly outline the process I might have to do.

Cutting to the chase, in your opinion would it be be relatively straight forward for a non programmer to knock up what I might need to do using these displays and FC?

Thanks
Matt

Hi Matt,

Buying something is not a problem. When you say the 4d's are slow - in what context - displaying a movie, rapidly moving waveform or flashing a virtual Led at 1Hz?

The 4D displays generally take a few seconds to do a full screen re-draw. If you're only redrawing a small part of the screen then it should be fairly fast.

Cutting to the chase, in your opinion would it be be relatively straight forward for a non programmer to knock up what I might need to do using these displays and FC?

The 4D and Discovery displays will work fine with Flowcode, will simulate and should be very easy to use.

The Nextion display is another kettle of fish as they have to be controlled via a UART component and currently there is no simulation though I have seen these used to very good effect by none programmers.

Can you confirm the units you recommended are able to use the screen draw and touch facilities by FC? If not could you briefly outline the process I might have to do.

All the displays I mentioned have touch screens, again capacitive touch (Discovery) is much better then resistive (4D and Nextion). e.g. Compare a modern smart phone touch screen with for example a GPS touch screen / Argos terminal. It really depends what you need the touch screen to be able to do.

Here are some examples

Discovery Board
https://www.flowcode.co.uk/wikiv7/index. ... 925253291a

4D Board
https://www.flowcode.co.uk/wikiv7/index. ... e5923c418a