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Display monitor for use with MCU

Started by anasimtiaz July 4, 2011
Hi all,

I have a setup of msp430 mcu currently that samples ECG data, does the
necessary processing and serially transmits it to a computer for display. I
want to get rid of the computer here and use a small portable display for
resulting ECG that can be interfaced with (any) MCU. 

I tried Googling for the options but couldn't find anything useful. Can
anyone point me in the right direction of where and what specs to look for?
And if there are display units capable of showing EEG signals ... (I
presume there are, just like they use in hospitals). Any product
recommendations would be much appreciated.

Thanks

	   
					
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Posted through http://www.EmbeddedRelated.com
On 07/04/2011 08:02 AM, anasimtiaz wrote:
> Hi all, > > I have a setup of msp430 mcu currently that samples ECG data, does the > necessary processing and serially transmits it to a computer for display. I > want to get rid of the computer here and use a small portable display for > resulting ECG that can be interfaced with (any) MCU. > > I tried Googling for the options but couldn't find anything useful. Can > anyone point me in the right direction of where and what specs to look for? > And if there are display units capable of showing EEG signals ... (I > presume there are, just like they use in hospitals). Any product > recommendations would be much appreciated.
There are lots of choices, but basically you want an LCD graphics display with sufficient resolution for your purposes. Try Digikey and Mouser (even if you're not in the US they'll give you ideas). Try web searching on "graphics LCD display". I know you can get displays that are basically what you get in laptops and cell phones -- your job then becomes one of deciding on price, performance, and size. This is the sort of question that illustrates why I keep up my subscription to "Circuit Cellar" and "EDN" magazines. One of the best ways to learn what's available is to look in the ads there, then do web searches. -- Tim Wescott Wescott Design Services http://www.wescottdesign.com Do you need to implement control loops in software? "Applied Control Theory for Embedded Systems" was written for you. See details at http://www.wescottdesign.com/actfes/actfes.html
> On 07/04/2011 08:02 AM, anasimtiaz wrote: >> Hi all, >> >> I have a setup of msp430 mcu currently that samples ECG data, does the >> necessary processing and serially transmits it to a computer for >> display. I >> want to get rid of the computer here and use a small portable display for >> resulting ECG that can be interfaced with (any) MCU. >> >> I tried Googling for the options but couldn't find anything useful. Can >> anyone point me in the right direction of where and what specs to look >> for? >> And if there are display units capable of showing EEG signals ... (I >> presume there are, just like they use in hospitals). Any product >> recommendations would be much appreciated. >
You will need to decide what you want the graphic display to look like. Will this be a one off or part of a product. Then decide what resolution will support those graphics. Then you will need to decide if the msp430 can support that display or will you need a separate graphics processor. Adding graphics to an low end processor will be a challenge. Starting over to extend a finished project to a hard decision. Good Luck PS: this might help: http://www.tinyclr.com/ hamilton
On 07/04/2011 12:56 PM, hamilton wrote:
>> On 07/04/2011 08:02 AM, anasimtiaz wrote: >>> Hi all, >>> >>> I have a setup of msp430 mcu currently that samples ECG data, does the >>> necessary processing and serially transmits it to a computer for >>> display. I >>> want to get rid of the computer here and use a small portable display >>> for >>> resulting ECG that can be interfaced with (any) MCU. >>> >>> I tried Googling for the options but couldn't find anything useful. Can >>> anyone point me in the right direction of where and what specs to look >>> for? >>> And if there are display units capable of showing EEG signals ... (I >>> presume there are, just like they use in hospitals). Any product >>> recommendations would be much appreciated. >> > > You will need to decide what you want the graphic display to look like. > > Will this be a one off or part of a product. > > Then decide what resolution will support those graphics. > > Then you will need to decide if the msp430 can support that display or > will you need a separate graphics processor. > > Adding graphics to an low end processor will be a challenge. > > Starting over to extend a finished project to a hard decision. > > Good Luck > > PS: this might help: > http://www.tinyclr.com/
Adding graphics to a low end processor is easy enough, if you don't mind the tail wagging the dog -- just pair the graphics display up with enough processing power to get the job done, and talk to the low-end processor with a low-bandwidth channel. If the display is monochrome and bit-addressable, then an MPS-430 will be more than enough. -- Tim Wescott Wescott Design Services http://www.wescottdesign.com Do you need to implement control loops in software? "Applied Control Theory for Embedded Systems" was written for you. See details at http://www.wescottdesign.com/actfes/actfes.html
On Mon, 04 Jul 2011 10:02:44 -0500, "anasimtiaz"
<anasimtiaz@n_o_s_p_a_m.gmail.com> wrote:


>and serially transmits it to a computer for display.
What program is running on the computer to read serial (ASCII ?) data and display what? a graph? just some numbers?
>I want to get rid of the computer here and use a small portable display for >resulting ECG that can be interfaced with (any) MCU.
Depends on your answers above how much processing power is required in the "display" device and how much you can modify your gadget to suit a dumb display.
On 4 Jul., 17:02, "anasimtiaz" <anasimtiaz@n_o_s_p_a_m.gmail.com>
wrote:
> Hi all, > > I have a setup of msp430 mcu currently that samples ECG data, does the > necessary processing and serially transmits it to a computer for display.=
I
> want to get rid of the computer here and use a small portable display for > resulting ECG that can be interfaced with (any) MCU. > > I tried Googling for the options but couldn't find anything useful. Can > anyone point me in the right direction of where and what specs to look fo=
r?
> And if there are display units capable of showing EEG signals ... (I > presume there are, just like they use in hospitals). Any product > recommendations would be much appreciated. > > Thanks > > --------------------------------------- =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 > Posted throughhttp://www.EmbeddedRelated.com
No problem - look at these VGA bit-banging drivers: - First ARM: New! The LCP2148 version supports mixed and high resolution VGA modes up to 480x480. http://www.pbjtech.com/ http://www.pbjtech.com/FAQ.html Citat: "... How does it produce VGA output without a video chip? ..." Philips ARM Design Contest 2005 noPC =96 A Single-Chip VGA Computer: http://www.pbjtech.com/nopc/noPC.pdf Citat: "... First off we could start with a CPU that is not going to run out of memory or steam. Next, we could ensure that it could drive a VGA monitor, that surely would be enough! Tie in a standard PS/2 input to accept keypads/keyboards/mice etc and that surely would be enough too! ... With a little bit of software magic the LPC2138 can be pressed into generating the VGA signals needed to drive a monitor plus handle all the font and graphics rendering. ... There really is only one logical choice and that is to use Forth. Yep, that's because not only is Forth a compact and efficient language but it is also the operating system, editor, and debugger that is resident on the target pcb. ..." - Or AVR: SoftVGA - AVR based Software-only VGA Display Generator: http://neil.franklin.ch/Projects/SoftVGA/ - Or PIC: VIP: Howto on generating video signals using PIC. (Written by me): http://web.archive.org/web/20070116063442/www.rickard.gunee.com/projects/vi= deo/pic/howto.php VIDEO TETRIS A video game with software generated video signal ! http://web.archive.org/web/20070116063442/www.rickard.gunee.com/projects/vi= deo/pic/tetris.php http://www.google.com/search?q=3Dcache:www.gunee.com/tech/shop/redirect.php= %3Faction%3Durl%26goto%3Dwww.rickard.gunee.com%252Fprojects%252Fvideo%252Fp= ic%252Fgamesys.php%26osCsid%3Dfshok4tc4hji7dt0d9lol0bkh6+pictetris.zip http://www.web-ee.com/Schematics/PICTetris/PICTetris.htm http://www.rickard.gunee.com/projects/video/pic/tetris.php PIC Breakout: http://www.acm.uiuc.edu/sigarch/projects/breakout/ http://www.acm.uiuc.edu/sigarch/projects/breakout/breakout.asm PIC-Tock http://www.brouhaha.com/~eric/pic/pictock.html PIC-Pong http://www.brouhaha.com/~eric/pic/picpong.html VCR Pong: http://dt.prohosting.com/pic/pong.html Alien Slaughter! A Video Game Computer based on 3 Microcontrollers: http://www.ugrad.physics.mcgill.ca/~beek/alienslaughter/ Video Clock Superimposer: http://dt.prohosting.com/pic/vidclock.html http://dt.prohosting.com/pic/vid_src.txt http://dt.prohosting.com/pic/vidclock.gif
On Jul 4, 10:02=A0am, "anasimtiaz" <anasimtiaz@n_o_s_p_a_m.gmail.com>
wrote:
> Hi all, > > I have a setup of msp430 mcu currently that samples ECG data, does the > necessary processing and serially transmits it to a computer for display.=
I
> want to get rid of the computer here and use a small portable display for > resulting ECG that can be interfaced with (any) MCU. > > I tried Googling for the options but couldn't find anything useful. Can > anyone point me in the right direction of where and what specs to look fo=
r?
> And if there are display units capable of showing EEG signals ... (I > presume there are, just like they use in hospitals). Any product > recommendations would be much appreciated. > > Thanks > > --------------------------------------- =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 > Posted throughhttp://www.EmbeddedRelated.com
A few different approaches might work depending on your needs. these are just representative, in most cases there are lots of other similar products an LCD module with integrated graphics controller: http://www.amulettechnologies.com/products/modules.html a small LCD screen like in a cell phone (again with integrated controller); http://www.sparkfun.com/products/8600 use a beefier controller with an LCD controller built in http://focus.ti.com/docs/prod/folders/print/am1707.html attach an embbeded GPU + msp430 http://www.siliconmotion.com/A3.2_Overview_Detail.php?sn=3D39 http://vdc.epson.com/index.php?option=3Dcom_docman&task=3Dcat_view&gid=3D29= 1&Itemid=3D40 use a micro to bitbang low res video out to the LCD use an FPGA to implement a bitmap video display (search fpga video)
On Jul 5, 7:51=A0am, Andy <amd...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Jul 4, 10:02=A0am, "anasimtiaz" <anasimtiaz@n_o_s_p_a_m.gmail.com> > wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > Hi all, > > > I have a setup of msp430 mcu currently that samples ECG data, does the > > necessary processing and serially transmits it to a computer for displa=
y. I
> > want to get rid of the computer here and use a small portable display f=
or
> > resulting ECG that can be interfaced with (any) MCU. > > > I tried Googling for the options but couldn't find anything useful. Can > > anyone point me in the right direction of where and what specs to look =
for?
> > And if there are display units capable of showing EEG signals ... (I > > presume there are, just like they use in hospitals). Any product > > recommendations would be much appreciated. > > > Thanks > > > --------------------------------------- =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 > > Posted throughhttp://www.EmbeddedRelated.com > > A few different approaches might work depending on your needs. =A0these > are just representative, in most cases there are lots of other similar > products > > an LCD module with integrated graphics controller:http://www.amulettechno=
logies.com/products/modules.html
> > a small LCD screen like in a cell phone (again with integrated > controller);http://www.sparkfun.com/products/8600 > > use a beefier controller with an LCD controller built inhttp://focus.ti.c=
om/docs/prod/folders/print/am1707.html
> > attach an embbeded GPU + msp430http://www.siliconmotion.com/A3.2_Overview=
_Detail.php?sn=3D39http://vdc.epson.com/index.php?option=3Dcom_docman&task= =3Dcat_view&gid=3D29...
> > use a micro to bitbang low res video out to the LCD > > use an FPGA to implement a bitmap video display (search fpga video)
Or get the $6 PIC24FJ256DA206, It comes with 16 bits graphic controller.
On Jul 5, 10:15=A0am, linnix <m...@linnix.info-for.us> wrote:
> On Jul 5, 7:51=A0am, Andy <amd...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > On Jul 4, 10:02=A0am, "anasimtiaz" <anasimtiaz@n_o_s_p_a_m.gmail.com> > > wrote: > > > > Hi all, > > > > I have a setup of msp430 mcu currently that samples ECG data, does th=
e
> > > necessary processing and serially transmits it to a computer for disp=
lay. I
> > > want to get rid of the computer here and use a small portable display=
for
> > > resulting ECG that can be interfaced with (any) MCU. > > > > I tried Googling for the options but couldn't find anything useful. C=
an
> > > anyone point me in the right direction of where and what specs to loo=
k for?
> > > And if there are display units capable of showing EEG signals ... (I > > > presume there are, just like they use in hospitals). Any product > > > recommendations would be much appreciated. > > > > Thanks > > > > --------------------------------------- =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 > > > Posted throughhttp://www.EmbeddedRelated.com > > > A few different approaches might work depending on your needs. =A0these > > are just representative, in most cases there are lots of other similar > > products > > > an LCD module with integrated graphics controller:http://www.amulettech=
nologies.com/products/modules.html
> > > a small LCD screen like in a cell phone (again with integrated > > controller);http://www.sparkfun.com/products/8600 > > > use a beefier controller with an LCD controller built inhttp://focus.ti=
.com/docs/prod/folders/print/am1707.html
> > > attach an embbeded GPU + msp430http://www.siliconmotion.com/A3.2_Overvi=
ew_Detail.php?sn=3D39http://vdc......
> > > use a micro to bitbang low res video out to the LCD > > > use an FPGA to implement a bitmap video display (search fpga video) > > Or get the $6 PIC24FJ256DA206, =A0It comes with 16 bits graphic > controller.
I'd never recommend a PIC to anyone after my last experience. Buggy C compiler, buggy programmers, errors in documentation, reps who won't return phone calls, long waits for tech support via e-mail. It's not worth it.
On 7/5/2011 10:05 PM, Andy wrote:
> > I'd never recommend a PIC to anyone after my last experience. Buggy C > compiler, buggy programmers, errors in documentation, reps who won't > return phone calls, long waits for tech support via e-mail. It's not > worth it.
What country or state are you in, to get this kind of service ? I have heard about people having problems like this, but have not talked to anyone that actually have been involved. hamilton