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small LCD displays

T

Tom

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hello,

Does anyone of you know a supplier of very small LCD displays (on the
order of 5mmx15mm or so), the kind you see in some digital watches
etc. ? Preferably just the display panel itself, no controller. Should
be max. 2mm thick.

All I seem to be able to find on the web are either too large
character or numeric modules like the type used in calculators or
multimeters (typically at least 40 or 50 mm wide and often quite ), or
big color graphic displays like in cellphones or digital cameras.
Someone must make smaller panels, as the watch makers are obviously
using them...

We'll need just small quantities for development, but there should be
the possibility for production quantities in a later phase.

thanks,
Tom
 
M

Mike Harrison

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hello,

Does anyone of you know a supplier of very small LCD displays (on the
order of 5mmx15mm or so), the kind you see in some digital watches
etc. ? Preferably just the display panel itself, no controller. Should
be max. 2mm thick.

All I seem to be able to find on the web are either too large
character or numeric modules like the type used in calculators or
multimeters (typically at least 40 or 50 mm wide and often quite ), or
big color graphic displays like in cellphones or digital cameras.
Someone must make smaller panels, as the watch makers are obviously
using them...

We'll need just small quantities for development, but there should be
the possibility for production quantities in a later phase.

thanks,
Tom

You'll probably have to go custom, but this needn't be expensive for a small one as cost is mostly
proportional to area.
A colleague a while ago mentioned a price of GBP500 (~US$1000) for tooling plus a few hundred parts
- they didn't bother with the sample/approval/production cycle, they just did the few hundred they
needed as samples ( and crossed their fingers....)
 
J

John Devereux

Jan 1, 1970
0
Mike Harrison said:
You'll probably have to go custom, but this needn't be expensive for a small one as cost is mostly
proportional to area.
A colleague a while ago mentioned a price of GBP500 (~US$1000) for tooling plus a few hundred parts
- they didn't bother with the sample/approval/production cycle, they just did the few hundred they
needed as samples ( and crossed their fingers....)

We had some customized LCDs made once. It was a *very* minor variation
on a suppliers standard product. They were about half the price of
their standard ones! Apparently they price custom parts with a
different system. :)
 
M

mkaras

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hello,

Does anyone of you know a supplier of very small LCD displays (on the
order of 5mmx15mm or so), the kind you see in some digital watches
etc. ? Preferably just the display panel itself, no controller. Should
be max. 2mm thick.

All I seem to be able to find on the web are either too large
character or numeric modules like the type used in calculators or
multimeters (typically at least 40 or 50 mm wide and often quite ), or
big color graphic displays like in cellphones or digital cameras.
Someone must make smaller panels, as the watch makers are obviously
using them...

We'll need just small quantities for development, but there should be
the possibility for production quantities in a later phase.

thanks,
Tom

14.71mm x 23.7mm http://www.femacorp.com/Products/LCD/Glass Panels/LCD-GP Datasheets/40D025.pdf
 
L

linnix

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hello,

Does anyone of you know a supplier of very small LCD displays (on the
order of 5mmx15mm or so), the kind you see in some digital watches
etc. ? Preferably just the display panel itself, no controller. Should
be max. 2mm thick.

All I seem to be able to find on the web are either too large
character or numeric modules like the type used in calculators or
multimeters (typically at least 40 or 50 mm wide and often quite ), or
big color graphic displays like in cellphones or digital cameras.
Someone must make smaller panels, as the watch makers are obviously
using them...

We'll need just small quantities for development, but there should be
the possibility for production quantities in a later phase.

thanks,
Tom

We ordered 10,000 25x15 for 0.60 each. I am sure they can make 50x40
for around 1 dollar. Send me a drawing and spec (static, x2, x3 or
x4) and I can get you a quote. Use the contact form at http://linnix.com
 
L

linnix

Jan 1, 1970
0
We ordered 10,000 25x15 for 0.60 each. I am sure they can make 50x40
for around 1 dollar. Send me a drawing and spec (static, x2, x3 or
x4) and I can get you a quote. Use the contact form athttp://linnix.com

Sorry, got the wrong size. 15x5 should be around 0.25. Minimum order
of USD $500.
 
S

Spehro Pefhany

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hello,

Does anyone of you know a supplier of very small LCD displays (on the
order of 5mmx15mm or so), the kind you see in some digital watches
etc. ? Preferably just the display panel itself, no controller. Should
be max. 2mm thick.

All I seem to be able to find on the web are either too large
character or numeric modules like the type used in calculators or
multimeters (typically at least 40 or 50 mm wide and often quite ), or
big color graphic displays like in cellphones or digital cameras.
Someone must make smaller panels, as the watch makers are obviously
using them...

We'll need just small quantities for development, but there should be
the possibility for production quantities in a later phase.

thanks,
Tom

You do know you'll most likely have to use elastomer connectors?
http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/F_audiofaqc.html#AUDIOFAQC_012

Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany
 
T

Tom

Jan 1, 1970
0
Does anyone of you know a supplier of very small LCD displays (on the
You do know you'll most likely have to use elastomer connectors?http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/F_audiofaqc.html#AUDIOFAQC_012

We'll probably avoid the elastomer connectors in this application by
permanently bonding the LCD panel to a carrying flex (if an LCD fails
we can dispose of the entire unit so that is not an issue).

Thanks for the suggestions; the suggested FEMA panel comes close to
the requirements, but with the DIL pins it's probably not useable as-
is. We'll probably go custom then. The mentioned minimum order of 500$
is a nice surprise, I was expecting a lot more digits in the minimum
order amount for custom things like this.

greetings,
Tom
 
L

linnix

Jan 1, 1970
0
We'll probably avoid the elastomer connectors in this application by
permanently bonding the LCD panel to a carrying flex (if an LCD fails
we can dispose of the entire unit so that is not an issue).

Yes, they can mount it on flex. They can also mount your choice of
controller on the glass or flex. Since they buy in volume, their
module cost (PCB/uC/LCD) is cheaper than us buying the uC alone.
Thanks for the suggestions; the suggested FEMA panel comes close to
the requirements, but with the DIL pins it's probably not useable as-
is. We'll probably go custom then. The mentioned minimum order of 500$
is a nice surprise, I was expecting a lot more digits in the minimum
order amount for custom things like this.

Your $500 order can peggy back on our $5000 orders.
 
S

Spehro Pefhany

Jan 1, 1970
0
We made it a dip with dual rows of 9 pins 0.1" pitch. The LCD can be
placed on a ZIP socket for testing. The one show at http://linnix.com/proto
is 12 segments x 4 commons for 3 digits plus labels. It is driven by
an AVR Atmega169.

I guess it depends whether the 5mm height includes the pins or not. If
so, there's not going to be much room left for the display, even with
a single row of 2.54mm pitch pins. I've seen the watch displays sold
as standard very cheaply, something like five cents asking price, but
they're a PITA to use in small quantities without the pins.
Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany
 
S

Spehro Pefhany

Jan 1, 1970
0
Yes, they can mount it on flex. They can also mount your choice of
controller on the glass or flex. Since they buy in volume, their
module cost (PCB/uC/LCD) is cheaper than us buying the uC alone.

Do you have a good source for relatively small quantities of flex PCB?
Your $500 order can peggy back on our $5000 orders.


Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany
 
L

linnix

Jan 1, 1970
0
Do you have a good source for relatively small quantities of flex PCB?

Yes, they can do flex too. But setup cost is usually higher than
rigid. We use rigid for mounting rubber buttons, where the contact
points are on the PCB.
 
L

linnix

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hello,

Does anyone of you know a supplier of very small LCD displays (on the
order of 5mmx15mm or so), the kind you see in some digital watches
etc. ? Preferably just the display panel itself, no controller. Should
be max. 2mm thick.

I think we have the same idea, but different size. Our next LCD glass
will be combinations of clock, temperature, multimeter, etc. By the
way, the Atmega169 can drive three to four LCD glasses
simultaneously. The LCD layout has been updated on http://linnix.com/proto

Of course, if you don't like our design, the factory can do anything
you design.
 
J

Joerg

Jan 1, 1970
0
linnix said:
I think we have the same idea, but different size. Our next LCD glass
will be combinations of clock, temperature, multimeter, etc. By the
way, the Atmega169 can drive three to four LCD glasses
simultaneously. The LCD layout has been updated on http://linnix.com/proto

Of course, if you don't like our design, the factory can do anything
you design.


In case it ain't too late: The common unit designator for kilometers per
hour is "km/h", not "kph".
 
J

Joerg

Jan 1, 1970
0
John said:
We had some customized LCDs made once. It was a *very* minor variation
on a suppliers standard product. They were about half the price of
their standard ones! Apparently they price custom parts with a
different system. :)

LCD pricing is often weird. Standard products are expensive unless you
can find a cheap source other than the mainstream distributors. It's
similar with HD44780-equipped alphanumeric versions where distributor
prices are often outrageous. No idea why.
 
L

linnix

Jan 1, 1970
0
In case it ain't too late: The common unit designator for kilometers per
hour is "km/h", not "kph".

The customer ask for MPH (US) and KPH (~US). The customer is alway
right.
LCD pricing is often weird. Standard products are expensive unless you
can find a cheap source other than the mainstream distributors. It's
similar with HD44780-equipped alphanumeric versions where distributor
prices are often outrageous. No idea why.

LCD productions are very labor intensive and difficult to change.
It's unlikely to find any distributor who would be willing to stock
"standard products" as well. Making custom products and standard
products are the same. They have to setup the entire production line
to make them. They can make a few hundreds, but probably cost the
same as thousands.
 
J

Joerg

Jan 1, 1970
0
linnix said:
The customer ask for MPH (US) and KPH (~US). The customer is alway
right.

True. But sometimes when I have a hunch they could change their mind I
quietly add stuff, just in case. Last year on a dosimetry design:

"Well, ahem, I guess we should have written the spec so the design could
also support double dosages but I guess it's water under the bridge
now." ... "Not too late, just move the resistor at R41 to the empty
location at R44." ... "Whew!"

LCD productions are very labor intensive and difficult to change.
It's unlikely to find any distributor who would be willing to stock
"standard products" as well. Making custom products and standard
products are the same. They have to setup the entire production line
to make them. They can make a few hundreds, but probably cost the
same as thousands.


I realize that. But often the modules sold are identical to ones used in
fax machines or printers, yet they want top Dollar. And then the sale
doesn't happen because everyone goes custom or opts for another kind of
user interface.
 
L

linnix

Jan 1, 1970
0
True. But sometimes when I have a hunch they could change their mind I
quietly add stuff, just in case. Last year on a dosimetry design:

Not going to happen. We already made 10,000 LCDs with MPH/KPH on a
previous version. This is just an updated design.
"Well, ahem, I guess we should have written the spec so the design could
also support double dosages but I guess it's water under the bridge
now." ... "Not too late, just move the resistor at R41 to the empty
location at R44." ... "Whew!"



I realize that. But often the modules sold are identical to ones used in
fax machines or printers, yet they want top Dollar. And then the sale
doesn't happen because everyone goes custom or opts for another kind of
user interface.

We deal directly with the factory. The "standard parts" are for
references only, since they don't really stock them. Once they have
the tooling done, they can turn out 10,000 in a few hours.
 
J

Joerg

Jan 1, 1970
0
linnix said:
Not going to happen. We already made 10,000 LCDs with MPH/KPH on a
previous version. This is just an updated design.

Then it's a different story, a proven design. Most of the time it's the
marketing folks who come up with five minutes past twelve type changes.

I also have a client where the LCD doesn't really change much and that's
custom as well.

We deal directly with the factory. The "standard parts" are for
references only, since they don't really stock them. Once they have
the tooling done, they can turn out 10,000 in a few hours.

Do you guys always spec LCDs with pins instead of rubber contacts? I
found rubber contacts not to be too reliable. The other issue is ESD
even if there is plastic film in front. A wee bit too much displacement
current while the uC is off and bzzzt, there goes the substrate diode
and that LCD section is dead.
 
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