goldelox-md1 based display modules

disclaimer / info:

DISCLAIMER:
THIS IS EXPERIMENTAL SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. THE MAINTAINER(S) OF THESE PAGES AND THE DEVELOPER(S) OF SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE PRESENTED ON THESE PAGES CAN NOT BE HELD LIABLE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES FOR DAMAGE TO HARDWARE OR SOFTWARE, LOST DATA, OR OTHER DIRECT OR INDIRECT DAMAGE RESULTING FROM THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE OR HARDWARE. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THESE CONDITIONS, YOU ARE NOT PERMITTED TO USE OR FURTHER DISTRIBUTE THIS SOFTWARE OR TO USE ANY TEMPLATES FOR BUILDING HARDWARE PRESENTED HERE.

goldelox-md1 based display modules:

description

Goldelox-MD1 is an OLED/LCD graphics controller developed by www.4dsystems.com.au.
[uoled160 display module] the controller is a generic display controller with RS232 input (important: signal levels between 0V and 3.3V).

some data:

  • supports several resolutions
  • support for OLED and LCD panels
  • display informations (resolution, OLED vs. LCD) can be requested from the module.
  • more info: product page at 4D Systems home page

disadvantage:

  • rather slow (because of RS232 (limited to max. 256 kbaud))

the module is embedded in some OLED and LCD display modules also provided by 4D Systems.

display module μOLED-160-GMD1 with embedded Goldelox-MD1 (red module)
[uoled160 display module frontalview]
frontal view of a display with embedded Goldelox-MD1 module
specifications
resolution various, auto-detected by the library
colours 256, 64k
adjustable contrast yes
name in serdisplib "GOLDELOX"       (example: serdisp_init(sdcd, "GOLDELOX", ""); )

some images

[goldelox testserdisp] [goldelox rgb testpattern]
test image generated by testserdisp rgb test-pattern
[goldelox testpattern w/ coloured numbers] [goldelox multidisplay]
coloured test-pattern with numbers image rendered by multidisplay
top ^

connecting a GOLDELOX-MD1 based display module:

intro

  • the Goldelox-MD1 graphics controller is driven using RS 232 (signal levels: 0V to 3.3V).
     
  • NEVER connect the controller directly to a PC-RS232 port! (standard RS232 ports use signal levels from -12V to +12V or -15V to +15V).
     
  • better use a USB to RS232 bridge converter. if it uses adequate signal levels it can be connected directly to the Goldelox-MD1 (and also provides power for the controller and the display module).
  • Goldelox-MD1 support in serdisplib has only been tested using 4D Systems μUSB-MD5 USB to RS232 bridge converter.
     
  • display updates are rather slow due to RS232. a full frame update may need some seconds!
     
  • resolution and display technology (OLED vs. LCD) are auto-detected by the library. thus no external setting required. background light is only supported with non-OLED display modules (well, obviously ...)
[uusb-md5 usb to rs232 bridge converter]
μUSB-MD5 USB to RS232 bridge converter (picture taken from 4D Systems page)

nota bene

when connecting the controller without using a USB to RS232 converter bridge, replace ttyUSB through ttyS (or similar - depending on the operating system) in the following examples.
examples
configuration in lcd4linux
 Display SerDispLib {
   Driver 'serdisplib'
   Port 'RS232:/dev/ttyUSB0'
   Model 'GOLDELOX'
 } 
configuration in graphlcd
 [serdisp]
 Driver=serdisp
 Device=RS232:/dev/ttyUSB0
 Controller=goldelox
calling test program testserdisp
 testserdisp -n goldelox -p 'RS232:/dev/ttyUSB0'
top ^

passing options through serdisp_init():

intro

using the third parameter of serdisp_init(), driver specific options and custom wiring can be set.
common information about passing options and customisable wiring can be found in a separate document.
    examples:
    
      serdisp_init(sdcd, "GOLDELOX", "INVERT=YES");
      serdisp_init(sdcd, "GOLDELOX", "ROTATE=90");
    

options

identifiershortremarkdefault
ROTATEROTrotate display (1 == 180 degrees)0
INVERTINVinvert display0
CONTRAST set display contrast5
DEPTHCOLS, COLOURScolour depth16
BACKLIGHTBGswitch background light on or off (non-OLED modules only)0

ranges, aliases

identifierrangealiases
ROTATE0, 1, 90, 180, 270YES=180, NO=0, TRUE=180, FALSE=0
INVERT0, 1YES=1, NO=0, TRUE=1, FALSE=0
CONTRAST[0, 10] 
DEPTH8,1665536=16,64k=16,256=8
BACKLIGHT0, 1YES=1, NO=0, TRUE=1, FALSE=0, ON=1, OFF=0
top ^

links:

datasheets, product infos
Goldelox-MD1 OLED/LCD graphics controller (english) 4D Systems - GOLDELOX-MD1
μUSB-MD5 USB to RS232 bridge converter (to drive Goldelox-MD1 using USB)) (english) 4D Systems - μUSB-MD5
top ^

history:

2008-07-31 first release
top ^

design by wolfgang astleitner, (C) 1998 - 2008