Salvage color LCD

March 25, 2006 1:57 PM

I have this graphic LCD from either a pixter color or a leapster toy and I'd like to use it as a display, unfortunately.....

I can't find the pinouts, or anything close. I had once previously found a similar display's datasheet and the company that made this thing (The marking on the PCB is a sortof W - with the second leg being rasterized or mad up of small horizontal lines). The other markings on the back include
94v0
0336
WD-X16161 PCB-1
WD-X16161-6CLWa
07182311AT
41A14/03

There is a ~20 wire ribbon cable running from the PCB, though I'm sure some of these were for the touch sensitive portion (unneccessary for my purposes).

I realize that this is a shot in the dark, but this is a nice LCD and I'd hate to see it go to waste, considering similar units for prototyping are quite expensive.

posted by IronLizard to technology (8 comments total)

This doesn't answer your question, but this color LCD isn't expensive ($20) and would be quite adequate for prototyping: http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=569#
posted by devilsbrigade at 2:44 PM on March 25, 2006

If it is a Pixtar color or by the same supplier, then others have gone before you, but this Yahoo Groups message doesn't sound real promising for working with the bare LCD. However, you can access the datasheet and other technical info on the Sharp LH75411, see if it has what you need and can use.
posted by mdevore at 2:48 PM on March 25, 2006

This doesn't answer your question, but this color LCD isn't expensive ($20) and would be quite adequate for prototyping: http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=569#


I actually have a nokia with a bad sim card that I could use, but I'd rather keep it intact (Learned how to unlock them). Also, the nokia LCD is nice, but much smaller than the pixter's (Or it could be leapster, the kids had both and I forget which one I tore this out of).

And mdevore, thanks that could be helpful. I'll run off and check the specs on QVGA while I'm at it to see if I can't 'simulate' them somehow. If only could get a look at the other side of the PCB without destroying the three very large ribbon cables ........
posted by IronLizard at 3:54 PM on March 25, 2006

Ok, I found the rest of the circuit boards, this unit is definitely from a leapster.
posted by IronLizard at 4:57 PM on March 25, 2006

The "W" sounds like it might be Wintek.
posted by shoesfullofdust at 8:12 PM on March 25, 2006

94v0 is just a UL heat/flammability rating. I think the numbers starting with "WD" are the serial numbers for your part. They are similar to other Wintek serials.
posted by shoesfullofdust at 9:34 PM on March 25, 2006

shoesfullofdust is undisputed winner on the ID. Wintek it be. The Wintek website shows how to decode the numbering for WD-X16161-6CLWa.

Following the table: W is Wintek. D is Customer's Design LCM. X is Color STN. 1616 is the character rows and lines, here to be interpreted as 160x160 dots (probably, there are other interpretations). 1 is an "other" package of driving circuit(?). 6 is high performance, 6:00 view direction. C is Color STN. L is LED. W is white backlight color. a is sample version.

Since the WD indicates a customer's design, I'm not sure you would find outside data on it. However, a close WM's (M is Standard LCM) reference might sufficiently parallel the setup for your purposes. Problem is, the color LCM's tend to have a 30-pin connection, like this close match WM-X1216VH-6CLWa. 20-pins are your mono LCM's, with the closest match on the Wintek site something like a 20-pin WM-G1616Y-1WEBa. Maybe you can mix and match your way to a working screen using the different pinouts listed.
posted by mdevore at 1:21 AM on March 26, 2006

Damn, I just couldn't resist looking at the other side of the board before I came back here. It was, dissapointingly, blank but for a few tracks. In the process of removing glue I sliced a few of the ribbons :(

Well, at least I know where to look when I find another one (junked old leapsters are fairly common), thanks!
posted by IronLizard at 3:22 AM on March 26, 2006