A friend of mine gave me a bunch of EL320.240.32-HB displays from Planar. This is a monochrome 4-bit graphic display, so, without even attempting anything, I already know it isn't compatible with the character-based LCD libraries. The pinout is quite different.
I couldn't find any existing controllers or libraries for this but perhaps someone around here knows of something, so I don't have to figure it out from scratch. According to the documentation, it is "easily interfaced using standard 4-bit LCD control signals", whatever that means. Perhaps they're standard in the industrial world but that's not one I'm familiar with. This doesn't appear to use I2C or SPI interfaces. In fact, if I understand the documentation correctly, it has a built-in buffer and can operate between 1Hz to 120Hz.
If there aren't any existing libraries or examples to drive a display like this, any pointers would be appreciated.
If you read a bit further into the posted spec sheet, you find this:
Planar EL Small Graphics Displays (SGD) incorporate an interface that is similar
to many LCD interfaces. This interface is supported by a variety of
off-the-shelf chip sets which take care of all display control functionality, freeing
the system processor for other tasks. Designers should select the chip set that best suits their particular architecture and price point.
If your display does not have one of those "chip sets" then you have to provide video signals as described in the data sheet.
Please post focused, close up photos of the front and back of the display, and forum members can probably help.
Searching for the model number "EL320.240.36 HB NE" on the back turns up a lot of links, mostly to replacement parts. It is discontinued; replacement parts are generally expensive and it appears to have the basic video-only interface. Adafruit has the best collection of modern displays that work with Arduino.
I don't really care if there are any replacements; I got these for free and I have more than I know what to do with (I have 2 potential projects in mind but that's it). That's why I'd like to just have fun with them and make my own thing. In the event they die, the only thing I'll have lost was a little time. If I keep the brightness low enough, I expect these to last for decades.
The main reason I'm here is to know if anybody is aware of a way to drive them.
