Hello,
I'm new to the arduino scene. Is it possible to hook up an LCD display from an old TI 85 calculator or an old iHome?
Thanks.
I guess the answer is no to the lack of response. I did see the thread listing some known LED displays that will work with the arduino. Is there a tutorial that explains how to test LED displays on the arduino for noobs? Thanks!
When I read this, I did a lengthy Google on it and just couldn't find any info on it at all. So the problem is you have to find a Datasheet. Almost any display can be controlled from the Arduino if you know the pinouts etc for the display.
You know I'm almost positive I recall that the TI-85 has a serial port which would allow access to the users program, but probably only with a proper program entered into the calculator might one be able to utilize the display in a arbitrary manner. So it might be possible but not sure of the benefit Vs effort required is worth it seeing how many inexpensive display options can be used with an Arduino. Still could be a cool project. Isn't the TI-85 driven by a version of the Z-80 chip?, least that is also my memory. However I am old and might have it all wrong.
Lefty
retrolefty:
You know I'm almost positive I recall that the TI-85 has a serial port which would allow access to the users program, but probably only with a proper program entered into the calculator might one be able to utilize the display in a arbitrary manner. So it might be possible but not sure of the benefit Vs effort required is worth it seeing how many inexpensive display options can be used with an Arduino. Still could be a cool project. Isn't the TI-85 driven by a version of the Z-80 chip?, least that is also my memory. However I am old and might have it all wrong.
Nah - that's right:
As far as directly controlling the display, I would say it isn't worth the time or trouble; it's a 128x64 display, thus a standard KS0108 128x64 display would fit the bill and be cheaper by far (in terms of time, if not dollars). With proper programming the serial port could be used as well(likely in Z-80 assembler, although the weird calculator "BASIC" TI used could do some interesting stuff - so maybe). There used to be a small robot kit you could buy (google "TI calculator robot" - it'll be the first few links for Norland Research; but I couldn't get the links to work) which controlled the robot via the serial port (I think for the TI-83?).
Thanks for the responses. 
have a look
I was interested in doing something similar to you, and I had a bit of trouble finding the display documentation. I finally found a picture of the display driver (http://imgur.com/9EZXK5y) and the data sheet (radicalsoft.org).
Hopefully anyone else browsing these fora looking to put custom hardware in their TI calculator will find this helpful!