[Jeff] sent in this nice how-to on gutting the 2.5″ LCD from a $20 mini dvd player. After removing the player hardware, he shows where you’ll need to tap the circuit to feed it composite video. Looks like just the thing for those portable console projects.
This hack looks really sweet. I’m going to have to do it. just because it’s cool. A question I have is that chip that you pried up, were you able to get the datasheet for it? I’m thinking about trying it myself but seeing if I can make switches for the Audio/Video IN vs the DVD player. It’s going to be some tiny switches, but I’ve got $20 to blow in case I screw it up.. :P
If I complete the hack, can I reference your website?
Posted at 1:03 am on Feb 7th, 2008 by FIRESTORM_v1
Any idea what LCD controller is being used or what the pinout on the LCD side is?
I’ve just ordered two units. Will report if I can figure it out.
Posted at 1:29 am on Feb 7th, 2008 by Joel Simpson
I have 4 mini composite ready LCDs laying around and no idea what to do with them… I really don’t care about making stuff portable anyone have any idea what I could do with them?
Posted at 8:09 am on Feb 7th, 2008 by twistedsymphony
what is the resolution of the lcd? anything decent?
sounds like the perfect thing for a mini lcd projector
any response appreciated.
Posted at 8:21 am on Feb 7th, 2008 by Dane Kouttron
@twistedsymphony – Get one of those NES Connect to TV Controller things. Tear that apart and you have a fancy Gameboy.
http://www.benheck.com/Games/Nintendo_projects/NESp/NESp%20page%201.htm
Also can you recover the Laser Diode for a neat (if not powerful) laser pointer?
Posted at 8:57 am on Feb 7th, 2008 by Hal Hockersmith
Those are some pretty terrible pictures, but it is fairly straight forward. Seems a waste to toss the whole thing just for the LCD though. Anyone know if the discs it plays are real DVDs (just on 1.4 GB discs) or some proprietary format?
The first thing I thought of looking at the screen and case was to combine it with the C64 on a chip Radio Shack sells…
Posted at 9:05 am on Feb 7th, 2008 by MS3FGX
Just the other day I was hooking a couple of those little TV games through our portable DVD player.
Even if the DVD part has failed, it still means there are a ton of potential composite video monitors/amplified speakers out there with their own rechargeable batteries attached!!
Hacking wise it’s very cool for folks using video cameras and transmitters, although many of these things probably aren’t that great for gaming based on size/resolution.
Posted at 9:54 am on Feb 7th, 2008 by strider_mt2k
Not sure I could think of what to do with this. If I want to play a movie on the go, I can either burn it to a mini-DVD or rip it so it plays on my PSP. If I want to play a game, I have a PSP or a DS. If I want to play a console on the go, I need a power supply for the console, and a 2.5″ screen would mean I’d have to somehow get the unit within a foot or two of my eyes while using both hands to hold the controller. And maybe there are a bunch of project kits that let you output composite video from an embedded system, but I’m not familiar with any of them…
Still, it’s a clever hack, and I’m glad it got posted. I guess inspiration could strike somebody for a really useful thing to do with this.
Hey! Here’s one: have a composite output from your video card that you’re not using, and you’re running Vista? Maybe you can run Sideshow on this monitor? I don’t know, but it would be worth investigating.
Posted at 11:53 am on Feb 7th, 2008 by James
Hmm, mini photo frame anyone?
Just needs a frame and then link the composite to your camera and that would be a nice gift for someone!
Posted at 12:03 pm on Feb 7th, 2008 by Eyuras
Here’s the forum thread (Parallax Propeller Forum) where this all started.. A lot of information is there.
Posted at 12:59 pm on Feb 7th, 2008 by Jeff Ledger
This would make for a cheap carputer install if you add in a trackball.
Posted at 2:28 pm on Feb 7th, 2008 by BigD145
If you were able to provide the power, etc. in a smaller form factor, put in an SD card reader, this does have the making for a sweet pocket photo album.
My other thought – this has potential for use in a HUD system for your car…
/me may have to mirror for personal use…
Posted at 2:44 pm on Feb 7th, 2008 by srilyk
Actually this is only step one of this project. I’ll be dropping in a Parallax Propeller with an SD adapter to create a portable microcomputer out of this.
Posted at 4:23 pm on Feb 7th, 2008 by Jeff Ledger
MS3FGX, I thought Radio Shack long ago stopped selling “C64 on a chip” systems. Is there yet another one they sell, or the actual chip available by itself now?
Posted at 5:10 pm on Feb 7th, 2008 by tom61
It’s probably an infrared diode, so it wouldn’t make much of a pointer. At least, not for humans. ;)
Posted at 7:58 pm on Feb 7th, 2008 by Orv
Does the DVD player itself run a slideshow of JPEGs? that would make photoframe projects as simple as making a frame case for it.
Posted at 11:57 pm on Feb 7th, 2008 by Auken
@twistedsymphony
If you can separate the mini-comopsite monitors from their backlights and cases, you could try your hand at making small projectors.
I would suggest checking http://www.lumenlab.com/forums/index.php out. It’s the major DIY projector forum out there and will have most of the information on how to design and build projectors cheaply. If you want to garner a little fame for yourself, figure out how to make a good projector using those annoying while automotive “projector” headlamps. The ballasts should be drivable from a PC power supply. Make a couple little projectors, take pictures, put google ads on your website, and submit it here! Oh, yeah. Step 4. PROFIT!!!
Posted at 2:13 am on Feb 8th, 2008 by Mycroft
lovin the Propeller…
Posted at 4:42 am on Feb 8th, 2008 by pmac
@15, 17:
The diode is usually invisible to humans; I’m thinking it’s ultraviolet, but I could be wrong. I believe it could be dangerous if shined in someone’s eyes (unlike your typical red pointer).
Posted at 7:11 am on Feb 8th, 2008 by Skyler Orlando
Skyler…ANY laser is potentially damaging to the eyes if shined directly in…even the red ones. NEVER shine a laser into someones eyes. The diode is infrared, not ultraviolet.
Posted at 10:23 am on Feb 9th, 2008 by guzziman
Running dual lcd’s with channels for side-by-side broadcast from a stereopair camera system would be sweet. DIY cheapo hmd, with the right chipset you could add ntsc3d switch for dvd play. Or hack it up from ipod nano lcds. Using the right optics of course, for either.
Posted at 3:34 am on Feb 13th, 2008 by Jay
ms3fgx asked in comment #6 about whether the mini-DVDs the CyberHome player were standard DVD format? Yes, they are. I got one of the units to try the hack explained here, but before I could even start, I fell in love with the unit, as-is. In fact, I’ve been making some music video mini-DVD-Rs using Nero Express, and they work great! I think I’ll have to get another unit to hack! :-)
Posted at 2:16 pm on Feb 20th, 2008 by Bob02903
I have a old toshiba satellite that I;d like to hack to do something like this, has CD drive, could this be done to it to hack into PS1 portable or video player?
Posted at 8:04 am on Jul 30th, 2009 by GARY
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This is a straightforward, economical, and practical hardware hack. Well done.
Posted at 12:32 am on Feb 7th, 2008 by Weird123