PIFace Control & Display Tear Down

Problemchild

25 Dec 2013

Currently involved with the rather fun PiNoir & Santa Catcher Challenge one

of the main Components for the Challenge Kit is the PIFace Control & Display

We wanted to know what's inside and what's connected to what but unfortunately

the 16x2 LCD is soldered to the main PCB. Fortunately I have a good de-solder tool to hand

and a few minutes latter we had this.

First thing you see is the 16 bit SPI port expander from Microchip MCP23S17

From a set of very close photos I'm taking an educated guess the IR Receiver (SV2) is a Vishay TSOP 34438.

Take a look at the data sheet and the drawing below to get an idea of how it's connected..

I've done a check over with the multimeter and checked the continuity and values where appropriate and I feel they are

more or less right .. please contact us with any comments or corrections ..cheers

Here's the Johnny CAD drawing and yes I know I can't draw !!

Top Comments

Problemchild over 8 years ago in reply to smile123

Nice Mod there Adriaan, that interface is indeed a defacto standard and 40x4 is about the largest one that supports that interface. Inside of course the 16x2 has a 40 byte per line memory so you have the same logical interface as well!
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smile123 over 8 years ago

Inspired by Problemchild and this topic I disassambled my Piface Control and Display too. I wanted to know if it would be possible to change the LCD. I soldered connector pins on some other LCD's and created a cable with connectors. So my LCD is connected with a cable to the base PCB of the Piface.

Now I have a 40x4 LCD running. (Therefore I needed to modify lcd.py as well.)
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Problemchild over 8 years ago in reply to mcb1

Sorry it's restricted as a munition
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mcb1 over 8 years ago in reply to Problemchild

When you apply for J-Cad use, do you need an import license, or can we get it under the 'Free Trade: agreement we have with some countries.??
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Problemchild over 8 years ago in reply to peteroakes

You can tell this is a geeky blog ... I reed "Doodes" as "bat Diodes"

Bat diodes sound cool ...not sure what they are but some one should invent them!! :
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