The origin of this re-purposing post is CANADA and applies to the U.S.A. as well.
I discovered an overhead LCD cache of parts at the local U-Pull-It Automobile Junk Yard today
that can be re-purposed as a RPi COLOR LCD TN display.
While looking for a rear hatch replacement for my rusted out one, I happened to notice the vast numbers
of luxury type Ford Vans with AUTOVISION VCP Rear Seat Entertainment System .
The systems were implemented by Johnson controls in year 2000 and later models in a SHARP LCD 6.4 display
which had a TN LCD with 130 degree limited view filter and special polarization against Sunlight wash-out.
With the removal of just two phillips screws, the entire asembly drops down revealing just five wire connection
from any Ford Winstar/Freestar type vehicle although I noticed the feature in the WinStar Vans from 2000-2003 which are
now appearing in great quantities at these Auto-graveyards.
Only 5 wires of 20AWG stranded are in the harness!
Red = +12,
Black = Return,
Silvered = Signal Ground,
GREEN = NTSC 1V Video composite Input,
Blue: assumed to be a diming input with Headlamps active, but grounded to the Silvered connection.
Wow, this display can be obtained by paying a very low fee to the Scrap Yard keeper.
I do not expect yards to charge more than $20
The LCD is a Sharp LQ064A5CG01 and I found a technical manual from the Ford forum and here is the link
which is still active (March 2013)
http://document.sharpsma.com/files/LQ064A5CG01_SP_041499.pdf
actual pinouts on the LCD (not the five wire):
1 wht DMO -o- voltage output for dimmer (note 5-1)
2 yel DM1 -i- return signal for dimmer (note 5-2)
3 blk HRVR -i- turns direction of horizontal and vertical scanning (note 5-3)
4 pnk VIN -i- voltage in 9-16v DC typical 13.8v 850ma bl/on 220ma bl/off
5 blk GND - Power Ground
6 grn VBS -i- Composite video signal (NTSC) 75ohm
7 blu GND - Signal GND
8 n/c BRT -i- Brightness adjusting terminal 0- 5v (note 5-4)
9 n/c TEST -i- generally, when using, connect to DM0 (note 5-5)
10 clr GND - Frame GND
Notes for above list
5-1 voltage output is 5.3v
5-2 backlight dimming 0 to 800kohms
5-3 low signal is normal high reverse video both vertically and horizontally
low is 0-1.5 hi is 3.5-5volts
5-4 brightness adjusted by voltage on this pin
5-5 when connected to ground, backlight is always on regardless of input signal (otherwise baclight is off with no signal)
spec
6.4" color LCD with 112,320 pixels
1440(480rgb)horiz by 234 vert .09 dph .417v mm rgb stripe configuration
viewing angle: 130 deg. horiz and 105 deg. vertical
100:1 contrast ratio
SHARP Color tft-lcd active matrix
SHARP Part LQ064A5CG01
controls: Brightness Pot 800K 270deg turn
I used the Red/Black for power,
Green for composite video,
and spliced the Blue/clear/Black shield for video ground.
Very Simple: I guessed this before I came across the Spec's and TFT Manual
The Video Cassette player was a unit between the seats
but because the windows are smashed and snow and rain just sit on the flying heads
the VCPlaye is ruined- just leave it-it is not worth recovery;
there is an interesting rear seat media control at the rear of the front center arm rest
but again, the controls I examined were smokey and dirty and not worth recovery...
The results (from two recovered, re-purposed) "rear seat entertainment system overhead 6.4" LCD's"
in pictorial essay
AutoVision shown in its case, with ceiling cavity removed:
DC power supply detail from the bench
12V power (from around 8.3 up to 16.0 but I wont go higher than that)
Brightness Pot was set at about 50%
down to 0 = about 250mA @ 12.0V
up to MAX bright = 730mA @ 12.0V
Raspberry Pi in booting up although the font is (admittedly) small
mostly readable but in color (for fruity low cost),
the second module stripped naked (!electronics porn!) of its shell
showing 5 wire harness ruthlessly ripped from the dead Luxury Van,
wires tortured and cut with a dull flat blade screwdriver
[yes I forgot my side cutters and the FORD section was some 1/2mile into the compound]
face side up on the Sharp LCD
Enjoy.
(1) Find a Pull-it-Yard
(2) wear sensible Work Boots with Steel Toes and Heel Sheath and comfortable gloves
(3) take Cross-Philips-Screwdriver(s) and Side-Cutter or knife
(4) Locate sad looking Van with most of its guts pulled out
and you are looking for this display on the rear seat roof facing rearwards
(5) Undo two cross-philips screws, pull down from rear, cut 5wires past harness connector
(6) pay for it (my yard classed this as RADIO-with CD because the Keeper recognized its high value)
(7) get it home to lab and clean it off (mine had years of Tobacco smog coated to every pore)
(8) wire it up and enjoy
Enhancements
I connectorized my project with coaxial 2.1mm for 12V Power
and
RCA for NTSC 1V Video input
Photo example of the U-pull yard I like to go to (showing Imports section I think) ;
Cars are propped up on old rims; sharps bits and broken glass everywhere,
take care please, use appropriate foot , eye, and hand protection.
Johnny (in Canada)
