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RPi 3 using a 4.3" inch touch screen

rickleusybh

screen - How can I determine if a given touchscreen is compatible? - Stack Overflow

 

I am required to list down several alternatives to replace the current using 7" RPi touchscreen due to size constrain.

My team had been given a 4.3" screen with custom-made cover, as it'd been using by our seniors during the earlier stage of product development.

Lecturer demand us to keep the product with the 4.3" size screen during final year project exhibition, even though we are allow to run tests with the 7" RPi screen during development phase.

Our seniors said the selection of the screen they used was purely based on luck and they didn't done any research in compatibility issues, which later the lecturers questions us.

While doing some internet search about the compatibility issue, I found out that this is very confusing, because not all touchscreens are compatible. I'd encounter terms like TFT, RGB, 8080, LVDS, MIPI, etc, which I have no clue at all. But we are required to include all the findings in the FYP report.

I'd read through several websites and this question already and it's not helpinghttp://raspberrypi.stackexchange.com/questions/28/how-can-i-determine-if-a-given-touchscreen-is-compatible http://elinux.org/RPi_VerifiedPeripherals#Touch_Screenhttp://www.lxdinc.com/technical_resources/lcd_module_protocol_interfaces

How do I find out, whether a touchscreen is compatible to the Raspberry Pi? And more importantly, why and how?

Is it some kind of communication issue or connection issue or protocol?

Parents

  • You are right to be concerned about connections and protocols.

     

    The 'Official' 7" touchscreen works as follows,

     

    The 800 x 480 display connects via an adapter board which handles power and signal conversion. Only two connections to the Pi are required; power from the Pi’s GPIO port and a ribbon cable that connects to the DSI port present on all Raspberry Pi’s. Touchscreen drivers with support for 10-finger touch and an on-screen keyboard are available on the latest Raspbian OS for full functionality without a physical keyboard or mouse.

     

    The DSI port is a special connector on the Raspberry Pi. Some other Raspberry Pi touchscreens work via pins on the GPIO header and very different protocols and drivers. If your project requires the use of the GPIO pins you may find such screens prevent the use of the pins you need.

     

    I think you need to research touch displays that are designed to use the Raspberry Pi DSI socket. You cannot assume that it will be as easy to set them up as it is for the 'Official' display because the official displays have specific support from the latest versions of the Raspbian operating system. I suggest you get them from Raspberry Pi accessory dealers that give full documentary support for connecting screens and setting up the operating system for the specific display and touch screen system. Try to get close to the 800 x 480 screen resolution so that your project does not require major revision to work with a smaller screen.

     

    Most generic touch displays don't use a DSI port connection. Note that the 7" display comes with a custom made adapter board to interface with DSI. Getting a generic display to work on a Raspberry Pi is a job for someone with extensive related software and hardware expertise.

     

    You say

    My team had been given a 4.3" screen with custom-made cover, as it'd been using by our seniors during the earlier stage of product development.

    If it is not made to use the Raspberry Pi DSI socket, is not a touch screen or does not come with Raspberry Pi set-up documentation, I can't see what use it would be.

Reply

  • You are right to be concerned about connections and protocols.

     

    The 'Official' 7" touchscreen works as follows,

     

    The 800 x 480 display connects via an adapter board which handles power and signal conversion. Only two connections to the Pi are required; power from the Pi’s GPIO port and a ribbon cable that connects to the DSI port present on all Raspberry Pi’s. Touchscreen drivers with support for 10-finger touch and an on-screen keyboard are available on the latest Raspbian OS for full functionality without a physical keyboard or mouse.

     

    The DSI port is a special connector on the Raspberry Pi. Some other Raspberry Pi touchscreens work via pins on the GPIO header and very different protocols and drivers. If your project requires the use of the GPIO pins you may find such screens prevent the use of the pins you need.

     

    I think you need to research touch displays that are designed to use the Raspberry Pi DSI socket. You cannot assume that it will be as easy to set them up as it is for the 'Official' display because the official displays have specific support from the latest versions of the Raspbian operating system. I suggest you get them from Raspberry Pi accessory dealers that give full documentary support for connecting screens and setting up the operating system for the specific display and touch screen system. Try to get close to the 800 x 480 screen resolution so that your project does not require major revision to work with a smaller screen.

     

    Most generic touch displays don't use a DSI port connection. Note that the 7" display comes with a custom made adapter board to interface with DSI. Getting a generic display to work on a Raspberry Pi is a job for someone with extensive related software and hardware expertise.

     

    You say

    My team had been given a 4.3" screen with custom-made cover, as it'd been using by our seniors during the earlier stage of product development.

    If it is not made to use the Raspberry Pi DSI socket, is not a touch screen or does not come with Raspberry Pi set-up documentation, I can't see what use it would be.

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