VGA-232 – Serial RS232 to VGA Display
VGA-232 is a small PC Module, developed to solve the need for better displays on POS and Embedded systems, and large readout Meter and Timers applications.
It provides a low cost solution, that allows use of STANDARD, low cost VGA displays, of any size.
Tested with displays from 7″ to 24″ plus
2012 Firmware & PCB upgrade:
Newest version have a DIN-rail housing option, and can support custom variants for Large panel metering applications.
Firmware changes improve interaction of the VGA-232 with the Auto-fit features on high resolution Monitors, which do not all work the same.
VGA-232 can work with Monitors from 640×480, 800×480, 1024×768 to over 1366 x 768
The newest Monitor chipsets seem to need essentially no manual Post-Auto-fit adjust, whilst ones from 2-5 years ago can need a little.
Default model supports 38400 Baud, new models can support 115200 baud via a jumper option.
Custom serial protocols (10KBd, 12V) are also an option, for weighing system remote displays.
Common Problems:
Custom VGA ASICs, have too short a design life, and are too complex to interface to 8 bit controllers. They also require special DRAMs.
LCD Modules are OK for small, local displays, but full Graphic LCD modules rapidly escalate the cost / complexity, and they too have short design lifetimes.
The Solution: VGA-232
Our VGA-232 has been designed to use industry std components, for a long design life, and also has added features NOT found on std PC VGA systems.
An on board controller allows RS232 Serial interface, so the VGA display(s) can be placed remotely from the Host Controller.
This controller can also simply and quickly SCALE the normal 16×8 font, for improved long distance readable displays.
The VGA-232 card provides a low cost method for adding remote VGA displays, to even the smallest applications.
Unlike DOS terminal PC VGA displays, VGA-232 can easily mix scaled characters anywhere on the display area, of between 8 and 144 pixels high.
VGA-232 is an OEM product, available in qtys from 5 to 50,000+.
Full 16 Colour, 640 x 400 Pixel VGA Display
80 Character x 25 Lines, with scalable 16 x 8 Font
80 Character x 50 Lines, with 8 x 8 Font
BAR graph support in the Font, with Left/Right/Up/Down bar movement possible
RJ12 connector for Serial Data In, Nominally RS232.
Large SRAM design, allows SOFT FONT, and Scaling.
Std VGA Text font included, but custom fonts possible
Scale command, for x2, x3, x4, x5, x6, x7, x8, x9 Sized Characters
Can Easily MIX Characters of all heights
On board microcontroller, running at 25MHz, eases Host loading
Communicates at 38.4K Baud, with FIFO + hardware handshake ( new option 115200 Baud)
Std 15 Pin VGA connector
Includes on board regulator, nominally 9V DC Input ( new option 24V Power, for Industrial use )
Small Size – just 64mm x 82mm ( ~2.5″ x ~3.25″ )
DIN rail case option 70mm x 86mm
eANSI control
VGA-232 uses our eANSI protocol. eANSI is an enhanced version of the old ANSI ‘Esc[‘ prefix protocol. eANSI is optimised for speed, and extended for VGA display usage, and has a ‘cleaned up’ state engine. Porting older sw is designed to be easy.
Set X and Y position
Control of Foreground and Background over 16 Colours
Select of 16 x 8, or 8 x 8 Font
Select of Size of FONT
Vertical move option, for fast BOX/Outline drawing, and vertical BAR plots
Allows full byte -> 256 character display, and mixed heights
Shared Control
By using eANSI as a communications Protocol for any embedded uC <-> PC link, designers have the choice of any mix of PC and Vga-232 modules. PC software can parse the simple strings to extract the field information, and for low end, or simply diagnostics, you simply plug the RS232 into a VGA-232 unit.
This allows Two Feature price points, and mixed solutions can be offered to your customers: ‘Factory’ units operating Vga-232, and an Office Monitor running on a Windows PC.