Member Since: 03 Sep 2006
Location: Manchester
Posts: 14372
Sat Nav Touch Screen Converted for USB Connection - Car PC
Right , some may know i am in the process of putting a car pc in my car
One of the main things i didnt want was an extra screen.So after a few months of research and internet browsing i have finaly found some goodies that will do the job.
I have purchased a little circuit board from the USA which converts the 4 wires that come from the sat nav touch screen.
The unit converts the touchscreen signals and converts them to a USB plug.This then can be plugged in your car pc / tablet / laptop or whatever.
Here is the unit
Click image to enlarge
Unit costs $30.50 ...bargain ...plus p/p ..i opted for the $12 postage and it took 18 days !!
It also comes with both leads ..usb and one that goes to the screen
They have been great ..keeping me informed of packing / posting etc ...they even emailed me to see if it had arrived safely
Now this unit basicaly interups the signal from the LCD to the main board in the sat nav screen.
I however ..being me.. wanted to have it so i could swap over from touch screen sat nav to PC.
So i had to make up a small circuit board with a 4 pole relay on it.
What should happen is that it will be normal sat nav touch screen operation at all times ..only when i send power to the relay will it then transfer to the car pc...if that makes sence.
Here is my wiring diagram
Click image to enlarge
While this is not hard ..the cable that comes from the sat nav screen is absolutly tiny ..it has 4 wires in a flat ribbon cable which are a milimeter apart and a milimeter thick..not much fun trying to solder.
Also the cable from the screen is very short , so i made a little circuit with a joining piece on to be able to extend.
Heres a couple of pics testing in the car
I have been testing all afternoon ..main thing to look out for is that you get all the wires in the right orientation ..basicaly you need to get them all in the right order otherwise no signal.
I marked the ribbon cable with a black marker and called that pin one ..than take your time and make sure number 1 is the same on each connector.
Any way all works great ..here is a couple of small vids showing it working on some calibration software you can download for free from the TVI electronics website.
Aplogies for the naff quality pics and videos ..i broke my camera at the lakes and am using a second one ..
Any questions , or if you want a step by step ..i have taken pics..
I need to get a longer 4 pin ribbon cable so i can mount it in a box down the side of the nav screen..
Also on the video , you will see me messing with the relay ..i have not powered it yet ..the relay had a test pin in the top to change from n/o to n/c contacts..just in case you wondered what im doing.
I hope this will be of use to somebody G4 Gone ...but not forgotten
Last edited by wiggs on 28th Apr 2008 7:03 pm. Edited 1 time in total
28th Apr 2008 6:43 pm
Bodsy Site Sponsor
Member Since: 06 Nov 2006
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Feck me Wiggs, you don't do things by half do you!?
Great job, I can see you buying a dozen of these & making a small fortune selling them out to everyone else Bodsys Brake Bible
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28th Apr 2008 6:50 pm
wiggs
Member Since: 03 Sep 2006
Location: Manchester
Posts: 14372
Parts here
Work station fired up and ready
Seriously ..it was a right pain ..the relay base , flat ribbon connectors and the other connectors i used were all a different size in the pin bases ..made for great fun solderingG4 Gone ...but not forgotten
28th Apr 2008 7:01 pm
wiggs
Member Since: 03 Sep 2006
Location: Manchester
Posts: 14372
Just a side note i forgot to add ...i have not cut any original wires ..the unit can be taken out and put back how it was in about 10 mins ..
I basically have just taken out a ribbon cable and joined one half ..and used a new ribbon cable in the other side.G4 Gone ...but not forgotten
You utter genius! My mate and I have been scratching our heads over this for weeks trying to think of a way to only have the one screen. I know it's not considered "kind" to say no these days, but no. Just no, ok? And if it's not ok, still no.
Member Since: 03 Sep 2006
Location: Manchester
Posts: 14372
There you go CY ...save any more confusion G4 Gone ...but not forgotten
28th Apr 2008 10:38 pm
sniffmydiff
Member Since: 06 Jun 2007
Location: Durban
Posts: 29
Hey Wiggs, what an awesome find....
On the website it says the controller can handle left and right mouse clicks.
How do you simulate a right click on the screen ? Have to use another finger ?
30th Apr 2008 11:33 am
DiscoDunc
Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
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Wiggs'y, you never cease to amaze me Duncan
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30th Apr 2008 11:39 am
GDL
Member Since: 06 Sep 2006
Location: Highlands
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Wiggs, genius.....again
30th Apr 2008 12:18 pm
BarryG
Member Since: 30 Apr 2006
Location: Eire
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As usual looks 8) When are you moving to Ireland? Googsy
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30th Apr 2008 3:11 pm
BarryG
Member Since: 30 Apr 2006
Location: Eire
Posts: 1333
Googsy wrote:
Wiggs
As usual looks 8) When are you moving to Ireland?
No Googsy ... I've seen him drink... there would be none left for the rest of us if he moved over
30th Apr 2008 3:29 pm
wiggs
Member Since: 03 Sep 2006
Location: Manchester
Posts: 14372
Cheers guys
sniffmydiff wrote:
On the website it says the controller can handle left and right mouse clicks.
How do you simulate a right click on the screen ? Have to use another finger ?
I only realy tryed the draw test the other day.
If you tap the screen twice that gives you double click ( one tap for single click)
I will have a play tommorow and let you know about right click ..
Oh ..just looked in the settings and it has a picture of a mouse with
Normal mode
click on touch
click on realease
click on touch without moving cursor
click on realease without moving cursor
And options say
Enable constant touch
Enable auto right click
Enable touch
Enable cursor stabilization.
Aswell as a load of sliders for touch area , auto right click time , double click time , double click area ..
So by the looks of it you have a few choices
BarryG wrote:
Googsy wrote:
Wiggs
As usual looks 8) When are you moving to Ireland?
No Googsy ... I've seen him drink... there would be none left for the rest of us if he moved over
I hope i behaved my self
Was that before or after the Khazkhstan vodkaG4 Gone ...but not forgotten
Last edited by wiggs on 30th Apr 2008 4:11 pm. Edited 1 time in total
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..it has 4 wires in a flat ribbon cable which are a milimeter apart and a milimeter thick..not much fun trying to solder.
second one ..
there would be none left for the rest of us if he moved over
