Micro LCD for PRR Signals?

[Lemosteam]

Wiring might be a PITA but slap an etch on top of this, program the pixel colors under the holes and ????

Color LCD display is 7.5mm diagonal (0.269") across corners. PRR signal face is N Scale 8.255mm (0.355") which might cover the LCD completely (not sure the overall dimensions with the casing around the display), but Hmmmm.

https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/LCX059AKB-0-75cm-0-3-Type_60760987432.html?spm=a2700.7724857.normalList.93.15ffef8aOxclbW

[Mark5]

Interesting ... (N&W or Amtrak CPL)

What does that ribbon "plug" into?

[Lemosteam]

Interesting ... (N&W or Amtrak CPL)

What does that ribbon "plug" into?

No idea, the description says the part is for a helmet Heads-up display.  I would assum it is all the inputs, power, signal etc that would make it operate.

I think these guys just try to sell surplus for an extra buck.

[CodyO]

@Lemosteam that would be cool.

I hope proper PRR signals are figured out in the next few years since I'll be needing a pallet of them.

[Lemosteam]

@Lemosteam that would be cool.

I hope proper PRR signals are figured out in the next few years since I'll be needing a pallet of them.

Don't you mean Passel?  This is NOT for me to figure out...

[reinhardtjh]

Don't you mean Passel?  This is NOT for me to figure out...

We need a passel of @peteski to do it.

[CodyO]

Don't you mean Passel?  This is NOT for me to figure out...

Oh I wasnt saying it is cause I know I'm not going to figure it out....
Was it traincat that was working on proper position lights?

[peteski]

Is it April?  This is crazy.  Why not over-complicate this some more?     

So you can make a almost-in scale N scale PRR signal using 7 SMD LEDs, 4 wires (using metal mast for a common, and simple driver logic).  That signal woudl look very good and close to scale.

You are proposing to use a tiny square shape LCD panel to model a round signal head, and waste about 90% of its pixels to create a "virtual" signal display. It would need 20 wires down the mast (per head) and a fairly complex hardware and programming to run it!  Then this thing most likely still needs a backlight panel to make it "light up". That would add extra thickness to the head (which would already be way out of scale thick)!

John, you have flipped your lid! 

If anything, this display would make a nice  functional arrivals/departures board for an N scale train station.

[DKS]

Wiring might be a PITA but slap an etch on top of this, program the pixel colors under the holes and ????

Color LCD display is 7.5mm diagonal (0.269") across corners. PRR signal face is N Scale 8.255mm (0.355") which might cover the LCD completely (not sure the overall dimensions with the casing around the display), but Hmmmm.

I agree with Peteski that it's way overkill for signals. However, I can readily imagine using it to make one of those roadside message signs, like the ones that alert drivers to construction zones, lane closures, etc.

[Lemosteam]

Is it April?  This is crazy.  Why not over-complicate this some more?     

So you can make a almost-in scale N scale PRR signal using 7 SMD LEDs, 4 wires (using metal mast for a common, and simple driver logic).  That signal woudl look very good and close to scale.

You are proposing to use a tiny square shape LCD panel to model a round signal head, and waste about 90% of its pixels to create a "virtual" signal display. It would need 20 wires down the mast (per head) and a fairly complex hardware and programming to run it!  Then this thing most likely still needs a backlight panel to make it "light up". That would add extra thickness to the head (which would already be way out of scale thick)!

John, you have flipped your lid! 

If anything, this display would make a nice  functional arrivals/departures board for an N scale train station.

Dude, it's just an idea.      https://www.ideou.com/pages/brainstorming

I wonder if one could be designed to spec that would be round and thin.

No one has been overly successful making a marketable version with LED's to date, so why not toss the idea out there? 

[Maletrain]

Didn't NJ International make a Pennsy position light signal in N scale?  Making a B&O CPL should actually be easier.  The B&O signal face scales to about ¼" and the light lenses scale to about 2 mm in N scale.  But, there are only 2 lights per aspect instead of 3.

As Pete says, it only takes 4 wires to light the 4 aspect positions, assuming the mast is used as "ground."

Of course, the real issue with the 4 wires, or this LCD idea, is that the potentially up to 6 marker lights that can go above (3) and below (another 3) the CPL (and modify the meaning of the 4 position-lights) would require additional wires and LEDs.  Since few signals required more than 2 or 3 marker lights, maybe using ladder (with insulating rungs) as conductors could do it?

Whatever, I just don't see  how to use the LCD panel for a signal because it requires that hugecable to make it work.

[peteski]

Dude, it's just an idea.      https://www.ideou.com/pages/brainstorming

I wonder if one could be designed to spec that would be round and thin.

No one has been overly successful making a marketable version with LED's to date, so why not toss the idea out there? 

There are few successful LED designs out there which fizzled out, but nto due to bad designs, but die to the producers closing down (for reasons unrelated to the PRR signals).

As for brainstorming and new ideas, some just don't make it to production. There are both, good, and *BAD* ideas.

Honestly John, LEDs are already perfectly good (and more than adequately small enough) to produce scale versions of the signal with minimal wiring and support logic. Why emulate the LEDs with an LCD screen?  To me that serious over-complication.  Sorry.

[eric220]

Didn't NJ International make a Pennsy position light signal in N scale?

They did. Twice. They both sucked.

Here’s the upgraded version. Base paint thick as icing, detail paint overspray, misaligned circuit boards...



I don’t know why the stupid thing is upside down; the forum’s rotate tool isn’t working; it’s [explative] late and I need to go to bed.

[DKS]

If you can be patient, I may have some news. But more than that I cannot say right now.

[CodyO]

If you can be patient, I may have some news. But more than that I cannot say right now.

Well this could be exciting ...