Hacking AEIComp LCDs for portables - Trimming the fat
Read through the instructions carefully before attempting to solder. Also read the disclaimer.
This guides purpose it to help people hack AEIComp LCD screens. So far it covers the 2.5" and 3.5" (LED backlight) models.
These screens are perfect for the new breed of portables that use NOAC or other "fake" console emulation chips. They are a little bit more expensive then PSone screens but have many advantages over the PSone screens.
- Draw less Amps
- Wide input voltage
- from 3.3V to 12V
- LED backlight
- Smaller foot print
- Screens still in production
- Adjustable Contrast and Color
However they do not have sound amps and are about 1/2" thicker then the PSone screen. This guide will show how to drop that 1/2" and make the AEIComp screen the same thickness as the PSone screen.
For the wire used in the project use 24AWG or thinner solid wire. You can use stranded wire like IDE cables but it is much easier to use solid if you are uncomfortable in soldering something this small.
Step 1:
AEIComp screens have 3 parts. The LCD screen, driver board, and controller board. The LCD screen is where the pixels and backlight are. The driver board takes the analog composite video inputs and converts it to a digital signal that the LCD screen can read. The controller board is where all the inputs and screen adjustments are located, this is the part we will remove.
Step 2:
Remove the trim pots on the controller board. You can desolder the legs from underneath the board but it is easier to just clip the legs. Leave enough length to be able to solder onto the legs.
Step 3:
Take the trim pots and bend the legs as shown.
Step 4:
Solder your wire to the trim pots as shown.
Step 5:
Side view of the trim pots.
Step 6:
Pinout of the area where we will be soldering the inputs. This is the ribbon cable that connects the driver board to the controller. The pads are small so use a low wattage iron (15ish) and a small tip.
Step 7:
Wired driver board.
Step 8:
Test the screen by attaching the input voltage and gnd to your battery and video in to your project.
