Hello Everyone,
I am trying to learn about circuit design, embedded programming and reverse engineer a LED message panels to create an upgrade system.
What I have to play with
I recently discover five LED message systems with each comprised of four display panels - 3 general with a fourth panel used as clock. The first three panels consist of 2 rows 9 columns with Red Only LED Matrix PARA LIGHT C-5580SRD 5x8. The fourth display sign (2 rows 6 columns) PARA LIGHT C-5580SRD (5 x 8). All panels is powered by 9 volts and daisy chained by 10 wire connection.
The controller or interpreting board uses a Z80 CPU and M27C512-12F1 as custom ROM.
Web Search - A web search did not locate the company for a DIGITAL FAX. Several produced a similar system, but the cost of updating and support seemed steep.
Information
The documentation for setting up the units shows a dedicated computer software creates the message then transmits the information to RS232 port then converted to a RS485 (4-wire phone line) to the unit. The units could be daisy chained to each other to create a broad messaging system.
It seems the unit was built in late 1999 or 2000 (discovered from documentation for wiring a compute to the unit). I took a series of photos and iPhone video of the controller and a display board. They can be reviewed at http://gallery.me.com/stevenulbrich/100040
I am looking for any help and insight.
Steven
I am trying to learn about circuit design, embedded programming and reverse engineer a LED message panels to create an upgrade system.
What I have to play with
I recently discover five LED message systems with each comprised of four display panels - 3 general with a fourth panel used as clock. The first three panels consist of 2 rows 9 columns with Red Only LED Matrix PARA LIGHT C-5580SRD 5x8. The fourth display sign (2 rows 6 columns) PARA LIGHT C-5580SRD (5 x 8). All panels is powered by 9 volts and daisy chained by 10 wire connection.
The controller or interpreting board uses a Z80 CPU and M27C512-12F1 as custom ROM.
Web Search - A web search did not locate the company for a DIGITAL FAX. Several produced a similar system, but the cost of updating and support seemed steep.
Information
The documentation for setting up the units shows a dedicated computer software creates the message then transmits the information to RS232 port then converted to a RS485 (4-wire phone line) to the unit. The units could be daisy chained to each other to create a broad messaging system.
It seems the unit was built in late 1999 or 2000 (discovered from documentation for wiring a compute to the unit). I took a series of photos and iPhone video of the controller and a display board. They can be reviewed at http://gallery.me.com/stevenulbrich/100040
I am looking for any help and insight.
Steven