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New Sunlight Readable LCD on the block


charlesneufeld

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Hey Guys,

 

I just finished developing a new Sunlight readable LCD. I have spent most of my time developing the LCD panel, and as a result, it is pretty bare bones right now - but all the extra goodies will come as needed. My goal was to produce a nice LCD, with great resolution. I know what we all need in a monitor, but please chime in and post your comments and thoughts. This certainly won't be the "hook up to everything and be perfect for all situations" monitor, but it will get us half way there.

 

Check out the teaser pictures. The open frame LCD is, obviously, the Sunlight readable unit. The unit on the bottom is for comparison, and is your standard 7? 400nit LCD off shore unit. The pictures were taken with Winnipeg winter sunlight as the light source. Requests for additonal photos will be considered as time permits. And yes I put a smudge mark on my new LCD...arg

 

Information (not complete and subject to change):

 

- Case has been 3D modeled and it?s currently being machined out of 6061 aluminum. Pictures to come.

- Can be mounted on and off the Rig. It will have a 1/4-20 mount aswell.

- Black anodizing - duh. Laser engraved.

- The monitor connector will be PRO compatible, unless ordered differently. (ie BNC -XLR - Hirose)

- It can have an Anton Bauer gold mount on the rear if ordered.

- 2 line inputs, with individual termination. It is unlikely that I will integrate HD inputs.

- No crosshair/frame line/bubble at this time - check out Marrell?s unit.

- Operational power consumption will be under 10 watts.

- Input Voltage is 12-36vdc.

- Resolution is 800 x 480.

- Contrast and Nits are top secret. :ph34r:

?More to come as this develops

 

~Charles

 

full-1.jpg

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comp-1.jpg

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full-2.jpg

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post-81-1171135480_thumb.jpg - the wonderful sun

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Beautiful Charles (and I like your name too for some reason)... Lots of great ideas in Steadicam coming out of the north these days, what's with that? There are maple leaves growing all over my gear!

 

Keep us abreast as things develop, sounds like you are off to a great start. I'd love to see your display against some of the more high-end competition, like the Transvideo, Hummingbird etc. Not that it necessarily has to kick all of their asses, but if it is as good/nearly as good and more affordable, that would do it.

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Hey Brett, I am not 100% sure as to price, but I was aiming for 2 -3K originally.

 

Hey Charles, haha.. watchout for the sap - it's really sticky, but with sugar makes an amazing syrup. mmmm pancakes... uh... sorry back on topic. This panel should be at the same "viewability" level as the IMP products. Also, this LCD should be much friendlier to the outdoors than the Transvideo. However, the housing for this housing will a) not look like a big plastic heat sink, B) have a solid mounting point, and c) be internally balanced. Key points in my mind - but perhaps I am crazy.

 

I have gotten many emails about the bottom picture with the single LCD showing. YES! That is just a close-up photo while in FULL SUN. Somehow the pictures don't do the LCD proper justice.

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why not make it hd sdi rgb composite what ever it takes

Hey Guys,

 

I just finished developing a new Sunlight readable LCD. I have spent most of my time developing the LCD panel, and as a result, it is pretty bare bones right now - but all the extra goodies will come as needed. My goal was to produce a nice LCD, with great resolution. I know what we all need in a monitor, but please chime in and post your comments and thoughts. This certainly won't be the "hook up to everything and be perfect for all situations" monitor, but it will get us half way there.

 

Check out the teaser pictures. The open frame LCD is, obviously, the Sunlight readable unit. The unit on the bottom is for comparison, and is your standard 7? 400nit LCD off shore unit. The pictures were taken with Winnipeg winter sunlight as the light source. Requests for additonal photos will be considered as time permits. And yes I put a smudge mark on my new LCD...arg

 

Information (not complete and subject to change):

 

- Case has been 3D modeled and it?s currently being machined out of 6061 aluminum. Pictures to come.

- Can be mounted on and off the Rig. It will have a 1/4-20 mount aswell.

- Black anodizing - duh. Laser engraved.

- The monitor connector will be PRO compatible, unless ordered differently. (ie BNC -XLR - Hirose)

- It can have an Anton Bauer gold mount on the rear if ordered.

-

2 line inputs, with individual termination. It is unlikely that I will integrate HD inputs.

- No crosshair/frame line/bubble at this time - check out Marrell?s unit.

- Operational power consumption will be under 10 watts.

- Input Voltage is 12-36vdc.

- Resolution is 800 x 480.

- Contrast and Nits are top secret. :ph34r:

?More to come as this develops

 

~Charles

 

full-1.jpg

___

comp-1.jpg

___

full-2.jpg

___

post-81-1171135480_thumb.jpg - the wonderful sun

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Charles,

 

Do you have a heater for cold weather operation? MK-V integrated one into their Hummingbird Monitor. I know those Canadian winters get cold!

 

Although Marell does make a decent frameline generator, I think it's a good idea to have one on the monitor. Besides being easier to use, what about those who already own a XCS or PRO level, and don't want to add another component to the rig. I think you might loose some customers without having built in framelines.

 

Also, will it have image flip in all directions, zoom in & out? The panel seems very readable in daylight, how does it handle extreme low light situations? Try a 80/20 beamsplitter on a tap, 500ASA at T1.6 with the shot a stop underexposed, and see what you can see.

 

I applaud further LCD development for Steadicam. I don't mean to be critical, just trying to add some input on features while you're in the R&D stage.

 

Good luck,

 

Mark Karavite

A Camera / Steadicam Operator

mkaravite@comcast.net

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Charles, what are your thoughts about this:

 

http://aving.net/usa/news/default.asp?mode...01&SP_Num=0

 

 

Hey Charles,

 

LED will be the future, there is no doubt about it. It has many MAJOR advantages over CCFL; longer life, shock resistant, no loss of output in colder temperatures, and the list goes on and on...

 

However, cost of the LED panels, in comparing product for product, is astronomical. This is becausebacklighting tech is still in its infancy but will become the standard soon.

 

They look great though, and I had thought of attempting to make a LED backlight on one of my canabalized 7"'s just for fun.

 

~C

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why not make it hd sdi rgb composite what ever it takes

 

 

Hey Mark,

 

I had considered this aswell. However, with the availabiltiy of downconverters and the majority of sled owners not having true HD lines, it seems like it is not AS pressing.

 

On a positive note, I have found a chip that I may be able to make it work, but it would likely be a custom order thing.

 

~C

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Charles,

 

Do you have a heater for cold weather operation? MK-V integrated one into their Hummingbird Monitor. I know those Canadian winters get cold!

 

Although Marell does make a decent frameline generator, I think it's a good idea to have one on the monitor. Besides being easier to use, what about those who already own a XCS or PRO level, and don't want to add another component to the rig. I think you might loose some customers without having built in framelines.

 

Also, will it have image flip in all directions, zoom in & out? The panel seems very readable in daylight, how does it handle extreme low light situations? Try a 80/20 beamsplitter on a tap, 500ASA at T1.6 with the shot a stop underexposed, and see what you can see.

 

I applaud further LCD development for Steadicam. I don't mean to be critical, just trying to add some input on features while you're in the R&D stage.

 

Hey Mark,

 

Oh geez, don't worry about being critical! You have great points!

 

Yes there will be a heater, but it will be on a switch - why waste power when not needed??

 

As for the framelines/level, only the XCS level inserts the bubble onto the videosignal, the PRO just sends a voltage, and all the generating circutry is internal (at least on mine). Either way your suggestion got me thinking. I will see what it would take, as framelines are pretty easy to gererate.

 

Yes it will flip and do all the gymnastics we operators expect - but not zoom as of yet. I can't find the bit addresses for that feature in the vid chip...arg

 

~C

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