Recycling a VCR ...

Folks,

I am building a server that will be built in an old VCR case. I am
first going to go for a proof of concept using a simple Pentium I 200
MHz, and a simple network card (will mostly stream files over da
house). If everything seems right, I'll replace it by a fanless Mini
ITX stuff ...

Now, this VCR case has lots of buttons that I wish can be reused
(play/stop/pause/FF/Rew/...). It also has a nice LCD panel that could
display many interesting things ...

My question : is there a way to reuse the buttons (i.e. what type of
interface should I connect the switches to), and do you think it is
possible to reuse the LCD (I guess I will need the specs of this panel
for power and signalling, but where to get it ???).

If it doesn't work, I'll junk the LCD and replace by one from Crystal
Fontz ... So, does any one of you has experience in recycling these
stuff ?

Cheers,
Petzi

On 28 Jun 2003 03:51:31 -0700, (Petzi) wrote:

My question : is there a way to reuse the buttons (i.e. what type of
interface should I connect the switches to),

Nothing at all. These switches are momentary-ons, just perfect as is
for PC.


and do you think it is
possible to reuse the LCD (I guess I will need the specs of this panel
for power and signalling, but where to get it ???).

http://www.samswebsite.com/photofact/pf_search.asp


Let us know how you make out.






-bobb

On 28 Jun 2003 03:51:31 -0700, (Petzi) wrote:

Folks,

I am building a server that will be built in an old VCR case. I am
first going to go for a proof of concept using a simple Pentium I 200
MHz, and a simple network card (will mostly stream files over da
house). If everything seems right, I'll replace it by a fanless Mini
ITX stuff ...

Now, this VCR case has lots of buttons that I wish can be reused
(play/stop/pause/FF/Rew/...). It also has a nice LCD panel that could
display many interesting things ...

My question : is there a way to reuse the buttons (i.e. what type of
interface should I connect the switches to), and do you think it is
possible to reuse the LCD (I guess I will need the specs of this panel
for power and signalling, but where to get it ???).


The buttons, you have to matrix somehow. My guess though, is that
there is a front PCB, that has the display and buttons on it,
connected to a chip that simply displays to the display, and reads the
keys, to/from a serial stream that the syscon of the VCR uses. It
could also be a tuner/timer/clock control chip, the syscon controlling
just the VCR mech.

If it doesn't work, I'll junk the LCD and replace by one from Crystal
Fontz ... So, does any one of you has experience in recycling these
stuff ?


It might be just easier to do that, unless you can find data on the
stock control chip, or a useable replacement, and write code in the PC
to interface to it.

Cheers,
Petzi