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LCD Screen

Discussion in 'XJ DIY How-To Instructions' started by CaptNemo, Jan 2, 2009.

  1. CaptNemo

    CaptNemo Member

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    Don't know if anyone will benefit from this but here goes.

    The LCD screen on my dash was getting to be unreadable due to the outer layer delaminating and falling apart. This is like a piece of tape that has the red and yellow rectangles that outline the warning items, (FUEL, BRAKE, HEADLIGHT etc.) that is on top of the glass unit. It was getting so I could barely see the words anymore so I decided to take it apart and see what I could do, I didn't think to take a before picture but I think you get the idea.

    I take it apart and remove the film and then reassemble, turn the key and there was nothing on the screen at all

    [​IMG]

    so I assume I screwed somthing up and repeat the whole process, not once but twice more. I'm sure I didn't break anything so I learn a little about liquid crystal displays on Wikipedia and learn that this outer film served another purpose:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquid_crystal_display

    It was also one of two polarizing layers that allow us to see the display. To test this I grab an old pair of polarized glasses, put them on and lo and behold there is my display working perfectly.

    I found a website that sells polarizing film for avionics displays and ordered some. Now the interesting thing is that if you orient the film one way the display looks like we are all used too, but if you turn it 90 degress you get exactly the opposite look, black background with white letters. This is a purely optical effect with no influence on the electrical system at all. I chose to put it this way because it seems to go with the rest of the instruments much better. See what you think.

    [​IMG]


    It's very easy to read day or night but isn't as "in your face" as before. The information is there if I need it but not so distracting at night. The film I got was tinted for UV protection so it is a little muted, a clear film make pure white letters on the display.

    Of course I don't think anyone should ruin a good screen, but anyone who has one that is failing like mine was may be able to get it back, or anyone who would like to reduce the glare at night could try it too. I may switch mine back later, it's as simple to reverse as putting on a decal.

    Thanks for reading!
     
  2. wamaxim

    wamaxim Active Member

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    Great post. My guages are analog but there are a billion consumer devices with LCD displays.
     
  3. KrS14

    KrS14 Active Member

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    I used to do this with my calculators as a kid :) I was cool having a calc. that was black with white numbers lol
     
  4. bill

    bill Active Member

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    Great post thanks for the tip!
     
  5. tomandjerry00

    tomandjerry00 Member

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    That does fit the bike way better, thanks for the heads up!
     
  6. maximike

    maximike Member

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    I'd forgotten, I used to do this with whatever digital watch I had, a lot of them the crystal itself does this, if you take it out and flip it over you get a negative display, I'll have to do this to the atari computer on my bike, god knows I've taken it apart enough. I already had to make my own acrylic faceplate because I broke the glass one.
     
  7. CaptNemo

    CaptNemo Member

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    If flipping it over doen't work let me know, I bought a whole sheet of the polarizing film and have only used a little bit, would be happy to send you a slice if you want.
     
  8. Tim morris

    Tim morris Active Member Premium Member

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    Do you still have any left I need to fix a bad dash lcd delamination Tim 201 230 6654 thanks texto me Ino thanks again
     
  9. XJ550H

    XJ550H Well-Known Member Premium Member

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  10. cgutz

    cgutz Well-Known Member

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    Polarized filters are fun to play with. Learned about them in high school physics. Take two pairs of polarized sun glasses and overlap the lenses at right angles, then slowly turn one. You can "tune" the brightness. This is how variable light filtering windows and displays do it, except electronically.
     
    Last edited: Feb 1, 2018
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  11. Tim morris

    Tim morris Active Member Premium Member

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  12. Tim morris

    Tim morris Active Member Premium Member

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    I could really use a slice if available thanks Tim morris.text details to 201 230 6654 thanks in advance
     
  13. XJ550H

    XJ550H Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    capt nemo has not been here for a while sept 2016 .the thread you replied to was posted 2010
     
  14. Tim morris

    Tim morris Active Member Premium Member

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    Thanks i got some lcd film now just need to figure out how to change it ? Need videos has any one done video of lcd repairs yet ?
     
  15. Tim morris

    Tim morris Active Member Premium Member

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  16. Tim morris

    Tim morris Active Member Premium Member

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    Love it hopefully your still with us maybe you could do a video update of your repairs :) for us not so filmmillure,pun .
     
  17. Tim morris

    Tim morris Active Member Premium Member

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    Any info.will help
     
  18. MattiThundrrr

    MattiThundrrr Not a guru

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    Ouch
     
  19. Tim morris

    Tim morris Active Member Premium Member

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    I am all over Internet on this one need to be engineer
     
  20. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

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    You remove the ATARI.
    You then disassemble the ATARI
    Atari disassemble
    The systems monitor needs to be removed (two JIS screws on the monitor housing)
    The monitor cover can then be removed, and the film changed. If the film doesn't appear to work, rotate it 90º
     
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