Jukebox project question

[johnnysmitch]

Hey all; I'm not even done with my MAME project yet, but I'm already looking ahead at building a stand-alone (actually, a wallmount) jukebox... I'm gonna try building a small touchscreen jukebox, and while researching parts, I impulse-bid and won this sharp widescreen touchscreen LCD - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=31569&item=3496711242&rd=1 - my question is: have any of you ever hooked anything like this up before?  I'm pretty well versed as far as building computers goes, but I'm a little weary on this... any info/advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
~ Mr. Smitch

[SteveJ34]

Here's a link to what is probably represented in the documentation/wiring schematics that appear to be present in the auction:

http://sharp-world.com/products/device/lineup/data/pdf/datasheet/LM8M64_LC98109A.pdf

I'm still researching LCDs with/without touchscreen so I am no expert in the electronics for the various items that are out there.

Seems most anything with a VGA interface is upwards of $200.

Appears this is a base LCD with touchscreen circuitry.

What is likely lacking is any sort of controller to drive the LCD....similar to what you would get if you pulled an LCD from a laptop....all the VGA circuitry is in the motherboard of the laptop.

[touch-n-go]

Hey all; I'm not even done with my MAME project yet, but I'm already looking ahead at building a stand-alone (actually, a wallmount) jukebox... I'm gonna try building a small touchscreen jukebox, and while researching parts, I impulse-bid and won this sharp widescreen touchscreen LCD - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=31569&item=3496711242&rd=1 - my question is: have any of you ever hooked anything like this up before?  I'm pretty well versed as far as building computers goes, but I'm a little weary on this... any info/advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
~ Mr. Smitch

Dear Mr. Smitch,
I have been building touch screen music systems for 3 years now. The touch screen install is rather easy. As long as you have the correct driver for it. There is only a couple of was to hook it up. It will be serial or USB. Either way, most drivers will automatically find the com port that it is plugged into. Hopefully the driver that you have is compatible to the PC that you have. If not, you can download drivers from ELO or UPD (Universal Pointing Device) UPD is the best, but ELO is more common. If you use Touch-N-Go software, it is best that you have 2 sound cards. One for PREVIEW and the other for the main output. If you have a built-in sound card, you should get another one like a Sound Blaster Audigy or Turtle Beach. The best for the money is a 24 BIT output sound card. About 70 bucks on www.pricewatch.com or 150 in a local store.

Email me for specifics
CPHowell@Touch-N-Go.com

[alm99]

How would you connect that touchscreen to a computer? It looks as though there is only a power connector, not a USB or serial connection for the drivers to recognize it.

[johnnysmitch]

i got the screen several days ago, and I must say i'm quite lost as to how to hook it up to anything.  It looks as though I will need a controller board for it, and I have absolutely no idea how to go about obtaining one of those, especially one that will work for this specific screen.  As far as the touchscreen goes, there are some leads that come out of it - they're just hard to see in the ebay picture - they're imbedded in a tab at the bottom (i forget the name of this type of a connection).  Might have to put this project on the backburner for some time... though i would LOVE to use a widescreen format like this for a jukebox, it might prove a bit much for me...