Created: 11/2/2004

Author: Randy Schafer

 

ezLCD is an easy to use intelligent color graphics terminal designed for rapid integration into existing and new designs of electronic control systems and instruments. It provides an exciting visual feature to any product by providing a crisp color LCD display user interface to be designed into a product in minimal time. The first product in the line is ezLCD-001.

 

Adding a color LCD to an embedded system whether an instrument, temperature control device or a medical device has usually required throwing away a proven low cost microcontroller based design to go to a 16 bit microprocessor design with an embedded LCD controller and graphical software operating system. This requires different programming experience and usually a more complex design and LCD knowledge. Our vision for ezLCD is to provide the graphics LCD as a separate module that can be configured separately to provide all the fonts and bitmaps required for the embedded application. While rudimentary products are on the market including serial character modules and simple monochrome graphic displays, Earth chose to leapfrog the competition with the first color product under $200. The ezLCD includes software tools that run on a P.C. that converts P.C. graphics and fonts to run efficiently in the ezLCD. The ezLCD can interface to virtually any microprocessor via RS-232, serial, parallel or I2C interface.

 

Early users have prototyped ezLCD into products for wireless LCD signage, equipment leveling, temperature monitoring, and medical instruments. Early customers evaluating ezLCD include Brooks Automation, Motorola and Abiomed. One customer cut their electronics cost in half by designing out a PocketPC solution.

 

Why are they using ezLCD?

The primary reason companies are using is time to market and/or time to proof of concept. No LCD interface knowledge or graphic programming. The majority of customers had their applications prototyped in less than a week! Many customers had no experience in sourcing or building products with LCD’s.

 

ezLCD-001 the introductory product is already being enhanced to Revision B to add customer requested features including button interfaces, touch screen option and one megabyte additional graphics storage. ezLCD-002 specifications are being developed to provide larger screens and Ethernet connectivity early in 2005.

 

ezLCD customers are able to get answers directly from the development and product management team by participating in an online user forum. Application notes for PIC, AVR, Pbasic, AVR Bascom have already been published. An application example on running the display tethered to P.C. running VB.net is also posted.