Toshiba LCD - problem with obsolete connectivity - need help

[bigvibe]

I have a very obsolete Toshiba 15" TFT. It has a Toshiba-specific connector (26-pin mbr I presume). I have demounted absolutely everything inside, and have found an interesting board, into which this obsolete cable goes. The board lay behind the LCD screen.
It is branded as Toshiba, contains two large connecters to the LCD screen, both 25 pin. They eminate from a central SIL chip (SiL101CT80) and I'm wondering whether I can find a replacement for this board to power (and connect) the Sharp 15" LCD screen (LQ15X13) with a conventional analog monitor connection. I am a beginner as you may already have noticed, so if anyone has any bright ideas (apart from me jumping in a lake), I would really appreciate the help.

I'd be quite happy to put digi pictures on my site for people to have a closer look at my problem.

(The Toshiba monitor is a TekBright 50D, which originally was sold with a PCI grafix card with the Toshiba-specific connector on there. You cannot find those damn things anymore!)

Thanks,
Torben.

 

[felixc]

So your Toshiba monitor has a Sharp display inside? I'm surprised to hear that, as Toshiba manufactures TFTs.
Are you in for a ride in the world of TFT displays? here you go:
You can possibly find the specs for your Sharp display at the Sharp web site. From what you say, it is probably an XGA (1024 x 768) dual-pixel per clock display.
Sil101 is made by Silicon Image. They still exist (search them on the web). Your board with a Sil101 on it is very probably a decoder for the Vesa DPMS standard. I worked on a design using this part. The DVI interface found on most 3D cards is an evolution of this standard. There is a slight chance that just finding what your pinouts are, you could connect your display to a DVI board. Do some searches on the web and you can find info on these standards.
You can check at companies like Apollo Displays for interface boards that could directly drive your Sharp display fron an analog VGA signal. TFT signals are quite standard. So unless your monitor is already dead, don't throw it you can probably reuse it, if you're willing to spend some time on it.

 

[bigvibe]

Thanks a lot felix, I will spend a bit of time delving into the possibilities. I'm quite mad about how people throw away perfectly good equipment in this world! It's just a matter of a bit of nouse and possibily a lot of time.

If I may, I'll contact you again for further advice if you have no issues with that!

Thanks again,

Torben.

 

[felixc]

If you enjoy the fun of learning, you've found the perfect project. Lots of details to know, but when it works you "see" the results! I hope that you have a scope available.
I've been working for years at a graphics board company, I now run my own little company, making CPU boards with TFT interfaces, and doing contractual work. I can't throw away things without trying to repair.
(Try not touching the inverter, not for getting zapped yourself, but for transmitting the zap to other parts of the circuit and ruin it.)
If you have more questions, try again on this site.
Have fun!

 

[IRstuff]

Have you posted this question on Tek-Tips? They have a forum specifically for computer video hardware:

http://www.tek-tips.com/threadhome.cfm?tp=1

TTFN

 

[felixc]

IRstuff, unfortunately Tek-Tips is populated with users where most of the concerns are about finding the right drivers to get your stuff working, rather than circuit electronic issues like those discussed at Eng-tips. I think that Bigvibe knocked at the right door, his search is pure technical electronics.
Felix