I noticed that there are quite a number of varieties in lvds [connectors] connecting the LCD with the controller.
So what happens if they dont fit exactly? can we assume that its not suitable / compatible?

Or is there some short of adapter we can use? can we just connect the wires (do we need the datasheet)?

I'm asking because I found some cheap XGA LCDs which I was thinking of connecting to my Genesis/MST controllers, but found out that the lvds connectors do not match ..

Thanks!

Not sure for certain but I can say that a single format of connector (pin spacing) could have any number of different locking/latching mechanisms. It is certainly possible to fabricate an adapter of sorts by scavenging cable assemblies and piecing together suitable connectors. Yeah, you should find a data sheet for the two components you are connecting to ensure you know which pin(s) go(es) to which pin(s). And, of course, not all controllers are compatible with all LCD panels.

You have about a 1in10,000 chance of getting an Lcd that will just happen to work with the MST controller even if you re-wire the Lvds cable .

Timings are different as are resolutions and color depths, etc.

It just doesn't work that easy. The controller would need to be reprogrammed and thats not something for the average person to do.

But when you refer to the specifications of say, the MST controller, as per datasheet on your website (I think that it is), it says the controller is capable of matching with so many types (resolutions/make) of LCDs.
Doesnt this mean that it compatible with many LCDs? and All we need to do is match the LVDS?

If not, why describe the Controller as capable to it?

I think Quasi-Mojo has matched the MST controller with a Toshiba 12" LCD. Quasi, any comments...?

Not my website

But yea the Mst controller is "compatible" with hundreds of Lcd's. IF you program it for the Lcd and make the proper Lvds cable for it.

ALL controllers have to be programed for the Lcd they will run. Almost every Lcd has different timings and resolutions and the controller has to know what these are in order to output a signal the Lcd can use.

Actually, no. I had to buy the MST controller for the 12.1 LCD. The 10.6 MST was the MST9E19A. The 12.1 MST was the MST9E19V1.22B.

oops! sorry my bad

So, does this mean the MST9E19A cannot be used to connect to ANY OTHER lcd unless its 'reprogrammed' for it? Cant I just connect the Power, Ground and other RXINO and RXCLKIN to the corresponding connections?

Also, remember the Ebay seller that was selling the LCD controller that we supposedly workable with a variety of LCDs? I think several guys from here had purchased it and successfully used it with their LCDs..? How does that work then?

That MST controller questions is way over my head. You might want to contact johnzo through his manhattanlcd.com website to check if he knows.

Here's a couple threads to read in the FAQ section:
Can I use <insert controller here> with <insert LCD panel here>?

Here is where you find the info about the eBay Seller who was previously selling controllers that were programmed to work with various panels. However, I believe that Seller no longer sells them.
Can I Use A Laptop LCD In My Projector

Personally, I thing you're dealing with a dead end. I would recommend buying from johnzo (you're guaranteed no FFC issues) or take your chances with buying an LCD monitor or LCD TV. If you're buying used, remember that you can safely purchase a LCD monitor/TV if only the backlight is dead, as we don't need those in a projector. Again, you're taking your chances with FFC issues, but this might save you some money.

Yes it has to be reprogrammed.

The Ebay seller bought from China and i took 3-5 weeks to get the controller because it had to be programmed for the Lcd you had and a new Lvds cable made. And sometimes it wouldn't work with the Lcd you had and he gave a refund. I know I bought a few

So is there a way we diy-ers can reprogramme it? Or what are the required steps for it?

No it's beyond all but the most technical people. In fact even the Pro's burn up Lcd's when programming the controllers

Actually, there is, and the tools to do so are widely available in China and Japan, but not in most other parts of the world.
In fact, there are several sites that sell programmers to program a variety of controllers, but, they are rather expensive for the programming kits, which usually include a CD of firmware files for a wide range of LCD panels.

In reality, unless you are going to be doing a lot of programming of controllers, the expense isn't worth it.

Most of those sites also sell different sets of controllers that they will program for you, and one of them also sells a lot of LVDS cables and other parts related to this.
I have had very little luck in trying to get them to sell or ship anything to the USA.

You may want to use Google or another translation service unless you speak the native language of these sites.
The easiest way is to use Google to search for one of the sites, then use the translate feature to bring it up.
Here are a few that I remember off the top of my head:

www.aitendo.co.jp
www.lcduser.com (related to the above site)
www.wjel.net
shop.wjel.net (shop for above site)

There are others, but, I just do not remember them, and never bookmarked them at all.

Actually, if the specifications (bits, pixels/resolution, timings, etc) of the LCD panel it was programmed for, and an LCD panel you want to use for it are the same, then yes, it can be used for another panel, even of a different size.

I use a controller that was programmed for a 14.1 1024x768 laptop LCD with a 12.1 1024x768 LCD in a projector.
It works, because all of the electrical specifications are identical. The actual connector to the panels was different, so I did have to make a cable for it.

The amount of time it takes to verify everything, and make the cables, etc, can be a little bit more than the average DIYer might really want to get into, and it definitely takes a bit of knowledge about what LVDS really is, the number of bits used, single versus dual channel, etc, etc, etc... but, it can be done.

I also use a controller programmed for a rather common 17" TTL interface (circa 1999-2001 and not LVDS) LCD panel with an older TMDS LCD with an adapter to change the signaling from TTL to TMDS, not something for the faint of heart, but, it also works.

Could you explain to me what single and dual chanel is, and perhaps the difference? I did notice that Samsung's panel had 2 kinds of RXIN1 (odd and even) whereas the Toshiba panel did not. So, is this dual and single respectively? And so, can I just ignore the odd (or even) bits when I connect the controller to the LCD?

I've been corresponding with this person : c0v3rr1d3 about his attempt on this, and am still waiting for some pictures from him to help better explain the procedures and if its possible.

I hope he'lll join in on this topic and give some feedback..