Displaying stuff on the AutoCheck display

[S2central.net]

The more I think about the idea of 'Autocheck 2 - the next generation'... the more I like it. With the right choice of hardware, systems architecture with a modular design that allows new functions to be added in software (or with extra hardware) the following is possible (forgetting cost and complexity for a moment) -

1. Works just like ordinary old Autocheck but with a higher resolution display. Subtle upgrades to that would allow users to cancel certain alerts if a known fault was just annoyingly being displayed all the time (eg on HID upgraded lights, or when you run out of water in the washer bottle).

2. Add capability to display engine fault codes - and tell you the most likely causes... and suggested remedies even !

3. An accelerometer upgrade would give g-force related info for performance comparison on engine, suspension and brake upgrades.

4. An instrumentation upgrade would give boost, EGT, IAT, AFR, FP & KDI capability on the display when in this mode.

5. A connectivity upgrade could give serial, USB or Bluetooth comms to a PC for datalogging capability and advanced configuration operations such as software upgrades and customisation.

What think ye ?


Paul

[Billman]

Sounds very nice, but has the know problems! I think if we make it to the autocheck control and add extras like Boost, EGT, RPM data logging and schwitching between them (even Fault Codes) then it will be another small step further for the design to have a newer display and more stuff on it!

[A80Avant]

im watching this thread closely...it seems very interesting although if it ever turns out a doable situation,rather costly,i think it is worth it!

[andre]

Just as a matter of interest, I'm sure the Autocheck system fitted to the urS4/6 cars does actually display boost (relative only I think). Apparently the systems are not compatible with the S2, but there must be some reusable bits in there - knowing mass production and all.

Any ur owners that can confirm this?

[mcandmar]

Yes our ur-s4 has a boost gauge on the onboard computer, its the first function which is a real time MPG reading on my cq20v.

[bcdesigns]

My idea

display.jpg

[nigelm]

Autocheck Display

@bcdesigns

Looks good.
There was some uncertainty if both colours could be displayed together - if not maybe have negative pressures all displayed in red.

@Paul

The idea of an 'all singing and dancing' autocheck sounds wonderful. The investment in time and expertise to develop this would be significant I guess, and the finished product expensive?

I guess there would be large numbers of people who would be keen on having either.

nigelm

[Keeper of The Kitten]

I'm certain that only one colour can be displayed at a time - as far as I can tell, the display is just LCD with opaque (black) or clear pixels and the colours are produced by two different coloured backlights. So... I think it's best to work with one colour at a time!

__MDC__

[s2avant]

The display is indeed a standard lcd. The illumination colour is determined by the bulbs behind it. There is an orange bulb and a red bulb. The colour displayed depends on the warning being issued.

Ben

[ctolladay]

Well... now I have set the hare running!

Progress... not as yet apart from to confirm what has already been stated. Only one colour can be used at a time, sorry.

Work should start next week once my day job drops to 10 hours a day. Will keep all updated as a when I know more.

[spiralsmurf]

guy's it's been done. http://www.boost-instruments.com/

[kday]

Indeed, it has been done...

And you can see the details on my website that spiralsmurf just linked to.

I do not believe it will be possible to get a graphical display without doing some major surgery to the autocheck circuitry.

As noted above the LCD is monochrome, and even with full control of the LCD driver there is no way to display orange and red at the same time. (The latency of the incandescent backlights is far too long to play any tricks with backlight modulation.)

If someone with an S2 or RS2 who is comfortable with electronics wants to do some testing of the TDS-1, please contact me. As of now it has only been used on North American S4s and S6s.

[Billman]

No EGT??

[S2central.net]

See nearly all the best ideas in the world have been done before...

@kday - you have a nice looking piece of equipment here that does some of what has been discussed here. Is there any way to expand the functionality on this device to support an EGT input. Assuming use of a standard k-type thermocouple it should be pretty simple to add this to a new version of the unit. Seems to me you have already cracked the hardest part of this in driving the autocheck display.

I'd certainly like to test this on an S2 as I note you have never actually tried it on that application.

If you could support Boost, IAT and EGT on this - with user selection of PSI or Bar and Fahrenheit or Celsius then you'll have an awful lot of interest from the S2 community assembled here.

Only other thing I'd like added on is KDI - knock detection indication. I have a reference circuit for this which I'd like to build and test - we need to talk about how your module could either incorporate this - or accept an input signal from an external KDI module and display the appropriate info on the display (visibility of which can be enabled/disabled by the user).

Only other question for now is price ?


Cheers,

Paul

[S2central.net]

@kday - just realised there might be a problem here... Your module piggybacks onto the electronic boost indication from the ECU. This is wired to the dashboard on AAN engined UrS4/S6 vehicles, but NONE of the S2/RS2 family.

In actual fact - the boost indication pin on the ABY/ADU ECU does not even connect to the ECU loom - AFAIK.

The S2/RS2 users will need a means to get this signal. Best suggestion I have is an external VMAP module that can be connected to the ECU's boost/vacuum hose and provide the boost signal required by your TDS-1 module.

Kinda puts up the cost and complexity with multiple boxes hooked together... REALLY need to see best we can collaborate for a module that integrates VMAP, EGT, IAT & KDI. An expansion option for datalogging should be considered also.

By reverse engineering the RDS interface you have provided us with the means of displaying almost anything we need on the display. Just needs the right analog inputs and some thought about the user interface and we are there.

Paul