Building a dash display for automotive
Creating an automotive electronic dashboard is an exciting project! Here are some considerations and steps to get started:
Key Features to Include
- Sensor Connectivity:
- Analog Sensors: Support voltage, resistance, or current-based sensors.
- CAN Bus: Decode signals from the CAN bus using an appropriate transceiver.
- Display:
- Choose a high-resolution LCD, OLED, or TFT display.
- Ensure sunlight readability and ruggedness for automotive environments.
- Microcontroller/Processor:
- Use an MCU with ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter) for analog sensors and CAN bus support (e.g., ESP32, STM32, or Raspberry Pi).
- Power Supply:
- Handle automotive 12V/24V power systems.
- Include voltage regulators and protection circuits (e.g., overvoltage, reverse polarity).
- User Interface:
- Design with intuitive layouts for speed, RPM, fuel level, temperature, etc.
- Optional: Touch controls, buttons, or rotary encoders.
- Software:
- Develop firmware to process sensor inputs and display data.
- Use CAN libraries (e.g., Arduino CAN, SocketCAN for Linux) for CAN bus communication.
- Include calibration and configuration options for different vehicle setups.
- Housing:
- Design a rugged, water-resistant enclosure suitable for automotive environments.
- Optional Features:
- GPS, Bluetooth/Wi-Fi for connectivity.
- Data logging or over-the-air (OTA) updates.
- Integration with existing vehicle systems or smartphone apps.
Development Steps
- Hardware Prototyping:
- Use development boards like Arduino, STM32, or Raspberry Pi.
- Interface with a CAN transceiver module (e.g., MCP2515).
- Set up ADC circuits for analog sensors.
- Software Development:
- Write code for sensor interfacing and data processing.
- Build a dashboard UI using libraries like LVGL (for graphical interfaces).
- Testing:
- Test with various analog sensors and CAN bus signals.
- Validate reliability under automotive conditions (vibration, temperature, etc.).
- Iteration:
- Gather feedback from testing and refine hardware and software.
- Production:
- Design custom PCBs for compactness.
- Source automotive-grade components.
Are there any kits or software packages to get started?
Embarking on the development of an automotive electronic dashboard that interfaces with both analog and CAN bus sensors is an exciting endeavor. To assist you in getting started, here are some recommended development kits and software tools tailored for such projects:
Development Kits
- ESP32-CAN-X2 Dual CAN Bus Development Board:
- Description: This automotive-grade development board features dual CAN bus interfaces, making it suitable for projects requiring robust CAN communication.
- Features:
- Dual CAN bus channels
- ESP32 microcontroller with integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
- Designed for automotive applications
- AiM MXS Strada IVA 5″ TFT Display Plug & Play Kit:
- Description: A comprehensive digital dashboard solution designed for kit cars, featuring a 5-inch TFT display.
- Features:
- IVA-compliant digital dash display
- Plug-and-play installation
- Customizable display layouts
Software Tools
- Crank Software’s Storyboard:
- Description: A GUI design and development tool tailored for creating vivid and feature-rich automotive interfaces.
- Features:
- Streamlined UI/UX design process
- Optimized for embedded systems
- Supports rapid prototyping and deployment
- VI-Dashboard by VI-grade:
- Description: A software solution that enables virtual testing of human-machine interfaces (HMI) within driving simulators.
- Features:
- Allows for early HMI concept validation
- Integrates with driving simulators for realistic testing
- Facilitates user feedback collection
- Source: citeturn0search3
- Kanzi One by Rightware:
- Description: An advanced HMI tool designed for creating sophisticated automotive user interfaces.
- Features:
- Comprehensive UI framework
- Real-time graphics engine
- Supports complex visual effects and 3D graphics
Additional Considerations
- Analog Sensor Integration: When working with analog sensors, ensure that your chosen development board has sufficient analog-to-digital converter (ADC) channels to accommodate the number of sensors you plan to use.
- CAN Bus Communication: For CAN bus integration, select a development board with built-in CAN controllers or ensure compatibility with external CAN transceiver modules.
- Display Selection: Choose a display that offers good visibility under various lighting conditions, especially sunlight, and is durable enough for automotive environments.
- Power Management: Implement proper power regulation to handle the vehicle’s power supply variations and protect your electronics from voltage spikes.
By leveraging these development kits and software tools, you can streamline the creation of a customized automotive dashboard that effectively interfaces with both analog and CAN bus sensors.
Display differences OLED or QLED?
OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) and QLED (Quantum Dot Light Emitting Diode) are two different display technologies, each with unique characteristics. Here’s a comparison:
1. Technology
- OLED: Each pixel emits its own light using organic compounds. It does not require a backlight, as each pixel can turn on or off independently.
- QLED: Uses quantum dots (tiny semiconductor nanocrystals) to enhance the light produced by an LED backlight. QLEDs are essentially an advanced version of LED-LCD displays.
2. Contrast and Black Levels
- OLED: Offers perfect black levels because individual pixels can be turned off completely, resulting in infinite contrast ratios.
- QLED: Relies on a backlight, so achieving true black is more challenging. Local dimming can help, but some light may bleed into darker areas.
3. Brightness
- OLED: Typically less bright than QLED but sufficient for most environments. High brightness can cause wear on organic materials, so it’s generally limited.
- QLED: Brighter than OLED due to powerful LED backlighting, making it better for brightly lit rooms.
4. Color Accuracy
- OLED: Exceptional color accuracy and wide viewing angles. Colors remain vibrant even at extreme angles.
- QLED: Can produce brighter colors, which is especially noticeable in HDR content, but color accuracy can shift slightly at extreme angles.
5. Lifespan
- OLED: Organic materials degrade over time, potentially leading to burn-in or image retention with static images.
- QLED: Inorganic quantum dots have a longer lifespan and are less prone to burn-in.
6. Thickness
- OLED: Ultra-thin and flexible because it doesn’t need a backlight. This allows for innovative designs, like foldable and rollable screens.
- QLED: Thicker than OLED due to the need for a backlight.
7. Power Efficiency
- OLED: More energy-efficient when displaying darker content because pixels can turn off completely. Consumes more power for brighter content.
- QLED: Consumes more power overall because of the backlight.
8. Price
- OLED: Generally more expensive due to the complexity of the technology.
- QLED: More affordable, especially for larger screen sizes.
9. Applications
- OLED: Preferred for high-end TVs, smartphones, and devices where slim designs and superior picture quality are essential.
- QLED: Common in TVs where high brightness and large sizes are prioritized, often marketed as a more budget-friendly alternative to OLED.
Summary: Which Is Better?
- Choose OLED if you want perfect blacks, infinite contrast, and exceptional viewing angles.
- Choose QLED if you prefer higher brightness, durability, and affordability for larger screens.
Your choice depends on your usage environment, viewing preferences, and budget.
Connect to either analog or canbus sensors
Considerations
Key Features to Include
- Sensor Connectivity:
- Analog Sensors: Support voltage, resistance, or current-based sensors.
- CAN Bus: Decode signals from the CAN bus using an appropriate transceiver.
- Display:
- Choose a high-resolution LCD, OLED, or TFT display.
- Ensure sunlight readability and ruggedness for automotive environments.
- Microcontroller/Processor:
- Use an MCU with ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter) for analog sensors and CAN bus support (e.g., ESP32, STM32, or Raspberry Pi).
- Power Supply:
- Handle automotive 12V/24V power systems.
- Include voltage regulators and protection circuits (e.g., overvoltage, reverse polarity).
- User Interface:
- Design with intuitive layouts for speed, RPM, fuel level, temperature, etc.
- Optional: Touch controls, buttons, or rotary encoders.
- Software:
- Develop firmware to process sensor inputs and display data.
- Use CAN libraries (e.g., Arduino CAN, SocketCAN for Linux) for CAN bus communication.
- Include calibration and configuration options for different vehicle setups.
- Housing:
- Design a rugged, water-resistant enclosure suitable for automotive environments.
- Optional Features:
- GPS, Bluetooth/Wi-Fi for connectivity.
- Data logging or over-the-air (OTA) updates.
- Integration with existing vehicle systems or smartphone apps.