Patches and discussion for Ensoniq VFX family

yes, you are quite right, I need to check  part by part to find the real problem!
 
Daeron...


________________________________
 De: jammie <jammie.emma@...>
Para: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com 
Enviado: Jueves, 6 de septiembre, 2012 11:34:19
Asunto: Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Ensonix VFX-SD no work!
 

  
 
you could change many parts to find out its not 
that that was broken
 
you need a logic anyliser to see whats wrong with 
cpu and logic chips and the data sheet so you can see
 
what cycles and voltages and timmings are supposed 
to happen
 
and getting the data sheet for the 6500 which has a 
prom on it with ensoniq specific code for the job it performs so you would also 
need this data
 
and the problem is its not available
 
we have had to do it the brut force method with a 
logic anyliser and recording all the functions
 
and then copying them onto a fpga logic 
circuit
 
its alot of work and we are still in the design 
phase of the project with this new interface chip
 
as it is needed to keep alive lots of ensoniq 
synths
 
as in the past i have had to put to pastures 
several metal case esq1 becuase of this chip
 
you are better of buying that vfd board for the vfx 
from syntuar and then you will hve spare parts
 
as you could be changing lots of parts for nothing 
and it might still not work
----- Original Message ----- 
> 
> 
>From: Daeron 
>To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com 
>Sent: Thursday, September 06, 2012 2:48  PM
>Subject: Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Ensonix  VFX-SD no work!
>
>  
>Yes!  i change the power supply thinking that was the problem the but it was not! 
>
>
> 
>Daeron...
>
>
>________________________________
> De: Christian Brunschen <cb@...>
>Para: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com 
>Enviado: Jueves, 6 de  septiembre, 2012 8:37:01
>Asunto: Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Ensonix  VFX-SD no work!
>
>
>  
>On Sep 6, 2012, at 2:34 PM, Daeron <daeron_elf@yahoo.com.mx>  wrote:
>
>Dear  Christian!
>>thanks for you support! it's a very complete information, i 
    will try to check every chip separately!
>>
>
>
>Hi Daeron,
>
>
>from the video you showed, there's a brief flash of something on the  display before it all goes blank; that's not really the kind of problem that I  think has to do with any one of the driver chips being bad, alas. I think that  as has been said elsewhere in this thread, it may be the microcontroller.  Possibly, though, it might be a power-related issue?
>
>Daeron...
>
>
>// Christian
>
>
>
>
>>________________________________
>> De: Christian Brunschen  <cb@...>
>>Para: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com 
>>Enviado: Jueves, 6 de  septiembre, 2012 7:10:19
>>Asunto: Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD]  Ensonix VFX-SD no work!
>>
>>
>>On Sep 2, 2012, at 9:00 PM, Daeron <daeron_elf@...>  wrote:
>>
>>Oh! thanks a lot for your support! somebody  know the part number of the controller chip? i found this: Display driver integrated circuit chip, TL4810BN on  syntaur!
>>>
>>
>>
>>Actually, the display board on the VFX-series of boards uses two  different driver chips to drive the VFD (Vacuum Fluorescent Display). In  that respect it is similar to the ESQ1 - whose display board schematic is  here: http://memi.de/~buchty/ensoniq/schematics/esq1/esq1-display.jpg
>>
>>
>>As on the VFX / VFX--SD / SD-1, there are two different chips, both  with similar function:
>>
>>
>>4 * TL4810A to drive the choice of segments; and
>>2 * TL5812 to drive the columns.
>>
>>
>>Basically, the VFD works by lighting up those segments that are  addressed by the combination of the selected column (40 columns, one pin for  each column => 40 pins) and the selected set of segments (2 rows of  characters with 14 segments per character => 28 pins).
>>
>>
>>The driving chips are shift registers, into which data are written  sequentially, and then presented in parallel. The TL4810A chips are 10-bit  shift registers, and the TL5812 chips are 20-bit shift registers.
>>
>>
>>The two TL5812:s are arranged sequentially to comprise effectively a  single, 40-bit shift register, their 40 outputs each connected to one of the  40 'column' pins on the VFD; the 4 TL4810A:s are separate, each connected to  separate input pins from the 6500 processor, and each having 7 of its  outputs connected to 7 of the 'segment' driving pins on the VFD.
>>
>>
>>In order to draw a complete screenful, I believe the display board does  the following.
>>
>>
>>The display board iterates through each column on the board. It does  this by shifting a single '1' into  the 40-bit shift register comprised  of the 2 TL5812:s. At the beginning of displaying a screenful, we thus have  a single '1' and 39 '0's present on the column-driving pins of the VFD, thus  effectively selecting column 0.
>>
>>
>>At the same time, it shifts 4 sets of 7 bits, one into each of the  TL4810A:s, thus specifying which 4*7 = 28 segments should be lit in the 0:th  column of the display. 
>>
>>
>>This means that the display will light up precisely those selected  segments in column 0.
>>
>>
>>Then a '0' is shifted into the 'column' shift register, advancing the  '1' to select column 1; and a new set of 7 bits per register are shifted  into the 4 TL4810A:s, to specify the set of segments lit in that column, and  so on.
>>
>>
>>Troubleshooting-wise, this basically means that if you have symptoms  where the left or right half of the display is messed up but the other  (right / left) half is OK, it's likely a problem with one of the TL5812  chips. If you have problems with some of the segments in all characters in  one row, that indicates an issue with one (or more) of the TL4810A  chips.
>>
>>
>>Intriguingly enough, I've found both TL5812:s and TL4810:s  on  eBay:
>>
>>
>>  http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/120922031767
>>
>>
>>  http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/110886748416
>>
>>
>>(the TL4810BN is an improved version of the TL4810A).
>>
>>
>>Best wishes,
>>
>>
>>// Christian Brunschen
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>
>>> please sorry for my bad english is not my native  language!
>>>
>>>Daeron...
>>>
>>>
>>>________________________________
>>> De: jammie <jammie.emma@....uk>
>>>Para: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com 
>>>Enviado: Domingo, 2 de  septiembre, 2012 14:52:01
>>>Asunto: Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD]  Ensonix VFX-SD no work!
>>>
>>>
>>>the fip controller chips are  fualty
>>> 
>>>its a common problem on the 
asr10
>>> 
>>>and the esq1 sq80
>>> 
>>>so its no suprize that the vfx has the same  fualt as the esq1 and sq80 vfx sd and the ts10 all use the same  display
>>> 
>>>and you cant get the chips any more i know i  have tried as i fix these all the time
>>> 
>>>we are working on an fpga design to replace  but still in the designing and testing phase
>>>-----  Original Message -----
>>>>From: STEPHEN  PRATT
>>>>To: Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com
>>>>Sent: Sunday, September  02, 2012 8:21 PM
>>>>Subject: Re:  [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Ensonix VFX-SD no work!
>>>>
>>>>  
>>>>How old is the backup battery?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>On Sep 2, 2012, at 2:58 PM, Daeron wrote:
>>>>
>>>>  
>>>>>Hi! some body help me! my vfx-sd don't  work any more, i change the power supply but nothing! i push the power  on and just a little flash on the display!
>>>>>like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNBW3DluHj0&feature=plcp
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
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>>>
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