VMU backlight!
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VMU backlight!
hi everybody! i've opened this topic to show you a cool mod i did some months ago, everything started just as a random experiment, but the result was better than expected!
i was having fun recovering smd-leds and reflecting layers from the broken lcd of my big brother's mp4 (cowon i9, smashed after 2 weeks), then i had an idea, slap them in a vmu and see whats happens.
this was the first test:
to do that, i've carefully removed the silver layer in the back of the lcd wich is needed to reflect ambient light on the vmu's screen, so you can see in it. i had to remove it because it denies the light go through itstelf. Without it, the vmu screen is totally transparent like glass (just slightly bueish)!
so, i've cutted the reflecting layers to fit perfectly behind the vmu's screen, and added smd-leds:
in this early attempt, leds were wired again to the original source in the mp4 player, that's how it looked in the first photo i linked, it was really promising!
then, when i had figured out the correct voltage and current, i've soldered leds in parallel inside the vmu, and soldered them to pin 14 (3,5V) and pin 8(gnd) i've added a 180ohm resistor to lower voltage to 3V.
then, the first attempt where power was supplied by the controller itself:
accidentally the led in the middle was soldered bad, and it didn't light up, but it's fine now.
here an other shot while the controller was disassembled
before the mod, i tought it would looked greysh and faded, but it's a lovable solid blue!
this is the original discussion on sega-16
http://www.sega-16.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11105
on pag.2 i've made a little tutorial too!
i'm sorry for my "engrish" i'm italian, my english is lacking
i was having fun recovering smd-leds and reflecting layers from the broken lcd of my big brother's mp4 (cowon i9, smashed after 2 weeks), then i had an idea, slap them in a vmu and see whats happens.
this was the first test:
to do that, i've carefully removed the silver layer in the back of the lcd wich is needed to reflect ambient light on the vmu's screen, so you can see in it. i had to remove it because it denies the light go through itstelf. Without it, the vmu screen is totally transparent like glass (just slightly bueish)!
so, i've cutted the reflecting layers to fit perfectly behind the vmu's screen, and added smd-leds:
in this early attempt, leds were wired again to the original source in the mp4 player, that's how it looked in the first photo i linked, it was really promising!
then, when i had figured out the correct voltage and current, i've soldered leds in parallel inside the vmu, and soldered them to pin 14 (3,5V) and pin 8(gnd) i've added a 180ohm resistor to lower voltage to 3V.
then, the first attempt where power was supplied by the controller itself:
accidentally the led in the middle was soldered bad, and it didn't light up, but it's fine now.
here an other shot while the controller was disassembled
before the mod, i tought it would looked greysh and faded, but it's a lovable solid blue!
this is the original discussion on sega-16
http://www.sega-16.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11105
on pag.2 i've made a little tutorial too!
i'm sorry for my "engrish" i'm italian, my english is lacking
Re: VMU backlight!
i'm glad you liked it!
i've modded an other one for a friend, i've made some others photo and a short video, so i can make a step-by-step guide :p
i've modded an other one for a friend, i've made some others photo and a short video, so i can make a step-by-step guide :p
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- DC Developer
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Re: VMU backlight!
I need more VMUs
I have a old fat NDS that does not work anymore, I'll try to take the backlight from it...
Awesome hack, good work
I have a old fat NDS that does not work anymore, I'll try to take the backlight from it...
Awesome hack, good work
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Re: VMU backlight!
This is the best mod I have seen for a long time. Well done.
240 MHZ Dreamcast mod done. Paint jobs here http://t3rminator.deviantart.com/
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Re: VMU backlight!
You do that and I will post it up on DevCast.Yfrid wrote:i'm glad you liked it!
i've modded an other one for a friend, i've made some others photo and a short video, so i can make a step-by-step guide :p
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- Insane DCEmu
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Re: VMU backlight!
QFT! I guess I'll even buy more VMUs just to try this out.miggi03 wrote:This is the best mod I have seen for a long time. Well done.
You're a genius Yfrid!
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- Jeeba Jabba
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Re: VMU backlight!
|darc| wrote:This is really cool.
"He who cannot draw on 3,000 years is living hand-to-mouth." -Goethe
- mankrip
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Re: VMU backlight!
Sega should have designed it like this right from the start. It's a pain to use the VMU as a status display for games like RE CODE Veronica due to the lack of a backlight in it.
I just remembered that I've got a broken MP3 player around. Its display is around 1/3 of the height of the VMU's display, so, would it work?
But honestly, what I'd really like to do is to remove the LCD display from the VMU entirely and place it directly into the DC's controller, while keeping both VMU slots available; this way there would be no loss of LCD functionality in DC games when using VMUs that have no LCD display.
I just remembered that I've got a broken MP3 player around. Its display is around 1/3 of the height of the VMU's display, so, would it work?
But honestly, what I'd really like to do is to remove the LCD display from the VMU entirely and place it directly into the DC's controller, while keeping both VMU slots available; this way there would be no loss of LCD functionality in DC games when using VMUs that have no LCD display.
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Re: VMU backlight!
One problem, though, is that the VMU only lasts about 10 minutes on a battery, and if Sega had put in a backlight, it'd probably have only lasted 5 minutes.
It's thinking...
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Re: VMU backlight!
Fine, I can handle this!
The Backlight would be optional on battery and for the console the backlight option would be toggled on or off from the Dreamcast System Settings. Also you've generally underestimated the battery life, I've used it and I left it on for days and it lasted pretty well, frankly we all enjoy the beep to much to change the battries.
How about now
p.s. most people forget that around this time the GBA didn't even have a backlight and VMU came out in the days of GBC.
The Backlight would be optional on battery and for the console the backlight option would be toggled on or off from the Dreamcast System Settings. Also you've generally underestimated the battery life, I've used it and I left it on for days and it lasted pretty well, frankly we all enjoy the beep to much to change the battries.
How about now
p.s. most people forget that around this time the GBA didn't even have a backlight and VMU came out in the days of GBC.
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- Insane DCEmu
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Re: VMU backlight!
cube_b3 wrote: p.s. most people forget that around this time the GBA didn't even have a backlight and VMU came out in the days of GBC.
They were just lazy for not releasing it outside JP I suppose...
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Re: VMU backlight!
The question is why didn't the GBA have a backlight to begin with?
I sold my GBA a few weeks after buying it cause it was impossible to play it, It holds the fastest discard record of all my inventory I tend to save stuff but the GBA just pissed me off.
I sold my GBA a few weeks after buying it cause it was impossible to play it, It holds the fastest discard record of all my inventory I tend to save stuff but the GBA just pissed me off.
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Re: VMU backlight!
i'm going to make myself one of these soon
Dreamcast, it's still thinking.
Over-clocked : Dreamcast currently running at 240Mhz (switchable)
Internal VGA, extra cooling fans, disc activity LED, SD card reader done
Dreamcast HD wanted
Over-clocked : Dreamcast currently running at 240Mhz (switchable)
Internal VGA, extra cooling fans, disc activity LED, SD card reader done
Dreamcast HD wanted