LED-LP LCD Setup

This was my first project using optical-based multi-touch. I was on a budget being the "starving college student" that I was, so I wanted to make something inexpensive and within my skills. This thus limited me to using a LCD screen. I got a cheap one from work and took it apart and made a simple prototype cardboard box (blog link). I drew up some diagrams and went and picked up another LCD screen after accidentally destroying the first one (blog link). The next night didn't produce any better luck, with two more panels being destroyed (blog link). Lots of work happened next, with a weekend dedicated to pretty much all the construction of the small table. Made the box, made the touch surface, finally got a LCD panel I didn't destroy, mounted most things inside the enclosure (blog link). The next steps were finishing the LED border, which I accidentally shorted to the metal rails and burned a bunch or LEDs up. In the end though I got some good blobs (blog link). I then attached the LCD circuit board unit to the side of the box and thought some more about the LED rails (blog link). And finally it all got put together and tested with a bunch of videos and my roommate helping demo it. The webcam used is still low framerate so it isn't the most responsive thing (blog link). I upgraded the LED rails with my new designs to reduce the height of the top lip (blog link). Then upgraded the rails again to add more per side, put the laptop power supply in to run the LEDs, and attempted to see if an FTIR setup would work without a compliant layer (blog link). Added a better top bezel, and got everything else situated. Project was done. (blog link).

Estimated Time: 30hrs
Estimated Cost: $200 (not counting destroyed LCD panels)



Below are some pictures of the build: