Video Library

Things to Know Before Adding a Display Module to a Product

On this page you will find videos that cover topics to review if you are new to adding a display or touchscreen to an embedded product. Then you will find tutorials broken out by development environment on how to get development kits up and running, use tools we provide, setup, examples and more.

With a Development Kit, customers find they can have something up and running within a week. Learn more about what comes in a kit and how they lower your development risks.

Looking for a panel that will be available for more than 18 months? See how Reach Technology selects panels with long lives.

People want embedded systems to work the same way each time. Learn more about how having a simple system like ours helps you build a reliable product.

One of the hard things is to figure out which LCD to use. Picking the wrong LCD can spell disaster. Find out how we make sure you’ll have a product that is around for 5-7 years or longer.

Learn the logic behind using one of the main display module sizes.

We are targeting industrial and medical applications – products with a long life that need a graphical user interface and have a core control component functioning that makes the product compelling.

Uncover the costs associated with manufacturing offshore. See how Reach can offer competitive pricing while making our controller boards, assembling modules, and staffing all positions in the USA.

Talk to someone that knows what they are talking about! If you’re frustrated and spend more than 15 minutes scratching your head, call us. In five minutes, we might be able to save you an hour.

We keep track of and support your unique firmware. The version you develop with and test is what we ship with each new order.

We specialize in long-term availability (5-7 years is a minimum). Find out what makes this possible.

Choose Between Two Tutorial Tracks

SLCD Tutorials

Build a user interface with your custom images or our image collection. Connect your system’s microcontroller to the SLCD modules using a standard asynchronous serial port.

G2 Tutorials

Use a Qt Integrated Development Environment with drag-and-drop tools to design a user interface. Connect to the G2 modules using one of many I/O options.

SLCD Tutorials

See how you can start by making something very simple and work from end-to-end, then build from there.

4.3″ SLCD43 PCAP Module

See the parts you get and how they go together to power the display module and run the demos.

7″ SLCD5+E Module

See how to how to set up hardware and software to get up-and-running once your development kit arrives.

Creating Graphic Elements

See how to generate a footer, 3D buttons, add a logo, and create the .bmp files necessary to load onto a module.

Combining Background, Buttons, Macros

Create a background for a 480 x 272 touchscreen, then add buttons (pressed and unpressed states), your logo, and other graphic elements.

Loading Images to the Display

See how load .bmp files, do some simple programming, and add macros that set screen brightness and update the date/time in the footer.

Using BMPload with the SLCD43 Controller

BMPload is used to download bitmaps, macros, and fonts to the SLCD. This video shows how to use many of the commonly-used features of BMPload. Download Support Files

Using BMPload with the SLCD5/SLCD5+ Controller

BMPload is used to download bitmaps, macros, and fonts to the SLCD. This video shows how to use many of the commonly-used features of BMPload. Download Support Files

These allow you to define screen elements and output a screen setup macro using a free image manipulation program called GIMP. Download Support Files | Download Support Document

The Meter Define Command requires a background bitmap, min/max needle angle values, a needle pivot point, and a set of points outlining a polygon for the meter needle. A program such as GIMP can be used to design the needle. Download Support Files | Download BMPload

See how to limit the number of characters drawn and automatically providing leading or trailing spaces. This video demonstrates the basics of using simple output formatting with string variables. Download Support Files

With Reach Technology modules, you are not locked into a screen size. You have to scale your graphics to move to a new screen size, but you don’t have to build an entirely new system.

Products Using Reach Technology Display Modules

See how other companies are incorporating Reach Technology modules into their products.

Customer Interface Designs

See customer interface designs created by our customers in products that are currently in production.

G2 Tutorials

Separate GUI and Core Processes

Using one processor for real-time and GUI functions seems cheaper and simpler, however, programmers prefer to put core functionality in application-specific microcontrollers, not complex multi-tasking GUI hosts.

Attached Microcontroller Architecture

Modules run a GUI (over serial, Ethernet, etc.) to intelligent agents that perform core functions (i.e. running a skin laser). Software components connect the GUI to an external microcontroller. A translate layer insulates core functions from GUI changes.

4.3″ G2C1 Development Kit

Get a 4.3″ G2C1 development kit up and running.

7″ G2H2 Development Kit

Get a 7″ G2H2 development kit up and running.

Setup an application, design the first screen, and download code to the module.

In this quick-start tutorial, see how to quickly write QML code and deploy it to the module using Qt Creator.

Installing Qt Creator

A complete development environment with a palette of drag-and-drop UI elements that can be customized as needed for your interface look and feel. Display modules come with a Qt license. Installing Qt Creator

Basics of Qt Creator and QML

See how to create a simple program with three pages, how to use buttons to navigate between pages, and how to insert your logo into the program in Qt Creator.

Download QML Samples

A demonstration of downloading and extracting demo files.

Before you can access the SIO Agent, you need to set up a Linux Virtual Machine. To do this, go to Linux Virtual Machine Releases and download the image that matches your module type (G2C1 or G2H2). Be sure to download the latest release. To run the VM, you need to download the latest version of the VMware Player. Navigate to VMware’s web page, select Downloads, and then select Player. For the Major Version, select the latest version and then click Download for your host architecture and operating system. Install the VMware Workstation Player. Extract files from the Linux Virtual Machine Release .ZIP folder you downloaded. Open the file “Mint 17 VM” with an icon of three overlapping squares into the VM player. Since the SIO Agent is on the G2 module, connect yours now if you haven’t already.

Instructions on how to access, edit, and debug the SIO Agent.

Installing G2Link

A step-by-step walk through the process of installing G2Link.

Upload a Program Using G2Link

Upload a program to your display module by connecting from your PC using G2Link.

An informal high ESD test on a G2C1 module for the gaming industry which required extremely high ESD immunity. Watch this module being zapped at 25.5 kV.

Intuitive, attractive GUI design commands higher prices. Our products allow the GUI to be designed and prototyped using a PC which allows for faster changes and improves your ability to produce an optimal design.

In this demo, see how you can quickly build smartphone-like interfaces.

Embedded Touchscreens Made Easy:
Up in Days, Smoothly to Production. Get started with a Development Kit.

Reach Technology is now a part of Novanta.

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