2006 MFD interface GVIF?

I've been looking into this for a few weeks now and this looks like our ticket to get high res video to the MFD. The link you provide is the only known source for an SVGA to GVIF converter that I can find. I'm very temped to buy it but I haven't looked into the stores return policy just in case it does not work. I'll try to do that today. I'm also looking into if some regular PC LCD monitors have this converter and if so I'm going to try to find a semi working LCD and try to use its SVGA to GVIF converter board as an experiment.

 

Nice! I've been looking at that too from the DVD under the Seat as an easer access point as I was going to put the computer in the center consol between the two front seats, or under one of the seats if I can move the amp or nav unit. It just doesn’t mater where we hack in as long as we can convert to the right signal. I am opting for a car computer with a pop up screen from the center glass bin under the radio; however access to the MFD would still be great.

Let me know what I can do to help although I don’t have $1,500.00 lying around just to make the MFD work. I do have an extra monitor, and computer that I can take apart if the board you speak of is in there. Can you tell me more about what GVIF is?

 

If this is a true GVIF then all we need to do is find or make a cheap RGB/Composit/S-Video/SVGA to GVIF converter. Then us 2006+ Prius owners can have the regular CAN View or a PC hooked into the MFD. How wonderful that would be!

Do a google search for GVIF and you will find lots of data sheets on GVIF.

 

Awesome, I'm on it.

Ok it seems the converter should be in a flat panel display. I have a mom and pop near my house that has been open for ten years and all they sell is monitors, CRTs and Flat panels. He repairs them too. So I'm off to tap his expertise on this subject and to see if he would not mind helping me do a test hack. It may take me up to a week to get there, but I will call him now.

EDIT:
I just got off the phone with him and he said there is a board in the flat panels that coverts the VGA signal back to digital and that it is part of the unit. (Unit being the whole flat panel) He said he really had no interest in assisting me with tiring to figure out what type of signal is in the Prius. He will however sell me a used panel for about $99.00. I have a used CRT that I could use as a trade in to help offset the cost.

I wish someone out there was crazy enough like me to try and take the Sky blue wire off of the MFD and tap it directly into another flat panel display. Before I do that I know there must be someone out there that could give us all the in's and out's of what is going on with this signal. If we can use the GVIF directly to another flat panel we may just be able to find a graphics card off the shelf that will do this conversion for us.

I just want a little more information from someone that works on repairing Flat Panel displays. The fact is we are not even sure what type of signal we are looking at.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Cheap! @ Oct 27 2006, 10:33 AM) [snapback]339247[/snapback]</div>

I'm not to sure on this but I think most LCDs may have the TMDS or some other kind of protocol. I have an LCD that has a burned out CC light at home but I haven't taken it apart yet. I wish you luck on finding a GVIF and I hope I have some luck to.

If I knew %100 that the $1500 converter would work or I could get %100 refund without restocking fees I would buy the converter.

 

It looks like Sony SDM N50PS and SDM-80N has GVIF technology.

Dennis

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Cheap! @ Oct 27 2006, 09:33 AM) [snapback]339247[/snapback]</div>

I've got two old flat panels at home that i got off Craigs List for 50 bucks (for both) a few months ago - I'll open one of them up this weekend and see what i can find out. I would LOVE to get this working.

 

I think what we need is called an Analog to Digital Converter "A to D converter" A.K.A. "A/D converter." From what I am reading it should be 100% compatible too. It would make sense that the MFD would work using standard technologies and not some off the wall only in the Prius screen.

I am guessing the MFD has a converter in it for RGA to digital that forces the warning on the bottom of the screen. Also I'm guessing the MFD has a digital input like most new flat panel screens. However if we do use an a/d converter we should have no problem access the entire display area. I am also thinking that what has changed in the 2006 Prius is more the Nav unit and not so much the MFD. The new nav unit must now be able to transmit directly in digital format. From my reading some computer video cards can now transmit in both Analog and digital formats. If someone out there has one of those computers then should be ready to go less the tapping in. If it were me I would want to find the same connector that taps in the under the seat for a test. The wire is easy to get too, all you have to do is slide the seat all the way back, hook the wire and turn on the car to see what comes up.

An alternative to this would be to hook a flat panel with a digital input directly to the nav unit output. That might be the better solution as a new small flat panel monitor would be 100% refundable at most computer stores if this does not work.

I really do think we have the answer here and I would be very surprised if it did not work. As I said it just makes sense for Toyota to use a standard technology.

 

Dont get the MFD/Rear Camera/NAV video connections confused.

The MFD accepts two types of video input.

1. GVIF for high res NAV video
2. Low res Composit with the check surrounding overlay at the bottom

Computers do have digital out but its in a different format called DVI. This is not compatible with GVIF. GVIF uses 1 cable to transmit a digital serialized RGB signal. DVI uses many cables to transmit different components of the video signal.

 

Look what I found: http://www.edn.com/article/CA45925.html

"I-O Data Device Inc has developed the $100 GA-TR02G4/PCI GVIF-development board (Picture). The highly integrated digital graphics board for LCD monitors provides GVIF-compatible output on a 14-pin MDR (mini-delta-ribbon) connector and analog RGB on a 15-pin D-sub connector. The board supports resolution as high as SXGA."

http://www.edn.com/articles/pdfs/EDN/19990610/12df2a2.pdf

If I can get a hold of this $100 card, I will try to plug in a PC into this GPS GVIF port. One question though, if I have 06 package 3 without GPS, will it come with GVIF cable?

Dennis

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(usbseawolf2000 @ Oct 27 2006, 12:04 PM) [snapback]339321[/snapback]</div>

GREAT Find!

I dont think your MFD would have GVIF in because you dont have NAV. I could be wrong because I think you still have a higher res display for your menu options.

[EDIT]

After rereading that artical I dont think that PC card will work. The NAV ECU send its high res GVIF data on one cable. The PC card uses 14.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(usbseawolf2000 @ Oct 27 2006, 11:04 AM) [snapback]339321[/snapback]</div>

Before any of us run out to get a card lets evaluate our options. I think we should put together a list of product that have GVIF capability.

If everyone would just do a few Google searches for GVIF and any of the following, LCD, computer, DVD, or what ever else you can think of we might find a solution where we can try one of these products out first like at a car toys or mom and pop custom auto shop without dropping coin.

Here is one:
Sony SDM-N80 LCD
http://www.nexgen.com/cgi-bin/store/commer...1158557046.3957

I’ll take DVD’s with GVIF for now.
Anyone else want to assist with the searches?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Cheap! @ Oct 27 2006, 12:18 PM) [snapback]339357[/snapback]</div>

Remember that we need a single wire GVIF out!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(theforce @ Oct 27 2006, 11:22 AM) [snapback]339362[/snapback]</div>

Yes, I am looking for and in too to use as a test from the DVD Nav. I know we are going to need a GVIF out for the install. I was just hoping against hope for a portable 12v DVD player with an RGA in, or better yet a Car Computer with GVIF out.


Gigabit Video Interface (GVIF) reduces desktop clutter by using only one cable to carry audio, video and power between the display panel and the PC.

FYI Gigabit Video Interface - GVIF is a trademark of Sony Corporation.

 

Gigabit Video Interface (GVIF)
GVIF is a transmission and connectivity
standard developed by Sony. GVIF is used for
digital video connectivity on Sony VAIO
desktop computer systems and Sony laptop
computers. It is not used much outside of Japan.

VAIO = Bingo!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(theforce @ Oct 27 2006, 12:22 PM) [snapback]339362[/snapback]</div>

Is that an assumption or someone already verified Prius has one wire connector? What if Prius has 13 pin connector with a single wire with twisted smaller wires, like Ethernet?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Cheap! @ Oct 27 2006, 12:49 PM) [snapback]339392[/snapback]</div>

It would be nice if you can just remove the LCD from VAIO laptop and connect it to Prius MFD if the GVIF connectors are the same.

 

Here is a data sheet for anyone that want to make a A/DC GVIF converter. I would volunteer but I don't have the equipment to do surface mount devices. But it looks simple and it even has an example board layout. It shows it uses 2 (twisted pair?) cables but I think one can be used. I will double check the prius cable to make sure its only one conductor wire when I get off work. I'm almost certain it is.

http://www.adelco.it/online/company/Sony/pdf/CXB1451Q.pdf

[EDIT]

Here is another geek link. This one is about the GVIF standard.

http://www.tu-chemnitz.de/informatik/RA/ne...vif/icce98d.pdf

 

When I pulled the wire last week it was a two wire connector on the Nav unit.

 

You know Force with that schematic you just found a crazy person could hack into the MFD and install their own RGB lines in now. I just don't know why RGB would need a sync. Makes me wonder. BWA HA HA.

The only product I have found so far that uses GVIF is the discontinued " SONY SDM-N80 18inch LCD TFT Flat Panel Display Monitor "

To me that is kind of crazy you know. Why would you have and display receive GVIF if you don’t have anything that will broadcast in GVIF?

I've made a call to Sony and they did not know what I was talking about.