LED modded lynx question

[Robocop2]

I recently traded for an Atari Lynx and I noticed when I turned it on that the backlight is significantly brighter on the right than the left side of the screen. So I opened it up and see it's been modded with led's in placeof the regular lamp.

While I think that's pretty cool because from what I have researched it should make battery life much better; the effect is rather obtrusive. It's almost like the right led is too bright and washes out the screen. I know the lynx isn't world renowned for it's display quality but I remember it being better than it is. Any idea what I can do to improve the backlighting issue?

[bust3dstr8]

I don't know how the mod was done, number of LED, placement...etc.
You could try by replacing all the LEDS with high angle low intensity
ones.

[jb143]

A picture would be nice too.

[Robocop2]

Yeah I was planning to add pics once I got some time to take the unit apart a bit. I took these with my crappy Ipod touch's camera since the batteries on my regular camera are shot at the moment.

I tried to take a few one at normal brightness, one at full and one with it turned all the way down.

http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/ac334/50ford500/LYNX/LYNX014.jpg

http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/ac334/50ford500/LYNX/LYNX015.jpg

http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/ac334/50ford500/LYNX/LYNX016.jpg

The camera makes it look worse than it actually is but only slightly


Also and I'm not sure it it happened when they took the screen out to mod it but there's a small rubber gasket which I assume is padding between the LCD and the outer screen that's pinched on the left side whereas its not visible on the right:

http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/ac334/50ford500/LYNX/LYNX017.jpg

http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/ac334/50ford500/LYNX/LYNX018.jpg

Looks like its two LED's one on each side. The tubing they've put them in is loose as you can move it back and forth in the mount by just touching it.

http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/ac334/50ford500/LYNX/LYNX020.jpg


http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/ac334/50ford500/LYNX/LYNX019.jpg

http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/ac334/50ford500/LYNX/LYNX022.jpg
So I'm not sure if its a problem with the electronics or something to do with that aforementioned rubber gasket pressing the screen too much on one side vs. the other creating a mura effect of sorts.

[bust3dstr8]

Looks like one of the LED is not on. The gasket being incorrectly seated shouldn't effect the lighting that much, but it wouldn't hurt to put it back
correctly.

It is hard to tell from the picture but it looks like the guy jammed two LED
holders into some clear tubbing. While the thing is appart you might as well change the LEDS since they are too bright for your tastes.

Mark the anode and cathode wires from the pcb and bring the holders to your
parts store. I would "guess" that a 75°, 100mcd would provide suitable lighting
for your screen. (Someone that has actually done LED screen mods could give
you better specs for LEDS to use.)

[Robocop2]

Thanks!

When I get a chance I'll take it down and see what I can find out. Appreciate the info

[jb143]

Heh, I remember messing up the gasket much worse than that when I took mine apart. Had to take it apart and redo it...which isn't exactly fun to do.

Did they not even bother to clip the leads of the LED's? I'd start by looking for any shorts, correct polarity, broken connections, etc... on the LED that's not lighting.

[Robocop2]

did a little "exploratory" sugery today and took my Lynx apart to see if I could get up close and personal to the problem. Everything looked to be hooked up correctly though I didn't break out and do a continuity test to be sure. It's kinda hard to see what if anything is wrong with the left led as it appears that they used the remains of the fluorescant bulb as a tube for the LED's to go in. The left side is so full of glue that its impossible to even see the led except for the connections sticking out. I'm wondering if that's not the problem or at least a part of it.

I tried to power up while it was disassembled and coudn't get it to power on though that was probably my bad more than anything else. I managed to get it all back together and it powered right up so that was relieving. Still the same problem but I didn't actually DO anything yet so...

I'm beginning to wonder if the problem isn't the connections but how the lights are mounted. I'm considering going to Radio Shack and getting a few LED's and try some alternative to the glass tube, maybe a drinking straw. Really anything round and somewhat opaque would probably do the trick. The gasket was simple a little elmer's and its as good as new.

[omp!]

Chuck that mess out and get yourself a NDSi replacement screen. Use the backlight out of it. I have done this to Game Gears and the spread of light is much much better and you get to keep your awesome battery life.

I did give the 2 led trick a go, but wasn't to happy with it. I tried sanding the led's to diffuse the light, blah blah.

I initially used a DSL screen but they are a bit to small, NDSi is the key.

But having said this I haven't done a LYNX, but the theory is the same.

[Robocop2]

You mean use the backlight out of a DSi screen? I think IIRC the Lynx uses a proprietary interface that so far no one has been able to build a decoder for. So as far as I've been able to research out its basically impossible to do a complete screen swap.
But if I could figure out how to use just the backlight module.....

EDIT: I found your posts over at Sega16. Truly awesome work and you've inspired me to try a new approach to this whole thing.

[omp!]

Ah yea sorry I couldn't make it clearer here, I sent that post from my phone so couldn't provide a link. Also where I give the battery life, ignore that as the batteries as I found out later were stuffed (in their defence they were old). I bought new ones so I have to re-visit that again.

[c0ldb33r]

Could you do the dsi screen mod to a turbo express?