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Markings On The Back of 500 Series Powerbook LCD Panels
Posted by: Paralel on 2013-08-19 08:52:00
I found a guy that has just a PB 500 series LCD panel, but no context to go with it. As such, he doesn't know exactly what member of the PB 500 series it came from. Can anyone point me to a resource that may be able to tell me what markings/part #'s to look for in order to ID the different LCD panels in the PB 500 series?

If not, any chance we can compile a list of markings/part #'s from various models that members have so that way LCD's can be easily identified in the future?

If I'm lucky, someone has a 540, and even if they aren't willing to part with, will share the part # of the LCD panel, so I can try and locate the panel through supply channels.
Posted by: Paralel on 2013-08-19 09:16:31
I'll start off:

520: SHARP MFSTN LM64P858

540c: TOSHIBA LTM09C017
Posted by: Paralel on 2013-08-19 10:05:58
The guy I was looking to buy the panel from is obviously a lost cause. He says the panels in the 520 and 540 are identical, as well as panels in the 520c and 540c are also identical...
Posted by: Macdrone on 2013-08-19 10:25:07
Well they will work. Color to greyscale swap is just a screen swap. All cables are the same. Except for I guess the 540 active matrix screen is the rare type they are all interchange without issue and just work.
Posted by: Paralel on 2013-08-19 11:30:26
Well they will work. Color to greyscale swap is just a screen swap. All cables are the same. Except for I guess the 540 active matrix screen is the rare type they are all interchange without issue and just work.
Yes, I am aware of this. I just want to determine what the part numbers (not the Apple part #'s, but the manufacturers part numbers) are to help me in my search for the correct panel for a 540 and for future reference here if anyone else ever needs that information.
Posted by: mcdermd on 2013-08-21 10:38:47
I just took apart five 540c display assemblies. Three were mine and two were macdrone's

Toshiba LTM09C017

I found this panel in four of the 540c. These have a more "matte" appearance and are not as bright as the ...

Sharp LQ94D041

I found this panel in one of macdrone's 540c. The Sharp appears more "shiny" (about the same os the panels in my active matrix Powerbook Duos). The Sharp has 13 surface mount aluminum electrolytic capacitors. None showed any signs of leakage.

4mm:

CU2: 22mfd 10v

CU3: 10mfd 25v

CU4: 33mfd 10v

CU8: 47mfd 6v

CU9: 47mfd 6v

CU11: 47mfd 6v

CU12: 47mfd 6v

CU13: 47mfd 6v

CU18: 47mfd 6v

6mm:

CU5: 100mfd 6v

CU6: 47mfd 16v

CU7: 100mfd 6v

CU15: 100mfd 6v
Posted by: Paralel on 2013-08-21 11:32:37
Interesting. Looks like there was different panels used at different times throughout the life of the 500 series, even in the same model. Good info to have.
Posted by: mcdermd on 2013-08-21 12:53:40
The Powerbooks are all the same factory code (FC) and the Sharp paneled 540c has a date code in the middle of the rest so it's not like they switched in the middle of the run. Even my prototype has the Toshiba panel.
Posted by: uniserver on 2013-08-21 12:59:44
- im pretty sure i like the shiny sharp panel the best for the 540c.

the colors are so VIVID … its almost slightly shocking to see all that bright color 🙂

Posted by: James1095 on 2013-08-21 13:32:30
I've always found glossy displays to look much better than those with a matte anti-glare coating, both LCD and CRT. Glare can be an issue, but I normally use computers in subdued lighting so it isn't such a big deal. The glossy ones tend to look so much sharper and more vivid.
Posted by: Paralel on 2013-08-21 14:19:09
I was finally able to locate a pic of the back of a 540 panel it reads: HOSIDEN MTFT HY41403727UA
Posted by: mcdermd on 2013-08-21 16:45:13
I should also note that the Sharp and Toshiba panels use different display data cables so if you swap panel brands, make sure you also have the appropriate data cable.

Of note is that while the Sharp panel may be brighter and the colors more vivid, it has a greater "dot pitch" so to speak - to the point that you can see a grid around them. Here are some comparison pictures:

photo-1.JPG

photo.JPG
Posted by: uniserver on 2013-08-21 19:15:48
I may have the sharp.

Now I might like the toshiba better.

IMG_0253.jpg
Posted by: techknight on 2013-08-21 19:48:20
All the more reason I need to swap the CCFL on mine.
Posted by: Paralel on 2013-08-21 19:54:03
So, one has what appears to be more vivid colors, the other has a lower dot pitch. Sort of a 1/2 of one, 1/2 of the other situation.

From some cursory research, it seems that the 520 stuck with the passive Sharp panel the entire time, and the 540 stuck with the active Hosiden panel (I'm guessing Hosiden was never a big player in the LCD market, never even heard of them before today). Don't have any data on the 520c. If that one seems to stick with the same panel, it will be odd that the 540c was the only one that had more than one type of panel in its lifetime. Wonder if there was a lottery situation, some got one, some got the other, or it was a wholesale switchover at one point.
Posted by: techknight on 2013-08-21 20:00:16
At the time, which im sure still plays today, Is whatever manufacturer gets the cheaper bid is the one they went with. I do the same thing. If i can get 1 LCD cheaper than the other when my supply runs out, I make a new quote/purchase order and get that one instead.

I have hopped between 3 PCB manufacturers for a given board revision before. Because they can do it cheaper. Thats what I do.
Posted by: Paralel on 2013-08-29 08:02:37
I'm glad I started this thread, since I'm now on the hunt for a Toshiba LTM09C017
Posted by: Paralel on 2013-08-29 09:04:42
Can someone post pictures of what the data cable connector looks like for the Sharp LQ94D041 vs. Toshiba LTM09C017.

If I need to locate a data cable I want to make sure that I know which is which by sight in case I come across one and the person doesn't know which panel it goes to.
Posted by: Macdrone on 2013-08-29 09:10:14
Not sure if screen to cable is different, but cable to computer is.
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