Introduction: IPod Information Screen
My solution was to construct a device that would interface with the iPod and take the song information and then display it on a screen somewhere in the easy view of the driver. After quite a bit of work and research I finally arrived at the product you see here. My iPod information screen displays the song title, artist, album, song time, and play/pause symbol. It provides skip back, skip forward, and play/pause playback control as well as charges the iPod.
Edit: A lot of people have mentioned that some sort of volume control would be good to add. As it turns out when the iPod is controlled through the method used in this instructable, volume control is disabled. I suspect this is because this mode is meant to be used with some other device controlling all playback functionality remotely and so volume would be controlled with the device. In this case, volume is controlled with the car stereo's volume control.
Step 1: The Research
The first step in making this device was to find out if it was even possible. I had never even really given interfacing with an iPod much thought before this and I had no idea if protocols publicly existed to do so.
One of the first websites I came across when researching was a Cornell senior design website that detailed the development of an iPod dock that took and sent commands to an iPod. The site, https://courses.cit.cornell.edu/ee476/FinalProjects/s2007/awr8_asl45/awr8_asl45/index.html, was very helpful in detailing the necessary connections, but most importantly it showed that this was in deed possible to do.
I came across several more resources, and then stumbled upon my primary resource. I found David Findlay's blog, http://davidfindlay.org/weblog/files/2009_09_07_ipod_remote.php, and on it he talked about his development of an iPod remote and an Arduino library that handled all the iPod interfacing in a very simple way. This is the library I used in my project.
I also found this website useful outlining the Apple Accessory Protocol, https://nuxx.net/wiki/Apple_Accessory_Protocol. It's not really necessary to understand as David's library handles this behind the scenes, but I thought it was good to know and it may be useful for other applications.
Step 2: The Parts
- Arduino (I prototyped with an UNO, but used a Pro Mini for the final product)
- PodBreakout
- Push Buttons (4x)
- Graphical LCD (I used the MONOCHRON from Adafruit)
- 10k Potentiometer (for contrast)
- USB Mini Connector
- 3.5mm Audio Jack
- 100 Ohm Resistor
- 1k Ohm Resistor (3x)
- 1M Ohm Resistor (2x)
- 33k Ohm Resistor (2x)
- 22k Ohm Resistor
- 47k Ohm Resistor
- Male and Female Headers
- Wire
- Standoffs
- Enclosures
- Copper Clad Board (If you choose to etch your own boards)
Step 3: The Hardware
Since I'm using an Arduino the circuit is simplified as all the components to make the microcontroller run are on the Arduino board. The remaining connections are just attaching wires and resistors. The pinouts of the iPod connector is, of course, very important to know and can be found here: http://pinouts.ru/PortableDevices/ipod.shtml.
The connections that need to be made are detailed next to each pin on the website above. Also, the websites I've listed earlier in this Instructable talk about them too. I'm also going to touch on it. The Fritzing drawing should help clarify any confusion with the EagleCAD schematics shown.
Main
The LCD display uses the KS0108 chip popular to a lot of LCD displays. There is a library for the Arduino called GLCD. This takes most of the pins from the Arduino. For proper connections I'll refer you to the documentation that comes with the library. A link to the library will be provided in the next step.
The serial transmit TX and receive RX, pins 1 and 0 respectively, go to the serial lines of the iPod. Be sure TX of the Arduino goes to RX of the iPod and vice-versa. That is, Arduino pin 1 to iPod connector pin 18 and Arduino pin 0 to iPod connector pin 19. Since the iPod operates at about 3V and the Arduino operates at 5V we need to use a voltage divider on the Arduino's transmit line. That's what the 1k Ohm resistors are for. Technically, I should be using a level shifter, but I found that it worked fine without it and the Arduino has no problem with receiving the incoming 3V data.
The remaining connections are for buttons.
Interface
Pin 21 of the iPod connector will be connected to ground through a 500k Ohm resistor, or in my case I used two 1M Ohm resistors in parallel. Connector pins 25 and 27 control how the iPod charges. If we put 2.8V on pin 25 and 2.0v on pin 27 we can get the iPod to draw about 1A and charge the battery. The is accomplished by simple voltage division as can be seen in the second schematic.
Other
All other connections are just straight connections. See the schematic and pinouts.
Step 4: The Software
- iPodSerial https://github.com/finsprings/arduinaap
- GLCD http://code.google.com/p/glcd-arduino/downloads/list
The code that actually runs the iPod Information Screen is attached below. I'm using the Advanced Remote as defined by the iPodSerial library. It handles translating user input from the buttons and putting information up on the screen, while the iPodSerial library handles talking to the iPod. I'm not going to go through the code here, but you can download it and take a look for yourself. I is well commented and should be easy to understand if you're familiar with C and the Arduino.
Attachments
Step 5: Designing the Boards
The circuit boards I made for this project are designed primarily for the to work with the enclosure system I designed. I made three separate boards. A main board that houses the Arduino and the LCD display, a button board that holds just the buttons, and and interface board that contains the resistors for charging and device recognition, etc.
The eagle files are attached. I had the main board milled at the GVU at Georgia Tech and etched the other two boards myself.
Attachments
Step 6: Assembling the Device
Assembling is just a matter of soldering everything together and screwing together the enclosure. The interface enclosure, which is just an enclosure from Radio Shack, needs some small modifications. The enclosure was made out of a potting box that I cut holes in the screen and buttons.
Step 7: Use
When all was said and done, the iPod Information Screen came out better than expected and my girlfriend loves it (which is really all that matters). Thanks for reading!

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39 Comments
9 years ago on Introduction
You are a life saver...
i just want to know that will this work for iPhone 4 and does it matter which iOS is being used?
Reply 9 years ago on Introduction
provided that the phone is jailbroken
10 years ago on Introduction
has anyone tested it with the ipod touch 2g
10 years ago on Introduction
It's great to see that you can still connect something to an iPod without Apple license crap. I know this works for older iPods, but has anybody had success with an iPhone or an iPod touch? Which generation?
10 years ago on Introduction
Well I finally finished recreating a variation of your project. I used a pod breakout mini because it has a backshell and all of the pins necessary. For the cable I used an old 24 AWG DVI cable which works great because it is shielded and has twisted pairs for audio out and serial. For an enclosure I used a 6x4x2 enclosure from Radioshack. It was the perfect size for everything. Rather than milling or etching a board I just used countersunk screws and risers for my Uno. For the discreet components I just used a prototype board with power rails I found at work and cut it to size. I also installed an On/Off switch because the AUX cable was putting ignition noise on the speakers which got annoying and it was easier than unplugging the cigarette lighter every time I wasn't using it. Thanks for posting this, it was a lot of fun to make!
Pod Breakout Mini: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10645
Enclosure: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062283
10 years ago on Step 3
Can you please describe how all of this goes together? Your schematics aren't very intuitive. I'm trying to build this and I have no idea where everything is supposed to go. Thanks, and I'm really excited for this project!
Reply 10 years ago on Step 3
Hi. Sorry about the confusion. I've added some annotations to the schematics that hopefully clear things up. If not, let me know. I think I'll throw together a Fritzing drawing if I get a chance.
Reply 10 years ago on Step 3
Thanks a lot, and if you could do a fritzing drawing then I would be eternally in your debt.
10 years ago on Step 3
Did you mean pine 12 and 13?
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
Where are you referring to?
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
I'm sorry, I meant pins 12 and 13 when you mention 18 and 19.
11 years ago on Introduction
Wow this is just awesome, i will consider make one. Does it is difficult to build? considering i'm very new to electronics?
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
Thanks! Sorry for such a late response, but I would say it's a moderate level of difficulty especially if you're new to electronics. But if you want to give it a try I'd be more than than happy to point you towards some resources and help you get the project underway.
11 years ago on Introduction
Awesome instructable, the final project looks almost store bought, you did a convincing build! Do you think you'll ever incorporate Bluetooth into the screen? I'd pay good money for something like that.
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
Thank you! I'm not sure if I will, but it would be a great way to reduce the amount of wires.
10 years ago on Introduction
very nice now if you could put the controls in the wheel and install a hud projector for the screen. might try this in my next car not much point in my current car seeing as how im not taking it with me when i move
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
I was considering both of those but I couldn't think of an elegant way to incorporate controls into the steering wheel without more wires nor could I think of a way to have a HUD type display that worked in all lighting conditions. If you end up trying something like that please let me know!
11 years ago on Introduction
This is great - Do you know if it will work with the Podcasting App?
11 years ago on Introduction
Not had chance to read it yet but how easy would it be to add two extra buttons? Vol Up and Vol Down?
If you could do that and make it a bit smaller I'm sure you could make $$ / ££ making this for bikers.
As a biker this looks way better than other solutions I've tried, the wireless ones are flaky and the wired ones don't take thick gloved fingers in to consideration.
Well done mate,
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Hello and thanks! I don't see any issues with physically adding the buttons, however, from a software point of view I don't believe it's possible. If you take a look at the Apple Accessory Protocol Mode 4 (the mode required to get data from the iPod) there is not a command for adjusting the volume. My original plan was to have volume control buttons, but as I got further along in development i found that there wasn't a way to do this. I suspect the reason for this is that Apple designed this mode to be used with dock-type devices that had their own source of volume control. Volume seems to set at a certain level and for a car that's not a problem since the volume can be controlled by the radio's volume. It may be possible to build an external circuit to control the volume for the purpose you're suggesting.