Case study
cooler-lcd: a Thermalright display protocol implementation
Implements a USB picture-transfer driver for Thermalright Vision cooler displays, with a Rust dashboard replacing the vendor display application. The documented protocol sends a header and JPEG frames, with periodic resends to prevent the device reverting to its logo.
- Targets
- Protocol
- Category
- Independent reconstruction cases
- Relationship
- Independent reconstruction project
- Sources reviewed
Requirements & limits
- Prerequisites: Its documented environment is Linux with udev/systemd and Omarchy integration. Hyprland supplies away/lock state; NVIDIA telemetry uses NVML, and individual screens need their own optional services.
- Scope: Package 0.1.0 uses Rust edition 2024 and targets the 480×480 USB 87ad:70db display family.
- Scope: The driver cites TRCC Linux reverse-engineering notes for its 64-byte frame header and JPEG payload, with one-second keepalive resends.
- Limits: Only one process can own the display at once; the vendor TRCC application must relinquish it.
- License: MIT-licensed code. Optional traffic/map feeds and other external services retain their own terms.
About this entry
The description was reviewed against primary sources.
Primary sources
- README.md GitHub · kristjaningi/cooler-lcd · Revision 9a34367
- Cargo.toml GitHub · kristjaningi/cooler-lcd · Revision 9a34367
- src/device.rs GitHub · kristjaningi/cooler-lcd · Revision 9a34367
- LICENSE GitHub · kristjaningi/cooler-lcd · Revision 9a34367
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