One Pin TV Text driver

ericball · 2009-07-10 00:49

Inspired·by PhiPi's one pin solution to "Minimal TV or VGA pins", this is a driver which will output to a TV a simple two dimentional character array using an 8x8 monochrome font using only a single pin and a single cog.· NTSC and PAL are supported.

I have also included two hex fonts which display each byte as 2 hex digits.· This can be used as a very simple HUB RAM viewer.

Questions and comments welcome.

Enjoy!

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Composite NTSC sprite driver: http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=800114
NTSC & PAL templates: http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=803904

Cluso99 · 2009-07-10 03:14

Eric, I can see plenty of uses for this

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Links to other interesting threads:

· Home of the MultiBladeProps: TriBladeProp, RamBlade, TwinBlade,·SixBlade, website
· Single Board Computer:·3 Propeller ICs·and a·TriBladeProp board (ZiCog Z80 Emulator)
· Prop Tools under Development or Completed (Index)
· Emulators: Micros eg Altair, and Terminals eg VT100 (Index) ZiCog (Z80), MoCog (6809)
· Search the Propeller forums (via Google)
My cruising website is: ·www.bluemagic.biz·· MultiBladeProp is: www.bluemagic.biz/cluso.htm

Peter Jakacki · 2009-07-10 03:26

Hey, that looks great Eric! I'm sure I can spare a pin and a cog just for this on some of those designs where every I/O counts, thanks.

*Peter*

Cluso99 · 2009-12-06 15:04

ericball: I have been testing your 1 pin driver. Fantastic - works on any pin of the standard TV driver resistors without the RC network to ground.

I have a problem though. I am using 6MHz (96MHz) xtal. There is an error which I cannot find. When I try to run 80x24 (obviously in single line mode) it does not work. However, if I extend the buffers, and force the carry to be set instead of the test i_mode,#1<<2 wc instruction, it works providing the rows are set to 12. Originally I misunderstood the bit definitions so I have modified that.

I cannot get PAL to work either (LCD is PAL/NTSC TV, DVD (video) and VGA 1024x768). Also, if the font is msb first, it does not display (could be due to 80 chars). However, this could·simply be solved by·reversing the bitmap in spin before running the cog - saved code space too. There are some more notes at the top of the code.

If you have a chance could you look at it please?

I would like to use it in my RamBlade

· Now, to see if I can get 1 pin PS2 keyboard to work with the RC networks posted on another thread

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Links to other interesting threads:

· Home of the MultiBladeProps: TriBlade,·RamBlade,·SixBlade, website
· Single Board Computer:·3 Propeller ICs·and a·TriBladeProp board (ZiCog Z80 Emulator)
· Prop Tools under Development or Completed (Index)
· Emulators: CPUs Z80 etc; Micros Altair etc;· Terminals·VT100 etc; (Index) ZiCog (Z80) , MoCog (6809)
· Search the Propeller forums·(uses advanced Google search)
My cruising website is: ·www.bluemagic.biz·· MultiBladeProp is: www.bluemagic.biz/cluso.htm

JRetSapDoog · 2009-12-06 21:18

I've got a design for a one-pin space-time transporter circuit (sorry, inanimate objects only, no animals) if anyone's interested/gullible. It does involve a certain amount of high voltage and some water, though (and paid-up life insurance). All kidding aside, these one-pin video tricks are cool. I wonder if the Prop II could support a 1-pin keyboard based on cumulative resistances between keys and hooked up to the built-in A/D of a pin. Anyway, keep up the good work.

Toby Seckshund · 2009-12-06 21:36

Windows 7 (sorry to swear, in polite company) recons that everybody has touch control. Come on chaps, lets go one better, ESP. No pin required !!!!

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Style and grace : Nil point

Cluso99 · 2009-12-07 01:18

A senior moment - I forgot to attach the code

Eric: Thanks for the PM - answers actually described in the code (haven't tried lower clock rate, I do get 80x24 running with·the code + settings attached, not setting pixel clock, _clkfreq 96MHz set correctly, PAL didn't work but I expect this LCD should, MSB failed - I tried a nop in the double section (where the rev is in the single section) and it failed.

As for msb, as I suggested in the comments, it would be simpler to have the spin just reverse the bitmap before starting the cog. This would make the cog code simpler and save code space.

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Links to other interesting threads:

· Home of the MultiBladeProps: TriBlade,·RamBlade,·SixBlade, website
· Single Board Computer:·3 Propeller ICs·and a·TriBladeProp board (ZiCog Z80 Emulator)
· Prop Tools under Development or Completed (Index)
· Emulators: CPUs Z80 etc; Micros Altair etc;· Terminals·VT100 etc; (Index) ZiCog (Z80) , MoCog (6809)
· Search the Propeller forums·(uses advanced Google search)
My cruising website is: ·www.bluemagic.biz·· MultiBladeProp is: www.bluemagic.biz/cluso.htm

Cluso99 · 2009-12-07 01:23

Toby: Have you seen what they are doing with brain sensors controlling things for the handicapped. Simply AMAZING [noparse]:)[/noparse]
We are not far away from simple ESP equivalents now.

The other advance is in following with the eyes - needs a lot of refinements for accuracy, but blink twice for left mouse, 3 for right mouse, follow the eyes for movement [noparse]:)[/noparse]

I will create a thread for the 1-pin keyboard question I have...

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Links to other interesting threads:

· Home of the MultiBladeProps: TriBlade,·RamBlade,·SixBlade, website
· Single Board Computer:·3 Propeller ICs·and a·TriBladeProp board (ZiCog Z80 Emulator)
· Prop Tools under Development or Completed (Index)
· Emulators: CPUs Z80 etc; Micros Altair etc;· Terminals·VT100 etc; (Index) ZiCog (Z80) , MoCog (6809)
· Search the Propeller forums·(uses advanced Google search)
My cruising website is: ·www.bluemagic.biz·· MultiBladeProp is: www.bluemagic.biz/cluso.htm

Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) · 2009-12-07 02:30

Cluso99,

'In your 20s and having senior moments already?!! Heaven knows what will happen when you hit 30!!!

-Phil

Cluso99 · 2009-12-07 03:21

I wish... 60's coming up quickly [noparse]:([/noparse]

58 next mth - OUCH!! At least I get to tease the wife for 10 mths

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Links to other interesting threads:

· Home of the MultiBladeProps: TriBlade,·RamBlade,·SixBlade, website
· Single Board Computer:·3 Propeller ICs·and a·TriBladeProp board (ZiCog Z80 Emulator)
· Prop Tools under Development or Completed (Index)
· Emulators: CPUs Z80 etc; Micros Altair etc;· Terminals·VT100 etc; (Index) ZiCog (Z80) , MoCog (6809)
· Search the Propeller forums·(uses advanced Google search)
My cruising website is: ·www.bluemagic.biz·· MultiBladeProp is: www.bluemagic.biz/cluso.htm

Cluso99 · 2010-02-17 02:34

OK, I am trying to modify the 1-pin code and I have a few problems understanding the code :-(

I want to be able to use the 1-pin version in SphinxOS and the RamBlade. It will also run with full 4-pin hardware, just using the single pin. I have 1-pin keyboard working which also works with the full hardware also.

From what I understand in the code (and I can understand this), for a display pixel =1, the Video counter outputs a 1 causing the display of a white pixel. When the display pixel =0, the video counter outputs 0 which is or'ed with CTRB running in PWM (dutymode) which generates the black.

Now, this means that I should be able to modify CTRB to change the black to various levels of grey background. While this would only be on a per character basis, it may yield a greyscale display.

I have still to work through the maths of the other sections of code, but I have simplified the code quite a bit. I have removed MSB font capability (I believe there is a bug one line above :active should be mov vscl,ovsclch (not mov vscl,ochrev)). MSB fonts could be reversed in spin code before launch.

I want to put a subset of VT100 into the cog.

I have tried putting the font and screen buffer in the cog also. I need to progress further on this, so for now it is in hub. I would also like to try the ROM font, but that currently eludes me as it uses alternate bits for 2 successive characters and I am not sure of the implications to 1-bit TV (lack of time to understand).

BTW: PAL is working on another TV. Not sure if it was my misunderstanding on bit3 definition or my TV. 64 chars/line is the max for 80MHz. IIRC 80chars works for 96MHz.

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Links to other interesting threads:

· Home of the MultiBladeProps: TriBlade,·RamBlade,·SixBlade, website
· Single Board Computer:·3 Propeller ICs·and a·TriBladeProp board (ZiCog Z80 Emulator)
· Prop Tools under Development or Completed (Index)
· Emulators: CPUs Z80 etc; Micros Altair etc;· Terminals·VT100 etc; (Index) ZiCog (Z80) , MoCog (6809)·
· Prop OS: SphinxOS·, PropDos , PropCmd··· Search the Propeller forums·(uses advanced Google search)
My cruising website is: ·www.bluemagic.biz·· MultiBlade Props: www.cluso.bluemagic.biz

Post Edited (Cluso99) : 2/17/2010 2:41:00 AM GMT

Cluso99 · 2010-02-19 15:50

Here is my latest version which is an enhancement to Eric's original 1-pin TV which can be found on the OBEX.

Features:

Parameters currently·fixed to 40x25 text NTSC using·5MHz xtal PLLx16
Text only
Inverse video using top bit=1 ($8x)
Font 8x8 in cog (AiChip Atari) 128 characters
Text buffer in hub (other programs could access directly if required e.g. Preditor?)
VT100 subset in cog (WIP: cls, cr, lf, bs works except scrolling)
Designed to work with SphinxOS
Designed for RamBlade with 1-pin Keyboard also
Seperate prop program to calculate parameters to vary fixed NTSC 40x25 5MHz*16

To test it, just connect your TV to any prop with TV on it (the other pins will be ignored). It uses pin 14. The test runs standalone meaning that you do not require a keyboard, or serial for that matter either. The demo program generates some text which is displayed.

A few other useful links...

Minimal TV or VGA pins··http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=796900

1-pin PS2 Keyboard - Working Beta Test Release!!! http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=862504

RamBlade: Prop+SRAM+microSD addon to run ZiCog/CPM/PropDos/Catalina, etc··http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=849265·(has a circuit diagram·and photos of·how to make a cable - includes the 1-pin Keyboard)

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Links to other interesting threads:

· Home of the MultiBladeProps: TriBlade,·RamBlade,·SixBlade, website
· Single Board Computer:·3 Propeller ICs·and a·TriBladeProp board (ZiCog Z80 Emulator)
· Prop Tools under Development or Completed (Index)
· Emulators: CPUs Z80 etc; Micros Altair etc;· Terminals·VT100 etc; (Index) ZiCog (Z80) , MoCog (6809)·
· Prop OS: SphinxOS·, PropDos , PropCmd··· Search the Propeller forums·(uses advanced Google search)
My cruising website is: ·www.bluemagic.biz·· MultiBlade Props: www.cluso.bluemagic.biz

Post Edited (Cluso99) : 2/19/2010 4:01:22 PM GMT

Cluso99 · 2010-02-19 19:33

Next installment...

Now with flashing cursor (you can·alter the flash rate in the CON section of the driver).

ASCII controls are used. VT100 is not used as I am sure there will not be enough space. The following are implemented..

0 &·24 (null & can) = clear screen
8·····(bs)· = backspace
10···(lf)·· = line feed
11·· (vt)· = home
13·· (cr)· = carriage return
27·· (esc) = escape (not implemented)
28·· (fs)·· = right
29·· (gs)· = left
30·· (rs)· = up
31·· (us)· = down
all others < 32 are ignored.
characters with bit 8 = 1 are displayed inverse

Note that right & left have bugs - when they wrap around the screen they move a line.

VT100, if implemented, will have to be run in spin to translate to the ASCII control codes.

The program runs automatically, writing to the screen, and performing the control functions listed above.

Photo is 40x25 characters

attachment.php?attachmentid=67933

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Links to other interesting threads:

· Home of the MultiBladeProps: TriBlade,·RamBlade,·SixBlade, website
· Single Board Computer:·3 Propeller ICs·and a·TriBladeProp board (ZiCog Z80 Emulator)
· Prop Tools under Development or Completed (Index)
· Emulators: CPUs Z80 etc; Micros Altair etc;· Terminals·VT100 etc; (Index) ZiCog (Z80) , MoCog (6809)·
· Prop OS: SphinxOS·, PropDos , PropCmd··· Search the Propeller forums·(uses advanced Google search)
My cruising website is: ·www.bluemagic.biz·· MultiBlade Props: www.cluso.bluemagic.biz

Post Edited (Cluso99) : 2/19/2010 8:34:08 PM GMT

VIRAND · 2010-02-19 23:51

Can you make COLOR too?

It seems to me that the "chroma" feature could be useful here.

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I should be typing in Spin now.
Coming soon. My open Propeller Project Pages and favorite links index.

Cluso99 · 2010-02-20 02:31

virand: I don't believe it is possible with 1-pin even though I do not understand the chroma issue. I tried to see what I could do with greyscale but no luck - it only varies the black backgrouns in reality. Of course 3-pin (normal color) TV_Text exists.

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Links to other interesting threads:

· Home of the MultiBladeProps: TriBlade,·RamBlade,·SixBlade, website
· Single Board Computer:·3 Propeller ICs·and a·TriBladeProp board (ZiCog Z80 Emulator)
· Prop Tools under Development or Completed (Index)
· Emulators: CPUs Z80 etc; Micros Altair etc;· Terminals·VT100 etc; (Index) ZiCog (Z80) , MoCog (6809)·
· Prop OS: SphinxOS·, PropDos , PropCmd··· Search the Propeller forums·(uses advanced Google search)
My cruising website is: ·www.bluemagic.biz·· MultiBlade Props: www.cluso.bluemagic.biz

localroger · 2010-02-20 03:14

VIRAND & Cluso -- I think color intimately depends on the 3 resistor divider network. To get color you have to generate the color burst, then alter the phase relationship of the color subcarrier to the original color burst phase; doing that even with the 3 resistors is kind of crude, and that's with special video circuitry to facilitate it.

OTOH if you want small crisp text B&W is always going to be better because you don't have the chroma smearing, and that seems to be the point of this driver -- which is TOTALLY COOL, I might add. I especially like having the font in cog RAM and blinkiing cursor with a single cog. This will be a great channel to get debug info out of an otherwise busy and pinbound system, as well as a great primary user interface for things like text editors.

Cluso99 · 2010-02-20 06:22

Thanks localroger. Yes, it will make a simple·debug screen. The CRT TV has a fairly nice stable B&W pic. I have a cable which has the resistor inbuilt so it is only 2 pins (think I posted a pic and instructions on a previous page. If not, see RamBlade for it)

Here is a beta release.

Scroll working (scroll up only)
left, right, up, down wrap around the screen (do not advance rows/columns)
IIRC 1 or 2 longs free but there is some reuse of init code possible and a little optimisation, but mostly done.

The demo has been timed faster as it tests all the functions.

Enjoy

· And let me know if you find a bug or two

Coming...·a demo in conjunction with my 1-pin keyboard.

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Links to other interesting threads:

· Home of the MultiBladeProps: TriBlade,·RamBlade,·SixBlade, website
· Single Board Computer:·3 Propeller ICs·and a·TriBladeProp board (ZiCog Z80 Emulator)
· Prop Tools under Development or Completed (Index)
· Emulators: CPUs Z80 etc; Micros Altair etc;· Terminals·VT100 etc; (Index) ZiCog (Z80) , MoCog (6809)·
· Prop OS: SphinxOS·, PropDos , PropCmd··· Search the Propeller forums·(uses advanced Google search)
My cruising website is: ·www.bluemagic.biz·· MultiBlade Props: www.cluso.bluemagic.biz

Cluso99 · 2010-02-20 10:58

Next installment. Sorry I have posted on both related threads.

Here is a demo program using both the 1-pin TV and the 1-pin Keyboard.

see the thread 1-pin PS2 Keyboard - Working Beta Test Release!!! ·http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=862504·for further info.

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Links to other interesting threads:

· Home of the MultiBladeProps: TriBlade,·RamBlade,·SixBlade, website
· Single Board Computer:·3 Propeller ICs·and a·TriBladeProp board (ZiCog Z80 Emulator)
· Prop Tools under Development or Completed (Index)
· Emulators: CPUs Z80 etc; Micros Altair etc;· Terminals·VT100 etc; (Index) ZiCog (Z80) , MoCog (6809)·
· Prop OS: SphinxOS·, PropDos , PropCmd··· Search the Propeller forums·(uses advanced Google search)
My cruising website is: ·www.bluemagic.biz·· MultiBlade Props: www.cluso.bluemagic.biz

Post Edited (Cluso99) : 2/20/2010 2:00:26 PM GMT

Cluso99 · 2010-02-21 11:24

Release versions of OnePinKeyboard & OnePinTVText with demo program have now been posted on the·thread (at the top). Future updates will be posted there also.

1-pin PS2 Keyboard & 1-pin TV 40x25· http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=862504

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Links to other interesting threads:

· Home of the MultiBladeProps: TriBlade,·RamBlade,·SixBlade, website
· Single Board Computer:·3 Propeller ICs·and a·TriBladeProp board (ZiCog Z80 Emulator)
· Prop Tools under Development or Completed (Index)
· Emulators: CPUs Z80 etc; Micros Altair etc;· Terminals·VT100 etc; (Index) ZiCog (Z80) , MoCog (6809)·
· Prop OS: SphinxOS·, PropDos , PropCmd··· Search the Propeller forums·(uses advanced Google search)
My cruising website is: ·www.bluemagic.biz·· MultiBlade Props: www.cluso.bluemagic.biz

One Pin TV Text driver

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