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Pixel Qi display for the Prop. — Parallax Forums

Pixel Qi display for the Prop.

heaterheater Posts: 3,370
edited 2012-04-07 13:49 in Propeller 1
This a very neat sounding but expensive display that Make magazine is offering
www.makershed.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=MKPQ01

What would it take for the Prop to drive such a display or any other netbook display for that matter?

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Comments

  • AleAle Posts: 2,363
    edited 2010-07-01 15:09
    Assuming it is a 1024x600 or similar... a lot of memory or the normal lack-of-many-colors-and-or-graphics mode [noparse]:)[/noparse]. If they have a LVDS interface there are parallel->LVDS chips from several manufacturers. I didn't see a datasheet there...

    Edit: I did not answer... let's suppose it has a normal RGB digital interface like Rayman's displays... then it may be just a mater of a right connector. Hopefully they do not need many power supplies... But 275$ is a bit steep.

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    Post Edited (Ale) : 7/1/2010 3:14:31 PM GMT
  • Graham StablerGraham Stabler Posts: 2,510
    edited 2010-07-02 19:07
    This looks like a really interesting display technology, I did a bit of a search and transflective displays seem to be popular with carputer builders and you can get modules with touch screens that take in standard formats. I'd personally like something a bit smaller, NEC seem to do some stuff, I am sure there will be more.

    The reason I want this tech is because I want to display video outside with overlay by the prop.

    Graham
  • northcovenorthcove Posts: 49
    edited 2012-04-06 19:56
    The PixelQi is the only fully reflective LCD I have found, unrivaled for low-power daylight use. It can also be bought for $200 online (sorry, don't have the link handy.) I'm using PixelQi 3Qi-01 outdoors in sunlight driven by the LVDS output of a 3.5" single board computer. The motherboard's manufacturer gave me a BIOS mod for the PixelQi's 1024x600 resolution. Works great.

    Now I want to drive the PixelQi from a P8X32A. The input signal is four lines as LV differential pairs: a 40MHz clock and 3 data lines that transition seven times a clock cycle. This means the data lines wiggle at 280MHz. Attached is a timing diagram. Notice that the six bits of RGB are transmitted at different times. Sounds beyond the P8X32A? Here's a possible clue to simplification: in reflective mode the 3Qi-01 display is grayscale so the red, green and blue bits can be identical but arrive staggered.

    Here's an offer: I'll pay $1000 to be the first non-exclusive licensee for P8X32A code plus the cost of any additional hardware that can drive a PixelQi 3Qi-01 display with a software interface similar to Chip's VGA HiRes object using five or fewer cogs without employing a commercial VGA to LVDS card.
    pixelqi_lvds.JPG
    957 x 440 - 74K
  • pedwardpedward Posts: 1,642
    edited 2012-04-06 23:47
    Sounds exactly live DVI, but much slower. DVI is 165Mhz pixel clock.
  • TubularTubular Posts: 4,706
    edited 2012-04-07 01:33
    What is the minimum # of grey shades you would settle for?

    The way the other channels are delayed 1 bit makes me think you could use a small amount of external logic (some d flip flops). Is there limit on cheap external logic ics ?

    You mention LVDS driver boards being banned - what about the ICs by themselves? These would possibly make your job much easier
  • RaymanRayman Posts: 14,842
    edited 2012-04-07 05:09
    I think LVDS is what most laptop displays use. I thought it was exactly like DVI at first, but apparently, it's not the same...
    You can buy LVDS transmitter chips though. I bet you can use them, just as I did with the TFP410 (DVI) to give you
    Propeller 6-bit graphics...
  • northcovenorthcove Posts: 49
    edited 2012-04-07 13:04
    Tubular wrote: »
    What is the minimum # of grey shades you would settle for?

    The way the other channels are delayed 1 bit makes me think you could use a small amount of external logic (some d flip flops). Is there limit on cheap external logic ics ?

    You mention LVDS driver boards being banned - what about the ICs by themselves? These would possibly make your job much easier

    Thanks for asking. 2 bits/pixel would be ideal, 1 bit/pixel would suffice.

    I agree that a bit of hard logic to generate the other pixel bits is worth investigating. Cheap external logic and LVDS ICs up to $100 in components and PCB cost allowed.
  • northcovenorthcove Posts: 49
    edited 2012-04-07 13:49
    Rayman wrote: »
    I think LVDS is what most laptop displays use. I thought it was exactly like DVI at first, but apparently, it's not the same...
    You can buy LVDS transmitter chips though. I bet you can use them, just as I did with the TFP410 (DVI) to give you
    Propeller 6-bit graphics...

    The DS92LV18 might work. http://search.digikey.com/us/en/products/DS92LV18TVV%2FNOPB/DS92LV18TVV-ND/638644.

    I can imagine that any work you've done to for Prop graphics over DVI would be a great start.
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