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How could I expand the display area for graphics.spin using ray's 4.3” touchscreen — Parallax Forums

How could I expand the display area for graphics.spin using ray's 4.3” touchscreen

CameronMCameronM Posts: 57
edited 2010-08-31 08:53 in Propeller 1
Hi, I am trying to use graphics.spin with ray's 4.3” touchscreen and I am using his example that he provides as a guide, but how do I expand the size of the display area, I am confined to a little box. I have been trying several different ways, but I either get gibberish off to the sides(probably overwriting something?) or I am not able to print to the part I add on. Could someone show me how to expand the display area.

Thank you,

CameronM

Comments

  • RaymanRayman Posts: 14,889
    edited 2010-08-29 06:50
    If I remember correctly, the Prop doesn't have enough RAM to cover the screen with 2-bit graphics...

    I suppose options are 1-bit graphics or fat (double) pixels. I think Ariba provided us with these drivers. I think I've posted them on my website.
  • rjo__rjo__ Posts: 2,114
    edited 2010-08-29 13:26
    Ray,

    I have the same basic question.

    The links from your site back into the forum are broken. I looked around and can't find anything.

    I am a long time fan of your work and have the same issue. I am trying to use the 4.3" touch screen (which I got from Nick at a priorExpo) with a new version of my PropPhone, .

    By the way... the 4.3" touch-screen and break-out board are fabulous. Mine didn't require any calibration, and with the provided examples, it is realtively easy to hack.

    However, my hack leaves my touch-screen qwerty keyboard a little dodgy.
    It sounds like you have moved on to other projects ... when you have a free moment... I would love to see proper code for a dense touch screen array of buttons. You show a full screen image of your kids... but it isn't clear how you achieved it.

    Also, I would love to see you offer a low-power touch screen ntsc module.

    Regards,

    Rich
  • HarleyHarley Posts: 997
    edited 2010-08-29 14:58
    CameronM, do you mean to utilize the full screen like this 3.5" shows?

    Used 4 colors for the various border, menu, trace and marker items. Not double-buffered, as this 320 x 240 LCD used 9.6K of RAM as is. Everything but the A/D, and D/A for simulated input waveform, is done in Spin; as the input signal is a rather slow rate.

    For some reason the attachment didn't ATTACH. Hope it does this time.
    MVC-081S.JPG
    640 x 480 - 39K
  • AribaAriba Posts: 2,690
    edited 2010-08-29 16:40
    On this page you find the 240x126 pixel graphics driver:
    http://forums.parallaxinc.com/forums/default.aspx?f=25&p=017&m=379586

    There are many other useful drivers in this long thread.

    Andy
  • CameronMCameronM Posts: 57
    edited 2010-08-29 16:58
    Harley wrote: »
    CameronM, do you mean to utilize the full screen like this 3.5" shows?

    Used 4 colors for the various border, menu, trace and marker items. Not double-buffered, as this 320 x 240 LCD used 9.6K of RAM as is. Everything but the A/D, and D/A for simulated input waveform, is done in Spin; as the input signal is a rather slow rate.

    yeah i want to utilize the full screen, but i think Ariba's driver might do the trick.

    Thank you,

    CameronM
  • HarleyHarley Posts: 997
    edited 2010-08-29 20:04
    CameronM,

    Is that 'little box' defined in the CON section? Like so many tiles wide x so many high? If so that should be redefined. I'm assuming you see a box much smaller than the screen area?
    Hi, I am trying to use graphics.spin with ray's 4.3” touchscreen and I am using his example that he provides as a guide, but how do I expand the size of the display area, I am confined to a little box. I have been trying several different ways, but I either get gibberish off to the sides(probably overwriting something?) or I am not able to print to the part I add on. Could someone show me how to expand the display area.

    Thank you,

    CameronM
    I used PTP Paint source as my beginning file. First comment out what's not needed; keep for a while until know you really don't need. Keep editing out what's not going to be needed. That might eliminate some of the VARs that used to be used, too.

    Then begin to try various things to enlarge that 'box' to full screen, or larger than now is. I don't know your application, but I suppose you are aware that generally only 4 colors can be used at one time. They can be changed for some others later on in the program if needed.

    It may be more than just a change of driver. I don't know what program you are referring to, so can't help much beyond this.
  • CameronMCameronM Posts: 57
    edited 2010-08-29 22:14
    That is basically what I was trying but with PSB_graphics_demo instead. I could get the “little black box” to fill the entire screen, but I was only able to write to half the screen. Right now I am not trying any thing fancy, I was just using the box that says propeller to see if I could get that displayed when I have the “little black box” fit the entire screen before I get into anything to deep. But I will try to modify PSB_Paint instead or should I even bother if I have tried with PSB_graphics_demo? Thank you for your suggestions Harley and everyone else.

    Thank you,

    CameronM
  • HarleyHarley Posts: 997
    edited 2010-08-30 10:08
    @ Rayman,

    Even though I purchased a couple of 4.3" LCD from you many months ago, I am just getting around to gathering the documentation around it. The PSB demos, etc and in the process do not find a schematic or other diagram of how the Breakout board should connect to a Prop. And the Search function found nothing about any 4.3" LCD threads. Guess that got lost in the big bad move?!

    Is there any reference to where such a connection diagram, and [schematic of the breakout board can downloaded? I didn't notice it on your website on the PSB. Thanks in advance.
  • RaymanRayman Posts: 14,889
    edited 2010-08-30 10:26
    Harley,

    I need better documentation for these screens...
    There is a long thread somewhere where how to hook up the screen is discussed.
    Or, you could look on my website for the PSB schematics. Then, you can copy how that is wired...

    CameronM,

    If you don't need graphics and are OK just writing ROM font characters, then I think there's a modified VGA_TEXT example for these screens. That might be a much simpler starting point...
  • HarleyHarley Posts: 997
    edited 2010-08-30 11:54
    @ Rayman,

    I looked at your website. It shows a photo of the breakout board, but NO reference to a schematic or how it should connect to a Prop. I find links to the old forum NOT working, at least from your web site. So if the desired documentation existed on the old forum and didn't get transferred over to the new, did it get lost? Bummer if so. One bad move.

    I did find in my folder on the 4.3"Lcd, a listing for the breakout board signals, J1 pin numbering and Prop Axx pin designations. I suppose that will have to do. It sure would be nice to also have a schematic of the breakout board to complete the documentation. Are the other connection zones required besides J1; I note FIVE zones but not sure what should be connected on the others besides J1.

    I need better documentation for these screens...
    There is a long thread somewhere where how to hook up the screen is discussed.
    Or, you could look on my website for the PSB schematics. Then, you can copy how that is wired...
  • RaymanRayman Posts: 14,889
    edited 2010-08-30 13:17
    PSB schematics are at the bottom of this page:
    http://www.rayslogic.com/Propeller/Products/PSB/PSB.htm


    Here's the basic way to hook it up:
    HSync,VSync and the colors R1,R0,B1,B0,G1,G0 have to connected the same way as with a VGA output. That is, they have to be on either P0..P7, P8..P16, or P17..P24. Also, they have to be in the same order as with VGA.

    You can hook up I2C's SDA and SCL to the existing I2C bus on pins 28&29.

    The other control pins can be hooked up anywhere, but you have to make sure the driver files reflect your choices.

    It is possible to connect BL and DON together to save a pin.

    Connect VBL and VDD to 3.3 VDC. Connect all the GND to ground.
  • HarleyHarley Posts: 997
    edited 2010-08-30 16:45
    Thanks for that information, Rayman,

    When I went to the /PSB.htm website, I note that there is a board called PSB; I wasn't aware about that. But I find NO schematic for the Breakout board there.

    Actually I was hoping for the Breakout board I bought for the 4.3" LCD. When I looked at the four PSB schematics, I would imagine part of the Breakout board would have a schematic similar to page 3. Is that close? Of course, there are the four other Jx zones that are undefined.
    PSB schematics are at the bottom of this page:
    http://www.rayslogic.com/Propeller/Products/PSB/PSB.htm


    Here's the basic way to hook it up:
    HSync,VSync and the colors R1,R0,B1,B0,G1,G0 have to connected the same way as with a VGA output. That is, they have to be on either P0..P7, P8..P16, or P17..P24. Also, they have to be in the same order as with VGA.

    You can hook up I2C's SDA and SCL to the existing I2C bus on pins 28&29.

    The other control pins can be hooked up anywhere, but you have to make sure the driver files reflect your choices.

    It is possible to connect BL and DON together to save a pin.

    Connect VBL and VDD to 3.3 VDC. Connect all the GND to ground.
    Hopefully you do have a schematic for the 4.3" LCD Breakout board.
  • AribaAriba Posts: 2,690
    edited 2010-08-30 17:27
    Harley

    3. post on this page: http://forums.parallaxinc.com/forums/default.aspx?f=25&p=003&m=379586 for the schematic.
    (I have posted a link to this thread in my previous post here.)

    This is on the old forum.
    If you see the same thread transfered to the new forum, I must admit that it was a bad move... http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?t=115518 (but the schematic is also OK).

    Andy
  • RaymanRayman Posts: 14,889
    edited 2010-08-31 04:32
    Thanks Andy! The actual ExpressPCB files for the breakout board were also posted in that same thread, one page earlier:
    http://forums.parallaxinc.com/forums/default.aspx?f=25&p=004&m=379586


    Harley, the PSB schematics are on that page, all the way at the bottom as pictures...
    Just click one any of the thumbnails to make it full size...
  • HarleyHarley Posts: 997
    edited 2010-08-31 08:53
    Thnaks Ariba and Rayman,

    I finally found the breakout schematic, which was what I needed to document what I have hardware-wise.
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