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Display / Operator Interface Options? — Parallax Forums

Display / Operator Interface Options?

Dave MatthewsDave Matthews Posts: 93
edited 2011-11-08 15:11 in Propeller 1
I am developing a new product based on the Propeller. This product will require a lot of user interface and information display. I have experimented with the VGA output and TV output, not what I need ... I guess I'm looking for something similar to the digital SVGA and greater resolution that we have on our workstations for example. I can budget in an industrial computer/touchscreen system for the operator interface, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't missing a bet in that regard with the propeller.

Would you folks kindly bring me up to speed on the display capabilities of the native Propeller and any suggestions and any advice you care to share?

Thanks,
Dave KI4PSR

Comments

  • RaymanRayman Posts: 15,001
    edited 2011-10-27 14:40
    there is a 1280x1024 (4-color tile) driver in obex.
    there's also vga_hires text driver (2-color character) and a new appnote about GUIs using it.

    I think that's about the best you can do straight from the Prop...
  • Bill HenningBill Henning Posts: 6,445
    edited 2011-10-27 16:17
    My commercial "Morpheus" product can do 640x480 / 800x600 / 1024x768 bitmap graphics with four unique colors per scan line (from a 256 color paletter); it was designed to be embedded in products :)

    See http://Mikronauts.com/morpheus

    I have a new revision with some new features, it will be on the site later; as will the 800x480 driver for the 7" OEM LCD displays (and serial touch controllers) I also sell.

    PM me if you would like to continue discussing this off-line.
    Dave Matthews wrote: »
    I am developing a new product based on the Propeller. This product will require a lot of user interface and information display. I have experimented with the VGA output and TV output, not what I need ... I guess I'm looking for something similar to the digital SVGA and greater resolution that we have on our workstations for example. I can budget in an industrial computer/touchscreen system for the operator interface, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't missing a bet in that regard with the propeller.

    Would you folks kindly bring me up to speed on the display capabilities of the native Propeller and any suggestions and any advice you care to share?

    Thanks,
    Dave KI4PSR
  • Dave MatthewsDave Matthews Posts: 93
    edited 2011-10-29 05:24
    Thanks Rayman, I have used those demos and they are not quite up to par for me. However I am testing on the professional development board which is placing the eight VGA wires to the VGA jack open and unshielded for about 2" I did find that the better the VGA monitor the better the results. At first I was appalled when using a cheap $100 'Dynex' model. When I went to a better monitor I was relieved, but not enough yet to go forward.
  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
    edited 2011-10-29 06:14
    Dave: You might try adding the termination resistors. See the recent thread from PhiPi here http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?135385-Better-VGA-DAC-resistors This may give yo a better color pic on the VGA screens.
  • UnsoundcodeUnsoundcode Posts: 1,532
    edited 2011-10-29 06:47
    The CUWIN looks like it might be a good buy, they have a unit for under $300, thats not bad for an HMI. It needs a software interface programming which may be a drawback.

    http://www.cubloc.com/product/06_02.php .

    Jeff T.
  • MicksterMickster Posts: 2,753
    edited 2011-10-29 07:45
    I have been thinking along the same lines and although the video output of the Prop is very impressive, I want my industrial product to have more sex appeal. To me, an Android tablet makes a lot of sense because they have every feature you could want. I am thinking of a standard tablet for the HMI, communicating with the Prop-based machine controller through Bluetooth or WiFi.

    Mickster
  • RaymanRayman Posts: 15,001
    edited 2011-10-29 08:23
    Dave, I'm surprised you have trouble with that... I've used the "demo" board and the "proto" boards with vga output and it looks solid (when using a driver that outputs 60Hz anyway).
    Some of the demos output at resolutions and frame rates that may not work with all monitors.

    I have an application that has been working well for a couple years now using a touchpanel that I've integrated into a vga monitor:
    http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?101720-Bergquist-5-Wire-touchscreen-controller-driver&highlight=bergquist

    I use the 1024x768 driver because I found it the best balance between resolution and resources...
  • Dave MatthewsDave Matthews Posts: 93
    edited 2011-10-29 14:31
    Thanks Cluso99! I found it and will give it a try.

    Dave KI4PSR
  • Dave MatthewsDave Matthews Posts: 93
    edited 2011-10-29 14:32
    Yep, I have a client here who wants everything interfaced to an i-pad. But then he also wants it dirt cheap...

    Mickster wrote: »
    I have been thinking along the same lines and although the video output of the Prop is very impressive, I want my industrial product to have more sex appeal. To me, an Android tablet makes a lot of sense because they have every feature you could want. I am thinking of a standard tablet for the HMI, communicating with the Prop-based machine controller through Bluetooth or WiFi.

    Mickster
  • Dave MatthewsDave Matthews Posts: 93
    edited 2011-10-29 14:33
    Thanks Rayman, I certainly will revisit my initial trials. I appreciate the links and will study your information.

    Dave KI4PSR

    Rayman wrote: »
    Dave, I'm surprised you have trouble with that... I've used the "demo" board and the "proto" boards with vga output and it looks solid (when using a driver that outputs 60Hz anyway).
    Some of the demos output at resolutions and frame rates that may not work with all monitors.

    I have an application that has been working well for a couple years now using a touchpanel that I've integrated into a vga monitor:
    http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?101720-Bergquist-5-Wire-touchscreen-controller-driver&highlight=bergquist

    I use the 1024x768 driver because I found it the best balance between resolution and resources...
  • Dave MatthewsDave Matthews Posts: 93
    edited 2011-10-31 13:53
    Thanks again Rayman. That GUI demo is very good and I am pleased with the appearance now. I will develope some basic screens for the clinet review to see if that is acceptable. My desire is to make this product completely propeller based, but that may not be realistic. Still the core engine will be the propeller even if I go to a touch screen computer device.

    Dave


    Rayman wrote: »
    there is a 1280x1024 (4-color tile) driver in obex.
    there's also vga_hires text driver (2-color character) and a new appnote about GUIs using it.

    I think that's about the best you can do straight from the Prop...
  • localrogerlocalroger Posts: 3,452
    edited 2011-10-31 16:26
    Dave, have you checked out the 40x18 character VGA driver I recently added to the OBEX? I built it for exactly this sort of thing; it uses the ROM font for a light Hub RAM footprint but also an arbitrary number of user-defined chars which can be used to mix in bitmapped graphics, window outline characters, and so forth.
  • Dave MatthewsDave Matthews Posts: 93
    edited 2011-11-08 15:11
    Thanks you Roger, I am looking at that now. I appreciate your reply and your contribution! I will study it...

    Dave
    localroger wrote: »
    Dave, have you checked out the 40x18 character VGA driver I recently added to the OBEX? I built it for exactly this sort of thing; it uses the ROM font for a light Hub RAM footprint but also an arbitrary number of user-defined chars which can be used to mix in bitmapped graphics, window outline characters, and so forth.
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