Got a driver ready now.
Supports all your graphics primitives plus ROM font and 24, 8, and 4 bit bitmaps.
Also does a virtual TV/VGA mode where it shows the ROM font in the way we're used to.
Here's a new demo video:
Here's what it looks like on the Prop Platform USB:
Thank Tubular, Martin, Tim. The release date is basically this Friday (at the Parallax Expo).
I'm bringing about 10 units there to sell. Hopefully, I'll have time to get the webpage up then too...
Wanted to get them for sale before the Expo, but things got too busy around here...
pedward, sorry, but means and methods are confidential... But, I'm a blabbermouth, so if you ask me privately, I'll probably talk...
Right now, I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to take a DVI monitor on the airplane with me...
It's going to be a real pain...
Two quick questions. First, do you have a Spin only version of the driver for those times when a free cog is more valuable than drawing speed? Second, can you read back data written to the display buffer? (i.e. to use undisplayed portions of the buffer as extra data storage.)
I may have a Spin-only driver, I can look... It would be rediculously slow though...
Yes, you can read back data... In fact, I'm thinking of storing fonts in the extra space...
It's addressable basically as 3-byte groups. Also, it autoincrements the address...
Bean, sorry, I should have posted back here... I'm still recovering from UPEW...
I did sell out at the Expo, so that was good.
They're up for sale now on the website: http://www.rayslogic.com/Propeller/Products/DviGraphics/DVI.htm
(I really need to fix up my website )
I've posted the demo code but still need to post the schematics...
There is one issue with 640x480 HDMI input on my HDTV that I'm trying to resolve...
It seems that my TV only shows the "safe area". It cuts off 10 to 20 pixels all the way around. And, my TV has no adjustments for this at all.
DVI monitors don't do this, they always show the whole picture.
It's not that big of a problem, but it does slightly reduce the effective resolution when going HDMI to a TV.
This maybe a case where using the analog VGA adapter would be easier... I don't think TVs do this when given a VGA signal.
BTW: The analog VGA plugin does work. The 4.3" plugin works too (although I need to add a pullup on the DON signal).
Both of these plugins should be for sale in 2 to 3 weeks.
I'm interested in this board also. Can you be more specific as to what type of DVI connector is soldered to the board. There's DVI-A, DVI-D, single link, dual link - I just want to make sure I have the right cable to connector the board to my LCD monitor. Thanks
Does anyone know if I can get the DVI-I to HDMI cable or adapter (I have plenty of HDMI to HDMI cables) locally at lets say Bestbuy or Walmart? I want to use it on my TV but wish the card had HDMI already on it as now it's an extra expense.
Tubular, it's a 8080 bus, so it only needs 12 pins (8 data, 4 control).
tdg8934, I think you can find DVI to HDMI cables for a low price in many places...
I just found this one at Walmart.com for $7.88
Link Depot 2m Male Gold Plated DVI-D Dual Link to High Speed HDMI Cable
Just got the 4.3" touchscreen plugin for this shield working...
Runs a modified version of the demo (sized to fit 480x272 pixels).
Also, this one lets you draw on the photos using the touchscreen.
This one I was actually pretty sure would work since, after all, this is using the SSD1963 for it's intended purpose.
Here are some photos:
One funny thing is that my DVI monitor will actually sync to the 480x272 signal... So, if for some strange reason you want too, you can show the same image on 4.3" and DVI monitor simultaneously... No guarantee that all monitors will sync though...
Rayman,
I finally found a monitor with DVI inputs and a DVI cable to test the module.
It looks great.
Now I need to find a DVI to HDMI adapter, but no one locally has them.... Arrrrg.
Bean, I think you can find them at Radio Shack or Best Buy or something, but they'll probably be ~$29 at a retail store.
You can find them at Amazon or Walmart online for $9 though...
Rayman,
I not sure about the other commands, but the SetPixel command does not update the screen until the next call to SetPixel.
In other words if I use SetPixel to plot the four corners, only three will be displayed. Then if I plot the center of the screen, the fourth corner gets displayed (but the center point does not unless I plot yet another point).
It's kinda hard to explain, just ask if you have any questions.
This is a weird one... Not sure what I did wrong, but it's a real puzzle...
Gotta go see the new space shuttle now, but I'll figure it out later...
These two things should do the same thing, but setpixel doesn't work right, as you said:
Thanks jmg! I does appear that the 5" model does have the exact same connector and pinout.
They also have a new capacitive touch version, just like the 4.3" screens...
The 5" one is WVGA (800x480), which should be very nice... My big plans for a VGA monitor GUI will also work with this screen the same way...
Only question is whether or not my existing backlight driver can drive the 5" backlight.
I think it's right at the upper limit of what my LT1932 driver can do.
The datasheets for 5" and higher screens also start to be a little vague....
Another issue is that I've been putting in a 750 Ohm RSET resistor to allow up to 30mA of current.
But, for this display, the upper limit is 20mA, so one would need to either rely on PWM to reduce current or replace the resistor with a 1k...
Newhaven show a SSD1963 board, but it is not clear if that includes the CapTouch Chip, and it has a poor user-connector option, and only does some of what we need...
What we ideally want for a new project, is a (simple?) cut/paste of your existing blocks :
* The NH4, with CapTouch support (I think that means 2nd connector, and chip ?)
* SSD1963 with AnalogVGA option (ADV7125?)
I think, right now, your Newhaven 5" connector, and AnalogVGA fight for the same space, so a single PCB with
SSD1963 + ADV7125 + HD15 + LCD[Data +Touch] - we could tolerate losing the centre header, but can see the PCB is more flexible with this.
LCD connectors need placement to give a practical lead-dress with the Newhaven 5" CapTouch display.
jmg, should have a tiny PCB for the capacitive touch connector ready in about 2 weeks. It's I2C, so you'll just have to run jumper wires to Vcc, Gnd, SDA and SCL (pins 28 and 29).
I've actually added an extra header for these 4 pins on the 4.3" plugin for the DVI Graphics shield.
I think I should be fairly easy to add this to NH4 solutions too, since it has the regular 2-row Propeller Platform headers...
This 5" LCD compatibility does add a whole new dimension to the parameter space...
Was working on a PSB2 board for 4.3" resistive LCD. Then, was thinking about adding support for 4.3" capacitive display.
Now, I'm wondering if I should ditch that and work on a 5" solution... It could have a VGA connector that would show the same display both on LCD and external VGA monitor....
Now, I'm wondering if I should ditch that and work on a 5" solution... It could have a VGA connector that would show the same display both on LCD and external VGA monitor....
Yes the 5" fits the SSD1963 so nicely, sorry to upset your flow
We would use some that come with 5" LCD + VGA, with the Cap-sense all done on one board.
and with optional 24bit access to the SSD1963.
Comments
Supports all your graphics primitives plus ROM font and 24, 8, and 4 bit bitmaps.
Also does a virtual TV/VGA mode where it shows the ROM font in the way we're used to.
Here's a new demo video:
Here's what it looks like on the Prop Platform USB:
Nice looking board too.
Do you have a release date yet? I haven't seen it on your site yet. Looks very professional.
Tim
I'm bringing about 10 units there to sell. Hopefully, I'll have time to get the webpage up then too...
Wanted to get them for sale before the Expo, but things got too busy around here...
pedward, sorry, but means and methods are confidential... But, I'm a blabbermouth, so if you ask me privately, I'll probably talk...
Right now, I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to take a DVI monitor on the airplane with me...
It's going to be a real pain...
Lawson
Yes, you can read back data... In fact, I'm thinking of storing fonts in the extra space...
It's addressable basically as 3-byte groups. Also, it autoincrements the address...
Any word on this yet ?
I'm in the market to buy one.
Bean
I did sell out at the Expo, so that was good.
They're up for sale now on the website: http://www.rayslogic.com/Propeller/Products/DviGraphics/DVI.htm
(I really need to fix up my website
I've posted the demo code but still need to post the schematics...
There is one issue with 640x480 HDMI input on my HDTV that I'm trying to resolve...
It seems that my TV only shows the "safe area". It cuts off 10 to 20 pixels all the way around. And, my TV has no adjustments for this at all.
DVI monitors don't do this, they always show the whole picture.
It's not that big of a problem, but it does slightly reduce the effective resolution when going HDMI to a TV.
This maybe a case where using the analog VGA adapter would be easier... I don't think TVs do this when given a VGA signal.
BTW: The analog VGA plugin does work. The 4.3" plugin works too (although I need to add a pullup on the DON signal).
Both of these plugins should be for sale in 2 to 3 weeks.
I'll post the part number tonight...
Ok, here's the Digikey Part# for the DVI connector:
WM6097-ND
It is DVI-I, so any cable should work...
Can I ask how many pins you need from the Prop to make all this magic happen?
regards
tubular
tdg8934, I think you can find DVI to HDMI cables for a low price in many places...
I just found this one at Walmart.com for $7.88
Link Depot 2m Male Gold Plated DVI-D Dual Link to High Speed HDMI Cable
Runs a modified version of the demo (sized to fit 480x272 pixels).
Also, this one lets you draw on the photos using the touchscreen.
This one I was actually pretty sure would work since, after all, this is using the SSD1963 for it's intended purpose.
Here are some photos:
One funny thing is that my DVI monitor will actually sync to the 480x272 signal... So, if for some strange reason you want too, you can show the same image on 4.3" and DVI monitor simultaneously... No guarantee that all monitors will sync though...
I finally found a monitor with DVI inputs and a DVI cable to test the module.
It looks great.
Now I need to find a DVI to HDMI adapter, but no one locally has them.... Arrrrg.
Bean
You can find them at Amazon or Walmart online for $9 though...
Glad to hear you got it working, BTW.
I have another demo to post soon...
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10419&cs_id=1041902&p_id=2029&seq=1&format=2
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10231&cs_id=1023104&p_id=2404&seq=1&format=2
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10231&cs_id=1023104&p_id=2661&seq=1&format=2
I not sure about the other commands, but the SetPixel command does not update the screen until the next call to SetPixel.
In other words if I use SetPixel to plot the four corners, only three will be displayed. Then if I plot the center of the screen, the fourth corner gets displayed (but the center point does not unless I plot yet another point).
It's kinda hard to explain, just ask if you have any questions.
Bean
Gotta go see the new space shuttle now, but I'll figure it out later...
These two things should do the same thing, but setpixel doesn't work right, as you said:
lcd.setPixel(lcd#rgb_white,10,10) lcd.setPixel(lcd#rgb_white,20,20) 'lcd.setWindow(10,10,10,10) 'lcd.WritenRGB(lcd#rgb_white,1) 'lcd.setWindow(20,20,20,20) 'lcd.WritenRGB(lcd#rgb_white,1)I was a simple fix.
Do you mind testing out the attached driver to make sure it's fixed?
DVI_Driver1i.zip
Thanks for the quick fix.
Bean
Did you try the 5" 800x480 TFT with this yet ?
I think they have the same connector ?
They also have a new capacitive touch version, just like the 4.3" screens...
The 5" one is WVGA (800x480), which should be very nice... My big plans for a VGA monitor GUI will also work with this screen the same way...
Only question is whether or not my existing backlight driver can drive the 5" backlight.
I think it's right at the upper limit of what my LT1932 driver can do.
The datasheets for 5" and higher screens also start to be a little vague....
Another issue is that I've been putting in a 750 Ohm RSET resistor to allow up to 30mA of current.
But, for this display, the upper limit is 20mA, so one would need to either rely on PWM to reduce current or replace the resistor with a 1k...
What we ideally want for a new project, is a (simple?) cut/paste of your existing blocks :
* The NH4, with CapTouch support (I think that means 2nd connector, and chip ?)
* SSD1963 with AnalogVGA option (ADV7125?)
I think, right now, your Newhaven 5" connector, and AnalogVGA fight for the same space, so a single PCB with
SSD1963 + ADV7125 + HD15 + LCD[Data +Touch] - we could tolerate losing the centre header, but can see the PCB is more flexible with this.
LCD connectors need placement to give a practical lead-dress with the Newhaven 5" CapTouch display.
I've actually added an extra header for these 4 pins on the 4.3" plugin for the DVI Graphics shield.
I think I should be fairly easy to add this to NH4 solutions too, since it has the regular 2-row Propeller Platform headers...
This 5" LCD compatibility does add a whole new dimension to the parameter space...
Was working on a PSB2 board for 4.3" resistive LCD. Then, was thinking about adding support for 4.3" capacitive display.
Now, I'm wondering if I should ditch that and work on a 5" solution... It could have a VGA connector that would show the same display both on LCD and external VGA monitor....
Yes the 5" fits the SSD1963 so nicely, sorry to upset your flow
We would use some that come with 5" LCD + VGA, with the Cap-sense all done on one board.
and with optional 24bit access to the SSD1963.
Actually, the LCD connector provides 24-bit access... Is that good enough? Or, what did you have in mind?