Difference between revisions of "Project Peacock"

From Hackstrich
(Adding a new concept that I think I like better..)
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Project Peacock will be (in theory) a chipset for doing DVI/VGA display output from a microcontroller. It will consist of:
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Project Peacock will be (in theory) a chipset for doing graphics display output from a microcontroller.
* Display Controller MCU
+
* '''Concept 1''' - Hard MCU for I/O, CPLD for high speed graphics output
** Communicate with host via I2C/SPI/RS232
+
** Display Controller MCU
** Will need a lot of I/O pins
+
*** Communicate with host via I2C/SPI/RS232
*** RAM address bus - 22 pins
+
*** Will need a lot of I/O pins
*** RAM data bus - 16 pins
+
**** RAM address bus - 22 pins
*** RAM arbitration/handshaking - 6 pins
+
**** RAM data bus - 16 pins
*** SPI/I2C/RS232 - 4 pins
+
**** RAM arbitration/handshaking - 6 pins
*** '''Rough total - 48 I/O pins required'''
+
**** SPI/I2C/RS232 - 4 pins
** PIC32MX575F512H seems a good fit, and keeps commonality with another project ([[BIRD]])
+
**** '''Rough total - 48 I/O pins required'''
* Display Driver CPLD
+
*** PIC32MX575F512H seems a good fit, and keeps commonality with another project ([[BIRD]])
** Essentially just the digital part of a RAMDAC, constantly reads data from the RAM and spits it out to the output converter
+
** Display Driver CPLD
** Since it's dealing with RAM anyway, it can handle the RAM details for the MCU (accept raw data from the MCU and write it to memory)
+
*** Essentially just the digital part of a RAMDAC, constantly reads data from the RAM and spits it out to the output converter
** Using a CPLD means the Display Controller MCU doesn't need to be super-fast
+
*** Since it's dealing with RAM anyway, it can handle the RAM details for the MCU (accept raw data from the MCU and write it to memory)
* RAM
+
*** Using a CPLD means the Display Controller MCU doesn't need to be super-fast
** SRAM
+
** RAM
*** Far too expensive (~$200) for the amount needed
+
*** SRAM
** PSRAM (Pseudo SRAM)/CellularRAM
+
**** Far too expensive (~$200) for the amount needed
*** SRAM interface but DRAM backend, simple to interface with and cheap (~$6)
+
*** PSRAM (Pseudo SRAM)/CellularRAM
*** Only available in VFBGA package meaning a four-layer board would be required, and hard to solder
+
**** SRAM interface but DRAM backend, simple to interface with and cheap (~$6)
** '''SDRAM'''
+
**** Only available in VFBGA package meaning a four-layer board would be required, and hard to solder
*** Inexpensive (~$5) and readily available
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*** '''SDRAM'''
*** Easy non-BGA SMT packages
+
**** Inexpensive (~$5) and readily available
*** Harder to interface with, would need to have the CPLD handle RAM refreshing and other housekeeping
+
**** Easy non-BGA SMT packages
* Output converter
+
**** Harder to interface with, would need to have the CPLD handle RAM refreshing and other housekeeping
** TMDS converter for DVI
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** Output converter
** DAC for VGA
+
*** TMDS converter for DVI
 +
*** DAC for VGA
 +
* '''Concept 2''' - Soft MCU (in the FPGA) for I/O, FPGA for high speed graphics output/SDRAM interfacing
 +
** Everything in one chip makes board layout easier, is smaller, and could actually be less expensive given how small some softcores are
 +
** Could do DisplayPort output if proper transceivers are used, which would be much more future-proof than other solutions
 +
*** The Arria II GX and Cyclone IV GX series both have these transceivers
 +
**** Arria II GX starts at >$400!
 +
**** Cyclone IV GX 15k gate model starts around $26
 +
***** Available in a weird dual-row QFN (EP4CGX15BN11C8N) or in an FBGA (EP4CGX15BF14C8N)
 +
***** Datasheet says the QFN version is only for boards < 0.8mm thick for some reason
 +
** Could use DisplayPort->DVI/VGA interface chips to support VGA or DVI output
 +
*** DisplayPort->VGA seems to be available
 +
*** For DisplayPort->DVI the only option is the Parade PS161 chip, which is only available in qty 100k (!)
 +
** Looks like the chip will need to output DVI/HDMI and/or DisplayPort then, and one of those can be converted to VGA if needed
  
 
[[Category:Future Project Ideas]]
 
[[Category:Future Project Ideas]]

Revision as of 14:23, 4 April 2011

Project Peacock will be (in theory) a chipset for doing graphics display output from a microcontroller.

  • Concept 1 - Hard MCU for I/O, CPLD for high speed graphics output
    • Display Controller MCU
      • Communicate with host via I2C/SPI/RS232
      • Will need a lot of I/O pins
        • RAM address bus - 22 pins
        • RAM data bus - 16 pins
        • RAM arbitration/handshaking - 6 pins
        • SPI/I2C/RS232 - 4 pins
        • Rough total - 48 I/O pins required
      • PIC32MX575F512H seems a good fit, and keeps commonality with another project (BIRD)
    • Display Driver CPLD
      • Essentially just the digital part of a RAMDAC, constantly reads data from the RAM and spits it out to the output converter
      • Since it's dealing with RAM anyway, it can handle the RAM details for the MCU (accept raw data from the MCU and write it to memory)
      • Using a CPLD means the Display Controller MCU doesn't need to be super-fast
    • RAM
      • SRAM
        • Far too expensive (~$200) for the amount needed
      • PSRAM (Pseudo SRAM)/CellularRAM
        • SRAM interface but DRAM backend, simple to interface with and cheap (~$6)
        • Only available in VFBGA package meaning a four-layer board would be required, and hard to solder
      • SDRAM
        • Inexpensive (~$5) and readily available
        • Easy non-BGA SMT packages
        • Harder to interface with, would need to have the CPLD handle RAM refreshing and other housekeeping
    • Output converter
      • TMDS converter for DVI
      • DAC for VGA
  • Concept 2 - Soft MCU (in the FPGA) for I/O, FPGA for high speed graphics output/SDRAM interfacing
    • Everything in one chip makes board layout easier, is smaller, and could actually be less expensive given how small some softcores are
    • Could do DisplayPort output if proper transceivers are used, which would be much more future-proof than other solutions
      • The Arria II GX and Cyclone IV GX series both have these transceivers
        • Arria II GX starts at >$400!
        • Cyclone IV GX 15k gate model starts around $26
          • Available in a weird dual-row QFN (EP4CGX15BN11C8N) or in an FBGA (EP4CGX15BF14C8N)
          • Datasheet says the QFN version is only for boards < 0.8mm thick for some reason
    • Could use DisplayPort->DVI/VGA interface chips to support VGA or DVI output
      • DisplayPort->VGA seems to be available
      • For DisplayPort->DVI the only option is the Parade PS161 chip, which is only available in qty 100k (!)
    • Looks like the chip will need to output DVI/HDMI and/or DisplayPort then, and one of those can be converted to VGA if needed