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DLP LightCrafter would not display uploaded pattern

Chunde Huang
Prodigy 205 points
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: DLPC300, DLPR300, DLPC350

Hi, we use d to be able display pattern from the DLP lightcrafter control software, such as the chessboard and any external image we uploaded to it.  But accidentally, we can't display the externally uploaded images, though still able to display the stored pattern(HW  patter type).  Can you suggest if there is circuit problem of the motherboard or loose connection, or something else. If would be very helpful if you can give suggestion.

PS:  we still able to upload images to the device, but can't displays.   

  • 0
    TI__Intellectual 2305 points
    Hi Chunde,

    Yes, it can be a loose connection, so check to see if the board to board connector is properly connected, and also the flex cable, etc.

    What have you tried so far? What's the status of the 2 LEDs visible from above the unit? LED D5 near the largest IC, and LED D1 near the other large IC. If you look between the 2 stacked boards, there will also be LED D2 on the bottom board.

    Regards,
    A214259
  • 0 in reply to A214529
    Prodigy 205 points
    Many thanks for your reply. So far the device seems good, the 2 LED works as usual, one always green, the other blink green and red. I think the connection is good, as we are able to upload image onto the device. we are also able to use the hard-wired pattern and the digital mirror device works. But when it comes to the image we upload to it, the DMD not response. We tried to use static image, but we can not see any pattern when look directly at those mirrors. We used to be able to see chessboard if we set it to the deice using the GUI software.
    Personally, I think something may go wrong with the program built on board so it can not display the image uploaded externally. I am not sure, Do you have any idea diagnose or should we reset the device ROM?
  • 0 in reply to Chunde Huang
    TI__Intellectual 2305 points
    Hi Chunde,

    Since you're look directly at those mirrors, the DMD was removed from the optical engine, correct? Please be sure that it was properly connected to it's mating connector.

    Looks like the board is operating fine according to the indicators LED. Still, it is a good idea to re-program all the devices. I assume that flexcables to J1 and J9 are also properly connected.

    Regards,
    A214259
  • 0 in reply to A214529
    Prodigy 205 points

    Hi A214259,

    Thanks for your help. 

    Yes, we only want to use the digital mirrors to reflect laser for experimental purpose, and the connection seems good as we can see different hard wired pattern on it. 

    So I am not sure where i can download the files to reset all the devices. Would please send me a link to download the necessary file in order to upgrade full package of the firmware, the lightcrafter we have is the 300 model with resolution 608 x684 pixels, features the DLP 0.3 WVGA chipset. I hope we can fix the problem we have by resetting it. 

    Best wishes

    Chunde

  • 0 in reply to Chunde Huang
    TI__Intellectual 2305 points

    Hi Chunde,

    The DLP LightCrafter Firmware and Software Bundle for Windows  can be downloaded here.

    Regards,

    A214529

  • 0 in reply to A214529
    Prodigy 205 points
    Hello A214529,

    Many thanks, I got the package and have it installed. However, when I try to upgrade firmware, I need to pick a file. On the combox, I select "Full Package", and it requires pkg format file, I can't find such files in the installation folder. If you could be a bit more specific, that would be very helpful. I am wondering if I should pick "DLPC300" in the Combox?

    Best

    Chunde
  • 0 in reply to Chunde Huang
    TI__Intellectual 2305 points

    Hi Chunde,

    Yes, the DLPC300 is one of them.

    Section 2.13 of the LightCrafter User's Guide describes in detail how to update the MSP430, FPGA, DLPC300 and the EDID.

    Regards,

    A214529

  • 0 in reply to A214529
    Prodigy 205 points

    Hi A214529,

    I upgraded part of the files. But for DLPC300, I can't find a bin file for that, there is only a bin file for EDID. I tried to have all of them upgraded, but every time I connect to the device, it will show a message as the following image. So far I had FPGA, MSP430 and EDID installed successfully, the only thing I can not find is the bin for DLPC300. But things seems confusing since I already have MSP430 installed. Any suggestion? Thanks very much!

    Best wishes

    Chunde

  • 0 in reply to Chunde Huang
    TI__Intellectual 2305 points
    Hi Chunde,

    The .bin file for the DLPC300 is actually installed at C:\Program Files (x86)\Texas Instruments-DLP\DLP LightCrafter DLPR300 PROM, that is the default directory, in case you have not changed the directory location during the installation.

    Regards,

    A214529
  • 0 in reply to A214529
    Prodigy 205 points

    Hi A214529,

    I found that file and reset the device,  it works like things are good, we can upload image to it, but these images can not be displayed.(it used to be able to do so). The only patterns it can display are those hard wired patterns.  So, I am not sure if any tiny component is out of work? can you fix that if we send the device to you? or you have any more suggestion for fixing this device? Thanks!

  • 0 in reply to Chunde Huang
    TI__Intellectual 2305 points

    Hi Chunde,


    What is your Resolution setting?  You may need to change it, and/or restore/upgrade the EDID bin file accordingly. Hopefully that should fix this issue.

    Regards,

    A214529

  • 0 in reply to A214529
    Prodigy 205 points

    Hi A214529,

    The manual says it's 608 by 684.  I tried both bin files the 608x684 and 864 x 480, but nothing changed. So far, we see is that only the hardwired patterns can be displayed, others can not. That sounds like the device can generate pattern inside it and load that to its memory, but something wrong happen when it download image pattern outside it and/or load into memory. I can't tell where it can be wrong since the device seems works well. I guess some tiny circuit goes wrong or gets damaged, while the LED lights state still  works as if nothing bad happened. 

    Below are three image taken from a webcam , the red pattern you can see is laser reflected from the DMD.

    The first one was taken when the device was working properly, and could set the test pattern to the fine checker board and it would be displayed in right way.

    The second image was taken again when the device went wrong,  we can't see anything, just some weird pattern.

    The third image is one of the HW patterns, and it works fine as it was.

    Hope these images could give you more information. 

    Thanks and best wishes,

    Chunde

  • 0 in reply to Chunde Huang
    TI__Intellectual 2305 points
    Hi Chunde,

    Thanks for sending the pictures. I'll discuss with other people here and then I come back to you hopefully with some suggestions or fix.

    Regards,
    A214529
  • 0 in reply to A214529
    Prodigy 205 points

    Hello A214529

    Thanks a lot, I am looking forward to hearing back from you.

    Best wishes

    Chunde

  • 0 in reply to A214529
    TI__Intellectual 2305 points
    Hi Chunde,

    We have some questions and your answers should help us to understand better and hopefully provide suggestions or fix.

    - Do the other 13 internal test patterns work?

    - Could you try Pattern Sequence Mode and upload Patterns ... Do they work fine?

    - Try HDMI video source... Does it work?

    - What is the Firmware versions for the DM365, FPGA and MSP430?

    Regards,
    A214529
  • 0 in reply to A214529
    Prodigy 205 points

    Hi A214529,

    Many thanks for your reply. We tried all the internal test patterns, non of them works, so far only those HW patterns work properly. Anything we upload does not work. 

    The VERSION NUMBER for the hardware are:

    DM365:      5.0

    FPGA:        2.6.43

    MSP430:  3.0

    We are not able to test the HDMI as we do not have that type of cable with small end that match the board. 

    My adviser asked if we could send the device to you and you to have a free check or we can just buy a new board(without buying the DMD part)?

    We think some tiny part may be damaged accidentally, and the device can not detect that. 

    Best wisehs

    Chunde

  • 0 in reply to Chunde Huang
    TI__Intellectual 2305 points
    Hi Chunde,

    I've just sent you a request so you can contact me directly to solve this issue.

    Thanks,
    A214529
  • 0 in reply to A214529
    Prodigy 205 points
    Hello A214529,

    Many thanks! We are not connected. So can we just buy the possibly damaged board , we will need to buy some newer modeler in near future if we finish our test on current device.

    Best wishes

    Chunde
  • 0 in reply to Chunde Huang
    TI__Intellectual 2305 points

    Hi Chunde,

    I'm sorry to inform that Individual pieces such as the PCB are not sold separately. Distributors and TI only sells the whole Lightcrafter (3000).

    Thanks,
    A214529

  • 0 in reply to A214529
    Prodigy 205 points
    Hello A214529,

    Finally, we have to buy a new device. Based on the available funding, we probably will pursuit the Lightcrafter 4500. Before making the decision, we have a technique question. The DLP 4500 has 32 Mb memory, so could you please help us figure out how many single bit image we can upload onto the device?

    my naive calculation is : 32 x 1024 x 1024 x 8 / (912x1140) = 258 image. Is that right?

    Thanks.

    Best wishes

    Chunde
  • 0 in reply to Chunde Huang
    TI__Mastermind 30875 points

    Hi Chunde,

    ~2MB is used for the DLPC350 firmware. So technically you have about 30MB of memory to store the 1-bit images,

    the images in the flash is stored as 24-bit RGB is image i.e., each image can hold 24 1-bit image, there is lossless RLE compression involved which depending upon the compression % it can store more or less images; refer to this link https://e2e.ti.com/support/dlp__mems_micro-electro-mechanical_systems/f/924/t/337942

    Regards,

    Sanjeev