DLPC3438: Modifying firmware for lower LED start current

Joe Carlson

Part Number: DLPC3438
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: DLP3010, DLPA2005, DLPC3433, DLP3010LC

We have been trying to design a system for a DLP3010 DMD projector using a DLPC3438 controller and DLPA2005 PMIC. After a lot of struggle we believe the LED current is too high at start-up in our application, causing a brown out.

We've tried two different tools (DLP LightCrafter Display v7.4 and DLP EVM GUI 3.1.0.5) to modify the firmware with lower LED currents at startup. However, neither tool will properly recognize the input firmware image file. And we've tried both, a backup of the original flash image supplied with our DLPDLCR3010EVM (not Gen 2) and an image downloaded from the TI DLP Pico Firmware Selector tool (FWSel_DLPC3433_DLPA2005_pm1_i2c0x36_v7p4p2.exe)

DLP LightCrafter Display reports "Flash Image Update Failed." as follows:

With input file that is a backup from a DLPCDLPR 3010 EVM eval kit: "Selected input image does not match the EVM type. Input image is meant for a DLPDLCR 2010 EVM"
With an input file generated by TI DLP Pico Firmware tool. "Flash Image Update Failed: Input flash image error"

DLP EVM GUI reports "EVM type cannot be recognized" with either input image.

We can really use some help obtaining a firmware image with LED currents set to minimum at startup that works with the legacy DLPCDLPR 3010 EVM (DLPC3438/DLPA2005) eval kit. If it's an image that is also compatible with the DLP LightCrafter Display's Flash Image Update page would be great.

over 3 years ago

0 Cody Smith over 3 years ago

TI__Expert 3360 points

Hi Joe,

Thank you for your interest in DLP technology. We will look into this issue and get back to you by middle of next week.

Thank you,

Chris

0 Joe Carlson over 3 years ago in reply to Cody Smith

Prodigy 20 points

Any updates on this? Thanks.

0 Cody Smith over 3 years ago in reply to Joe Carlson

TI__Expert 3360 points

Hi Joe,

Please try to update your flash image using the DLP3010LC GUI (v2.2.0.6), this GUI should have less issue uploading custom firmware.

Thank you,

Chris

0 Joe Carlson over 3 years ago in reply to Cody Smith

Prodigy 20 points

Can you provide a link to that version of software? All I can find is DLP EVM GUI 3.1.0.5 which I already tried and is the only software GUI listed on the DLP3010LC page.

Thanks,

Joe

0 Cody Smith over 3 years ago in reply to Joe Carlson

TI__Expert 3360 points

Hi Joe,

We will look into getting this GUI available. This may take some time.

Thank you,

Chris

0 Joe Carlson over 3 years ago in reply to Cody Smith

Prodigy 20 points

Chris,

I was able to find a link and download DLP3010LC GUI v2.2.0.6 from TI. However this gives me the same "EVM type cannot be recognized" error that the latest version does. Keep in mind, I am trying to create customized firmware using the "Update Flash Image" button to lower the LED current. I have other means to burn the firmware to flash.

The DLP3010LC GUI only lets me choose between different "LC" dev kits when I try to customize the flash image and fails to recognize the input flash image obtained by backing up the flash using the GUI.

-Joe

0 Cody Smith over 3 years ago in reply to Joe Carlson

TI__Expert 3360 points

Hi Joe,

Ensure that the FW selector tool input you are using is DLPC3438 + DLPA2005 + DLP3010 with the proper pin mapping option. We also have a few questions to better troubleshoot:

1. Has the EVM worked before this issue ?

2. Can you take some screenshots of the error you are seeing and the GUI window ?

Thank you

Chris

0 Joe Carlson over 3 years ago in reply to Cody Smith

Prodigy 20 points

Yes, those are the selections I used. The FW selector download is named "FWSel_DLPC3433_DLPA2005_pm1_i2c0x36_v7p4p2.exe". I am using default pin mapping.

1. There is no problem with the EVM, it works fine. My issue is with not being able to generate a new flash image. Our custom board has problems we are trying to resolve by lowering the startup current. The EVM is my known working baseline that I want to test the firmware on.

2. DLP LightCrafter erros:

DLP3010LC GUI error:

-Joe

0 Joe Carlson over 3 years ago in reply to Joe Carlson

Prodigy 20 points

Here are my settings in each step using DLP Lightcrafter 7.4:

-Joe

0 Cody Smith over 3 years ago in reply to Joe Carlson

TI__Expert 3360 points

Hi Joe,

Thank you for the screenshots. We will try to reproduce this issue in-lab and get back to you within a few days.

Thanks

Chris

0 Joe Carlson over 3 years ago in reply to Cody Smith

Prodigy 20 points

It's been a week. Any updates on reproducing this?

0 Vivek Thakur over 3 years ago in reply to Joe Carlson

TI__Mastermind 23070 points

Hello Joe,

Thank you for your patience. Our team is backed up and we are working through customer issues. It will take us another week before we can look into this issue.

regards,

Vivek

0 Cody Smith over 3 years ago

TI__Expert 3360 points

Hi Joe,

We apologize for delay. We are still working on this with our internal teams to resolve the issue.

Thank you for your patience.

Chris

0 Cody Smith over 3 years ago

TI__Expert 3360 points

Hi Joe,

We have found the issue with our firmware selector tool and will resolve it soon. In the meantime, please accept my friend request and message me your ti.com email so I can provide firmware over our mySecure site.

Thank you,

Chris

DLP®︎ products

DLP products forum

DLPC3438: Modifying firmware for lower LED start current