This thread has been locked.
If you have a related question, please click the "Ask a related question" button in the top right corner. The newly created question will be automatically linked to this question.
I have this issue in "stored pattern mode" where I create the patterns, set the duration time without external triggers, the duration of each frame seems ok, but instead of the patttern image, the Dlp logo is shown, no matter which images I upload.
Testing in VIdeo mode the internal test patterns shows the test images correctly.
Hi David,
May I take a step back and ask a the following questions?
.
.
.
Here is another way I am understanding the question:
You have a firmware loaded, but when you try to make a new pattern sequence, different images are displayed, specifically those from the OOB firmware (if you have uploaded that). If this is the case, then the explanation is as follows:
Please let me know if this advice helps you.
Regards,
Michael Ly
Hi, thanks for the quick reply.
I think the firmwareis already loaded on the machine DLPR900PROM-v4.2.0 OBB. I do not have other firmware for this machine to be uploaded (it is a projector from In-Vision).
If I understand correctly, you said that even if I create and new pattern sequence in pattern mode, and press "update LUT" the images will not be loaded, but the projecotr will still use the "demo" ones saved in the memory.
And that I have to update the firmware every time I want to show a new pattern?
This seems a quite complex approach? There is no simpler and faster way?
Thanks!
Hi Davide,
(I apologize for mispelling your name above!)
I would not recommend you upload TI's firmware in this case. This could break any front-end dependencies that In-Vision has. Instead, I would start by saving the firmware that In-Vision already has if you have not done so yet and then begin building different versions of firmware from there. I like to build in layers so that I have different version available.
As far as "uploading" patterns, you cannot simply hit the upload button. Rather, you will have to build a firmware with the newer patterns in them. Otherwise, all of the timing, triggers, and other properties will be set up, but the pixel data will be what is stored in the firmware patterns.
If you want to show a new pattern, I would first test in pattern on the fly mode, see what you like. This is the faster way to test out pattern sequences because you do not have to build a new firmware to test images in this mode. Once you have a sequence or sequences you like, you can then begin creating a new firmware starting from Section 3.6.3 Creating a Pattern Sequence in Pre-Stored Pattern Mode. Please follow the guidelines from there and please let me know if you have any additional questions.
Thank you,
Michael Ly
Thanks.
Instead, I would start by saving the firmware that In-Vision already has if you have not done so yet --> how do you do that? I do not see any option for retrieving the firmware from the projector.
By the way, I had the lightcrafter DLP with its GUI, and uploading the images was inneed simpler
Hi Davide,
You can do this by going to the firmware tab and clicking on the 'Update Firmware' button after selecting a firmware to update.
Here is an example of me loading TI's FW and then updating it:
Selecting a FW img
A view of what your screen may look like after selecting a file to potentially upload
Updating FW tag to something new and getting confirmation of new FW being made
Optionally renaming the FW file name for easy finding in the future
In the above example, I have an out of box (OOB) firmware, but I changed its tag. The firmware still contains all the same pre-stored patterns, timings, trigger settings, etc. The only difference now is the tag name and file name for the .img file.
In your case, since you have In-Vision's, you may want to call them and see what is OK and what is not. If you are to change the firmware, I would start from the base firmware you already have-no new images, timing, etc. And ONLY change the firmware tag. Please update at your own risk, as I am not sure what is different from In-Vision's firmware compared to TI's. The tag will only help you identify which firmware you have uploaded on the controller EVM, but once again, I am not certain if there have been modifications from TI's firmware on that end.
Regards,
Michael Ly
Hi,
I was able to get it working with on-the-fly patterns. This way I do not have ot modify the firmware.
The video patterns through HDMI also look very interesting, is 60Hz the maximum frequency? 1440 (24x1x60) is quite lower than the max 9520Hz.
My question, is how do I generate an Hdmi signal, where each frame is exactly the image I need, without compression? I think generating a video file and playing it is not going to work, due to some compression added in the file format?
Hi Davide,
I'm glad to hear that the pattern modes are working well for you.
For the maximum frequency listed in the DLP6500 (S600 DMD) datasheet, it is referring to the shortest exposure time of a pattern. Here is an example with 1-bit binary patterns:
When setting an exposure time, the GUI will throw an error at the user letting them know that the exposure time must not go below 105 us, as it violates the DLPC900 controller's max frequency for 1-bit binary patterns. Please take care when taking into account the depth of your patterns, as it affects max frequency.
Is the 60 Hz you are referring to the refresh rate of your console/monitor in this case?
If you are using HDMI, please ensure that you are not planning on using it at 60 Hz, as the IT6535 receiver is not compatible with HDMI 2. It is compatible with HDMI 1, but HDMI 1 can only reach up to 30 Hz refresh rate. Please use a display port cable, as the initial release of display port already supports 60 Hz. If you are unfamiliar with HDMI 1 and 2, a quick search online should explain the difference nicely.
.
.
.
As for the other questions you have, please allow extra time for me to answer this and ask other team members how to go about this. Many of our key members our out until January 3rd for the holidays, so I apologize for any delay.
In the meantime, may you create a new thread for this new topic so that other E2E users may find answers to similar questions they may have? Thanks in advance.
Regards,
Michael Ly
Davide, I'd like to add additional clarification to my last post with a summary of the operating modes below:
Please note for both video and video pattern mode, the DLPC evaluation module (EVM) maximum video rate is limited to 60 Hz by the video receiver chip. This confirms the question you had about its maximum video frequency vs. its pre-stored and pattern on-the-fly maximum frequency.
The data flow for these operating modes looks like the following:
Once again, please allow extra time for our key members to get back from the holidays. I expect to give an answer by the end of the first week of the new year.
Thank you, and happy new year!
Michael Ly
Hi again Davide,
I am sorry for the delay
I recommend that you read Section 2.4 Display Mode Commands in the DLPC900 Programmer's Guide Rev. H for this.
Page 57 goes over bit planes and how you can allocate a 24-bit RGB input image for a 60-Hz frame rate. Given that 60 Hz has a period of about 16.7 ms, the example on this page gives the time slots allocated per color in a single frame.
The DLPC900 does not compress any video modes if that is what you are asking? There is, however, compression in the pre-stored pattern mode.
Please note that HDMI will only run at up to 30Hz for the DLPC900EVM board due to the IT6535 video receiver, but if you use Display Port, you can achieve 60Hz.
I will be closing this thread for now if you would like to ask about compression in a different thread, though. This way, other users can find similar questions more easily.
Regards,
MIchael Ly
Hi,
a quick question: in pattern-on-the fly, if I have 400 patterns (1-bit), but each one has minimum duration of 105us + 105us dark time, then each pattern is 210us, and 400 patterns, 84000us -> 0.084s, so in 1s I can only show 12 times the whole sequence, right?
Also, when uploading the patterns, even if they are numbered, the order is messed up in the pattern list, do you know why?
Thanks,
Davide
Hi Davide,
Given 400 patterns, I have calculated 8400 us of combined exposure and dark time given each pattern is 210 us long. This should equate to...
floor(1.0 / 0.084) = floor(11.9), which yields 11 whole sequences per second on average.
You said that when uploading patterns, the order is messed up in the pattern list. Could you expand on what you mean by this or provide me with a few images of this? The numbered images would be a great reference.
If you can log this in a batch file using Section 3.7.2 Creating and Saving Batch Files of the User Guide as a template, that may help as well.
Thank you!
Michael Ly
Hi, for the uploading patterns issue, I found a document that says, when uploading multiple images, they may get scrambled in the acutal pattern order, so using a text file with the images list is advised.
With this method, it seems that I was allowed to have 105us of iage time and 0us of dark time, is this possible? Is it the fastest possible way?
Since the max. (binary patterns) speed 9520Hz, so I should be able to get 9520/400 -> 23.8 whole sequences per second?
Hi Davide,
In Section 3.6.2 Creating a Pattern Sequence in Pattern On-The-Fly Mode, it does in fact say, "When selecting multiple files at once, the operating system may not load the images in the same order as they were selected. I also have a library of numbered, binary (1-bit) images each named <zero_padded_number>.bmp, and if I select 0087.bmp, then 0005.bmp, 0066.bmp, and 0011.bmp, the images are loaded into pattern on-the-fly mode in alpha-numeric order based on the file name. I am not entirely certain how these are loaded (last edit, alphanumeric, or something else), however.
With that said, I recommend that you do create a text file if you have custom images you would like to test in a specific order.
You have also asked about 105 us of exposure time and 0 us of dark time. You are indeed able to have 0 us dark time with 105 us exposure time. This means that you should be able to get 23.8 whole sequences (of 400 1-bit patterns) per second if all of your hardware works as intended.
Regards,
Michael Ly