DLP6500FYE: Using DLPC900GUI and DLP6500, in stored pattern mode, patterns are not shown, I see the DLP logo instead.

Hi David,

May I take a step back and ask a the following questions?

1. Are you using the DLPC900 LightCrafter GUI v5.0.0 with firmware v6.0.0 OOB (out of box)?
2. When testing in video mode, are you talking about the internal test patterns from the source select menu? I would like an image or series of images of this, if possible
3. If you plan on using a batch file, have you made sure that you checked the "Clear All Existing Pattern Images and Batch Files" box under the firmware tab? The OOB firmware has a batch file stored already. I recommend you first upload the OOB firmware, delete the exisitng batch file and save the firmware (with a new name such as <firmware_name>_empty.img (I use MT instead of empty as short-hand).
   
   Here is an image to show which box I am talking about.
   After creating an empty .img file, I would upload that new firmware after clearing the cached folder created. Please take a look at the DLPC900 Single Controller EVM Guide for further instruction. I recommend taking a look at Section 3 in particular if you have not yet. The entire section should give you a good baseline, but if you have questions, I am happy to help!
   
4. Am I understanding you correctly with "stored pattern mode" being the Pre-stored pattern mode? If not, can you clarify for me?

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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:

• When using pre-stored pattern mode, the controller will load what is stored in its flash memory. Even if you create a pattern sequence in this mode and update the LUT, the controller will show the mages stored in flash (loaded into internal memory of controller). You must create a new batch file by following the guide I sent in my third question above if you wish for the pattern sequence to change what images are displayed.

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,

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.
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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,

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?