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Original question:

DLPLCRDC4422EVM: using double monitor to directly connect dmd

DLP660TE: DLPDLCR660TEVM/DLPLCRDC4422EVM front-end assistance

Brandon Swartz
Prodigy 10 points
Part Number: DLP660TE
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: DLPC4422, , DLPC4420AEVM

Tool/software:

I'm a graduate student researcher in a photonics lab at Vanderbilt University. I'm trying to configure a DMD to display a sequence of images for an experiment.

I have the DLPDLCR660TEVM and DLPLCRDC4422EVM modules and I have completed the steps in the User's Guide to program the DLPLCRDC4422EVM to display the SPLASH image. I'd like to configure a frontend to display a slideshow of images. I know similar questions have been asked many times, such as here, and the answer has been to contact iChips, M-Star, ITE, etc. to get a custom frontend board. I'm waiting to hear back from iChips, but I don't 100% understand what I am asking for or what I'm getting myself into.

Are there actually off-the-shelf boards that convert common display signals to the necessary Vx1 output? If so, why have previous documentation and forum answers been so vague about the products that will work?

Is the DLPC4422 GUI still needed in conjunction with the frontend Vx1 source? If the GUI is still needed, is there more documentation for the GUI beyond the instructions in the user's guide?

Keep in mind that I am a University researcher; I need a solution that I can realistically implement by myself in a short amount of time with off-the-shelf parts. I can design and set up the illumination optics and I can code in Python, but I'm not a communications engineer.

If I'm on the wrong path and there is a simpler solution, I'd be happy to explore it.

Thank you,
Brandon

  • 0
    TI__Genius 11555 points

    Hello Brandon,

    The DLPDLCR660TEVM has been updated to DLP660TEEVM, and DLPLCRDC4422EVM had been EOL'd. Unfortunately, we have very limited support and documentation on these two EVMs. You may can find some information from previous E2E posts on these chipsets as you mentioned. 

    Regards,

    Lori 

  • 0 in reply to Lori Wang
    Prodigy 10 points

    I appreciate you responding to my message quickly, but this is unfortunately not helpful and did not answer any of the questions from my post. If I had found a previous post that answered these questions, I would not have asked them here.

    To clarify, if I need to buy a different DMD, I will consider that option. First, please give me a straightforward answer: is it realistic for me to display an image on the DMD I already have? Is there a consumer product that I could purchase which would solve the problem with my DMD?

    If the answer is no, please connect me with a sales representative that can assist me with purchasing a different product.

  • 0 in reply to Brandon Swartz
    TI__Genius 11555 points

    Hello Brandon,

    You will need to develop or work with a 3rd party for the front end board with V by one. DLPDLCR660TEVM and DLPLCRDC4420EVM kit do not come with a front end board, and we won't have further support.  

    We have DLP660TEEVM as an update from DLPDLCR660TEVM, and it works with DLPC4420AEVM. DLPC4420AEVM kit come with a ITE front end board and it has EDID programmed for external HDMI display. This could be an option for you, but please remember these EVMs are for evaluation use only and they are not end consumer products. 

    I hope this helps.

    Regards,

    Lori  

  • 0 in reply to Lori Wang
    Prodigy 10 points

    Lori, please take a moment to put yourself in my shoes.

    I have an expensive DMD, which was purchased by a previous graduate student who was unable to get the product to work. Clearly the student who purchased this evaluation module made a mistake, because it does not meet our needs. Nonetheless, I still need to display an image on a DMD. My choices are to either find a way to make the DMD I already have work or to purchase a new DMD. I tried to contact TI technical support to ask what the next steps are, but it seems the only way to get technical support is to use this forum. I asked a couple of simple questions, but you have 100% stonewalled me. The suggestions that you have made do not answer my questions and indicate you 100% do not understand my needs. I understand that the product has been discontinued and is no longer supported, but you refused to even answer simple yes or no questions.

    Would you, if you were in my position, order another part from T.I. after receiving this kind of support?

    I do not have the money or influence to get a custom third-party solution -- I have tried, but I've just been ignored. I cannot just order new parts at random and hope things will work out. I cannot spend thousands of dollars unless I know, with confidence, that the parts I am ordering will produce the functionality that I need.

    I'm currently looking for end user devices from other suppliers. I'm recommending to my department to discourage purchasing from T.I. in the future, because this quality of support is not appropriate for university researchers. If you disagree with that assessment, please, I beg you, connect me with a tech. support rep. who I can discuss this with further via email.

  • +1 in reply to Brandon Swartz
    TI__Genius 11555 points

    Hi Brandon,

    1. You mentioned that "I have completed the steps in the User's Guide to program the DLPLCRDC4422EVM to display the SPLASH imag". This means the DMD is working and can display the default splash image. There is no issue on the DMD and these EVMs, is this correct?

    2. "I'd like to configure a frontend to display a slideshow of images." "Are there actually off-the-shelf boards that convert common display signals to the necessary Vx1 output?"

    Answer: DLPDLCR660TEVM and DLPLCRDC4420EVM kit do not come with a front end board and the EVMs was not designed with an VbyOne connections that worked with it. No, there was no off-the-shelf board. 

    3. "If I need to buy a different DMD, I will consider that option. First, please give me a straightforward answer: is it realistic for me to display an image on the DMD I already have? Is there a consumer product that I could purchase which would solve the problem with my DMD?"

    Answer: You can display splash image on the DMD as you mentioned on point 1. If you want to use Vx1 and external display mode, then DLPLCRDC4422EVM +DLPDLCR660TEEVM do not support. I suggested you to use DLPC4420AEVM +DLP660TEEVM. This will come with an IT6807 front end board and you can use actual external input. No, TI DLP does not have consumer or end product. 

    4. Finally, DLPDLCR660TEVM and DLPLCRDC4420EVM have been End of Life for a few years. Why is this question just coming up now? Unfortunately, we don't have further support on EOL'd boards. 

    Thanks,

    Lori 

  • 0 in reply to Lori Wang
    Prodigy 10 points

    Hi Lori,

    Thank you and I apologize for coming off as cross. I started in a frustrating situation, but that was not your fault. A previous graduate student purchased this EVM, probably in 2020, but was not able to make it work for what they needed it to do. I do not know the circumstances under which it was purchased, but it should never have been purchased, because, as you said, it is not for end users. That student graduated and is no longer in the lab.

    For a different and unrelated project, I now need to project near-infrared images from a computer. Since we already have this EVM, there is an incentive to try to get this to work to save money. My goal in contacting support has been to determine if it is feasible for me to use this EVM for my project. I have gathered that the answer is no; it's unlikely I will be able to get the frontend card that I need, and even if I do, I will be on my own in terms of getting the system configured correctly.

    I do not want a different evaluation module; if I purchase a new part, it should really be an end user part that works out of the box. It sounds like it will be in everyone's best interest if I just pursue a 3rd party end user DMD product that meets the needs of my lab.

    Thank you,
    Brandon