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.

Download a bitmap picture onto Lightcrafter4500

Other Parts Discussed in Thread: DLPC350

Hi,

How  to download a bitmap pictureonto LightCrafter4500 and project it? Just like the way of LightCrafter3000?

It seems that we could only choose internal  flash images.

Best Regards,

He

  • Hello He,

    It is possible to download a bitmap image into LightCrafter 4500 and project it. It's little different than how you would do it in LightCrafter 3000.

    The difference here is you have to create a 24-bit bitmap image using the Create Image tab under Images/Firmware tab in the GUI first. Then this .bmp image file needs to be added to the firmware file. Then the new firmware file needs to be uploaded to the LightCrafter 4500 using Fimrware Upload  tab. This compresses the bitmap image and stores it into the flash at the next available flash index.  Once its uploaded in the flash, you can then project it from the internal flash image in the Video mode.

    Refer to section 3.6 of the User's guide to understand the details of storing images in the internal flash.

    Regards

    Manasi

  • Hi Manasi:

     I‘m trying  to download a bitmap image into LightCrafter 4500 ,but when i do the steps following the guid,it's impossible to add .bmp image file to the firmware file. It requests the file with suffix of .img or .bin ,how can i do?

  • Hello Jiang,

    This is how you can download a bitmap image into Lightcrafter4500 and then project it using video mode:

    1. in the GUI, go to Image/Firmware Tab. Then go to "Add Images to Firmware Tab"
    2. Now before you can add .bmp image to the firmware file, you will have to hit "Browse" to select the Firmware file. This would be the DLPC350 firmware file available on our website http://www.ti.com/tool/DLPR350 and that would be of the type .img
    3. After you browse and add a .img firmware file, you can then click on "Add" button at the bottom left corner and then select the .bmp file that you want to add to the firmware.
    4. Note that this has to be of the DMD native resolution which is 912x1140
    5. As soon as you add this, it will show you a preview of it and the flash index at which it has been added. Remember this flash index as you will need this to select that image from the flash in the video mode.
    6. Hit "Save Updates" and that will compress the bitmap image and add it to the firmware file. Save it as a new_firmware.img file. 
    7. Wait till you get a prompt saying "Build Complete"
    8. Now go to "Firmware Upload" tab
    9. Browse to select the saved .img firmware file "new_firmware.img" and hit upload.
    10. This will take a few minutes and upload the new firmware file to Lightcrafter. As soon as it finishes downloading the new firmware on Lightcrfater, it will restart the Lightcrafter.
    11. Now, set it to Video Mode
    12. Go to the Video Mode tab and select "Images from Flash" and the flash index where you added the new bitmap image in the "Images/Firmware" tab.
    13. Hit "Set" and you should be able to see your bitmap image on the projected screen.

    Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any more questions.

    Regards

    Manasi 

  • Hi,

    We need to display a sequence of bitmaps and these will change on each batch run.  What are the practical implications of  re-creating and updating the firmware for each batch e.g. limited lifetime read/write cycles, flashing time etc.?

    According, http://e2e.ti.com/support/dlp__mems_micro-electro-mechanical_systems/f/924/p/299354/1074397.aspx#1074397 (where I have also posted), theoretically we could store up to 1536 monochrome images for each batch so far a very large batch e.g. 3000 images we could have to update the flash multiple times - how long approximately would it take to upload a new flash?

    Regards

    Evan

  • Evan,

    This is to let you know that your question has been received. I am not able to offer a complete answer to it right away. 

    A partial answer: I presume that you can automate the process of preparing the firmware upload with scripts, or under program control. However, the time to upload the firmware can take quite a few seconds to accomplish.

    At this moment, I do not have any data on the read/write cycle lifetime of the Flash memory.

  • Pascal,

    Thanks for the reply.  As an update, I've subsequently found out that we could have up to 13,600 images in a batch (I updated my question in the other forum but not this one).  This seems to imply that the firmware updates are impractical and we will need to look at a solution using a microprocessor.  This in itself is not a problem but we are basically trying to work out the simplest microprocessor capable of operating the Lightcrafter in pattern mode (all current options are complex embedded linux systems).  Each image will be projected for approximately 1 second.

    Yes, we should have the ability to script the firmware updates.  

    Evan

  • Evan,

    Since you have such a high number of patterns, and such a low frame rate, I do not think that this is well suited to the Stored Pattern mode. I suggest that you look at generating the patterns externally and using the LightCrafter 4500 external pattern mode. The patterns would be supplied to the LCr over the HDMI (DVI-D) input. Have you considered or looked at this mode?

  • Pascal,

    We are currently using external video mode over HDMI from a Raspberry PI.  External pattern mode would be fine - the question we have, if we don't use a Raspberry PI or other embedded linux system, what is the lowest spec (i.e. simplest) hardware we can use for this mode?  What embedded hardware are people typically using to generate patterns?

    Evan

  • Hi Evan,

    As the processing source  can generate the patterns quickly enough and has a DVI-D compliant video output or an RGB888 port if interfacing directly with the DLPC350, there are no minimum hardware requirements. 

    Best regards,

    Blair

  • Hi Blair,

    Thanks for the response.  What we are trying to work out is what would are actual processors that can be used as a source, ideally based off examples that other people have used successfully.  We'd then aim to choose the option that is the simplest / lowest cost. Any tips?

    Cheers

    Evan

  • Hi Evan,

    I'm not familiary with all of TI's processors so I recommend browsing the TI Embedded Processors page to find a suitable option.

    http://www.ti.com/lsds/ti/dsp/embedded_processor.page

    You could also start a thread within the Embedded Processor's E2E forum for recommendations. Searching through the forums could also provide good information. There are a few different processor forum, so I have listed them here.

    Best regards,

    Blair