Pattern sequence and video port

Hello Giovanni,

First, ensure that the PC graphics card is able to drive the LightCrafter at 912x1140 resolution, if the extended screen doesn't work. Switch to duplicate mode on the PC, then i suspect graphics card should revert to the resolution of LightCrafter 1280x800 or 912x1140, it is selecting earlier, then manually select the native resolution. 

The next step is configure via GUI to setup EVM under pattern sequence Mode.

1. Select Operating Mode - Pattern Sequence 

2. Under "Pattern Sequence" tab, "Sequence Setting" sub tab make the configuration as follows - 

Pattern Source - Video Port

Trigger Mode - VSYNC (this gets auto-selected if you make above selection)

Adjust the timing -

Pattern Exposure - 

VSync Period - Set this to match to the PC o/p frame rate default will be 60Hz 16667us

Pattern Exposure - this value comes from the pattern selection, as you know available time is 16667us, you have to select the patterns from incoming RGB24bit frame in the way you want, for pattern selection 'You can refer to Individual Patterns Settings" section. 

Then Click on 'Send" then Click Play under "Control" section.

Regards,

Sanjeev

Dear Sanjeev,
thank you for your attention. Screen resolution in fine, being 912x1140 so I keep on working with extended screens instead of duplicated ones. I have already used the GUI with the settings adjusted as you propose, with no results i.e. projector isn't projecting with those settings. 

Maybe I need to put some special image on extended part of the screen relative to the projector? 

What I can't understand in video port mode is how I transmit a 24bit pattern image, like the one saved in the flash memory.

Thank you again

Giovanni

Dear Sanjeev, thank you very much for your answer and the promptness of it. I've taken some days to run some tests and I have finally succeded in projecting patterns in video port.

Still, one problem is occourring to me now and then: switching to Pattern Mode, the LEDs sometimes fail to lit up and I have no output from the projector; the pattern gets correctly loaded by pressing Send button and can be retrieved by Read one, but pressing Play doesn't project anything.

Switching back to Video mode gets the lights back and all works fine. Still, there is no way to make pattern sequence to work once it has stopped working, except closing the Lightcrafter GUI and reopening it.

I was hoping to be able to recognise the cause of the error or at least what triggers it, but I've had no success so far. Do you know what could it be?

Thank you again for your help so far

I see, I'm glad to know it is a known minor issue; I look forward the upcoming firmware.

Thank you 

Giovanni

Dear Sanjeev, unfortunately I have come across another problem, once the last was fixed. 

I am able to project images in pattern sequence/video port through HDMI, but after changing them several n times (where n is not fixed but seems to be casual, and occurred for 100 and 500 times), the LED intensity drops abruptly by several magnitudes, yielding a really low contrast, such that I can barely recognise the pattern I am projecting.
The only way to fix this is to set again properties or reset the device.

In particular, I am sending black images with a white row through HDMI port, changing the row number each time. I am using one green pattern with pattern exposure 9000us, VSYNC 16667 us, clear cycle after display, trigger at the beginning.

Here I quote the code I use to set up the device: 

bool CLightCrafter4500::ConfigPico()
{
	int iRet = 0;

	unsigned int total_exposure_time = 8000; //in microseconds
	unsigned int numPatterns = 1;
	unsigned char splashLut[64];
    int numSplashLutEntries = 1;
	unsigned int status;


	if ( USB_IsConnected() )
	{
		//No StandBy mode
		if ( LCR_SetPowerMode(0)== -1 )
			return iRet;
		//0:Video Mode 1:pattern sequence mode
		if ( LCR_SetMode(1) == -1 )
			return iRet;
		
		//Clear Patterns LUT
		LCR_ClearPatLut();

		//Add one pattern to LUT
		// 8Bit Pattern, Green LedLight, clears frame after, BufferSwap  
		if(LCR_AddToPatLut( 1, 0, 8, 2, 0, 1, 1, 0 ) < 0)
	          return iRet;

		splashLut[0] = 0;

		//0:Pattern from Flash 1:Pattern from RGB-link
		if( LCR_SetPatternDisplayMode(1) == -1)
			return iRet;
		
		//Control the execution of patterns stored in the LUT
		if ( LCR_SetPatternConfig( 1, 1, 1, 1 ) < 0)
			return iRet;

		//Set exposure time and frame period in microseconds
		if ( LCR_SetExposure_FramePeriod( 15500, 16000 ) < 0 )
			return iRet;

		//0: VSYNC trigger 1: Internal or External generated trigger
		if ( LCR_SetPatternTriggerMode(0) == -1 )
			return iRet;

		// Sends the pattern LUT created by calling LCR_AddToPatLut()
		if(LCR_SendPatLut() < 0)
			return iRet;
		
		// sends the image LUT to the DLPC350 controller
	    if(LCR_SendSplashLut(splashLut, numSplashLutEntries) < 0)
			return iRet;

		// checks the programmed pattern display modes and indicates any invalid settings
		if(LCR_ValidatePatLutData(&status) < 0)
			return iRet;
		else
			iRet=1;
   
		

		//Start pattern display
		if(LCR_PatternDisplay(2) < 0) 
			return iRet;

	
		m_bConfigChanged	= FALSE;
	}
	return iRet>0?true:false;
}

Thank you

Hi Riva,

I am able to project images in pattern sequence/video port through HDMI, but after changing them several n times (where n is not fixed but seems to be casual, and occurred for 100 and 500 times), the LED intensity drops abruptly by several magnitudes, yielding a really low contrast, such that I can barely recognise the pattern I am projecting. 

[Sanjeev] Can you please explain, how and what are you changing at the source side? The LightCrafter 4500 behavior clearly points to that the Pattern Configuration information becoming wrong when you are performing the 'change' operation.

Also in your ConfigPico method, ensure you are stopping the pattern sequence, then only you can apply the configuration settings.

if(LCR_PatternDisplay(0) < 0) //Stop pattern display
{
 //return fail
}

Regards,

Sanjeev

As before, I am using extended screen where one of the screen is the image to be projected. What I am doing is projecting sequentially a white row on a black background; then I shift the row y and suddenly I get a low intensity/contrast. 

I will try as soon as possible to change the code to ensure pattern sequence is stopped before configuration; nonetheless, I am running the configuration only before starting to project the patterns, so it seems to me to be unlikely that is the cause of the problem.

Thank you 

Giovanni

I have done some more test, and the contrast/intensity drop happens also when doing nothing: I configure the Lightcrafter to work in pattern sequence and then stand back and suddenly the lights goes low; then the projector switch back to full intensity by itself. I am really puzzled about what the problem could be.

Hello Riva,

Only two things can cause this behavior -

1. Check if your monitor is going to screen saver mode or disabling the extended monitor output.

2. When you are in Video Mode - Please read the display settings from Video Dimension tab / Display Dimensions - verify the cropped are showing 912x1140 resolution. If not then problem with your monitor not sending the resolution correctly.

Regards,

Sanjeev

I finally fixed my problem setting in the configuration the LED current to Manual and explicitly specifying current value for each LED. May be useful for someone.  

However, thank you again for your help Sanjeev.