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Possible new application using DLP

Dear,

We are working on a new design which because of confidentiality I am not able to disclose a lot of information, but I can ask some questions to help me finding out if DLP is the right solution for us:

- We need to project a white light or visible laser (less tha 100 mW RED or Green color) into a display.

- What is the maximum frequency we can switch each tiny mirror?

- if the DLP chip be under some constant vibration, can be damaged over time?

- if the DLP chip be under some g-force (like on the fighter jet) can be affected in performance or life time? maximum acceleration is 1 g

- What we are planning to project is an ot a video, so can we directlytalk to the chip?

- How me can find the chips variety available and their technical specifications.

- Do we need any agreement with TI to use TI's DLP part? I was not able to find any echnical infomation such datasheets or other in the TI website!  

Sorry for my too many question, I am very new to this technology and want to make sure we can use DLP in our prospective design.

 Regards,

Mazi

(905) 918-2860

www.astinco.com

  • Hello,

    Thank you for your interest. 

    Our platform that offers high performance and fast switching speeds is the DLP® Discovery™ 4000. The Technical Documents for this platform can be found

    In www.dlpdiscovery.com under the "DLP® Discovery™ 4000" link. You will find information on the capability of the chipset and the Interface. The documents are located on the

    Right side of this page.

     

    For more information on the development kit and how it can address your application contact one of our Value Added Resellers (VARs). You will find their information if you click on “DLP® Discovery™ 4000”

     

     

     

  • Hi Mazi,

     

    Welcome to the DLP Community.  In addition to the reply from tsolo, I can tell you that the DMD typically has no problems with vibration or shock.  The mirrors are so small that they do not respond to vibration below 2000 HZ and we test the DMDs at acceleration levels above 1000g so I think 1g is no problem.

  • Thanks.

    Many I know what is the maximum update rate on DLP 4000?

  • Did you look at the technical documents at the link www.dlpdiscovery.com ?  There is a lot of information there.  If you cannot find it there, I'll try to find someone who can answer your question.

  • I purchase TI PICO PROJECTOR and I am looking for the schematics and original firmware,

    How can I get these?

    I also need to know what is the right programmer for this piece of hardware.

     Thanks,

     

  • Hello,

    The Pico Kit was designed to work with the Beagle Board.

    The best way to display content on the Pico is to connect it to the Beagle board and display content from an SD card that is loaded on the beagle board.

     

    There is more information about the Pico Kit-BeagleBoard setup at http://beagleboard.org/pico.

     

    If you go to www.dlpdiscovery.com/pico you will see Technical Documents on the right side of the page. For command and control information refer to the “Pico Kit Programmer’s Guide” which is located on this page.

     

     

    We are currently working to release the schematics and additional system documents for the Pico system. This documentation will be available soon at www.dlpdiscovery.com/pico.

  • Dear,

    The Pico Projector combination with Beagle board has a maximum frame rate of 60 Hz, we need a much higher frame rate.

    Something around 3Khz or higher.

    I understood that the Pico has a programmable DPP that programmed for 60Hz, do you think we can ask TI to modify this to higher rates? We don't care if we lose the esolution.

    For example 64 x 64 sscreen is good enough for our experience.

    Thanks,

    Mazi

     

  • Dear Mazi,

    Basically, the DPP used for the pico is designed primarily for Video applications (60Hz), and requires a significant engineering effort to update for higher frame rates.  Even with these additional efforts, we do not think the Pico is theoretically capable of 3KHz.

    We have received similar requests to yours for higher frame rates for both Pico Resolution products and higher.  We are now considering the development of new EVMs that may better address higher frame rate applications.  We do not have a firm plan at this time, but once we have concluded a firm plan, then we will post information here and on DLPDiscovery.com about any future EVM releases.

    Please let us know if you have any more questions.

  • Thanks for the info.

    Can we control the DMD just by using it as a memory? We can use an ARM processor which is capable of driving DDR memory!

    The picture we are making is just one color and ON/OFF we are not going to have a very fancy color, hue and so on...

    The only thing we need is the speed.

    Thanks,

    Mazi 

     

  • Mazi,

     

    I am sorry, but we are not able to provide the DMD interface protocol.  The interface is not like a memory and requires a custom development and most likely could not be driven by an ARM processor.  I understand your request and we are now working to provide updated EVMs that would better enable you application.

     

     

  • Ok, That means we have to wait.

    Do you have a timeline for this new EVM?

    Technical wise what is the limit on the speed of ON/OFF on the DMD chip? I understand that the trnsfer of huge amount of data is a limit, but assume we don't have this issue and just looking for the chip itself.

    Regards,

    Mazi

     

  • Mazi,

     

    Sorry, I do not have clear plan just yet.  I would be able to be more clear about next EVM releases toward the end of 3Q09.

    The DMD chip binary update rate varies by device, but also varies by custom drive circuit designed to drive the DMD.

    The Discovery 4000 can enable speeds > 25KHz.  See this link: http://focus.ti.com/pdfs/dlpdmd/D4000_Brochure.pdf

    For the Pico DMD, I am not sure where the final design (DMD + custom drive circuit) would be.  With the current technology, there is a possibility to increase the frame in a few multiple of 60 Hz faster, such 120, 180, etc.  We have not completed enough analysis to give a final answer at this time.

    Jason

  • Thanks you for your always quick reply here!

    I understand that the plan is not clear yet. What I am working on right now, is just a proof of concept and we also not going to get into actual design phase that quick.

    Regarding having multiple of speed on the Pico Projector like  120 or 180 this can be a great help for us down the road if we go that way.

    Thanks Jason again, I will come back here if I have more questions.

    Regards,

    Mazi

    Custom Electronic Design 

      

  • The DLP datasheet is available at the above link ( although somewhat short on detail), and the controller chip in the Pico is actually an Altera FPGA, so once you've found the JTAG pins on the PCB to reprogram the FPGA, it would be possible in principle to write your own FPGA code to drive the DLP directly.

    Of course it would be nice if TI produced at least an I/O template file for the FPGA to help with this, but considering how long it's taken to publish any DLP data I wouldn't hold your breath....