DLPC3470: How to load a splash screen into on-board Flash using the DPLC3470?

Hi Scott,

The splash screen is stored as part of the firmware image in the SPI Flash. It is processed (RLE compressed and converted to a 16-bit pixel format) and packed within the firmware image while the latter is generated and cannot be accessed individually. You will need to use the GUI to replace the splash screen in an existing firmware image and re-build it.

However, you can load the firmware (with the modified splash screens) to the flash memory in the EVM without using the GUI by directly tapping into the flash SPI bus. Please ensure that the system is switched off (PROJ_ON low) when this is done.

The firmware (and by consequence the splash images) are loaded into flash through SPI, so there are no I2C commands for the same.

Hope this helps.

Hi Azad,

Thanks for the fast reply! But this has now triggered several more questions and many concerns about our projector design.

We have designed a projector PCB using the 3470 & DLP2010. It includes SST25VF016B SPI Flash for firmware and splash screen image storage. The projector interfaces to USB via a control chip that has access to the 3470's I2C control signals, but not to the Flash SPI signals. Since the TI GUI won't know how to communicate through our USB interface, using it to load images isn't an option as far as I can tell.

Where does the DLPC3470's firmware come from and how can we get it into the SST Flash? Will we need to give access to the Flash control signals to our USB controller to get Flash programmed the first time (e.g. on a new board)?

Thanks,
Scott

Hi Azad,

Thanks for confirming my hunch.

Your statement: "This firmware would work only if the system design (and specifically, the routing of the DLPC-to-DMD data signals) matches the TIDA-080001 Reference Design of the DLP2010EVM-LC" got me to recheck our design.

The connections to the custom flex circuit via J1 on the display board are adding much confusion because it is not at all clear which signals on the DMD the DLPC3470 is driving. The reference manual shows several ASIC routing connection schemes from which I picked option 4 for our board. The confusion compounds when looking at the physical flex circuit which has passive components. Are these impedance terminating resistors?

Others have asked, but I will ask again: are flex circuit schematics available?

Also, the flex cable has SPI signals and there is what appears to be serial Flash memory on the cable. What is the purpose of this memory and will the cable work without it, or does firmware in the 3470 interrogate the memory to configure itself for the DMD, routing arrangement, or something else? We have experimented with a couple of different DMD kits and see the cables are *not* interchangeable. Is this because firmware isn't allowing operation? What is in this Flash memory and how does it interact with the DLPC3470?

I didn't find a way for the GUI app to configure the DLPC3470's ASIC routing as is mentioned in its data sheet.  Is this what the Flash memory does?

We have designed an impedance controlled flex circuit for our system that doesn't have terminating resistors or any passive components for that matter. Is there any hope this cable will function?

I am surprised that TI would set its customers up for failure by withholding a key part of the projector design!

Scott