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DLPLCRDC4422EVM: EVM Board General Questions

Part Number: DLPLCRDC4422EVM
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: DLPC4422, , DLPDLCR470TEVM, DLPDLCR660TEVM

Hello,

Could you help me trying to answer some questions in order to choose the best evaluation board for my project?

 

Considered evaluation board:

  • DLPLCRDC4422EVM                      (DLPC4422);

 

Questions:

  1. Is this EVM board ready to connect to a computer and to use with any software already made?
  2. Is it possible to access the FPGA (via JTAG) and program some code in it? I read the FPGA was implemented to split data between two DLPC4422.
  3. What is the VbyOne Front End board? Can I buy this card from any company? Why do I need this board? Is it for communication? Can I build one with an FPGA?
  4. There is a [J38] and [J45] ADC connectors. Is it mean that I can connect an analog-to-digital converter? For example: can I acquire some data with a photodiode, convert the data with an ADC and then connect the ADC to the EVM board?

 

Thank you in advance,

Cédric Pereira

  • Hello Cedric,

    Thank you for using the DLP E2E forums.

    Here are my answers to your questions posted.

    1. The EVM is ready to be used with the existing DLPC4422 GUI 1.0 software that you can find through this link.

    2. You are correct, the FPGA is programmed to handle the data split between the two DLPC4422 controllers. You are able to program the FPGA through the GUI itself, but we cannot provide support in terms of source code due to IP.

    3.The input interface for the FPGA is VbyOne. You can read more about it here. It is an interface that is generally used with flat panel displays. Depending on the source that you wish to use, you will need a converter board to convert the input to VbyOne. Front-end manufacturers such as M-Star, rockchips, and ITE build VbyOne front-ends. But you will need to ensure that the front-end board can be configured to support the video timings included in the firmware package in order to work with our EVMs. Attached is the video timing file for the EVM.

    DLP660TE_Vx1_Input_Video_Timings.xlsx

    4.The ADC interface (J38 and J45) is meant to be used with solid state illumination. Variations can exist with SSI illuminators that require the use of light sensors to compensate for the variations. An external integrator and ADC are controlled by the DLPC4422 to collect light samples for the individual color illuminators.

    Regards,
    Oscar

  • Thank you very much for your answers.

    They help me a lot :)

    1. The EVM is ready to be used with the existing DLPC4422 GUI 1.0 software that you can find through this link.

    I read the datasheet from EVM board and according with it I can connect the board via USB to a computer and send some images/frames to the DMD? Can you confirm that?

    2. You are correct, the FPGA is programmed to handle the data split between the two DLPC4422 controllers. You are able to program the FPGA through the GUI itself, but we cannot provide support in terms of source code due to IP.

    Okay

    3.The input interface for the FPGA is VbyOne. You can read more about it here. It is an interface that is generally used with flat panel displays. Depending on the source that you wish to use, you will need a converter board to convert the input to VbyOne. Front-end manufacturers such as M-Star, rockchips, and ITE build VbyOne front-ends. But you will need to ensure that the front-end board can be configured to support the video timings included in the firmware package in order to work with our EVMs. Attached is the video timing file for the EVM.

    VbyOne is the input interface for the FPGA. But with the mini-USB connector I can also program the FPGA and send some data as discussed in the first question, right? What is the advantage of Vbyone? Higher frame rates? Is this VbyOne board just a interface if I want to send data via other protocol, as HDMI, LAN or other thing? 

    4.The ADC interface (J38 and J45) is meant to be used with solid state illumination. Variations can exist with SSI illuminators that require the use of light sensors to compensate for the variations. An external integrator and ADC are controlled by the DLPC4422 to collect light samples for the individual color illuminators.

    Is this interface just to control the ADC or also to receive some data from the ADC? Is it connected to the FPGA?

     

    Thank you again.

    My best regards,

    Cédric Pereira

  • Hello,

    Sorry, when is it possible to get some feedback?

    I would like to finish a review on Tuesday.

    Thank you,

    Cédric Pereira

  • Cedric,

    1. The EVM is ready to be used with the existing DLPC4422 GUI 1.0 software that you can find through this link.

    I read the datasheet from EVM board and according with it I can connect the board via USB to a computer and send some images/frames to the DMD? Can you confirm that?

    The Users guide instructs on how to download image files to the board, but the image files are referring to "Firmware binary(.img) files". Not pictures that will be displayed on the DMD. To display your own image/video, you will need to connect a source to the EVM, via VbyOne. Also you can use the GUI to display the pre-loaded test patterns.

    2. You are correct, the FPGA is programmed to handle the data split between the two DLPC4422 controllers. You are able to program the FPGA through the GUI itself, but we cannot provide support in terms of source code due to IP.

    Okay

    I want to clarify on what we support with programming the FPGAs. We have two DMD EVMs that will work with the DLPLCRDC4422EVM. (DLPDLCR660TEVM & DLPDLCR470TEVM). Each has a FPGA firmware associated with each EVM, you would need to update the DLPLCRDC4422EVM with the appropriate firmware version to ensure full functionality. 

    3.The input interface for the FPGA is VbyOne. You can read more about it here. It is an interface that is generally used with flat panel displays. Depending on the source that you wish to use, you will need a converter board to convert the input to VbyOne. Front-end manufacturers such as M-Star, rockchips, and ITE build VbyOne front-ends. But you will need to ensure that the front-end board can be configured to support the video timings included in the firmware package in order to work with our EVMs. Attached is the video timing file for the EVM.

    VbyOne is the input interface for the FPGA. But with the mini-USB connector I can also program the FPGA and send some data as discussed in the first question, right? What is the advantage of Vbyone? Higher frame rates? Is this VbyOne board just a interface if I want to send data via other protocol, as HDMI, LAN or other thing?

    As i mentioned previously, the FPGA is only to be programmed with pre-existing firmware to support our DMD EVMs. We do not recommend trying to program the FPGA on your own, as we will not be able to provide support.
    One of the reasons for VbyOne was to utilize the standard interface used in flat panel displays. But yes if you do wish to send any media data (images or video) with other protocols, you will need an interface board.

    4.The ADC interface (J38 and J45) is meant to be used with solid state illumination. Variations can exist with SSI illuminators that require the use of light sensors to compensate for the variations. An external integrator and ADC are controlled by the DLPC4422 to collect light samples for the individual color illuminators.

    Is this interface just to control the ADC or also to receive some data from the ADC? Is it connected to the FPGA?

    It is an interface to communicate with an ADC. The interface is part of the DLPC4422 controller.

    Regards,
    Oscar

  • Thank you so much for your help.

    My best regards,

    Cédric Pereira