led video display driver

Hi Archu, 

You are being very vague, do you want to receive VGA or HDMI with the MCU and convert the values to control a TLC5958?

VGA or HDMI are beyond a MCU capabilities, i have a similar project and we are going to use a FPGA, but before we are going to use a RaspBerry PI.

I have some knowledge about the raspberry pi and up to now i didn't work in FPGA, so i try to do in raspberry pi, can u share any more idea related to this.

thank you for your comments

Well, first i would like to note that you seem to want someone to do everytigh to you. You just said basicaly that you want sometigh and want someone to tell you how. Not trying to be rude but i hope you understand why i am saying  this.

Now about some advise with your project, with drivers like the one you want to use i normaly see using a RPI+Microcontroler combo. The Microcontroler is rich in GPIO and other peripherals while a RPI is better for data and video processing so you can use the RPI to process your video and send data, all neatly organized to your microcontroler.

Though you should try to search in the google RPI+TLC5958 or RPI+TLC5940, the TLC5940 is more popular betwen hobbyist and it also uses serial communication wich you could adapt to the TLC5958 

thank you for your replay

I had referred TLC5958,5955 & 5940. i can understand that TLC5958 & 5940 has some difference.  SINCE THE DATASHEET OF 5958 IS NOT FULLY AVAILABLE, I HAD REFERRED 5955. THE  DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE 58 &55 IS ONLY ITS MEMORY. I WANT TO USE 5958,MY DOUBT IS THAT CAN I GO FORWARD WITH THE DATASHEET OF 5955 INSTEAD OF 5958 FOR THE DESIGN OF 5958?

 PLS DO REPLY

Luis Afonso said:

VGA or HDMI are beyond a MCU capabilities, i have a similar project and we are going to use a FPGA, but before we are going to use a RaspBerry PI.

 Hi Luis, our poster seems to be one wish us to answer in timely manner and have job resolved by other for free so not concern about.

 Your word sound interesting but rasperry I analyzed in a first glance has many disadvantages in this way, as you noted an FPGA is necessary to capture incoming image but at least you need share both captured and display frame so a lot of IP core appear as the only way, necessary just due raspberry has no that high bandwidth path.. Had you seen BeagleBoard series? "Black" model has more processing power with video bus on connector, on the other way I think a full OMAP can fit better your idea so the XM with dual core CPU and DSP can fit real time video processsing.

http://beagleboard.org/

 then take a look at movie on bottom right of this page:

http://beagleboard.org/beagleboard-xm

archu vijay said:

 PLS DO REPLY

 Dear sir, this is the worst mode asking for help here. This must be professional use of feedback, TI lowered level opening to everyone, please follow rule of good respect and leave time to who can answer to you. Better to not cross post and select approrpiate area to get help on. So none can design your idea for free, wea are selling our skill to our custom and we can just help troubleshoot our colleagues I still wish TI solve splitting area in two level tech to not intermix who is developing a real project from hobby too many time screaming about they MUST HAVE help!!

 This way is the first you get ignored by.

 Hope this help.

Hi Roberto,

I actualy saw a comparison on RPI and the Beaglebone black. The BB is in general better but the RPI is better in community support by a long shot and it's has also better sound and display by hdmi.

I could use the BB but consider this. I just learned programing in linux or even windows last year and it was with only the console, making funny patterns and databases with ascii menus. It would take much more study time to work with the beaglebone than it would with the RPI since i knew some people that use it while the BB i don't.

If you want i can try to find the comparison that i was talking about

Luis Afonso said:

I could use the BB but consider this. I just learned programing in linux or even windows last year and it was with only the console, making funny patterns and databases with ascii menus. It would take much more study time to work with the beaglebone than it would with the RPI since i knew some people that use it while the BB i don't.

 Hi Luis, I understand from your word you are quite newbie, this is not a problem and with time and asking help in correct manner you can grow to expertise you need.

 Programming in Linux is not so different from windows if you use console but change radically if you plan to do real time processing or want a reliable system or use on embedded so I relegated windoze to all program refuse to work on wine and or have better counterpart in Linux and I never wrote nothing that drive hardware for year.

 On your idea of video I can try suggest you start from a small image then try display it on small led array.

 when you get acquainted to driving SPI and convert level and or color space then you can afford more complex real time and  video DSP task  too.

 This time see large BB board with DSP core far away form what can be done with simple programming, when you got expertised enough I am quite sure you can enjoy that complex system and exploit all you wish.

 If you also know VHDL this can help a lot otherwise I think you cannot do more than small led matrix on raspberry but also on BB series where you need gather high speed bit streaming.

Luis Afonso said:

If you want i can try to find the comparison that i was talking about

 I don't own a Raspberry nor I plan to buy one due I have no time to learn it or have idea of where to use now, nor I have time to rewrote VHDL interface to RB nor I see short time application ready I cannot fit in less time on a BBB.

 I ask my friend is using both what think about comparison but again comparison has to be done in an a specific application.

Hi Roberto,

Yes i am actually quite newbie especially with Linux/Windows. I mostly only know how to work with microcontrolers, nothing much with OS. I like having total control of my parts although that can take much more work and it depends on what you use, while using a OS makes almost everything portable between processors.

I already have the matrix working, i am not using any of those drivers, i use LED strips with smart LEDs based on the ws2812B. I used the Tiva DMA to have up to 32 outputs so i could have a good refresh rate with lots of LEDs (tested and working almost 2000 but it should work with more). I just need now something to process the video and send it to the Tiva in the right size through UART.

I just asked if you wanted to see the comparison out of curiosity.

Roberto Romano said:

My friend is using both.. I'll ask...what he thinks about comparison..(BBB & Raspberry) 

Roberto - my small group (& several clients interested in your/your friend's findings).  Perhaps like you - our key Apps are 16-24 bit data transfers (MCU to/from SDRAM) and 14-18 bit parallel data transfer from dedicated ADCs.

My computer "flags" several  "unusual yet much repeated" misspellings this other/threads, "sometigh" for something and "wich" for which.  Consistency of the error signals it's "ingrained" - and easily corrected if identified & noted...(done now, here)  Such posts are generally good - conformance to language standards will make them even better... (yes - English ain't easy!)

cb1_mobile said:

Roberto - my small group (& several clients interested in your/your friend's findings).  Perhaps like you - our key Apps are 16-24 bit data transfers (MCU to/from SDRAM) and 14-18 bit parallel data transfer from dedicated ADCs.

 Hi CB1, my friend was working on telecom software and now was hired from HP, it don't like that job but has too do to live. You can reach here on public and if you like we can establish a private contact too. Its dream is to return develop firmware, hardware and useful embedded code than dumb shell script.

http://hanixdiy.blogspot.it/

cb1_mobile said:

My computer "flags" several  "unusual yet much repeated" misspellings this other/threads, "sometigh" for something and "wich" for which.  Consistency of the error signals it's "ingrained" - and easily corrected if identified & noted...(done now, here)  Such posts are generally good - conformance to language standards will make them even better... (yes - English ain't easy!)

 Sorry CB1, I am tired and not so fine manifold... Sorry for misspelling, I cannot guarantee you this also be free from

error grammar and or syntax. I reread my post I saw many other misspelling but I am not able to catch which nor sometigh .. I got not so tight to read. Please accept my apologizes for. I had to finish software for the previous week and I am still here. When I get free time I also search where are keyboard speed setting on new fresh version I am working now defaulting too slow so I try reduce typing speed.

 English nor German nor Italian or french too are simple when someone has no time to do thing and all around appear as wrong time to time. I dream to escape from here but I don't know when and where and this time is the worstest I meet.

 Sorry for bad language, I promise you (and ME TOO) try to return well ASAP before to die ;)

Luis Afonso said:

I already have the matrix working, i am not using any of those drivers, i use LED strips with smart LEDs based on the ws2812B. I used the Tiva DMA to have up to 32 outputs so i could have a good refresh rate with lots of LEDs (tested and working almost 2000 but it should work with more). I just need now something to process the video and send it to the Tiva in the right size through UART.

 Ok newbie = false, Luis, if you are able to program a microcontroller you can be able to program on Linux too, you just need know how to set hardware and timing. About video processing, don't worry about new standard are digital and you just have to process a stream to have your display matrix.

Luis Afonso said:

I just asked if you wanted to see the comparison out of curiosity.

 Why not, maybe next BB version can be improved.

@Roberto,

I'll have staff check that public listing for friend - then contact you - thanks.

Repeated, "unusual" spelling errors (wich - sometigh) were (and are not) from you!  Noted these maybe 3 weeks past - set counter for 25th count - (thinking someone, somewhere would note/comment) - with silence and today's reach of 25th repetition - I made the (hopeful) notice.  As stated - those posts were good - but for their so repeated spelling horrors...

Your language is surely understandable - more importantly your skill, experience & passion for your work truly come across.  And - (hopefully) like moi - you don't "confine" your assistance to "vendor-only" solutions.  (when so often - solution is above/beyond the MCU-only sphere...)

Robert,

here is the comparison  between both boards http://makezine.com/magazine/how-to-choose-the-right-platform-raspberry-pi-or-beaglebone-black/

The RPI apparently is better at that i think the BB could maybe improve:

• GRAPHICAL SHOWDOWN

• AUDIO SHOWDOWN

• EXPANDABILITY

• COMMUNITY (well that depends on all of us doesn't it?)

I'm still probably gona get a RPI just because it's cheaper and will do the job

Luis Afonso said:

here is the comparison  between both boards http://makezine.com/magazine/how-to-choose-the-right-platform-raspberry-pi-or-beaglebone-black/

 Hi Luis, in first I disagree your point of view, IMHO Expandability is greater on BBB than RPI, expansions are less expensive and well defined to be stackable with a protocol defining used port to prevent contention, if two board use same hardware then they got disabled. RPI from what I know has some dedicated expansion like for cam and you just fit in your toy as "lego (TM) brick".

 I am not using silicon computer but my carbide signal some thing to be corrected: Usage: I am not i am, if you post a link select it then hit link (the short chain), is more simple to open referred page, see quoted text HyperLinked.

Luis Afonso said:

EXPANDABILITY

 Just using arduino EXPENSIVE shield is not a real expandability but just an artifact on comparison, as from article you mentioned who think use arduino trash on raspberry just can buy same price arduino. So arduino can go in the launchpad/boosterpack category and is, as in article word, out of this comparison, If you wish something in that category then launchpad MSP430 in first, TM123 or overkill tm129 for less than arduino price perform better.

 What about professional expansion?

http://www.mikroe.com/click/packs/#prod_1300

http://www.mikroe.com/click/

 Well done work this company produced a lot of inexpensive small board you can test large kind of hardware supported so many platform to cover large spectrum of devices sensors and application. Maybe TI can do some similar form on Boosterpak.

http://www.mikroe.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=148&t=57781

 BBB has now 4GB on board flash than older 2GB to help not use SD at all or leave for data exchange only.

 Article was missing some feature so Full HD is supported on BBB, see this link:

http://elinux.org/Beagleboard:BeagleBoneBlack

 The worst I felt from RPI was close hardware, no processor data sheet no schematic, not a great bandwidth on undocumented bus, no way to write low level communication. I found too much proprietary  to stay away from like I do for windoze too.  Again last new that raspberry company is driving Broadcom not to sell processors to competitors again scare me and I never consider that device just than a toy to do some simple thing others do with arduino and I prefer do with launchpad and or bare processor on protoboard.

 Adding an LCD to RPI stole expansion bus, on BBB enough GPIO and peripheral are still available to user.

 Beagle board can produce some hardware for you with integrated BBB design, this case collaborate with you, RPI just sell a brick to be unbricked too.

 This is my point of view, it is biased by my application and don't pretend force one in favour of one of these platform.
 I also don't wish a flame nor have data out of application comparison or marketing criteria.

Thank you very much for the analysis.

Those points i said weren't my opinion, it was from that link i gave. I don't have much of a opinion still.

Well i really like the fact that the BBB is an actual processor that i can get into with the datasheet and all.

I agree that although there are many arduino shields for the RPI, i don't like them since they are expensive. I prefer making them or buying something cheaper that does the same and simply isn't a shield

I'm going to still go with the RPI for now. Why? Because the club already has RPI so it's good to start with. If i get into it and want to learn more i will try to get a BBB. Since the RPI is just 26€ (without VAT) makes it that they prefer it since it's also what the older members know how to use. 

To buy for myself i would love to get a BBB but the 45€ price makes it a bit impossible for me. On top of that there's VAT and courier prices which would give a total of 60,5€. You can see in here why the RPI can be a first choice for students. Though the BBB seems to be the better choice just alone because it has a TI processor that you can actually learn about instead of the RPI that is just bricked

@Roberto & Luis,

Roberto - surely like Luis's attitude in, "prefer making them or buying something {sp - bravo!} cheaper that does the same and simply isn't a shield..."   That's surely you/I/others in the field - years past...

It's unfortunate that BBB is so high priced - but I bet that if you get professor to negotiate for "ten" or so - noting these are for educational purposes - price will drop!  (perhaps substantially - it's very much in vendor's interest to "capture" involved students...)  Note that we've done this (more than once) for schools here in USA...

As for the club's experience & use - as small, tech biz owner - I'd hire a BBB user over RPI user any day/time!  (and I bet most other small biz owners I regularly interact with - would do just the same)  Group comfort - thru "muted" (hidden, restricted) capability - is NOT the way to go!  The "Luis Way" - making something "unique - to purpose" - which best meets a special design objective - makes you far more desirable & employable.  (in my book)

Your instincts as to the advantages of "open, understandable, adaptable" hardware are, "Spot on!"  Godfathers/Clubs seeking conformance/group comfort - may not prove best for your career - may in fact prove short-sighted, simply "rong" wrong!

Hi cb1,

Well i don't know. It's a bit tricky this in my university. It's more of a MIPS place since for most professors ARM wasn't present at the time they learned. Now s problem: some professors do support getting new tools but for MIPS based like PIC, it's ok, well it's a product. But then i see so many people complaining it's to hard to find info and that the professors don't help enough (arguable that last part). I do have a professor curious, let's see how it goes. There's another that is a bit inflexible about always using what he wants and never explaining anything...

I am trying to bring tools like that and TI launchpads to the club. Programming with TivaWare, MSP430Ware or direct register access. I am currently making guides for the Tiva using TivaWare API for colleges that want to start to arduino. I actually got them doubting arduino and they are getting into the spirit and probably will start with the Tiva. I am slowing turning them to this but you got to see this. I am one person. I still need to study for the classes. The BBB would require for me to convince them the same way i am with the Tiva wich would take time. Though this will slowly create a kinda avalanche effect that as already started of people learning by themselves and teaching others (that's our objective in the club)

That comfort is important do note. Do you think a freshman will go straight to the even the TivaWare API? Well he can but it would take time to make "shiny and pretty" things. They need to be amused first, to start a little spark. Then when are like "i need something more powerful" or "i want something more professional" they already learned alot with Arduino like platforms and can advance.

I for example started with BASIC. That's what got me into this. I used a bit Energia IDE a bit for a year and now i am using TivaWare.

Hi Luis,

That's both unexpected and unfortunate.  Did you know that MIPS was bought/sold at least 3 times (perhaps 4) w/in the past 7 years or so?  Hard to, "hitch your tech wagon" to such a, "single source" when so much modern, cost-reducing & tech trail blazing is done under ARM!

What you describe is a severe weakness of the school - and perhaps education in general.  Teaching to the professor's comfort - rather than what is most critical to their students' well-being - is extremely hard to justify.  (in my book - and other small, tech employers - it borders upon a crime - students may be condemned for teaching "ease"...)

Such "coasting" (existing/profiting upon long past learnings) is not the best method for professors' growth - and surely impedes the employability of students.  I can tell you that most all major universities w/in USA are ARM familiar - if not ARM-centric - now.  (I'm unaware of any "locked" to MIPS!)

How did MIPs "miss" each/every cell-phone?  (Note that Intel did, too)  That's all ARM - over 50 ARM vendors (like this one)

While I like much about your spirit - you do signal a willingness to "bend/give up" - cannot you find a nearby school - or several in your country - and convince them?  Or a nearby small biz - or tech group - or ham-radio club? 

Giving up is easy - finding a "best/brightest compass heading" is bit harder - and very often possible w/a winning attitude, imagination, focus and failure to "surrender..."  (to 3rd/4th best "blandness")

I do have to stay in this school. I has other advantages. That's the older professors. The student nucleus this year is trying to change that.

Give up? No. I am actually afraid when me and professors bent in using MIPS clash. I don't intend on giving up on ARM. Even if i have to learn everything by my initiative.

Still i am going to try to get as many professors curious. The 4th year (now 5th) want me to actually do somewhat of a showcase of the Tiva learning tools to be a starting point in getting the higher state professors more open minded about ARM.

This week i am actually going to meet with a professor that is a master with MSP430 in a university that uses allot TI, i need some help with something and also want some advise on that matter of getting learning tools for the rest of the club. I just didn't went there because only 1 other student entered and other reason... The bases seemed to be better in where i am, i am happy with that. Maybe in the latter years i will change university.

Diplomacy exists to prevent (or limit) "clash."  I've provided facts & speaking points to your "ARM" cause - have I not?  (that was my objective)

The (seeming) fragility of MIPS - their extremely limited usage - sole sourcing should give good pause/opening - for an alternative.  There's no real reason why two MCUs can't be accommodated by your school.  (other than professorial "laziness.")

Note that many US based professors are engaged by industry for their expertise.  As ARM is so prevalent - and available from each/every of the "semi-majors" - it seems most reasonable that welcoming ARM will make your school more attractive to industry.  (and to those professors willing to make some effort)  (this yet another point to further make the, "Luis case for ARM inclusion.")

I'd meet w/that professor - perhaps do it "quietly" and see if you can win his support & willingness to slowly/carefully assist. 

Change is not a "bad" word - sticking w/the past because it is easy - and known - can be overcome w/proper, "Risk-Reward" analysis.  Knowledge of MIPS should facilitate & speed the understanding & mastery of the far more mainstream and cost-advantaged and broadness of ARM.  (i.e. not here - but Cortex M0, M3, and M4) and other far higher performing parts - as found in cells/tablets...

I'd see if local industry or Gov't is a candidate for tech upgrade - more than once our small firm has assisted local Gov'ts in gaining grants or other financial/tax aids in mastering new/improved technology... 

You may do well to "broaden" your horizons - look beyond the "limitations" which may be less severe than you imagine...

I am taking notes of this for when i argument with the professor. But i am still waiting this out. I am just now going to the second year. I am not exactly a student with a certain state that it may be recognized.I am probably do this through the student nucleus, they are trying to modernize the department a bit. 

I still want MIPS to be in the department. They do allot of interesting stuff connected to automated cars industry. It's normal that in doctorates they use them. I just want the teaching to have room for ARM to expand too, not just being centered about MIPS, like MIPS is the only thing that exists (i'm talking about processor wise, of course there are a other areas like FPGA and GPUs). 

Thanks cb1.

Luis - as we learn in law-school - you're not having an "argument" - you're having a discussion.  You are presenting certain facts - which may have very positive impact upon your school, the students - even those (resisting) professors.  Even local Gov't & small industry may benefit.  ARM is that powerful, that entrenched, that compelling.

We sell to more than 25 top US universities - I'm unaware of "any" significant MIPS presence.  ARM - in stark contrast - is at each/every one - and growing!  (some way/how both Apple & Android avoided MIPS - welcomed ARM - strange that!)

Growth path is overwhelming in the favor of ARM.  You, your school, your country should not "miss" that ARM bus...