From support2005 at dontronics.com Wed Apr 13 03:56:55 2005 From: support2005 at dontronics.com (Don McKenzie) Date: Wed Apr 13 04:09:36 2005 Subject: [Micro-VGA] 4D Systems On Screen Display Message-ID: <425CD0C7.4080400@dontronics.com> Advance Information only. At this stage, this product has been put here to judge if it is worth going ahead and manufacturing some of these units for sales. 4D Systems On Screen Display http://www.dontronics.com/4d_osd.html Don... -- Don McKenzie E-Mail Contact Page: http://www.e-dotcom.com/ecp.php?un=Dontronics RS-232 to VGA. Many resolutions http://www.dontronics.com/micro-vga.html USB to RS232 Converter that works http://www.dontronics.com/usb_232.html From support2005 at dontronics.com Wed Apr 20 02:05:16 2005 From: support2005 at dontronics.com (Don McKenzie) Date: Wed Apr 20 02:05:23 2005 Subject: [Micro-VGA] Micro-VGA Units now shipping Message-ID: <4265F11C.9090009@dontronics.com> After one or two minor hickups, the uVGA units are now shipping. People that have ordered in advance, have packages on the way now. In stock we have: uVGA-UB1 OEM base board uVGA-256-Core uVGA 256x200 core uVGA-256+uVGA-UB1 uVGA 256x200 core and OEM base board uVGA-256-RS232 256x200 core with enclosed case, RS-232 Input, assembled http://www.dontronics.com/micro-vga.html and don't forget to visit: 4D Systems On Screen Display http://www.dontronics.com/4d_osd.html Don... -- Don McKenzie E-Mail Contact Page: http://www.e-dotcom.com/ecp.php?un=Dontronics RS-232 to VGA. Many resolutions http://www.dontronics.com/micro-vga.html USB to RS232 Converter that works http://www.dontronics.com/usb_232.html From support2005 at dontronics.com Sun Apr 24 18:02:43 2005 From: support2005 at dontronics.com (Don McKenzie) Date: Sun Apr 24 18:02:58 2005 Subject: [Micro-VGA] Re: Updated uVGA manual (rev 1.4) In-Reply-To: <5336035.1114352560554.JavaMail.imail@web05ps> References: <5336035.1114352560554.JavaMail.imail@web05ps> Message-ID: <426C1783.4020803@dontronics.com> Atilla Aknar wrote: > Hi Don, > > Please find attached the updated microVGA User Manual (rev 1.4). The update > includes the following: - PowerUp Reset - uVGA Colour bitmap Organisation - > new command (Animate User defined Character, cmd = 'N') > > Can we somehow indicate that the manual has been revised and that anyone who > has already loaded it and visit the page will know they have an old revision > and need an update? > > Regards, Atilla Hi Atilla, have updated the page with the file and update info, and replied via this list so that our current list members will be aware. Jared, did you have a question you wanted to ask via the list? Don... -- Don McKenzie E-Mail Contact Page: http://www.e-dotcom.com/ecp.php?un=Dontronics RS-232 to VGA. Many resolutions http://www.dontronics.com/micro-vga.html USB to RS232 Converter that works http://www.dontronics.com/usb_232.html From luposian at cox.net Sun Apr 24 18:54:09 2005 From: luposian at cox.net (Jared Falvo) Date: Sun Apr 24 18:55:05 2005 Subject: [Micro-VGA] Re: Updated uVGA manual (rev 1.4) In-Reply-To: <426C1783.4020803@dontronics.com> References: <5336035.1114352560554.JavaMail.imail@web05ps> <426C1783.4020803@dontronics.com> Message-ID: On Apr 24, 2005, at 3:02 PM, Don McKenzie wrote: > Atilla Aknar wrote: > >> Hi Don, >> Please find attached the updated microVGA User Manual (rev 1.4). The >> update >> includes the following: - PowerUp Reset - uVGA Colour bitmap >> Organisation - >> new command (Animate User defined Character, cmd = 'N') >> Can we somehow indicate that the manual has been revised and that >> anyone who >> has already loaded it and visit the page will know they have an old >> revision >> and need an update? >> Regards, Atilla > > Hi Atilla, have updated the page with the file and update info, and > replied via this list so that our current list members will be aware. > > Jared, did you have a question you wanted to ask via the list? > > Don... The only question(s) I had were: 1) At the maximum RS232 data speed (115Kbits/sec., I believe), what is the refresh rate? In other words, just how much video data can be displayed and refreshed, at that speed, on the MicroVGA controller? The reason I ask is because I am thinking of creating a homebrew system with a GUI (with mouse pointer, windows, etc.) and plan to also have some 2D games written for it and want to make sure everything will display smoothly, without studdering or "frame-skipping". I'm looking to get the 640x480 model of MicroVGA, as that is the resolution of an old Compaq 4/33C Sharp laptop panel I have laying around. 2) What is the amount of "video memory" (and where is it obtained from?) of the MicroVGA controller? At 320x200, 256K would seem likely, to display 256 colors at that resolution (I remember having a 256K VGA card for an old PC and it could display 256 colors at 320x200). At 640x480, I think 512K is necessary to display 256 colors. Luposian > -- > Don McKenzie > E-Mail Contact Page: > http://www.e-dotcom.com/ecp.php?un=Dontronics > > RS-232 to VGA. Many resolutions > http://www.dontronics.com/micro-vga.html > USB to RS232 Converter that works > http://www.dontronics.com/usb_232.html > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Micro-VGA mailing list > Micro-VGA@dontronics.com > http://mail.dontronics.com/mailman/listinfo/micro-vga_dontronics.com > > This Email produced on a Giga Designs 1.8GHz (Freescale 7447A) upgraded G4 Digital Audio, 1.5Gbytes Kingston PC133 CL2 SDRAM, ATI Radeon 9800 Pro (128Mb), Western Digital 80GByte (8MByte cache) DMA100 7200RPM IDE hard drive, MacOS X 10.3.9 (Panther), and Mail 1.3.11. From aaknar at bigpond.net.au Mon Apr 25 21:26:58 2005 From: aaknar at bigpond.net.au (Atilla Aknar) Date: Mon Apr 25 21:56:39 2005 Subject: [Micro-VGA] Re: Micro-VGA Digest, Vol 2, Issue 3 Message-ID: <5712241.1114478818402.JavaMail.imail@web03ps> We are currently designing a Multi-Function-Development (uVGA-MFD) board for the microVGA. It will include the following interfaces: PS/2 Mouse, PS/2 Keyboard, RS232 DB9, 15pin VGA, 2 x Joystick, Homebrew Games Paddles (4pins), 20pin uVGA Core header and several I/O for external use. The MFD will be based on the powerful PIC18F6520 running at 10MIPs 40Mhz. There will be a range of downloadable software such as games, control, measurement, security and various other applications. Any suggestions before the design is finalised (by 30/04/05) is welcomed. Atilla Aknar 4D Systems Pty. Ltd. ---- Micro-VGA-request@dontronics.com wrote: ============= Send Micro-VGA mailing list submissions to Micro-VGA@dontronics.com To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://mail.dontronics.com/mailman/listinfo/micro-vga_dontronics.com or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to Micro-VGA-request@dontronics.com You can reach the person managing the list at Micro-VGA-owner@dontronics.com When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of Micro-VGA digest..." Today's Topics: 1. Re: Updated uVGA manual (rev 1.4) (Don McKenzie) 2. Re: Re: Updated uVGA manual (rev 1.4) (Jared Falvo) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Mon, 25 Apr 2005 08:02:43 +1000 From: Don McKenzie Subject: [Micro-VGA] Re: Updated uVGA manual (rev 1.4) To: Micro-VGA@dontronics.com Message-ID: <426C1783.4020803@dontronics.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed Atilla Aknar wrote: > Hi Don, > > Please find attached the updated microVGA User Manual (rev 1.4). The update > includes the following: - PowerUp Reset - uVGA Colour bitmap Organisation - > new command (Animate User defined Character, cmd = 'N') > > Can we somehow indicate that the manual has been revised and that anyone who > has already loaded it and visit the page will know they have an old revision > and need an update? > > Regards, Atilla Hi Atilla, have updated the page with the file and update info, and replied via this list so that our current list members will be aware. Jared, did you have a question you wanted to ask via the list? Don... -- Don McKenzie E-Mail Contact Page: http://www.e-dotcom.com/ecp.php?un=Dontronics RS-232 to VGA. Many resolutions http://www.dontronics.com/micro-vga.html USB to RS232 Converter that works http://www.dontronics.com/usb_232.html ------------------------------ Message: 2 Date: Sun, 24 Apr 2005 15:54:09 -0700 From: Jared Falvo Subject: Re: [Micro-VGA] Re: Updated uVGA manual (rev 1.4) To: Micro-VGA Group Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed On Apr 24, 2005, at 3:02 PM, Don McKenzie wrote: > Atilla Aknar wrote: > >> Hi Don, >> Please find attached the updated microVGA User Manual (rev 1.4). The >> update >> includes the following: - PowerUp Reset - uVGA Colour bitmap >> Organisation - >> new command (Animate User defined Character, cmd = 'N') >> Can we somehow indicate that the manual has been revised and that >> anyone who >> has already loaded it and visit the page will know they have an old >> revision >> and need an update? >> Regards, Atilla > > Hi Atilla, have updated the page with the file and update info, and > replied via this list so that our current list members will be aware. > > Jared, did you have a question you wanted to ask via the list? > > Don... The only question(s) I had were: 1) At the maximum RS232 data speed (115Kbits/sec., I believe), what is the refresh rate? In other words, just how much video data can be displayed and refreshed, at that speed, on the MicroVGA controller? The reason I ask is because I am thinking of creating a homebrew system with a GUI (with mouse pointer, windows, etc.) and plan to also have some 2D games written for it and want to make sure everything will display smoothly, without studdering or "frame-skipping". I'm looking to get the 640x480 model of MicroVGA, as that is the resolution of an old Compaq 4/33C Sharp laptop panel I have laying around. 2) What is the amount of "video memory" (and where is it obtained from?) of the MicroVGA controller? At 320x200, 256K would seem likely, to display 256 colors at that resolution (I remember having a 256K VGA card for an old PC and it could display 256 colors at 320x200). At 640x480, I think 512K is necessary to display 256 colors. Luposian > -- > Don McKenzie > E-Mail Contact Page: > http://www.e-dotcom.com/ecp.php?un=Dontronics > > RS-232 to VGA. Many resolutions > http://www.dontronics.com/micro-vga.html > USB to RS232 Converter that works > http://www.dontronics.com/usb_232.html > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Micro-VGA mailing list > Micro-VGA@dontronics.com > http://mail.dontronics.com/mailman/listinfo/micro-vga_dontronics.com > > This Email produced on a Giga Designs 1.8GHz (Freescale 7447A) upgraded G4 Digital Audio, 1.5Gbytes Kingston PC133 CL2 SDRAM, ATI Radeon 9800 Pro (128Mb), Western Digital 80GByte (8MByte cache) DMA100 7200RPM IDE hard drive, MacOS X 10.3.9 (Panther), and Mail 1.3.11. ------------------------------ _______________________________________________ Micro-VGA mailing list Micro-VGA@dontronics.com http://mail.dontronics.com/mailman/listinfo/micro-vga_dontronics.com End of Micro-VGA Digest, Vol 2, Issue 3 *************************************** From luposian at cox.net Mon Apr 25 22:27:24 2005 From: luposian at cox.net (Jared Falvo) Date: Mon Apr 25 22:28:09 2005 Subject: [Micro-VGA] Re: Micro-VGA Digest, Vol 2, Issue 3 In-Reply-To: <5712241.1114478818402.JavaMail.imail@web03ps> References: <5712241.1114478818402.JavaMail.imail@web03ps> Message-ID: On Apr 25, 2005, at 6:26 PM, Atilla Aknar wrote: > We are currently designing a Multi-Function-Development (uVGA-MFD) > board for the microVGA. It will include the following interfaces: PS/2 > Mouse, PS/2 Keyboard, RS232 DB9, 15pin VGA, 2 x Joystick, Homebrew > Games Paddles (4pins), 20pin uVGA Core header and several I/O for > external use. The MFD will be based on the powerful PIC18F6520 running > at 10MIPs 40Mhz. There will be a range of downloadable software such > as games, control, measurement, security and various other > applications. > > Any suggestions before the design is finalised (by 30/04/05) is > welcomed. > > Atilla Aknar > 4D Systems Pty. Ltd. > The only question(s) I had were: > > 1) At the maximum RS232 data speed (115Kbits/sec., I believe), what is > the refresh rate? In other words, just how much video data can be > displayed and refreshed, at that speed, on the MicroVGA controller? > The reason I ask is because I am thinking of creating a homebrew system > with a GUI (with mouse pointer, windows, etc.) and plan to also have > some 2D games written for it and want to make sure everything will > display smoothly, without studdering or "frame-skipping". > > I'm looking to get the 640x480 model of MicroVGA, as that is the > resolution of an old Compaq 4/33C Sharp laptop panel I have laying > around. > > 2) What is the amount of "video memory" (and where is it obtained > from?) of the MicroVGA controller? At 320x200, 256K would seem likely, > to display 256 colors at that resolution (I remember having a 256K VGA > card for an old PC and it could display 256 colors at 320x200). At > 640x480, I think 512K is necessary to display 256 colors. > > Luposian This message produced on a Giga Designs 1.8GHz (Freescale 7447A) upgraded Power Macintosh G4 (Digital Audio), 1.5Gbytes Kingston PC133 CL2 SDRAM, ATI Radeon 9800 Pro (128Mb), Western Digital 80GByte (8MByte cache) DMA100 7200RPM IDE hard drive, MacOS X 10.3.9 (Panther), and Mail 1.3.11. -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text/enriched Size: 2036 bytes Desc: not available Url : /pipermail/micro-vga_dontronics.com/attachments/20050425/f26d08ce/attachment.bin From aaknar at bigpond.net.au Tue Apr 26 00:37:16 2005 From: aaknar at bigpond.net.au (Atilla Aknar) Date: Tue Apr 26 00:37:23 2005 Subject: [Micro-VGA] Re: Micro-VGA Digest, Vol 2, Issue 3 Message-ID: <20059446.1114490236423.JavaMail.imail@web03ps> Hi Jared, The microVGA was designed to provide an extremely versatile and simple interface to any embedded host controller. Even the small 8pin micros can now have VGA capability. Having said that with that simplicity comes certain limitations. There just isnt enough bandwith available on the serial link and command execution overheads will not allow 60 frames per second with full screen updates. To have this sort of capability the host needs it's data and address bus directly interfaced to the video memory, add some DMA and interrupts then we're looking at a full blown VGA card. This defeats the purpose of the microVGA. However, lots of 2D games can be developed with amazing playability. We'll be releasing these (pong, tetris, pacman, invaders, etc) as free downloads with the MFD board. As mentioned before the limitation is the bandwith. Most commands except 'ERASE SCREEN' & change 'BACKGROUND COLOUR' take around a millisecond or so to execute + the serial overhead. For example if we make a bitmapped ball and want to bounce this around the screen (as in the game of pong), we need to be in a loop (or a timer interrupt) displaying, erasing and redisplaying every 16.66ms (60 herts). We can use the 'DISPLAY USER BITMAPPED CHARACTER' ('D') command to acheive this but unless the presice timing is acheived and the command is sent each time before the uVGA displayes the buffer then some minor blinking may occur. There is no way for the host to know when to lock on to the uVGA's internal frame start. To resolve this issue we've come up with a new command called 'ANIMATE USER BITMAP' ('N') which has a 2 colour paramater (user manual rev 1.4). When the uVGA receives this command from the host, it waits for the start of a new frame and writes it into the frame buffer & displays it using the 1st colour. At the end of the frame it then automatically rewrites the bitmapped char with the 2nd colour value which can be the background colour and the result will be erasure. The host just needs to keep sending this command with updated x, y coordinates to acheive flicker free movement, without having to send a seperate command to erase the character. Now our ball can be displayed and refreshed by the host every 16ms to 17ms without flicker. As for video memory, the 128x64 and the 256x200 cores have 128kbytes and the 320x240, 640x480, 800x600 will have 512K of video RAM. In the higher resolution cores there will be an extended command to support page select, where 1 page can be updated with full screen info while the other is displayed. Then the pages can be switched so that the new page will be displayed instantly while the old can now be updated with new info. Ofcourse every core will be backwardly compatible. Hope this helps.......... Regards, Atilla Aknar 4D Systems Pty. Ltd. ---- Jared Falvo wrote: > The only question(s) I had were: > > 1) At the maximum RS232 data speed (115Kbits/sec., I believe), what is > the refresh rate? In other words, just how much video data can be > displayed and refreshed, at that speed, on the MicroVGA controller? > The reason I ask is because I am thinking of creating a homebrew system > with a GUI (with mouse pointer, windows, etc.) and plan to also have > some 2D games written for it and want to make sure everything will > display smoothly, without studdering or "frame-skipping". > > I'm looking to get the 640x480 model of MicroVGA, as that is the > resolution of an old Compaq 4/33C Sharp laptop panel I have laying > around. > > 2) What is the amount of "video memory" (and where is it obtained > from?) of the MicroVGA controller? At 320x200, 256K would seem likely, > to display 256 colors at that resolution (I remember having a 256K VGA > card for an old PC and it could display 256 colors at 320x200). At > 640x480, I think 512K is necessary to display 256 colors. > > Luposian This message produced on a Giga Designs 1.8GHz (Freescale 7447A) upgraded Power Macintosh G4 (Digital Audio), 1.5Gbytes Kingston PC133 CL2 SDRAM, ATI Radeon 9800 Pro (128Mb), Western Digital 80GByte (8MByte cache) DMA100 7200RPM IDE hard drive, MacOS X 10.3.9 (Panther), and Mail 1.3.11. From aaknar at bigpond.net.au Tue Apr 26 08:58:27 2005 From: aaknar at bigpond.net.au (Atilla Aknar) Date: Tue Apr 26 08:58:38 2005 Subject: [Micro-VGA] VGA monitors Message-ID: <645351.1114520307680.JavaMail.imail@web03ps> Just a quick note: I had a few people ask this question. "Will my monitor display the 128x64 and the 256x200 resolution from the microVGA?" The answer is yes, any monitor that supports a standard VGA resolution of 640x480 will display these signals from the microVGA. The lower resolution cores are all designed to "fit" into this standard VGA resolution format. Atilla 4D Systems From keith at diyha.co.uk Tue Apr 26 18:20:33 2005 From: keith at diyha.co.uk (Keith Doxey) Date: Tue Apr 26 18:20:46 2005 Subject: [Micro-VGA] Refresh Rates for Micro-VGA Message-ID: Hi, Firstly congratulations on what seems to be an excellent product. Will shortly be ordering one to play with. I have read though the archive and from comments made to previous questions would I be correct in assuming that for resolutions upto 640x480 the uVGA runs as 31.5 KHz Horizontal and 60 Hz Vertical and at one of the SVGA rates for the 800 x 600 ? Have you considered a version running at TV frame rates for Video based products. Specifically 15.625 KHz Horizontal 50Hz Vertical. If such a version was available then superb TV based menu systems could be achieved with a 320 x 240 core. The RGB output could easily be converted to Component, S-Video or Composite using readily available encoder chips. This would be of more use to me than the VGA cores but I will still be ordering one for evaluation :-) Regards Keith From aaknar at bigpond.net.au Wed Apr 27 00:00:45 2005 From: aaknar at bigpond.net.au (Atilla Aknar) Date: Wed Apr 27 00:00:53 2005 Subject: [Micro-VGA] Refresh Rates for Micro-VGA Message-ID: <6065530.1114574445569.JavaMail.imail@web09ps> Hi Keith, Yes you are correct with your assumptions for the VGA and SVGA rates. All of the microVGA cores upto and including the 640x480 run at 31.5khz horizontal and 60hz vertical and the 800x600 runs at 37.88khz and 60hz. We already have a design in place for the composite video version of the microVGA and hope to be releasing this soon. The ideal candidate will be the 256x200 and the 320x240 cores and we'll have versions for both PAL and NTSC formats. Release date should be around early June this year. Thank you for your enquiry..... Regards, Atilla Aknar 4D Systems Pty. Ltd. ---- Keith Doxey wrote: ============= Hi, Firstly congratulations on what seems to be an excellent product. Will shortly be ordering one to play with. I have read though the archive and from comments made to previous questions would I be correct in assuming that for resolutions upto 640x480 the uVGA runs as 31.5 KHz Horizontal and 60 Hz Vertical and at one of the SVGA rates for the 800 x 600 ? Have you considered a version running at TV frame rates for Video based products. Specifically 15.625 KHz Horizontal 50Hz Vertical. If such a version was available then superb TV based menu systems could be achieved with a 320 x 240 core. The RGB output could easily be converted to Component, S-Video or Composite using readily available encoder chips. This would be of more use to me than the VGA cores but I will still be ordering one for evaluation :-) Regards Keith _______________________________________________ Micro-VGA mailing list Micro-VGA@dontronics.com http://mail.dontronics.com/mailman/listinfo/micro-vga_dontronics.com From aaknar at bigpond.net.au Thu Apr 28 08:39:40 2005 From: aaknar at bigpond.net.au (Atilla Aknar) Date: Thu Apr 28 08:39:51 2005 Subject: [Micro-VGA] Change of microVGA Command Message-ID: <15761367.1114691980029.JavaMail.imail@web07ps> IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT --------------------------------- Recently we've added a command to help display flicker free objects on the screen. This was the 'ANIMATE USER DEFINED BITMAP CHARACTER' ('N', 4Eh) and it helped display dynamically changing objects without the host having to lock onto the video frame sync of the uVGA to avoid flicker (user manual rev 1.4). However, this prevented the host from issueing any further screen display commands for the length of the frame length (16.66ms) as the uVGA would have been busy waiting to write the character into the video memory at the start of the frame and rewrite/erase it at the end of the frame, very undesireable. We've overcome this problem with a new command called the 'SYNC LOCK' ('S', 53h), and the animate bitmap 'N' command will no longer be supported (user manual rev 1.5). Basically the sync-lock command allows the host to lock onto the start of the uVGA's internal frame start. When this is issued by the host, the uVGA will wait until the next start of frame and then reply back to the host with an 'ACK' (06h). Upon receiving the ACK, the host can now synchronise and send all erase/redraw display commands for dynamic objects that need updates e.g. such as a bouncing ball. The uVGA is now free to display as many objects/characters that the host can send to it within the 16.66ms frame length. A basic code example is given below: while() { send_cmd_to_uVGA('S'); // send the sync lock command to uVGA wait_uVGA_ACK(); // wait for uVGA to respond with an ACK send_display_uVGA('D', 1, x1, y1, BLACK); // erase object1 at old location send_display_uVGA('D', 2, x2, y2, BLACK); // erase object2 at old location : : send_display_uVGA('D', 1, ++x1, ++y1, RED); // redraw object1 at new loc. send_display_uVGA('D', 2, ++x2, ++y2, GREEN); // redraw object2 at new loc : // more screen commands } // loop around If the serial link is fast (9600 baud above), the host can issue many display object commands within a frame length of 16.66ms and all will be drawn and displayed flicker free. This command is only effective for objects that need to be dynamically displayed on the screen such as a moving ball. Please download the latest User Manual Rev 1.5 for a more detailed explanation. We appologise for any inconvenience........... Regards, Atilla Aknar 4D Systems Pty. Ltd.