Application Note AC295

IGLOO-VIDEO-BOARD DVI Input to LCD Reference Design

Demonstration ObjectiveThe Digital Video Interface (DVI) Input to LCD reference design setup (Figure 1) demonstrates anIGLOO® FPGA as an LCD controller for a 7-inch display. The timing generator logic inside the IGLOOFPGA transmits all the necessary LCD data to the panel (RGB and control signals). It receives data fromthe DVI Receiver chip and processes the data to drive the LCD.

Figure 1 • DVI Reference Design Setup

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© 2011 Microsemi Corporation

IGLOO-VIDEO-BOARD DVI Input to LCD Reference Design

MaterialsIn addition to showing the LCD as a desktop for the monitor, you can also show video clips on the screen,such as video trailers. Some trailers can be found here for download: www.davestrailerpage.co.uk/.

Download project files for this reference design from the Microsemi SoC Products Group website:

• For NEC 5.5'' LCD - www.actel.com/download/rsc/?f=IVDK_DVItoLCD_320x240_NEC_DF.

• For Toshiba 7'' LCD - www.actel.com/download/rsc/?f=IVDK_DVItoLCD_800x480_Toshiba_DF.

Download programming files for this reference design from the Microsemi SoC Products Group website: www.actel.com/download/rsc/?f=IVDK_DVItoLCD_RefDes_PF.

Hardware• IGLOO-VIDEO-BOARD

• LCD adapter board:

– 5.5” NEC 320x240 LCD board (LCD-Adapter-NL3224BC35-20)

– 7.0” Toshiba 800x480 LCD board (LCD-Adapter-LT070A320F)

• DVI-D cable

• 12 V power supply (should supply 1-2 Amps of power)

• A source for DVI-D video*

Note: It is important to get a true digital source. Some examples of a true digital source are a laptop thatdrives DVI-D output directly, a laptop docking station, and HDMI output. An example of a non-truedigital source is a VGA-to-DVI cable converter.

SoftwareNone

Design FilesFigure 2 shows the design hierarchy and components used in the design.

Figure 2 • Design Hierarchy

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Description and Block Diagram

Devices Used for this DemoDVI-D Receiver: focus.ti.com/docs/prod/folders/print/tfp201a.html

2Mx32 SDRAM: download.micron.com/pdf/datasheets/dram/sdram/64MSDRAMx32.pdf

IGLOO FPGA: www.actel.com/documents/IGLOO_HB.pdf

FPGA UtilizationCompile report:

===========

CORE Used: 1080 Total:13824(7.81%)IO (W/ clocks) Used: 102 Total:177(57.63%)Differential IO Used: 0 Total:43(0.00%)GLOBAL (Chip+Quadrant) Used: 3 Total:18(16.67%)PLL Used: 1 Total:1(100.00%)RAM/FIFO Used: 4 Total:24(16.67%)Low Static ICC Used: 0 Total:1(0.00%)FlashROM Used: 0 Total:1(0.00%)

Description and Block DiagramWhen the IGLOO Video Demo Kit is programmed with the DVI Input to LCD reference design, the boardis configured to act as a DVI monitor as it grabs sub-frames from the source video at 60 frames persecond through frame grabber. The frame buffer controller inside the FPGA takes care of the sourceimage storage and pulling out images from the SDRAM for LCD consumption. The video timinggenerator blocks produce the necessary timing control signals, such as HSYNC, VSYNC, display enable,and display pixel clock, for the end LCD.

Figure 3 • Block Diagram

LCD480 x

LCDDVI-D

SDRAM

FrameGrabber

IGLOO/e Device

Frame BufferController

Video Timing Generator

InternalSRAM

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IGLOO-VIDEO-BOARD DVI Input to LCD Reference Design

Adapter Connection and LCD Data ConnectionThe LCD adapter board mounts onto the IGLOO-VIDEO-BOARD via the 50-pin connector. This shouldbe straight forward.

Make sure the LCD flex cable is mounted onto its connector, as shown in Figure 4.

Demonstration Instructions1. Connect the LCD adapter board to the IGLOO-VIDEO-BOARD.

2. Make sure the LCD flex cable is connected to its slot.

3. Connect the 12 V power source to the IGLOO-VIDEO-BOARD. The LCD should show a bluescreen.

4. Program the IGLOO with the DVI-to-LCD STAPL file.

Note: Use only the programming file dedicated to the LCD adapter board resolution.

5. Provide the IGLOO-VIDEO-BOARD a digital source via the DVI-D input connector.

Figure 4 • Adapter Connection

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Demonstration Instructions

Laptop InstructionsIf using a laptop with NVIDIA graphic chip, the following instructions apply.

1. In Windows, select Control Panel > Display > Settings tab. Set the resolution to 800×600 or1024×768.

2. Click the Advanced button to display the Multiple Monitors tab.

Figure 5 • Display Properties

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IGLOO-VIDEO-BOARD DVI Input to LCD Reference Design

3. In this window, there is a tab for the NVIDIA graphic card control panel. In Figure 6 it is theQuadro NVS 110M tab.

Figure 6 • NVIDIA NVS 110M Tab

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Demonstration Instructions

4. Select the NVIDIA graphic card tab (Figure 7) to access the button for starting the NVDIA ControlPanel.

Figure 7 • NVIDIA Graphic Card Tab

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IGLOO-VIDEO-BOARD DVI Input to LCD Reference Design

5. Select the Display icon.

Figure 8 • Select Display Icon

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Demonstration Instructions

6. After selecting the Display icon, various display options are shown. Under Multiple Displays,select Change display configuration. If this option is not available, the graphic card does notsupport multiple displays.

7. Select the NVIDIA Multi-Display Setup Wizard. This wizard option will only appear if the graphiccard detected more than one display. This means that your IGLOO-VIDEO-BOARD must bepowered and connected to the computer via the DVI interface. If one of the options shown isAttodyne IVDK, this indicates that the graphic card has recognized the IGLOO VideoDevelopment Kit. Select Laptop Display as the primary display and click Next.

Figure 9 • Select a Display Task

Figure 10 • NVIDIA Multi-Display Setup Wizard

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IGLOO-VIDEO-BOARD DVI Input to LCD Reference Design

8. In the NVIDIA nView Display Mode window, select Clone for the display mode and click Next.Now the laptop monitor and the LCD should display the same image.

9. If the image on the LCD is fuzzy or flickering, select Change flat panel scaling in the NVIDIAcontrol panel.

Figure 11 • NVIDIA nView Display Mode

Figure 12 • Select Change Flat Panel Scaling

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FAQ

10. Select the Attodyne IVDK icon at the top and make sure Do not scale is selected.

FAQ

What is the cause of a pitch black LCD?A pitch black LCD indicates that power is not applied to the LCD, thus the backlight is not turned on.Please check to make sure the power is applied.

If power is applied and the screen is still pitch black, make sure the LCD adapter board is pin-aligned withthe video board’s 50-pin connector. Make sure the edge is lined up with the left triangle found on thesocket.

Finally, if all of the above conditions check out and the LCD is still pitch black, the LCD’s backlight orbacklight inverter may be broken. Acquire another LCD adapter board and try the demonstration again.

Figure 13 • Change Flat Panel Scaling

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IGLOO-VIDEO-BOARD DVI Input to LCD Reference Design

What does it mean to get a gray screen on the LCD?A gray screen on the LCD indicates the LCD backlight has received power, but no power to the LCD yet.Please make sure the flex cable is connected to the socket as indicated in Figure 14.

Figure 14 • Flex Cable Connected to Board Socket

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FAQ

What does it mean to get a blue screen on the LCD?A blue screen on the LCD, as shown in Figure 15, indicates there is no LCD data driven, but the LCD hasreceived power. To solve this problem, provide the board a DVI-D input.

The Run Multiple Display Wizard is not found. Why?Make sure the Video LCD board is connected to the video source via the DVI-D cable. The laptop orcomputer must be able to detect the board information via the DVI. If the cable is connected, but still notable to drive multiple display, chances are the graphic card does not support multiple display.

Figure 15 • Blue Screen

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IGLOO-VIDEO-BOARD DVI Input to LCD Reference Design

Why does the image flicker so much on the LCD?A flickering or fuzzy image indicates that the LCD is not getting correctly timed data. This may be causedby a computer or laptop that is trying to scale to match the resolution of the LCD. Make sure to turn thescaling off. See Steps 9-10 under "Laptop Instructions" section.

Figure 16 • Flickering Image

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FAQ

Figure 17 • DVI Demonstration

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IGLOO-VIDEO-BOARD DVI Input to LCD Reference Design

List of ChangesThe following table lists critical changes that were made in each revision of the document.

Revision* Changes Page

Revision 1 (April 2011)

Updated links for the Project and Programming Files in the section "Materials".(SAR 31318)

2

Added a section on "Design Files". (SAR 31318) 2

Note: *The revision number is located in the part number after the hyphen. The part number is displayed at the bottomof the last page of the document. The digits following the slash indicate the month and year of publication.

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