Colour display... possible?

Maybe I'm just dreaming and typing nonsense (at least I'm consistent), but is it possible to put a colour display in the Empeg? Would it simply be a case of replacing the VFD with an off-the-shelf colour TFT/LCD or VFD display? And then configure the software to display simple colour? I imagine that the Empeg has the computing power to do this.

Can you get even three colour VFDs? Red, Green, Blue or something?

Sounds esay when I imagine it, but I know it won't be as simple, even IF its possible. But if enough people wanted it, could it be the next project after the tuner? It would really make the empeg complete - with an aluminium fascia!

I think this topic is as old as the hills. Whilst I'm sure it's technically possible, the time and money aspect of these things puts a stopper on it. I'd also imagine finding a colour display that behaved in a similar way to the original VFD would be a tall order.

It would be really cool though!

I think i remember reading that the empeg uses the std lcd out put from the ARM processor and that the firmware of the display board translates it for the VFD.

Any one know if that is correct or have any technical info on what is output from empeg.

C.

The display board takes one out of every 4 pixels from the StrongARM (in STN LCD mode) and drives this to the VFD with some manipulation - see the linux kernel display driver source for more info.

The StrongARM will support 16-bit TFTs (see the Visteon Camelot for an example) however the top 16-bits of display info come from 8 GPIO lines which are most definitely in use on the carplayer - hence, it's not possible to bodge this in very easily.

OTOH, in theory you might be able to put the LCD controller into 16-bit mode, but use only the lower 8 bits of display info. This is available, along with the frame/line/pixel sync info, on a connector pad-out just above the CPU on all mk2/mk2a players.

This could give you some sort of colour, though it may only be of limited usefulness and would require hacking of the kernel display driver so that the player output to (at least a part of) the actual LCD display.

Hugo

This is available, along with the frame/line/pixel sync info, on a connector pad-out just above the CPU on all mk2/mk2a players.

Why does this sound so much easier than PCA's video out project that has been mentioned before? A lot of people are put off by the horror stories of the costs involved with that, but what you described actually sounds remotely feasable. 8 bits is certainly enough for usable color.

-Mike

I'd be happy with just a few colours. I'm not expecting millions of shades etc. So are you saying that if someone had a bit of technical know-how, this could work?

Even if you find someone to do the hardware, how are you going to get the player software to output colour ?

Well, I haven't really thought of that yet! One step at a time. Its apparently technically possible - good stuff. But as for hacking the drivers? I have no idea - more input and advice needed here I think. And would the visuals etc have to totally rewritten?

It sounds so much easier because PCA's device is designed to work on a stock empeg with a fully functional front display. As a result it must make use of one of the empeg's existing pinned out interfaces.

And would the visuals etc have to totally rewritten?

Yes, without rewriting them the best you can hope for is red shades of a single colour, in which case you just need a different colour gel to manage the same effect.

Even if you had the source to the player software, there aren't too many people around who could rewrite the visuals...

Without going into the details of PCA's design, would it be so "simple" as "hijacking" the signals going to the displayboard, feed them to a microcontroller, decode them and then rebuild them into a PAL-picture (or from PCA's posting, more likely NTSC)?

Stig

Yes, if you wanted to. The pixel rate is pretty high though (less than a microsecond per pixel) so you'll probably need shift registers/FIFOs to get the data into a micro.

PCA's video out board is rather different, being a complete ARM7 micro with video interface hooked to the IDE bus on the empeg.

The cheapest/simplest way is still probably a VNC client over ethernet.

Hugo

The cheapest/simplest way is still probably a VNC client over ethernet.

for all the electronic engineers out there, how hard would it be to make a board w/ an ethernet port, video out port, and a embedded vnc client to connect to the empeg?

It'd be very hard to make one, but very easy to buy one - it depends on how you value your time.

Hugo