G
Guy Macon
- Jan 1, 1970
- 0
I am working on an 8051-based project that needs a
display. Normally I would just use a small character-
based LCD display, but in this case I am thinking of
going with something a bit more impressive; a standard
flat-panel PC monitor.
This is a small-volume project with no particular cost,
space, environmental or power constraints. The display
is mostly static with a few small areas that change
infrequently. 640x480 would be acceptable, but 1024x768
would be a lot easier to find monitors for. I am also
willing to spring for a fast 100 Mips 8051 if that will
help.
My first thought was having a counter clock data out of
fast RAM into DACS and thus make a VGA signal, with the
8051 updating another bank of RAM and making a fast bank
switch during vertical retrace, but then I started
thinking about DVI interfaces. Normally a PC throws a
lot of fast data at a DVI interface, but would it hold
a static picture with a much slower refresh rate? Or
could I run RAM fast enough to hit a 60Hz refresh?
Another possibility would be some sort of display chip;
does anyone know of one suitable for a slow 8-bit micro?
Any suggestions about another approach would be welcome.
display. Normally I would just use a small character-
based LCD display, but in this case I am thinking of
going with something a bit more impressive; a standard
flat-panel PC monitor.
This is a small-volume project with no particular cost,
space, environmental or power constraints. The display
is mostly static with a few small areas that change
infrequently. 640x480 would be acceptable, but 1024x768
would be a lot easier to find monitors for. I am also
willing to spring for a fast 100 Mips 8051 if that will
help.
My first thought was having a counter clock data out of
fast RAM into DACS and thus make a VGA signal, with the
8051 updating another bank of RAM and making a fast bank
switch during vertical retrace, but then I started
thinking about DVI interfaces. Normally a PC throws a
lot of fast data at a DVI interface, but would it hold
a static picture with a much slower refresh rate? Or
could I run RAM fast enough to hit a 60Hz refresh?
Another possibility would be some sort of display chip;
does anyone know of one suitable for a slow 8-bit micro?
Any suggestions about another approach would be welcome.