Description
BT817Q (EVE 4)
Revolutionary communication protocol
The close cooperation between Riverdi & ILITEK (touch panel controllers manufacturer) resulted in creation of a new communication protocol, which, for the first time in the world, has enabled for effective data interchange between graphics controller BT817Q built by Bridgetek and Capacitive Touch Panel controller ILI2132A built by ILITEK. ILI2132A is a truly industrial touch controller that allows Riverdi Intelligent Displays to be used in industrial, medical and even military applications.
A powerful graphics controller
If your application requires beautiful and sophisticated GUI built with simple software that can run on even smallest microcontroller with SPI/QSPI interface then the BT817Q series is for you.
The BT817Q controller on our display board is the most powerful member of advanced graphics controllers family, targeted at embedded applications for generating high-quality Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs).
The picture below shows a block diagram of EVE (Embedded Video Engine) board and the interfaces of BT817Q controller to accompanying devices on the module.
Riverdi’s displays with BT817Q graphics controllers feature advanced EVE user interface that successfully combines the capacities of processing images, sound, and information from the touch panel.
EVE technology uses an object-oriented approach; this whole controller series is capable of simplifying the implementation of intelligent displays and shortening development time; Please see the datasheet.
High resolution displays support
The fourth generation of Embedded Video Engine technology brings us the BT817Q graphics controller with numerous improvements and extended capabilities when compared with the older version.
The ‘most visible’ advantage is supporting resolution modes higher than ever before in the former three EVE generations. For the first time in the BT81x graphics controllers family, the resolutions WSVGA (1024 x 600 pixels) and WXGA (1280 x 800 pixels) are supported. The maximum available resolution for EVE3 graphics controller was SVGA (800 x 600 pixels).
Adaptive Scalable Texture Compression (ASTC)
One of the most important advantages, in comparison with the first two EVE versions, is the support for the Adaptive Scalable Texture Compression (ASTC) algorithm, implemented first in the EVE3 and maintained in the EVE4 controller.
This means the image quality can be enhanced significantly without the need for greater bandwidth. In certain situations, the compression algorithm allows for smaller graphic files to use compression without losing picture quality. This, in turn, saves up significant areas of memory space, required in EVE1 and EVE2 controllers by larger font files and data-heavy images.
Further memory management and system resource improvements have been applied to the EVE4 controller thanks to the presence of a dedicated QSPI port for connection of an external flash memory chip, implemented first in the EVE3.
See the datasheet for further information.
The Riverdi EVE4 boards are equipped with a separate flash memory chip. It is connected via a dedicated QSPI interface to the BT817Q controller. This allows the management of the memory content from the controller but such management engages the controller’s time and resources.
The purpose of adding this chip to the board is storing pictures that will be displayed during a standard operation of the module. Calculations with real JPEG files with appropriate resolutions indicate that flash memory chip used in the EVE4 board is capable of holding up to 270 JPEG files for 3.5” displays and up to 110 JPEG files for 10.1” displays.
Calculations presented here must be done again for specific JPEG files because of compression method used in the JPEG standard. In other words, the size of a certain picture (measured in kilobytes) saved in the JPEG standard depends not only on the resolution, but also on the content shown (colors palette, contrast etc.).
Dedicated fast-programming port for built-in flash memory
Engineers at Riverdi decided to place an additional, dedicated port on the EVE4 board for fast programming (writing the content) flash memory chip from an external source.
This process is planned to be used during production so the end customer will be able to order pre-programmed EVE4 boards with graphic content of their own choice. The process requires a special cable with a connector compatible with the fast programming port. The below photo shows the EVE4 board with fast-programming port (P3).
Low EMI design
STM32 Embedded boards were designed with special attention paid to electromagnetic compatibility, a design that has given them a high immunity to external electromagnetic signals which otherwise could have disturbing influence on their working correctly.
Board is equipped with low noise backlight converters thanks to which they produce low electromagnetic interference (EMI) to the surrounding space. In consequence, external electronic devices or circuits do not need special electromagnetic screening.
The EMC measurements held in a specialized laboratory confirmed low electromagnetic emissions of STM32 Embedded modules, even when displaying dynamic pictures.
EVE4 boards are also equipped with an on-board audio amplifier and the pin no. 10 in RiBUS connector which allows for bidirectional transmission of the acoustic signals, as opposed to EVE3 standard. Thanks to the hardware development, EVE4 boards allow for mixing of two audio signals, one from the BT817Q controller (local audio signal) with the second one from the host (external audio signal). EVE4 boards have separate connector used to attach the loudspeaker to the on-board audio amplifier output.
Non-square pixel correction
Another feature implemented to EVE4 graphics controller in the 7” displays for the first time is the ‘non-square pixel’ algorithm. This feature frees the end user’s programmers from the burden of re-scaling the pictures due to non-square pixels and, in consequence, reduces the time necessary for adapting the 7” EVE4-based modules to operate in its final environment, thus shortening the customer’s development procedures. It gives Riverdi’s 7” modules a competitive advantage as they require significantly less time to be applied in the final environment. We have captured the testing of picture. The photo on top shows picture without correction and the photo on the bottom shows picture with correction by the non-square pixel algorithm.
The ball in the photo on top is not a circle but an ellipse with axis proportion 1.043 (horizontal) to 1.000 (vertical). The ball in the bottom photo is a circle.
2x Pixel Mode
2x Pixel mode is an internal feature which has been added to the EVE4 devices, in order to support higher PCLK rates. In EVE4, PCLK can be up to 2x system clock frequency. When the PCLK frequency is greater than or equal to the system clock frequency, 2x Pixel Mode should be enabled and the Graphics Engine core sends 2 pixels per clock to the EXTSYNC block instead of one.
Customized displays
You can customize displays in many different ways.
- Change the color, shape, and size of the cover glass
- Have your logo printed on the cover glass (or any other graphics you might need)
- Add a different interface
- Enhance the brightness of the screen
- Change the thickness of the cover lens for the CTP
- Choose a different viewing angle of the display
- Change the pinout
- Request different gasket assembly
As you can see the possibilities are endless. All you need to do is choose.
We will help you to get the perfect tailor-made product.
