Difference between revisions of "FPGA Controller for LED Matrix"

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(Created page with "Category:Ongoing_Projects A FPGA-based interface controller for [http://www.limpkin.fr/index.php?post/2011/05/12/Oops...-I-dit-it-again%21 Limpkin's RGB LED matrices]. ===...")
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Revision as of 21:11, 4 September 2011


A FPGA-based interface controller for Limpkin's RGB LED matrices.


Matrix reference

LedMatrix

Overview

  • FPGA drives 1 or more (up to 4?) matrices
  • use block ram or external SRAM for frame buffer storage
  • interface with PC


Feature ideas

  • double buffering
  • larger off-screen buffer + compositing ops?
  • character generation
  • update only sections
  • small CPU core to execute short programs?


Components

Memory

External SRAM needs to be fast enough to handle all reads during one cycle. Per connected matrix we need to read 6 bytes per cycle. Clearly this would require use to run at 150MHz, which is infeasible. If we use a separate chip per matrix block (6 chips or 3 chips with 16bit width), we can still operate with 25MHz.

Concurrent writes need to be possible, but at a lower speed. Either buffer reads and slip in writes when there is slack (complicated), or alternate between reads and writes at higher speed (DDR?).