Will VSYNC from the display controller be connected to the MCU?

Development

dxb

7 years ago

Hi, see question in the topic title. Also, which display controller will the Gamebuino Meta use? Thank you!

ripper121

NEW 7 years ago

  • Microcontroller: ATSAMD21, 32bit ARM Cortex M0+, 256KB flash, 32KB RAM, same as Arduino Zero
  • Display: ST7735 1.8", 80*64px RGB 16bit (or 160*128px, indexed 16 colors). 25FPS refresh rate by default, up to 50FPS.
  • Battery: LiPo 3.7V 900mAh (to be confirmed), charged through micro USB B port (like a regular phone).
  • Sound : 10bit DAC, mutli-channel 8bit WAV playback, 2.5W class-D audio amp, audio jack 3.5mm, 1W speaker. Volume adjusted or muted in the Home menu.
  • Back lights: 8 independently controllable RGB LEDs for light effects in your palms! Can be adjusted or turned off in the Home menu.
  • Buttons: D-pad, A, B, Menu, Home. Home is reserved for changing games, setting sound volume, taking screenshots, etc.
  • Backpacks (aka shields): All GPIOs you have on an Arduino Zero are free to use on the back of the console. The developer backpack is compatible with Arduino Shields. Warning: Gamebuino runs at 3.3V, it's not 5V compatible. The DAC output is used for sound. SPI slaves are present on the bus, but won't prevent you from using it.
  • Micro SD card socket: FAT and FAT32 compatible. Optionnal micro SD card with plenty of games provided with the deluxe early bird and deluxe perks. Change between games on the go, not computer required!



http://www.displayfuture.com/Display/datasheet/controller/ST7735.pdf

Google: st7735 vsync , I dont have the time to search that for you.



dxb

NEW 7 years ago

Thanks @ripper121, where did you get that text from? I did search before I asked by the way and the information I could find didn't mention the controller.

This is from the KickStarter page:

  • Display: 1.8", 80*64px RGB 16bit (or 160*128px, indexed 16 colors). 25FPS refresh rate by default, up to 50FPS.

Google: st7735 vsync , I dont have the time to search that for you.

Ouch burrrrn, well done assuming people are lazy. I was looking at the ST7735 data sheet earlier today because well it seemed the most likely choice and indeed it has a VSYNC signal but that doesn't mean it is connected to the MCU on the Gamebuino META. Anyone (@sorunome ?) knows if vsync is indeed connected to a pin possibly capable of generating interrupts? Thank you.

Aurélien Rodot

7 years ago

indeed it has a VSYNC signal but that doesn't mean it is connected to the MCU on the Gamebuino META

That is right. Sadly the answer is no, the VSYNC is not connected.

  • Because it's not routed out on most screens, so even if you wanted you couldn't connect it (I wanted VSYNC too!).
  • Because it would use and extra pin on the MCU, and we wanted to keep all the pins free for the user.
  • Because it's easier not to have your game constrained by the screen refresh rate.
  • Because we have a whole display buffer in RAM, so we push the whole screen at once (and pretty quickly), so tearing isn't noticeable.

I hope that answers your question :)

TDLR: We don't have VSYNC but it's not a problem.

Aurélien Rodot

NEW 7 years ago

dxb dxb

indeed it has a VSYNC signal but that doesn't mean it is connected to the MCU on the Gamebuino META

That is right. Sadly the answer is no, the VSYNC is not connected.

  • Because it's not routed out on most screens, so even if you wanted you couldn't connect it (I wanted VSYNC too!).
  • Because it would use and extra pin on the MCU, and we wanted to keep all the pins free for the user.
  • Because it's easier not to have your game constrained by the screen refresh rate.
  • Because we have a whole display buffer in RAM, so we push the whole screen at once (and pretty quickly), so tearing isn't noticeable.

I hope that answers your question :)

TDLR: We don't have VSYNC but it's not a problem.

dxb

7 years ago

Thank you @Rodot. Too bad, but not a big deal!

dxb

NEW 7 years ago

Aurélien Rodot Aurélien Rodot

Thank you @Rodot. Too bad, but not a big deal!