Please, how I can control FLCoS display using esp32?

[TheFliss]

Hello! Could you please tell me how I can control this FLCoS display using esp32? And Is it possible to get by with just one board based on the esp32-s3 chip?

Also I really like your project, I just can’t imagine how long it took to develop it.

[ElectronAsh]

Hi,

I never did get around to driving the FLCOS module from the ESP32.
I only ever tested it using the PAL/NTSC decoder on the board.

The FLCOS module needs a bt.656 style video stream, which is an 8-bit bus, commonly used in TV broadcast, cable boxes, DVD players, etc.

Sometimes bt.656 can have separate syncs, or the sync is actually embedded into the 8-bit data.

I'm not sure where to start with writing the ESP32 code for that, sorry.

(I was hoping maybe bitluni might be interested, but he's often super busy. hehe)

Regards,
Ash.

[TheFliss]

Thank you!

Sorry, but unfortunately I have no experience working with a display other than those usually sold on Aliexpress (spi, i2c, etc.)
That’s why I had this question, yes, I looked at your code and board diagram many times (even very many times), but I still can’t understand how it works for you

Also I would like to know more about BT.656 from you, since there is little useful information on the Internet, maybe it has something to do with my region/country

Please, I really want to run it :)

[TheFliss]

Hi,

I literally can't do anything, neither write registers via SPI, much less send a frame.
I'm using ESP-IDF to flash my esp32-s3-zero, but still can't get SPI configured correctly even with your code and Arduino IDE.

I also searched online, but didn't find anything similar to this repository.

Please forgive me for these requests, I literally don't know who I could contact with such a question😭.

Regards,
Vlad.

[ElectronAsh]

Hi,

My board uses a TVP5150, which is a PAL/NTSC decoder chip.

Currently, the ESP32 on the board is used purely to send some basic commands to the FLCOS (via I2C) at power-up.
Those few I2C commands were all I needed to get it working in the end.

Before that, I was trying to send too many commands.
I had to buy a "JAKKS" toy projector, and hook up the Logic Analyzer, to figure out the correct I2C sequence.

It turned out it didn't need very many commands at all, then FLCOS would then default to "NTSC" display mode.
Inputting a PAL signal would still show something, but part of the image would be slightly off the screen.
I had to send a few extra I2C commands, to get a PAL image to fit the screen nicely.

I was not using the ESP32 itself to drive video into the FLCOS at all.
(I never got quite that far with the project.)

Instead, I input a Composite Video signal into the TVP5150.
The TVP chip sends the bt.656 style video to the FLCOS module directly.
(The ESP32 doesn't get involved at all after the initial power-up I2C config.)

I'm not sure where to start with using the ESP32 to send video to the FLCOS.
I was looking at using bitluni's VGA code as a basis, then trying to add the bt.656 stuff to the output to the FLCOS.

The TVP5150 can output bt.656 with or without embedded Syncs.
I believe I was using separate Hsync/Vsync to drive the FLCOS.

Even when using Composite Video input and the TVP chip, I had some trouble getting the FLCOS to initialize correctly every time.

I had to solder a Reset button to the ESP32 on my board, and hit Reset just after power-up, then the FLCOS sprang to life.

I used the Composite video output from a 3DO console to test things.

Unless you are using the TVP or a board like mine, I think it could be hard to send video direct from an ESP32.
In theory, though, you could try sending "raw" RGB values to the FLCOS, and generate Pclk/Hsync/Vsync/Valid signals, and it might then display something?

(then you would need to convert those RGB values into Y,U,V samples, to get the correct colours on the FLCOS.)

[ElectronAsh]

Oh, btw...

I posted quite a lot of info on the FLCOS project on "The Coriolis Effect" Discord.

Here is an invite link, I believe it is free-to-join...
https://discord.gg/sRQVjWkK

(if the link doesn't work for you, somebody else has probably clicked on it already, so please let me know. lol)

You should fine a whole thread on the "projects-threaded" channel called "FLCOS Mini Projector".

[TheFliss]

Wow, thank you very much!

[1w0]

Hi, thanks for sharing the project and insights, wondering if I can join the server as well? Thanks!

By the way, I haven't been able to access the datasheet as mentioned being in the forum, will be great if there is any alternative 🙏

[TheFliss]

Hi,
As far as I remember this is exactly the datasheet:
http://file.whycan.com/files/members/1606/ldm_0201_e3_cps.pdf

[ElectronAsh]

Here's an invite link to the Discord server.

But if anyone else clicks it in the meantime, I think it stops working?

https://discord.gg/89Uxe6wU

AFAIK, it's a public server anyway.