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ben-blinkenlights/ubb-vga/README

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UBB-VGA - VGA-like output via UBB
=================================
Sources
-------
Timing and the idea for the voltage divider is from:
http://faculty.lasierra.edu/~ehwang/public/mypublications/VGA Monitor Controller.pdf
More timing parameters:
http://tinyvga.com/vga-timing/640x480@60Hz
Signal 8:10 VGA
------- ------- ---
R DAT2 1
VSYNC DAT3 14
HSYNC CMD 13
G DAT0 2
B DAT1 3
GND GND 5
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VGA_connector
Timing
------
Since the Ingenic CPUs take about 8.5 PCLK cycles for a GPIO set or clear,
and we can only set or clear a set of signals in GPIO operation, but not
set some and clear others, we cannot have a real 320 horizontal pixels.
Instead, set and clear operations alternate. This means that the best-case
resolution is equivalent to 320 pixels (if the original pixel boundaries
coincide with the set/clear phases), but it can be as low as 160 pixels if
the boundaries don't match.
Furthermore, timing is still a bit too tight. We therefore use a pixel
clock that's about 10% slower than the original. Luckily, most monitors
don't mind.
Single/double mode
------------------
In single mode, only one set/clear can be performed per pixel. They are
arranges such that the first pixel can only turn on channels, the
following pixel can only turn off channels, and so on.
In double mode, a set and a clear is performed per pixel. This changes
the timing such that it differs substantially from VGA, but some
monitors can still synchronize with this.
The resulting signals for various bit patterns are shown in mapping.fig
Each group shows the input pixels, and signal for single mode, and the
signal for double mode. "S" indicates a point where the channel can be
turned on, "C" indicates a point where it can be turned off.
Note that there are probably other mapping algorithms that would yield
better results. The mapping is not a very performance-critical part of
ubb-vga. Improvements are welcome.
Compatibility
-------------
ubb-vga in single mode has been tested with the following monitors:
Display Monitor size Quality
----------------------- --------------- ----------------------------------
Xenon XEN-1510T 15", 1024x768 good
Samsung 206NW 20", 1680x1050 poor (horizontal instability)
LG W2243C 22", 1920x1080 acceptable (slight instability)
LG W2243L 22", 1920x1080 acceptable (slight instability)
In double mode:
Display Pixels missing Quality
left/right
----------------------- --------------- ------------------
Xenon XEN-1510T 5 / 25 good