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Display Interface

 

Article updated at 21 Jun 2021
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Parallel Interface (RGB)

All Colibri Modules have a digital parallel display interface (TTL) which is compatible with the most industry displays, typically up to a size of about 10". Have a look the Generic Display Connector on the Evaluation Board Schematic to see the pinout.

Our Iris Carrier Board uses the Unified TFT interface connector which allows you to connect a wide range of displays without the need of an adapter cable.

For the Colibri Evaluation Board and the Orchid Carrier Board we provide an off the shelf 2.7" WQVGA display.
An off-the-shelf 5.7" VGA display is available for the Tellurium.

To adjust Win CE for different displays, use the Colibri Tweak tool.

Signal Names

Different manufactures use different names for the same signals. Below are some common matches, but be sure check the datasheets.


Colibri      Display          Alternative Name

L_PCLK       Pixel Clock      Dot Clock
L_LCLK       HSync            Line Clock
L_FCLK       VSync            Frame Clock
L_BIAS       OE               Output Enable

How to connect a display with more color signals than the Colibri provides

Maybe you'd like to connect a 24 bit display with a Colibri PXA270 or you like to use the 16LDD mode with a 18 bit display.

In this case you have different ways to connect your display.

You can pull down or pull up the LSB's of each color to GND or VCC. In this case it is not possible to reach full black or full white. Or you can connect the LSB's of each color with signals of the same color. On this way you can still reach full black and full white but you will have larger steps in a color gradient.

LVDS Interface

The Colibri modules do not provide a native LVDS interface; however, it is very simple to convert the parallel display interface into an LVDS interface. An LVDS interface is provided on our Iris Carrier Board and Colibri Evaluation Board V3.1 by performing this conversion. View the schematics & open source design files to learn more.

We also provide LVDS Adapters for the Colibri Evaluation Board V2.1 and the Orchid Carrier Board.

MIPI DSI Interface

This interface was introduced with the Verdin SoM Family of Computer on Modules. According to the Verdin Family Specification, it is the primary display interface, with up to 4 data lanes. It is a Reserved interface, which means that it may not be available on a specific Verdin SoM but, if it is available, it will always be on the same pins of the SODIMM connector.

For Verdin, we provide adapters from MIPI DSI to other interface types:

Other Toradex SoMs may have MIPI DSI signals exposed either as non-standard functions or in specific connectors. This is the case of Colibri iMX8X, which has an FFC connector specific for MIPI DSI or LVDS. You can use it with our Colibri iMX8X DSI to HDMI Adapter + Colibri HDMI Adapter to get an HDMI signal and connector.

Analog VGA Interface

Most standard monitors still have an analog VGA interface.

The Colibri T20 is currently the only module which has a native analog VGA output. However, the following base boards have an external DAC to provide analog VGA signals (converted from parallel RGB):

Have a look at the Colibri Evaluation Board V3.1 schematics to learn more.

HDMI/DVI Interface

The Tegra & iMX6 modules provide a HDMI/DVI (TDMS) interface. The signals are available on a DVI-I connector of the Iris Carrier Board and the Colibri Evaluation Board V3.1. This interface also provides HDMI audio (even through the DVI-I interface).

In Win CE, if you want to use audio on the analog output you have to deactivate the audio on HDMI by changing the following registry entry:

[HKLM\Drivers\BuiltIn\nvwavedev]
HDMIAudioOff = 1

If you are looking for a direct HDMI connector, please refer to the Colibri HDMI Adapter.

Component Interface

The Colibri Tegra modules provide an analog Component interface.

Composite Interface

The Colibri Tegra modules provide an analog Composite interface.