STM32F429 EvoPrimer features DMA2D graphics accelerator

[camguy]

Hi All,

Just for info... a new STM32F429 EvoPrimer is available with demo application featuring the STM32F429 DMA2D peripheral for accelerated handling of graphics. Examples include handling of bitmap econding/decoding, mutiple objects on the display, layering of objects and blending to include management of transparency.

There's a video of the demo on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJWeVvicvZk&hd=1


Sample apps are available at stm32circle.com (Direct link: http://www.stm32circle.com/resources/stm3242Iprimer.php)

[kenyee]

any real benefit to getting this over an STM32F429 Discovery board? Looks like the only reason is to be able to swap in different CPU boards?

[Tectu]

The ChromART can sure be an interesting thing. Adding ChromART support to µGFX is planned to be done soon.


~ Tectu

[TexZK]

I was at the ST workshop last thursday. The Chrom-ART is a very interesting piece of hardware, especially for those who want to draw bitmap-based stuff. The Chrom-ART accelerator allows on-the-fly conversion between some common formats, as well as blending (alpha) and DMA-controlled windowed copy. Clipping, primitives, GUIs, etc must still be handled via software.

I hope ChibiOS/RT will add support for the new F429 MCU soon (I heard there are some troubles with the new ST headers). I personally do not care about 2D graphics acceleration except for framebuffer handling, since I would just make a sort of clone of my beloved Wolf3D for myself (hopefully with some free time)

[Giovanni]

Hi,

Support has already been added in the repository, problems with headers have been resolved.

Giovanni

[TexZK]

Can't wait to come back home and try with that demo board

[camguy]

If you're interested in what a DMA2D peripheral can do for graphics display in your microcontroller applications... this article from Francis Lamotte explains how it works:

http://www.embedded.com/design/mcus-processors-and-socs/4426244/2/Building-eye-catching-GUIs-for-your-embedded-MCU-designs

He describes the implementation on STM32F429 EvoPrimer.

The sources for his examples are available at stm32circle.com

[TexZK]

Oh well, I'm aware of what the DMA2D peripheral is capable of doing... as I've already done a ChibiOS driver for it a few weeks ago, along with the LTDC driver! (see my branch on the community git repo)

[camguy]

There is a design contest for the STM32F429 EvoPrimer and DMA2D.

$10 000 in cash prizes.

There is more information at the stm32circle web site

Deadline for entering is 21 March 2014.

The project entry form is http://www.stm32circle.com/projects/add_contest.php?contest_2013=1