Adit Sahasrabudhe
Texas Instruments

There is an increasing demand to bring video and image processing capabilities to devices like video IP phones, cellular phones, and personal data assistants (PDAs). The images are brought to the user on liquid crystal displays that usually use thin film transistor (TFT) technology. These LCD devices require very specific timings and row/column formatting that can make them difficult to directly interface. For this reason, we recommend that you use an LCD controller. Most LCD controllers require little more input than raw RGB data. Some require horizontal and vertical sync signals, while others remove even that need. LCD controllers take care of any timing requirements and row/column formatting.

With their ability to output raw RGB data and horizontal/vertical sync signals, the DM642's video ports have the necessary functionality to seamlessly interface to TFT LCD controllers. Therefore, we have decided to show how to interface the DM642's video ports to an LCD controller, instead of directly to an LCD module. This application report details how to program the DM642's video ports to meet LCD controller requirements.

Specific examples will be provided using the NEC S1L50282F23K100 LCD controller interfacing to the NEC NL2432HC22-22A LCD module. Hardware schematics and software driver collateral is also included.