After selecting the right chipset for
your application, you can purchase a DLP Display LightCrafter™ evaluation
module (EVM). The EVM has a few key features that will help you finalize your
chipset and brightness level selection, and software configuration settings.
- Image quality assessment.
The tool provides you with an optical module at a specified brightness level.
Keep in mind that you may find projectors in the market that advertise a
specific brightness; you should measure the brightness of those projectors
yourself to verify the measurement of each individual product.
- Modifying chipset software
parameters. Most of the EVMs can be used with a PC Windows software
package to make display changes including test patterns/images, color
temperature, keystone, DLP IntelliBright™
algorithms, and RGB LED current modifications. The PC tool can also update the
firmware of the EVM.
Figure 6-1 shows an example screen capture.
In a few cases, the EVM can connect to
a single board computer (SBC) to enable customization of the display instead of
using a PC software. This is the case for the .2nHD (DLP2000)
and the .23 1080p (DLP230NP)
DLP Pico chipsets.
- I2C communication. In all
cases, I2C is used to command/control the chipset to enable various software
features documented with the chipset’s software users guide. I2C communication
can be done directly with all EVMs. However, each EVM has its unique
requirements on how to do so.
- DLP Pico Firmware
selector. For DLP Pico products, you can download a broad selection of firmware options that will vary
depending on the chipset, PMIC, display controller pin-mapping, and application
profile.
- Optical module options.
You may want to look at various optical module choices for a specific chipset
offering including different levels of brightness, throw ratio, contrast, and
optics design. Our optical
module search tool allows you to choose from many optical modules
available in the market today. You can contact the optical module maker to learn
more about the module. Seldom a production optical modules can be connected
directly to a DLP EVM. The optical module manufacturer may need to offer you
with their own evaluation tool or instructions how to connect to the TI EVM.
Notice the EVM comes rated for a specific LED current drive, which needs to
match with the desired optical module.