VGA Shield

The VGA Shield is, as the project name may indicate, an Arduino-compatible shield that outputs VGA video.

Project Status

• 2017-02: Calling this completed, Rev3 boards are working and have been sold for some time, if I get around to building the integrated version I'll start it as a new project.
• 2013-02: Putting on hold for now, too many other projects on the go.
• 2012-12: Waiting for a 12MHz crystal (left off of board and BOM) to arrive via Sparrow, once it does will green-wire it in and test.
• 2012-05-01: Received boards, need to assemble/test.
• 2012-04-15: Revision 5 sent off to Laen.
• 2012-03-23: Fixed footprint of SSD1963 in the library, updated board and rerouted traces that broke due to the larger size. Need to do a final 1:1 printout and check, then CAM and send off for another revision.
• 2012-03-08: Started assembling, found the footprint for the SSD1963 is too small. No good way to work around this, will need to spin another rev of the board.
• 2012-03-08: SSD chips are here.
• 2012-03-06: Digikey parts and 4D chips are here.
• 2012-03-04: Ordered Digikey parts.
• 2012-02-27: Ordered 2 chips each from 4D and TechToys. Still need to order Digikey parts.
• 2011-10-13: Received PCBs, still need to order parts.
• 2011-09-17: Completed revision 4 schematic/PCB which will put everything on a single board. Sent to Laen for PCB manufacturing. Parts still need to be ordered.
• Pre-September 2011: Schematic and board layout complete, PCBs received, VGA modules received from 4D, parts received from Digikey. First rev. 1 board has been assembled and is working fine video-wise. Audio not functioning, left message on 4D forum asking for help on it. Rev. 2 board changes/re-layout has been done, CAM output sent to Laen 2011-03-20 for production. Will be working on the library using the rev. 1 board in the meantime, so leaving this project set to Waiting for Time. Rev 2 boards did not arrive (postal system fail) in time, so rev. 3 will be designed and sent out for production boards, without having rev 2 tested yet. Revision 3 BOM completed, changes to schematic/board completed, boards sent to MyRO for production. Boards received 2011-05-02. 15 boards assembled, QA'd, and packaged. This batch (s/n 0010-0025) will be sold at Mini Maker Faire Toronto, and the remaining ones online.

Design Overview

• Using uVGA-II(SGC) module from 4D Systems to generate video
• Shield will provide I2C-RS232 bridge so the Arduino doesn't have to use its (only) RS232 UART for this
• Will provide a 3.5mm jack for external speakers (no room on shield for a speaker)
• The µVGA-II(SGC) has 16 GPIOs, so will pin those out on the standard 2x5 connectors
• Status LEDs for power, TX, RX, and audio enabled

Revision 1 Issues

• Fixed in rev. 2 - Through-holes for all connectors mating with the VGA module are too small!
  • Worked around for rev. 1 by modifying VGA module w/ thinner machine pins
• Fixed in rev. 2 (moved through-holes so that either a cable or modded module can work) - Serial connector doesn't work well at all, need to figure out a better solution for rev. 2
  • Concave pogo pins?
    • Would add $10 to the shield, eek!
  • Connector on wires?
  • Small adapter PCB?
  • Mod each shield with straight pins aiming down?
• Fixed in rev. 2 - Pads on audio jack could be a bit larger to make it easier to inspect soldering
• Fixed in rev. 2 - Audio Enable is actually an OUTPUT from the module, not an input like the datasheet says
  • Rev. 2 should remove the two solder jumper sets from this pin, but retain the LED for Audio On
• Fixed in rev. 2 - Audio On, RX, and TX LEDs are all backwards (on = idle), need to hook them up to +3.3v instead of GND and flip them
• Can't get audio working at all
  • Left support request for 4D, suspect a bug/mis-documentation in the module
• BOM changed in rev. 2 - LEDs for TX/RX are dim, should change to the ones used on the MultiSerial shield for part commonality and because they work better
• Fixed in rev. 2 - Spacing on the two GPIO headers doesn't work well, shrouded ones won't fit and two IDC ribbon connectors side by side won't fit and it blocks the microSD slot
  • Be careful on layout as the microSD card slot on the VGA module needs to be accessible
• Fixed in rev. 2 - Really didn't end up needing TPs for RX/TX, can remove them to make routing easier/save space
• BOM changed in rev. 2 - Should change crystal to be able to run at 256000bps, the fastest that is supported by the VGA module

Revision 2 Issues

• Fixed by adding FTDI header and run/prog switch on rev 3 - Won't be able to reprogram module as there's no way to connect a serial cable to it
• Fixed in rev. 3 - When VGA module is set to 256kbaud, it actually communicates at 282.353kbaud! Need to change crystal to 22.1184MHz to accommodate this.
• Fixed in rev. 3 - Audio path is not connected to the right pads on the jack, resulting in no audio output.

Revision 4 Plans

• Eliminate separate VGA module, embed chips right on the main VGA Shield PCB
• Consider changing pinout of the GPIO headers, as the current pinout makes little sense

Revision 4 Issues

• SSD1963 pads are too close together
• Opamp not in BOM