Title: DirectFB graphics on Helio View LCD Reference Design

Introduction

This reference design is intended to demonstrate the fundamentals of graphics rendering on the Macnica Helio View LCD module utilizing the Altera SoC. This reference design instructs the user on the steps necessary to implement both the hardware (FPGA) and software (Linux and DirectFB libraries) components to achieve a working reference design.The end result is a graphical touch-screen menu system that launches several different DirectFB demonstrations.

Requirements

Development environment

• Linux host OS (An Oracle VirtualBox running CentOS 6.4 was used in the creation of this reference design)
• Altera Quartus II v13.0.1 SP1
• Altera SoC EDS v13.0.1

Evaluation board

• Macnica Helio SoC Evaluation kit with 2 micro-USB cables More Info
• Macnica Helio View LCD Module More Info

MAI Linux BSP

All necessary software components are included in the MAI Linux BSP package

• Target Embedded OS - Altera Linux on SoC FPGA
  • Poky 8.0 (Yocto Project 1.3 Reference Distro)
  • Linux source & tool chain: linux-socfpga-13.02-src.bsx
  • Helio preloader: helio_1gb_cl7_spl.bin
• MAI LCD and touch screen controller drivers
• DirectFB libraries and examples

Reference Design Downloads

• Helio View Reference Design Guide (ver 1.00, December 2, 2013, 1.7MB): [click here]
• FPGA Project Files for Helio Board v1.3 (ver 1.1, November 29, 2013, 159.9KB): [click here]
• FPGA Project Files for Helio Board v1.4 (ver 1.2, October 8, 2014, 161.2KB): [click here]
  • The MAI LCD controller is free but the source code is encrypted. Included in the reference design is the license file necessary to complete the FPGA build.
  • If you would like the unencrypted source for the MAI LCD Controller IP please contact Macnica for details:
    http://www.macnica-na.com/web/americas/contact-us
• MAI Linux BSP Files (ver 1.0, November 29, 2013, 820.0MB): [click here]
• Completed SD card image (ver 1.2, November 29, 2013, 185.6MB): [click here]

Reference Design Framework

• Implement FPGA hardware design with MAI LCD controller
• Build Yocto Altera distribution of Linux
• Install Linux driver for MAI LCD controller
• Build Yocto Helio Linux (based on Altera Linux)
• Build & Install DirectFB libraries and examples
• Create bootable SD flash image
• Execute DirectFB examples on Helio View

Build steps (abbreviated)

Below are the steps necessary to complete this reference design. The instructions below are abbreviated where the complete flow with detailed instructions can be found in the Helio View Reference Design Guide.

FPGA

• Extract Quartus project
• Open and generate QSYS HPS system
• Compile complete design
• Program FPGA

Linux and Demo Applications

• Extract Linux BSP
  • $ tar xvf MAI_Linux_BSP_Package.tar.gz
• Install Altera Linux
  • $ ./Install_altera_yocto_linux.sh
• Build Altera Linux
  • $ ./Build_altera_yocto_linux.sh
• Build LCD and touch screen drivers
  • $ ./Helio_driver_build.sh
• Build Helio Linux with drivers and demo applications
  • $ ./Build_dfb.sh
• Update SD card
  • $ ./Update_SDcard.sh