4D systems gen4-FTDI Series Parts list manual

gen4-FTDI Display Series - GETTING STARTED MANUAL | 1

gen4-FTDI Display Series - GETTING STARTED MANUAL | 2
CONTENTS
03 Introduction
04 System Requirements
•Hardware Requirements
05 Connecting the Display Module to the Host
•Connection Options
06 Getting Started with a Simple Project
08 Reference Documents
09 Glossary
•Hardware
•Software
WHAT’S IN THE BOX
gen4-Breakout
Gen4-FT812-43CT-
CLB
15-way to 30-way Flat
Flex Cable (FFC)
Supporting documents, datasheet, CAD step models and application notes are
available on the 4D Systems website.

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INTRODUCTION
This Getting Started Manual is an introduction to becoming familiar with
the gen4-FT812/FT813. This manual should be treated only as a useful
starting point and not as a comprehensive reference document. Refer to
Application Notes for a list of all the detailed reference documents.
In this Getting Started Manual, we will briefly focus on the following topics:
•Hardware Requirements
•Connecting the Display Module to the Host
•Getting Started with Simple Projects
•Reference Documents
The gen4-FT81X-XXT/CT-CLB is part of embedded SPI display manufactured
by 4D Systems. The module features a 4.3”, 5.0”, or 7.0” colour TFT LCD
display, with resistive or capacitive touch. It is powered by the FT812/FT813
Video Engine, which targets high quality graphics displays with Widget
support, designed to offload the Host Processor and provide a variety of
graphics features.
Intelligent display modules are low-cost embedded solutions used in various
applications in the medical, manufacturing, military, automotive, home
automation, consumer electronics, and other industries. In fact, there are very
few embedded designs on the market today that do not have a display. Even
many consumer white goods and kitchen appliances incorporate some form
of display. Buttons, rotary selectors, switches and other input devices are
being replaced by more colourful and easier-to-use touch screen displays in
industrial machines, thermostats, drink dispensers, 3D printers, commercial
applications - virtually any electronic application.

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SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
The following subsections discuss the hardware requirements for this manual.
Hardware Requirements
1. Intelligent Display Module and Accessories
The gen4-FT812/FT813 (adaptor board and flat flex cable) should be
included in the box delivered to you after your purchase from our website
or through one of our distributors. Please refer to the section “What’s in
the Box” for images of the display module and its accessories.
2. Host Controller
The gen4-FT812/FT813 is a display module which is driven by a host
controller. The host controller will send the commands using SPI
communication. It is entirely up to the user to select their host controller
and use it to drive the display.
Note: The host controller is a device such as an Arduino or a Raspberry Pi. These
devices are not supplied by 4D Systems.

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CONNECTING THE DISPLAY MODULE TO THE HOST
This section shows the complete instructions for connecting the display to
the host controller.
Hardware Software
Connection Options
1. Connect one end of the FFC to your module’s 30-way ZIF socket with
the metal contacts on the FFC facing up on the latch.
2. Connect the other end of the FFC to the 30-way ZIF socket on the
gen4-Breakout board with the metal contacts on the FFC facing up on
the latch.
3. Connect the pins of the gen4-Breakout to the pins of the Host
Controller.
Display Module
FFC Cable
Adaptor
Any Software which
can drive your host
controller
Host Controller
Cable
(FFC)
gen4-Breakout
Adaptor
1
1
1
2
1
3

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GETTING STARTED WITH A SIMPLE PROJECT
After successfully connecting the display module to the host controller you are
using, you can now start creating a basic application. This section shows how to
show a simple keyboard on the display module using the example uploaded on
the FTDI chip website. The display module used on this example is gen4-FT812-
43DCT-CLB
Note: For the sake of the discussion, the example used on this project is based on the
Arduino sketch provided by the FTDI website. With these, the host controller will be the
Arduino UNO.
Follow the following steps below:
1. Download the Example 7 - FT_App_Keyboard(+EVE2) on the FTDI chip
website.
2. Extract the file and navigate to App_Keyboard > Project > Arduino >
App_Keboard. Open the App_Keyboard.ino.
3. Edit the Platform.h and add the following configuration needed by the display
to run the application.
(a.) On line 41 of the Platform.h - /* Module specific configurations *, add the
display definition
#define GEN4FT812_43
and uncomment the display previously defined
// #define VM800P43_50
(b.) Add the display definition by copying the code below and pasting it on the
Platform.h on line 49.
#ifdef GEN4FT812_43
#define DISPLAY_RESOLUTION_WQVGA (1)
#define FT812_ENABLE (1)
#define ENABLE_SPI_SINGLE (1)
#define ARDUINO_ATMEGA328P_I2C (1)
#define RTC_PRESENT (0)
#define FT800_CS (9)
#define SDCARD_CS (10)
#define FT800_INT (7)
#define FT800_PD_N (8)
#define ARDUINO_PRO_SPI_CS FT800_CS
#define ARDUINO_PLATFORM_SPI (1)
#define ARDUINO_PLATFORM_COCMD_BURST (1)
#define RESISTANCE_THRESHOLD (1800)
#endif

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(c.) Edit the line 148 of the Platform.h and add the configuration for the
display
&&!defined(GEN4FT812_43)
The completed code should be like this:
#if (!defined(VM800P43_50) && !defined(VM800P35)
&&!defined(VM801P43_50) &&!defined(VM800B43_50)
&&!defined(VM800B35) &&!defined(VM801B43_50)
&&!defined(GEN4FT812_43) )
4. Save the following changes on the file and upload the program on the Arduino
using the Arduino IDE.

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REFERENCE DOCUMENTS
The software support for the FT812/FT813 is provided by the FTDI. If you want to
further check the FT81x graphic controller IC, please refer to their website. The
datasheet for the module itself can be downloaded from the 4D systems website.
Below are the necessary documents to help you get started with the display module.
FT81x Graphics Controller IC
This product page contains the Key Hardware Features, Performance
Improvements, Applications Areas, Product Information, and other related
products of the FT81x Series.
FT81x Embedded Video Engine Datasheet
This document contains the features of the FT81x Video Engine. It covers the
Part Numbers, Block Diagram, Device Pin Out and Signal Description, Function
Description, Memory Map, Devices Characteristics and Ratings, and
Application Examples of the FT81x Series.
gen4-FT81x Datasheet
This document contains detailed information about the gen4-FT81x display module.
NOTES

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GLOSSARY
Hardware
1. Graphics Controller –is a chip also known as a graphics coprocessor and
like a microprocessor ordinarily found on graphics accelerator cards. The
graphics controller processes the graphics received by the computer and
creates the dots and lines on the screen to generate the picture.
2. Embedded System –is a programmed controlling and operating system
with a dedicated function within a larger mechanical or electrical system,
often with real-time computing constraints. It is embedded as part of a
complete device often including hardware and mechanical parts.
3. Microcontroller –is a compact integrated circuit designed to govern a
specific operation in an embedded system. A typical microcontroller
includes a processor, memory and input/output (I/O) peripherals on a
single chip.
4. FFC –Flexible flat cable, or FFC, refers to any variety of electrical cable
that is both flat and flexible. It used to connect the display to a
programming adaptor.
5. Adaptor Board–Adapter Board is the dedicated interface to connect the
Board to the specific hardware application.
6. Raspberry Pi –is a series of small single-board computers developed in
the United Kingdom by the Raspberry Pi Foundation to promote teaching
of basic computer science in schools and in developing countries.
7. Arduino –is an open-source hardware and software company, project and
user community that designs and manufactures single-board
microcontrollers and microcontroller kits for building digital devices.
8. Resistive Touch Panel –is a touch-sensitive computer display composed
of two flexible sheets coated with a resistive material and separated by an
air gap or microdots.
9. Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) –is a synchronous serial communication
interface specification used for short distance communication, primarily in
embedded systems.
10.Capacitive Touch Screen –is a control display that uses conductive touch
of a human finger or specialized device for input

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Software
1. Arduino IDE –The Arduino Integrated Development Environment (IDE) is
a cross-platform application (for Windows, macOS, Linux) that is written
in functions from C and C++. It is used to write and upload programs to
Arduino compatible boards, but also, with the help of 3rd party cores,
other vendor development boards
2. GUI –It is a form of user interface that allows users to interact with
electronic devices through graphical icons and visual indicators such as
secondary notation, instead of text-based user interfaces, typed command
labels or text navigation.
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