DreamcastHDMI

Main documentation

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News

2017-12-21

Added ESP-12 based firmware management tool, for upgrading firmware via WiFi.

• A demo of the FirmwareManager could be found here: Demo

2017-06-11

Many thanks to citrus3000psi for his work on a QSB (quick soldering board). Check out the thread on the shmups forum: DreamcastHDMI github by chriz2600

2017-05-29

New (auto)-build system using docker. Build system using docker

2017-04-23

Added schematics and some information on Cyclone IV + ADV7513 + ICS664-3 build: CycloneIV-ADV7513-ICS664

2017-04-18

A new version of the Cyclone IV + ADV7513 version is available here.

Features in this version:

• Recoding of 480p (720x480) to VGA (640x480).

  HDTVs will display correct 1:1 instead of 8:9 pixel ratio for 4:3 aspect ratio. To achieve the required clock multiplication/division an ICS664-03 digitial video clock source is used. 320 pixel are buffered in RAM, so the delay from this will be 11.9us (microseconds, I will call this zero delay :) )

  This diagram shows the setup:

• Support for 480i and 240p by line doubling with recoding to 480p as above.

• Support for 480p/480i switching detection

Not in this version:

• PAL 576i support

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2017-03-27

Cheaper FPGA

Instead of a DE0 Nano SOC you can also use a Waveshare CoreEP4CE6 Development Board. You can get it for 20-25$ via Aliexpress. The project folder for this is FPGA-CycloneIV. Because the board does not expose any clock pins, you have to desolder the oscillator and attach the dreamcast clock directly to the board.

ADV7513

I also created a board for experimenting with the Analog Devices ADV7513 HDMI Transmitter which can be found here. The verilog code for this can be found here.

Direct HDMI output from FPGA

If you want to go the "cheap" DIY route, i've made a PCB for the LVDS2TMDS part.

Dreamcast video output

Some details about the Dreamcast scaling issue on modern HDTVs: Video details link

Roadmap

0. Create cheaper solution based on simple FPGA development board.
1. Use FPGA to enable 480p mode. Currently I have to plug in a VGA cable ;)
2. Design FPGA board with Cyclone IV FPGA and ADV7513 transmitter. I'm planning to include some RAM to be able to implement 480i as well as basic upscaling later. Edit: I don't need external RAM for line doubling.
3. Design flat flex circuit to connect Dreamcast video DAC and audio DAC to FPGA board.
4. Detailed HOWTOs.

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