Early design diagram for EFIKA2 (no on board graphics - this changed!):



We might wait to produce the boards for the FPGA and graphics chip (again, not shown).

We'll decide next week.

R&B

_________________
http://bbrv.blogspot.com

BBRV: Well.. well... This FPGA-block looks quite alot like my idea of an Efika-hardware project I posted at february .. pci-connection, Wishbone, LCD-controller, Opensuorce/OpenCores-code etcetc..

http://projects.ppczone.org/projects.php?project=108

I like, easier for me this way

But, please add couple (dc-connected) 8/10 bit A/D converters.. Those are necessary for connecting LCD-panel with resistive touch screen ...

You mean like this?



That sounds like a great idea!

R&B

_________________
http://bbrv.blogspot.com

Well.. The idea is good, but it looks a bit too much like a Evaluantion board

[quote="JoannaK"]BBRV: Well.. well... This FPGA-block looks quite alot like my idea of an Efika-hardware project I posted at february .. pci-connection, Wishbone, LCD-controller, Opensuorce/OpenCores-code etcetc..

http://projects.ppczone.org/projects.php?project=108

I like, easier for me this way

But, please add couple (dc-connected) 8/10 bit A/D converters.. Those are necessary for connecting LCD-panel with resistive touch screen ...[/
quote]

hi Joanna, i was wondering if this as yet unknown FPGA might be able to assist in video encoding and if so, given that at least one version of the board will have onboard GFX chip, then how much extra cost would it be to also add a composit or even S-video input header somewere on the board, perhaps put the parrallel edge connector on a simle header and hence make more room for putting other option there, bb ?.

i think many future projects could and would make use of such a standard option, what do you think?.

That would be cool I guess. But would it mean that there would be no PCI slot on the board? That would perhaps reduce its value as an evaluation board ...?

Ummm... Is it just me, or does it look like Freescale has begun manufacturing analog single-vector output devices (aka: etch-a-sketch)??

_________________
Who is John Galt?

Hmm.. I'm no Video/fpga -expert but as far as I can tell it should be possible to use Fpga logic to assist on numeric-heawy parts of video encoding/decoding. At this time I have no idea what kind (size, speed, pin numbers etc) FPGA there will be nor what kind of IO-interfaces Genesi has decided to include on board, but I think it is an idea worth considering.

http://www.tabletkiosk.com/config/pc/vi ... ategory=35

i liked the look/size of this Ultra Slim 7 " TFT-LCD Resistive Touch and the fact it has 11g onboard

the Zoom mode to display 800x600, 1024x768 at 800x480 seems a little strange but again perhaps usable, cant say i like much else about it though.

the TabletKiosk EO UMPC Specs and Pricing
Sven Olsen - March 28, 2006 1:00 PM

dailytech writeup can be found here:
http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=1489

Hi all.

Well, this EFIKA 2 design could make the implementation of our project a lot easier.
Right now we are having a great deal of issues (not the least cost related) in order to implement our computer for children. The major cost is due to the fact that the TFT screen needs VGA connection, which is expensive. Something like LVDS could decrease the price substantially.

Some concept designs of our project can be found here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/69943045@N00/

This system is aimed to have a touch screen display, and we hope to have a prototype ready as soon as we get the EFIKA.
The design is nearly finnished and ready to go to the SLS/SLA prototyping machine, but we still have not found the right, affordable, screen (maybe the Lilliput and the Phylon, http://www.logicsupply.com/default.php/cPath/52, but they are so much more expensive in Europe...).
Suggestions are welcome


Best regards,
Johan

i seriously do hope that the xgi graphics is used as well as the fpga, but the fpga can be used for the developers projects.
ie empX could implement a surround sound codec in the fpga. it really would be good if a header for the digital signals was on the board, (dont think it would be to much extra work ) and maybe provide a LVDS adapter which plug into the header (signals could be routed into the fpga for conversion to vga or whatever is needed)

Please integrate a user accessable fpga. doing so would allow to customize the board without hardware changes and would open new dimensions in the achieveable performance.

100K logic cells would be nice .

I don't know about cost, but I think it would certainly be *possible*. And I don't think it needs to be added on the *mainboard* either. If you look at the top of the block diagram, you will see various "daughter PCB's" (right?). My guess is that the FPGA's pins on the mainboard is routed to some edge of the board, where any kind of PCB containing headers, connectors etc, as well as any support/extra electronics, can be fitted. This way, you can have one single Efika design, and add any kind of core in the FPGA (according to your project needs) and any kind of corresponding header on a PCB, *without* changing the basic Efika design.

If this is the case, then I think it's a really cool approach!

its not really that much help to you as i cant find
the old advertisers section on the bowlers (Europes Largest Computer Market)site anymore http://www.computermarkets.co.uk/ but i have in the past seen standard 7" and 8" (i think 12v dc)
from lcd vga retailing for £70/£80 UKp per unit and
know that many traders there will bulk with their
contacts.

perhaps if you can contact bowlers/NCM, they can put you in contact with some of the traders and find a source at far better rates, werth a try anyway.

i had a few spare minutes so went looking for some more info and prices, the OEM's seem to make it pritty hard to get general pricing idea's but i found
a review for a 'Lilliput' here
http://www.bigbruin.com/reviews/lilliput/
and from that the url for the oem
http://www.lilliput.cn/oem.htm

there seems to many resistive touch screen overlays
for 7" and 8" car models but again rather overpriced
probably due to the fact their geared to the automotive clients at this point, but still a begining.