2.8" TFT + Touch Shield Board v1b/c

[tommybobbins]

Really pleased with the two shields I ordered. I've posted a short video of the command line, then running Conway's Game of Life:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQ2OhEhTDbU
I've modified J.P. Armstrong's Pygame code to make it run on the HY28:
https://github.com/tommybobbins/gameoflife

[mjhammel]

Having some trouble getting drivers loaded. I build my own 3.2.27 kernel from git://github.com/raspberrypi/linux.git and the fbtft git repo. My first issue is that the display doesn't appear to be a HY28A, but rather a sainsmart32_spi. After building the correct drivers I tried loading with

Code: Select all

modprobe spidev
modprobe spi_bcm2708
modprobe fbtft_device name=sainsmart32_spi

I get all the expected output (see https://github.com/notro/fbtft/wiki#ste ... sing-fbtft) except the last line which should look something like this (but for my sainsmart):

graphics fb1: fb_hx8340bn frame buffer, 176x220, 75 KiB video memory, 16 KiB buffer memory, fps=20, spi0.0 at 32 MHz

I don't get anything like that. The result is that there is no /dev/fb1 created. So I think I'm missing a step somewhere. Any ideas?

[texy]

Hi,

the display doesn't appear to be a HY28A

You've lost me here because what I sell definately is a HY28A. Why does your compiled version think it's not?

What happens if you

Code: Select all

sudo modprobe fbtft dma
sudo modprobe fbtft_device name=hy28a rotate=270 speed=48000000 fps=50

What message do you get?

Texy

[mjhammel]

You've lost me here because what I sell definately is a HY28A. Why does your compiled version think it's not?

My initial tests were done incorrectly. When I check dmesg for what SPI reported it showed the sainsmart32_spi. I've now retried and loaded the modules in the right order and SPI reports what you'd expect:

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# dmesg | grep -i spi
[  297.962154] bcm2708_spi bcm2708_spi.0: SPI Controller at 0x20204000 (irq 80)
[  298.221740] fbtft_device:  SPI devices registered:
[  298.226610] fbtft_device:      spidev spi0.0 500kHz 8 bits mode=0x00
[  298.271044] fbtft_device:      spidev spi0.1 500kHz 8 bits mode=0x00
[  298.293592] fbtft_device: Deleting spi0.0
[  298.371734] fbtft_device:  SPI devices registered:
[  298.381450] fbtft_device:      spidev spi0.1 500kHz 8 bits mode=0x00
[  298.388819] fbtft_device:      fb_ili9320 spi0.0 32000kHz 8 bits mode=0x03

What happens if you

Code: Select all

sudo modprobe fbtft dma
sudo modprobe fbtft_device name=hy28a rotate=270 speed=48000000 fps=50

What message do you get?

Essentially what I'm getting now that I'm loading the drivers in the right order. I think either I'm not loading them early enough or I'm still missing a step like maybe another dependent driver or something. I've run depmod already. I have tried with the device file created before loading the drivers and after.

I got a little further thing morning by loading modules in the correct order, but there is no entry under /sys/class/graphics/ for the new device. I created the device node manually before checking the debug section of the fbtft wiki and found out about the /sys/... directory. Here is what I have now:

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# lsmod
fbtft_device 22471 0 - Live 0xbf164000
fbtft 23087 1 fbtft_device, Live 0xbf15a000
sysimgblt 1813 1 fbtft, Live 0xbf156000
sysfillrect 2916 1 fbtft, Live 0xbf152000
syscopyarea 2851 1 fbtft, Live 0xbf14e000
fb_sys_fops 1020 1 fbtft, Live 0xbf14a000
spi_bcm2708 3953 0 - Live 0xbf146000
spidev 4258 0 - Live 0xbf141000
nfsd 211963 5 - Live 0xbf104000
ipv6 238579 22 - Live 0xbf0be000
arc4 1006 2 - Live 0xbf0ba000
rt2800usb 11740 0 - Live 0xbf0b3000
rt2800lib 38595 1 rt2800usb, Live 0xbf0a6000
crc_ccitt 1061 1 rt2800lib, Live 0xbf0a2000
rt2x00usb 7441 1 rt2800usb, Live 0xbf09d000
rt2x00lib 30618 3 rt2800usb,rt2800lib,rt2x00usb, Live 0xbf090000
mac80211 203198 3 rt2800lib,rt2x00usb,rt2x00lib, Live 0xbf054000
cfg80211 142824 2 rt2x00lib,mac80211, Live 0xbf029000
uvcvideo 55323 0 - Live 0xbf017000
videodev 70810 1 uvcvideo, Live 0xbf000000
# dmesg | grep -i spi
[  297.962154] bcm2708_spi bcm2708_spi.0: SPI Controller at 0x20204000 (irq 80)
[  298.221740] fbtft_device:  SPI devices registered:
[  298.226610] fbtft_device:      spidev spi0.0 500kHz 8 bits mode=0x00
[  298.271044] fbtft_device:      spidev spi0.1 500kHz 8 bits mode=0x00
[  298.293592] fbtft_device: Deleting spi0.0
[  298.371734] fbtft_device:  SPI devices registered:
[  298.381450] fbtft_device:      spidev spi0.1 500kHz 8 bits mode=0x00
[  298.388819] fbtft_device:      fb_ili9320 spi0.0 32000kHz 8 bits mode=0x03
# ls -l /dev/fb*
crw-rw----    1 root     root       29,   0 Dec 31  1969 /dev/fb0
crw-r--r--    1 root     root       29,   1 Nov 15 07:34 /dev/fb1
# ls /sys/class/graphics/
fb0/    fbcon/

I think if I can find what's needed to get the sys entry created I should be good to go. I can look through the driver code later today and see if that tells me anything.

[texy]

Michael,
Is it not possible to get your version of the kernel 'happy' and then apply the fbtft changes afterwards?
Texy

[mjhammel]

Michael,
Is it not possible to get your version of the kernel 'happy' and then apply the fbtft changes afterwards?
Texy

Perhaps, if I knew what you meant by "happy". I'm not sure what you think is "unhappy" about it.

My kernel is pulled from the RPi kernel git tree, the fbtft code patched into it, then compiled with the fbtft drivers built as modules. I use Busybox/Buildroot for my rootfs and have custom init scripts (not systemd) that first create some required devices and then launch required services. It's a custom distro (PiBox) but that shouldn't matter. What should matter is that the kernel supports the driver (it should) and that I have all my eggs lined up before I try to use the driver. I'm trying to find out what egg is missing.

For fbtft, I don't have the device mknod integrated into the init scripts but then /dev/fb0 is created without my having to manually create it so I'm not sure what I've got compiled into the kernel that makes that automatically. I'm using mdev (not udev) to manage other device files - that may be handling it for me when X starts up since it uses /dev/fb0.

I looked through the driver code and found a number of places where things can go wrong but which are not logged. So I can't tell yet why fbtft_sysfs_init() (which creates the sysfs entry) is either not called or doesn't work. That function should get called as part of the probe process which happens when the module is loaded. Since the device is connected at power up, the probe should be occurring and so somewhere between the probe start and that call to fbtft_sysfs_init() something is happening that prevents it being called (or makes it fail when called).

For completeness, here is the output from dmesg (without grep'ing for just "spi"):

[ 490.912153] fbtft_device: SPI devices registered:
[ 490.917030] fbtft_device: spidev spi0.1 500kHz 8 bits mode=0x00
[ 490.978913] fbtft_device: 'fb' Platform devices registered:
[ 490.985561] fbtft_device: bcm2708_fb id=-1 pdata? no
[ 490.995532] fbtft_device: GPIOS used by 'hy28a':
[ 491.000328] fbtft_device: 'reset' = GPIO25
[ 491.021377] fbtft_device: 'led' = GPIO18
[ 491.026467] fbtft_device: SPI devices registered:
[ 491.031309] fbtft_device: spidev spi0.1 500kHz 8 bits mode=0x00
[ 491.042465] fbtft_device: fb_ili9320 spi0.0 32000kHz 8 bits mode=0x03

[mjhammel]

I figured out what "happy" means. I have some of the FB related drivers compiled into the kernel to get console output during kernel boot. I recompiled them as modules, then loaded them after boot followed by the fbtft drivers. The hy28a started working then. I was able to start an X session on it.

So my next job is to find the correct combination and/or order of loading the FB drivers including fbtft in order to get both the console and hy28a working during the init sequence. I want the console (hdmi) so I can run psplash on the console. And I want to be able to make decisions at init time about which displays are connected so the splash can be displayed on either or both and I can run different X sessions on the two displays. The hdmi will run a development console. The hy28a will be a monitor for sensors.

Anyway, the drivers work. I just have some more work specific to the way I use them.

[jokerswild1234]

Can someone help me? I purchased this touch shield, http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/28-tft ... p-864.html and was told I could get it to work with my PI along with the Embedded pi, though even with help I was never able to get anything more then a picture loaded with help (And never was taught how to make my own changes to display my own pictures on the screen) But i'm off topic, I don't want a single picture to load, It's a touch screen and at minimum I want video, Hopefully video with touch screen abilities for my PI, I have the 2.8 TFT, Where can I get this shield board to connect the PI to the screen so I may be able to move forward as I've been at a stand still for about 2 months now.

Thank you all for your time,
Paul

[texy]

But i'm off topic

You are
You'd be better off asking in another forum - this thread is specifically aimed at the display boards I sell - it doesn't feature the seedstudio display.
Texy

[bmp]

I noticed your ebay sale just ended, are you planning to list again?

[BBUK]

Hi all.

First of all thanks to texy for developing this board - I think they are very good and I have bought two.

One question, does anyone happen to know if notro's drivers support updating only a changed part of the display? I want to smoothly scroll a small proportion of the display (actually just a track name) using pygame but when I implement pygame dirty rect updates it does not appear to be making any difference to overall CPU usage when compared to updating the entire display.

This leads me to think that the driver updates the entire display over SPI when there is any change (even a small one) to the framebuffer (but I might be wrong).

I could look at the sources myself - just being lazy to see if anyone knew off the top of their heads.

BBUK

[Cimarron]

Hiya!
First post for a pcb purchase.
I stumbled across your design while troubleshooting my project and, wow! It will be a perfect fit.
Cheers.
cim

[robbiecrusoe]

Hi,

I purchased one of your displays from Ebay, and am now interested in purchasing a case. Can you enable me to PM you to order one please?

Many thanks,

[lloyd]

Hello, do you have any lcds with case for sale? I tried through ebay and you referred me back to here. Lloyd

[ct1aic]

Hi,
I have for sale a shield board based on a HY28A-LCDB, SPI driven with Touch Panel. This is the (now) third version of this popular add-on board.
This version is now supplied with a 26-way connector, so you don't need to solder directing onto the PCB for for additional hardware.
...
Postage costs for single items are :
UK - £4
Europe - £5
Rest of the World - £5
but note that multiple items may cost more to post.
Purchases can be made via eBay :
Display Board Assembled : http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 1322717936
Display Board with black case : http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 1327658000
Texy

This is a outstanding kit. I'm going to buy one today, to use with Arch Linux, and I hope to get it in Portugal before 14 December...

[metrowave]

Hi, thanks for setting up this kit. I see that only the screen with black case is available. Are there any more of just the screen monted board? like this one? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 1322717936
many thanks

[texy]

Just a few left for sale this side of christmas without cases :
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 1335262204
Texy

[ginner159]

Do you have any more? Just wanting the screen and ribbon cable if possible
Cheers
Matt

[myroslav]

Hi,

I'd also would like one assembled. Can you let us know when you have more available, please?

Regards,

Myroslav

[texy]

Hi,

yes I still have a very few left.
Thanks,
Texy

[Technikiel]

Hi,

Are you putting them on eBay? Do you have the cases as well?

Technikiel

[texy]

Hi,
No I am not putting these last few on eBay. I have 1 clear and 1 black case left. Send me a pm if you are interested.
Texy

[Tom Brewis]

Hi Texy

I am replying to your message earlier on another platform. I have just created an account here and at the moment I am not authorised to PM.
May be you could PM me and I will be allowed to reply.

I am interested in a screen a case and a ribbon cable. I was given the pi for my birthday last week so I think it is a new model.

Thanks

Tom Brewis

[josephantonywilson]

Are there any assembled lcds left I was looking at getting one

[truebm]

Hi Texy,

Do you have any available at the moment? I'm looking to buy one asap, pre-assembled.

Thanks mate!