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BG.3
Associate III
August 26, 2023
Question

Can I use TouchGFX for my STM32F413ZH based Custom Hardware? If yes How?

  • August 26, 2023
  • 14 replies
  • 5959 views

Hi there!

I am using a STM32F413ZH-based custom board, I was looking into the option of GUI applications and found TouchGFX. But I don't know how to use that and integrate it with my custom board. Please tell me how to integrate TouchGFX on my STM32F413ZH-based custom board. If it can't be used, then let me know about any other applications.

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14 replies

RhSilicon
Lead
August 26, 2023

As far as I know there are specific models for using graphics, F4x9 etc. I use an STM32F407 with SPI display but in very simplified mode, low performance.

STM32_GFX.png

https://www.st.com/content/dam/AME/2019/developers-conference-2019/presentations/STDevCon19_1.4_STM32TouchGFX.pdf

Harvey White
Senior III
August 27, 2023

I haven't used touch GFX in a while, and likely things have changed.

However, TouchGFX and similar programs rely on being able to write data to a specific pixel.  If it's not a supported ST board, you're in the soup for making it so.

Now this does not mean that I understand the specific drivers in TouchGFX, but in general you need:

  1. A way of initializing the board, and likely clearing the screen
  2. A way of writing a specific pixel
  3. a way of reading a specific pixel

Different graphics programs may need more or less, but that is the minimum you need.

Generally, you need to provide a method for doing the above, which can involve having access to low level SPI drivers (HAL will work, but you may need one chip on one interface).  These low level drivers depend on how your chip interfaces, how much graphics memory it has, how to access the registers on the control chip, and so on.

Many other programs (emWin, STemWin, uGFX, and so on, including what I have written) effectively do the same.  There are more methods of writing to a display, but what I've mentioned are the simplest.  Again, what kind of display, what kind of interface, and the display chip, all play a part.

 

BG.3
BG.3Author
Associate III
August 27, 2023

Thanks for your response Mr.Harvey.

By the way, seems like even STM32F413H-Disco board also will not compatible with TouchGFX.(correct me if I am wrong) I will definitely consider your points. But I need some more specific advise on application / library perspective. What would be effective for beginner stage. I thought TouchGFX. If it is not even suitable for STM32F413H-Disco board, will STemWin be good? or anything else?

 

 

 

Tesla DeLorean
Guru
August 27, 2023

1.5MB Internal FLASH, 16 MB External FLASH, 320 KB Internal RAM, 1 MB External RAM

Probably not ideal, but probably adequate. Will depend on your screen size and connectivity.

I'd expect STemWin would port

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Johi
Senior II
August 27, 2023

One option is to install TouchGfx Designer and look at the supported boards, then you can develop what you need on these and continue with your own design. There is a series of STM32 Discovery boards supported. For example the STM32F429I has 240 x 320. There are also references on the internet how to port TouchGfx to ILI9341 based boards typically supporting 240 x 320. If I was you and wanted to go the GFX path, I would first invest in a SM32F429I, make this work and then continue. The code generated by TouchGfx can be compiled with STM32Cube IDE and then downloaded to these boards without much problems.

Johi_0-1693153355234.png