[Updated] - Selecting STM32 for graphics and touch display for animation vs video

[Ricko]

(Updated: I just noticed I initially wrote LVDS instead of DSI - corrected now)

Hi,

first time working with animated graphics and video on STM32, what is the best way to select a micro family for graphic application? I could not find a selector tool that would give me some guidelines of peripherals such as graphic accelerators (if needed) or other ones so to make an informed choice.

Essentially at the moment the requirements are:

- DSI interface with a resolution of 1024 x 768 (preferably 1280 x 800)

- Transparency support (not sure if this requires special hardware or if there are ways around it so it is not required)

- support for external fast memory (QSPI perhaps?) that transfers directly to the display (if such thing exists) because the application can potentially have a very large number of images

- Animation support either GIF or APNG (Animated PGN) or fast images switching. Not sure if special hardware (hardware acceleration perhaps) is required to make it a smooth experience without overloading the micro...?

- OPTIONAL... Depending on cost, it would be good to design the hardware so that it supports video too (30 FPS at the resolutions mentioned above would be acceptable).

What families (or Cortex core) should I be looking at and which specs within a specific family?

More importantly, what are the parameters to look for when selecting for animation vs video applications (so in the future I can do it myself)?

Thank you

[SofLit · Accepted solution]

Hello,

I prefer to provide you some application notes on which there is a table showing the devices featuring peripherals you are needing then you can decide youself according your needs:

DSI: see details in this AN4860 Introduction to DSI host on STM32 MCUs and MPUs:

QSPI: see details in this AN4760 Quad-SPI interface on STM32 microcontrollers and microprocessors

OCTOSPI: see details in this AN5050 Getting started with Octo-SPI, Hexadeca-SPI, and XSPI interfaces on STM32 MCUs

See this video for STM32H757 on youtube especially at @1:12 where 4 videos at 25fps are displaying at the same time.

Hope it helps. 

[Ricko]

Thank you @SofLit 

useful links but after going through them, I did not see anything in there about GIF/animation and transparency or layers. Specifically how to choose some micros that allow or support those features.

Could not find any app notes either but I might heve been googling the wrong terminology. Any app note or suggestions/guidelines about those two topics and how to select micros that support them?

Thank you

[SofLit]

Image animation and transparency are managed at TouchGFX library level not by hardware.

Hope I answered your questions.

[Ricko]

Thank you