Datasheet

2
Graphics Quick Reference Guide
As the color depth and display resolution increase, the
frame buffer grows. Depending on the size, the frame
buffer can be stored in the microcontroller RAM, in external
SRAM or integrated into an external graphics controller.
The table below shows examples of the frame buffer sizes
required for some popular resolution and color depths.
■ PIC24 DA family supports up to 96 KB on chip
■ PIC32 MCUs support up to 128 KB on chip
■ External SRAM can be used for larger frame buffers
■ For advanced graphics, external graphics controllers
have additional frame buffer storage
Target Applications
Applications that benefit from attractive and easy to use
graphical displays include:
Consumer: Thermostats,
Cordless Phones, Remote Controls
Home Appliance: Coffee Makers,
Washing Machines, Ovens
Industrial: Digital Instrument Gauges,
Storage Controls, Remote Terminals
Portable Medical: Glucometers,
Blood-Pressure Monitors, Portable ECGs
Microchip offers varying levels of solutions to drive
everything from simple monochrome LCDs to full color
WVGA user interfaces.
Graphics support includes the following approaches:
■ PIC24F DA integrated graphics controller
■ PIC32 controllerless graphics
■ Support for PIC® MCU with external graphics controllers
The silicon offering is complemented with powerful, free
and easy to use graphics library, display designer GUI
and hardware development kits with flexible interface to
various glass sizes.
Supported Screen Sizes and Colors
Microchip graphics solutions support various screen sizes
and colors ranging from small monochrome OLED displays
up to WVGA displays with vivid color. The table below
shows the bits per pixel required to represent color.
Display
Representation
Color Examples
Color Depth
(bits per pixel)
Mono Black and White 1
Grayscale
4 shades
16 shades
2
4
Color
256 color
65K colors
16 million colors
8
16
24
Display Controller Solutions: Graphical Displays
Frame Buffer Sizes
Display Resolution
Typical Sizes
Color Depth/
Memory Requirement (bytes)
1 bpp
(Mono)
4 bpp
(16 shades)
8 bpp
(256 colors)
16 bpp
(65K colors)
WVGA 800×480 7" 48,000 192,000 384,000 768,000
VGA 640×480 5.7" 38,400 153,600 307,200 614,400
WQVGA 480×272 4.3" 16,320 65,280 130,560 261,120
QVGA 320×240 3.2" 9,600 38,400 76,800 153,600
Common for
OLED
128×64 1"–2.7" 1,024 4,096 8,192 16,384
Internal RAM on PIC24DA or PIC32 MCU External SRAM/PSRAM
PIC24 DA Integrated
Graphics Controller
PIC32
Controllerless Graphics
External Solomon Systech
Graphics Controller
SSD1926
External Epson
Graphics Controller
S1D13517
Display* WQVGA 480×272 WQVGA 480×272 WQVGA 480×272 WVGA 800×480
Graphics
HW Acceleration:
Rectangles, Characters,
Images
DMA on PIC32 + <5 MIPS
HW Acceleration, SD card,
I/F, JPEG engine
SDRAM, I/F, Alpha-
blending, Picture-in-picture
Frame Buffer
Color Lookup Table +
96 KB on MCU + Ext
SRAM/PSRAM
128 KB on MCU +
Ext SRAM/PSRAM
256 KB on Solomon
Systech Controller
Ext SDRAM
Core MIPS 16 80 – –
Power Better Good Good Good
Cost $ $ $$ $$$
*Max size at 16 bpp, 60 Hz