Datasheet
PIC24FJ256DA210 FAMILY
DS39969B-page 324 2010 Microchip Technology Inc.
22.2 Display Resolution and Memory
Requirements
The PIC24FJ256DA210 family of devices has two vari-
ants in terms of on-board RAM (24-Kbyte and 96-Kbyte
variants). The 24-Kbyte variant supports monochrome
displays while the 96-Kbyte variant supports Quarter
VGA (QVGA) color displays, up to 256 colors. Support of
higher resolution displays with higher color depth
requirements are available by extending the data space
through external memory. Table 22-1 provides the sum-
mary of image buffer memory requirements of different
display resolutions and color depth requirements.
22.3 Display Clock (GCLK) Source
Frequency of the Graphics Controller Display Clock
(GCLK) signal is determined by programming the
GCLKDIV bits (CLKDIV2<15:9>). For more informa-
tion, refer to the “PIC24F Family Reference Manual”,
Section 6. “Oscillator” (DS39700).
22.4 Display Buffer and Work Areas
Memory Locations
The PIC24FJ256DA210 family of devices has variants
with two on-board RAM sizes. These are the 24-Kbyte
and 96-Kbyte variants. These two RAM variants are
further divided in terms of pin counts. The 100-pin
count device will have the EPMP module available for
extending RAM for applications. The 64-pin count
device will not have the EPMP modules. Extending the
RAM size is necessary for applications that require
larger display buffers and work areas. It is recom-
mended that the display buffers and work areas are not
mapped into an area that overlaps the internal RAM
and the external RAM. The external RAM can be
interfaced using the EPMP module. For details, refer to
the “PIC24F Family Reference Manual”, Section 42.
“Enhanced Parallel Master Port (EPMP)”
(DS39730).
TABLE 22-1: BUFFER MEMORY REQUIREMENTS vs. DISPLAY CONFIGURATION
Display Resolution
Display Buffer Memory Requirements (Bytes)
1 Bpp 2 Bpp 4 Bpp 8 Bpp 16 Bpp
480x272 (WQVGA)
16320 32640 65280 130560 261120
320x240 (QVGA)
9600 19200 38400 76800 153600
240x160 (HQVGA) 4800 9600 19200 38400 76800
160x160 3200 6400 12800 25600 51200
160x120 (QQVGA)
2400 4800 9600 19200 38400
128x64 1024 2048 4096 8192 16384
Legend:
Less than 24-Kbyte RAM variants (PIC24FJXXXDA106)
Less than 96-Kbyte RAM variants (PIC24FJXXXDA2XX)
External Memory with 96 Kbytes/24 Kbytes of RAM variants (PIC24FJXXXDAX10)