Week6

1.       Progress Made:

Firstly, I modify my wrong cognition of my FYP. In the last week, after research of ERG test, I thought the electrical response to light will be transmitted into a DMD display system and then the doctors will examine whether patients have eye disease by observing the response displayed on the DMD display system. In fact, I was totally wrong. The truth is that I ought to design a stimulus source by DLP LightCrafter to stimulate patients’ eyes.  The procedure is like this. Some of the light from the projection bulb is reflected into the projection lens by micromirrors in the DMD. There will be some image displays on the screen. These images or patterns with high brightness will stimulate patient’s eyes. There is optics, DMD and projection lens in the light engine part of DLP LightCrafter.

Then, I watched some videos about DLP LightCrafter, searched some images of DLP LightCrafter, and visited the website of DLP and MEMS TI E2E Community support forums. The purpose of these efforts is to collect more information about DLP to figure out my doubts.

Next, I read user’s guide again. I tried to understand the aims of the collectors. For Trigger input/output, it is used in the Output Trigger Settings. In the Output Trigger Setting box to display pattern sequence, users can enable output trigger on the Trigger Input/Output connector. Now I don’t know when users can enable input trigger on the connector. Mini USB is used to interface to PC. Then developers can run the program on the PC to issue orders to the DLP LightCrafter module. Power connector ought to supply 5V with 2A to 3A current rating. There are also some other restrictions for power connector , for instance, 0.7mm inner plug diameter, 2.35mm outer diameter, 9.5mm female shaft length and positive center. The mini HDMI connector is used for the display of HDMI video. In this case, developer should connect an active HDMI source to the mini HIDMI connector. UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter) is applied as a console output of the embedded Linux device which resides on the micro-SD card. Then a 2.5mm stereo plug to female DB9 connector is used to link the DLP LightCrafter UART port to a PC.

Eventually, I read the instructions to install the driver software on a PC when the cable is first time connected to Windows 7 PC. However, I don't know what the cable means. Does it mean for USB cable or RS232cable with 2.5mm stereo plug. I will confirm it by connecting the two cables to PC respectively. It presents the detailed guidance with screenshot and explanation. I will install the driver software after I get my equipment with the assistances of these instructions. Additionally, for the PC software, I read the instructions for the adjustment of Graphical User Interface (GUI), such as, making some settings to display bitmap image, test patterns, HDMI video input and a pattern sequence. Resembling installation of driver software, the guidance for setting with screenshot as well makes the explanation more clear. When I make settings, I will follow these instructions.

2.       Problems and Challenges:

To begin with, I am confused whether we need a camera. If we need one, what’s its function? There is some equipment we need to buy but we do not know what they are, especially for the power supply. I have searched RS232 cable with 2.5mm stereo plug online. I have found them on the Amazon and eBay website. I should know which display mode is required among four modes Static image, Internal Test Pattern, HDMI Video and Pattern Sequence.

3.       Plans for Next Week:

l  Attempt to understand the aims of the rest connectors.