Programming microcontroller to store images and displaying them as a dia-show with an dvi/hdmi output in several resolutions?

Question

Hi,

I would like to solder a microcontroller, control buttons and an DVI/HDMI output and program this in a way, that I can store images on it and let them display as a dia-show via the outputs.

It doesn't have to have a lot of storage capacity, 128Mb would be enough. but I don't know how to start, because I haven't done anything like this before.

My aim is to present some important images to friends by just taking this hardware, connecting it to a TV screen and showing these photos. If should be able to switch the photos manually (using a button) or automatically in a dia-show.

It should support several TV resolutions and it should be connectable to my PC (USB prefered), so that I can upload and delete photos.

So where to start and how to do that?

Thank you in advance, Andreas

Answer 1

If your aim is just to show some photos, there are assuredly simpler and more cost effective ways to do so; devices exist which do more or less exactly what you are proposing.

If your aim is to learn about microcontrollers and this is a project your are taking up to further that, I would recommend looking into the Arduino: http://www.arduino.cc/ or a similar kit based micro, and growing your project from that.

Answer 2

Microcontroller + low level language will be a huge pain to work with, particularly if you wish to handle various file formats and screen resolutions. Get a full-blown computer with an OS instead - something like http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PC/104

Answer 3

If your goal is purely to be able to display photos then I would recommend using a digital camera with video out capabilities.

If your aim is to learn about electronics and microcontrollers I would start with a good book and an Arduino board. Note that writing microcontroller code to handle file systems, image formats and video output is non-trivial. Simpler projects may be a better starting point as they are more accessible resulting in quicker progress, less frustration and more motivation!

Answer 4

It sounds like you want an iPod. That is a dead simple thing to work with and it does everything you want. Otherwise, very complicated. I'd suggest the BeagleBoard and embedded Linux. Yes, it warrants that level of complexity.

The options for small microcontrollers just aren't there. The Arduino is very popular and yes, you can interface an SD card to it. That'd be your storage. Yes, you can put a digital potentiometer on it, that can be your interface. I've seen some video overlays that do simple text, but never any JPEG display (too much processing required). And certainly no 24 bit color (so that the output would actually look good) - that would take WAY too many pins to do correctly (and the Arduino doesn't have a D/A converter! You'd have to rig something up that would suck). And even then, all of the options for TV out weren't HDMI, but RCA (the old red/white/yellow cables).

So in short, no. Get a computer. That's what can do the job.