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This project is my attemp to write an open-source software for the well known EPi-OSD which is based on the popular MAX7456 by MAXIM. The name somehow derives from the language it is written in or my nickname or my real name, the choice is up to you. So maybe you want to know what this is all about, let's take a look at a screenshot: |
Why all this?
Back in 2008 I made a little helper-script called max7456 chars made easy (german page) to generate characters for such OSDs. The script is still working and helped me a lot making characters that suited my needs. You can still use it for making own chars, it is also mentioned in the source-code.The original software was closed source and it held the project somehow to a lower level than it could have been till now. There were other projects using the chip as well but somehow nobody from the MikroKopter-Community, which is the community around the remote controlled quadrocopter the OSD was developed for, made the effort to start an open-source version that will run on the great hardware. At 23rd of March 2009 I came home earlier than I thought from a night out and wanted to do something productive, this is it. |
How can I use it?Best chance is to buy yourself an EPi-OSD and solder it. Afterwards just take the precompiled .hex-files or compile the source on your own and flash it. Maybe a MikroKopter would be useful as well, or you adapt the sources to whatever you like, this is
Start with the C-OSD-characters-pal.hex (or -ntsc.hex) file. Flash it and wait till the character screen appears and all the four LEDs are on, it indicates that the writing is finished. During the time it takes the Atmega162 to teach the MAX7456 the characters LED3 (one of the two green ones) will be blinking, indicating that there is still some stuff to do.You should end up in a screen like the one to the right showing the complete character set that is on your MAX7456 now. Now you can flash the -pal.hex or -ntsc.hex according to your needs (you still can change the Video-Mode later, but the default mode is set within the different files) and start Some hints: FuseBits using AVR Studio FuseBits using PonyProg Which means, speaking in hex: EXTENDED: 0xFB HIGH: 0xD7 LOW: 0xEF Some command line hints: Test the connection (reads out the Fuse-Bits): Set the fuse-bits: Flash a firmwarefile: You might want to change COM1 or /dev/ttyS0 according to you operating system and your needs. The simplest way (at least for me) is using a USBprog which is a cheap open source AVRISP mkII clone. It has more features than cloning this one device, but I am using it for it. The whole flashing stuff is much faster than with a normal serial ISP-device and it works directly out of AVRStudio. So you can hit compile and flash and have your current code in about 2-3sec on the chip, good for the try-and-error-coders like myself in some parts of especially this very piece of software. I made a little video-tutorial about flashing the software to the EPi-OSD board, this might be helpful: |
Discussions?Since this somehow is for the MikroKopter I started a discussion thread about this in their forum:C-OSD - Die open-source Software fuers EPi-OSD The Thread is mostly in german but you are invited to ask questions in english as well, so do not hesitate! Some of the French buddys started a thread about this in their Forum as well, so if you are native French they might be able to help you. Check out EPI-OSD en OPEN SOURCE : C-OSD, but remember that I personally do not speak french at all and I am not constantly checking out the french forum. |
Custom Characters?
Feel free to Design your custom chars, the .mcm file is in the SVN trunk and a recent version will be here:c-osd.mcm which looks like the one to the right. The characters used in this software are somehow community choice,... Somehow because I still was the one having the last word till now. Make some good ones and maybe they will get in the next release. There are several ways to paint custom chars:
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Known Problems?
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Downloads?So you got interested? Really?You can just simply try out the precompiled hex-files: C-OSD-20100218-2330.zip (~90k) Acces the current sourcecode via SVN (you need to be registered over at the MikroKopter-Forum, your login-data will work for the svn as well: svn co http://mikrokopter.de/mikrosvn/Projects/C-OSD You can also browse the files of Projects/C-OSD/ online via webbrowser using WebSVN Projects/C-OSD/ Or get some snapshots of the source: C-OSD-20090408-1245-src.zip (~44k) The tools I am using are AVR Studio 4.16 (build 628) with WinAVR-20081205. Or on my laptop it is gcc version 4.3.2 (GCC) with Target: avr and some mixture of vi, NetBeans and gedit :) I am not that picky regarding those stuff, as long as the tools are doing their job without a struggle I am happy. So pick whatever you prefer for yourself. |
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
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Last changes?
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