LED Applications - Capabilities of XS1-G4

Capabilities of XS1-G4 in LED Control Applications
(VERSION 1.0)

2009/04/23
Authors:
XMOS LTD.





Copyright © 2009, XMOS Ltd.
All Rights Reserved

---

XMOS
2 / 8
Contents

PWM Enabled Driver ICs
3
XS1-G4 144 BGA Package
3
XS1-G4 512 BGA Package
3
Non-PWM Enabled Driver ICs
4
XS1-G4 144 BGA Package
4
XS1-G4 512 BGA Package
4
Prototyping
5
BOM Comparison
6
Outdoor Displays
6
Indoor Displays
6
Assumptions
7
Related Documents
7
Disclaimer
8

CAPABILITIES OF XS1-G4 IN LED CONTROL APPLICATIONS (1.0)
2009/04/23

---

XMOS
3 / 8
PWM Enabled Driver ICs
This section details the capabilities of the XS1-G4 when driving PWM-enabled LED
Drivers, such as Macroblock MBI5030 and similar.
XS1-G4 144 BGA Package
Scan Rate
PWM Resolution
Pixels per XS1-G4
Screen Refresh Rate
(bits per LED)
(Hz)
Static
6bit
16000
60
Static
10bit
16000
60
Static
12bit
16000
60
Static
16bit
16000
60
1/8
6bit
4096
750
1/8
10bit
4096
750
1/8
12bit
-Unsupported by LED Driver IC-
1/8
16bit
-Unsupported by LED Driver IC-

XS1-G4 512 BGA Package
The 512BGA package only gives improvements over the 144BGA package in the 1/8
scan mode, where refresh rates must be higher.
Scan Rate
PWM Resolution
Pixels per XS1-G4
Screen Refresh Rate
(bits per LED)
(Hz)
Static
6bit
16000
60
Static
10bit
16000
60
Static
12bit
16000
60
Static
16bit
16000
60
1/8
6bit
12288
750
1/8
10bit
12288
750
1/8
12bit
-Unsupported by LED Driver IC-
1/8
16bit
-Unsupported by LED Driver IC-

CAPABILITIES OF XS1-G4 IN LED CONTROL APPLICATIONS (1.0)
2009/04/23

---

XMOS
4 / 8
Non-PWM Enabled Driver ICs
This section details the capabilities of the XS1-G4 when driving non-PWM-enabled
LED Drivers, such as MBI5026 and similar.
XS1-G4 144 BGA Package
PWM Resolution
Pixels per XS1-G4
Refresh Rate Capability (Hz)
(bits per LED)
8bit
2048
230
10bit
1024
152
12bit
256
152

XS1-G4 512 BGA Package
The 512pin package enables another XCore to be directly used for LED driving, as well
as utilizing a wider bus for 12bit mode.
PWM Resolution
Pixels per XS1-G4
Refresh Rate Capability (Hz)
(bits per LED)
8bit
4096
230
10bit
2048
152
12bit
1024
152

CAPABILITIES OF XS1-G4 IN LED CONTROL APPLICATIONS (1.0)
2009/04/23

---

XMOS
5 / 8
Prototyping
The XS1-G4 can be fully evaluated for LED Control Applications using the XC-3 LED
Tile Control Kit. An LED Module can also be supplied. The XC-3 features a 144BGA
package and two 10/100Mbps Ethernet ports and is available from www.xmos.com.
For driving PWM-enabled LED Drivers, the XC-3 supports the following:
Scan Rate
PWM Resolution
Pixels per XS1-G4
Screen Refresh Rate
(bits per LED)
(Hz)
Static
6bit
16000
60
Static
10bit
16000
60
Static
12bit
16000
60
Static
16bit
16000
60
1/8
6bit
2048
750
1/8
10bit
2048
750
1/8
12bit
-Unsupported by LED Driver IC-
1/8
16bit
-Unsupported by LED Driver IC-

For driving Non-PWM-enabled LED Drivers, the XC-3 supports the following:
PWM Resolution
Pixels per XC-3
Refresh Rate Capability (Hz)
(bits per LED)
8bit
512
230
10bit
256
152
12bit
128
152

CAPABILITIES OF XS1-G4 IN LED CONTROL APPLICATIONS (1.0)
2009/04/23

---

XMOS
6 / 8
BOM Comparison
Outdoor Displays
For a static (i.e. non-scanning) LED Driver arrangement typical on outdoor displays,
large cost savings can be realized by using the XS1-G4 to drive non-pwm-enabled LED
Drivers. An example BOM Comparison follows:

PWM Drivers
Non-PWM Drivers
Non-PWM Drivers
10bit mode
12bit mode
Display Size:
1024 x 768
1024 x 768
1024 x 768
Number of
50
384
768
Scan Boards:
Number of
147456
147456
147456
LED Drivers:
Cost of Scan Boards:
$1500
$11520
$23040
Cost of LED Drivers:
$147456
$73728
$73728
Total Cost:
$148956
$85248
$96768

Indoor Displays
For a 1/8 scan LED Driver arrangement typical on indoor displays, moderate cost
savings can be realized by using the XS1-G4 to drive non-pwm-enabled LED Drivers.
An example BOM Comparison follows:

PWM Drivers
Non-PWM Drivers
8bit mode
Display Size:
1024 x 768
1024 x 768
Number of Scan Boards:
64
192
Number of LED Drivers:
147456
147456
Cost of Scan Boards:
$1920
$5760
Cost of LED Drivers:
$18432
$9216
Total Cost:
$20352
$14976

CAPABILITIES OF XS1-G4 IN LED CONTROL APPLICATIONS (1.0)
2009/04/23

---

XMOS
7 / 8
Assumptions
NOTE: Throughout the document, the following are assumed. Note that these costs
and figures may differ for various applications.
· 3 LEDs (R,G,B) are required per pixel
· Drivers SPI Clock Rate: 25Mhz
· Scan Board cost: $30
· MBI5030 cost: $1.00
· MBI5026 cost: $0.50
Related Documents
The following documents provide more information on designing with the XC-3:
· LED Reference Design Application Note
o Provides overview of the LED Video wall architecture and
implementation details of the Reference Design.
o http://www.xmos.com/xc3
· XC-3 Hardware Manual
o Provides detailed information on the XC-3 hardware components and
port mapping.
o http://www.xmos.com/published/xc3hw
CAPABILITIES OF XS1-G4 IN LED CONTROL APPLICATIONS (1.0)
2009/04/23

---

XMOS
8 / 8
Disclaimer
XMOS Ltd. is the owner or licensee of this design, code, or Information (collectively, the
"Information") and is providing it to you "AS IS" with no warranty of any kind, express
or implied and shall have no liability in relation to its use.