SAM9x75 User's Guide for Microchip Graphics Suite (MGS) Harmony

Introduction

The SAM9x75 Microprocessor Unit (MPU) is a high-performance, cost-optimized embedded MPU based on the Arm926EJ-S™ Central Processing Unit (CPU) core, operating at speeds up to 800 megahertz (MHz). It supports Mobile Industry Processor Interface Display Serial Interface (MIPI DSI^®), Low-Voltage Differential Signaling (LVDS), and Red-Green-Blue (RGB) display interfaces, and features 2D graphics acceleration. The device also includes Gigabit Ethernet with Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) and Controller Area Network with Flexible Data-rate (CAN-FD). The SAM9x75 is well-suited for industrial and medical applications with or without graphical displays up to 1024 x 768 pixels, as well as for home automation and security system gateways, including access control systems with biometric authentication.

SAM9x75 Curiosity Development Board

The SAM9x75 Curiosity Development Board (EV31H43A) features a SAM9x75D2G MPU and is the evaluation platform for the SAM9X7 series of MPU devices. The SAM9x75 Curiosity Development Board includes four Gbit Single-Level Cell (SLC) NAND Flash, a 64 Mb QSPI Nor Flash, a Gigabit Ethernet interface through SODIMM 260-pin connector, a LAN8840 EDS2 Daughter Card to evaluate Microchip LAN8840 Gigabit Ethernet RGMII Ethernet PHY, MCP16502 Power Management Integrated Circuit (IC) optimized for the module and one extra DC/DC converter to supply interfaces such as the Gigabit Ethernet interface and the Wireless M.2 interface. 

Application Examples

The SAM9x75 MPU can run complex graphical user interfaces with a wide array of displays and display interfaces. Below are application examples that were developed for the SAM9x75. The embedded simulator outputs are fully interactive and run the exact same Graphical User Interface (GUI) application as the target hardware.

Showcase Applications

These projects feature practical, real-world application graphical user interfaces that showcase the HMI capabilities of the SAM9x75 running MGS Harmony. MGS Harmony leverages the on-chip SAM9x75 graphics peripherals, like the GPU and LCD controller, and memory to run these applications in an optimized way. 

Back to top

MGS Harmony Medical Syringe Pump

This application example features a high-resolution, wide GUI for a medical syringe pump or drug infusion device.

The application utilizes the MGS Harmony's ability to reorient and pre-render frames onto frame buffers in RAM and use the hardware overlays on the embedded display controller to switch rapidly and slide frames on the screen. These enable the GUI to perform these advanced GUI effects without redrawing the screen and minimizing CPU usage.

The graphics canvas library provides the framework and Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to configure and control these advanced UI functions in the application.

Back to top

MGS Harmony Motorbike

The application leverages the hardware overlays on the SAM9x75 to composite complex circular gauge images and the MGS graphics library manages which sections of the gauges are masked or drawn. This technique enables the ability to display complex gauge designs and patterns without the overhead of run-time vector rendering and alpha-blending.

This application example features circular gauge clusters in a rectangular or round display. The rectangular version, called MGS Motorbike RTOS, runs with FreeRTOS™ in MPLAB Code Configurator (MCC) Harmony and provides frame update rate and CPU usage metrics.

Back to top

Getting Started Applications

MGS Harmony Quickstart

Quickstart applications provide a good starting point for GUI development with MGS Harmony Graphics.

To get started, build and program the appropriate Quickstart project based on the display module being used and the preferred color mode.

Back to top

Display Modules

MGS Harmony supports the following display modules when used with the SAM9x75 Curiosity Development Board.

Refer to the hardware guide for information on how to purchase the required hardware and set up the display with the SAM9x75 Development Board.

The SAM9x75 Curiosity MGS application examples are available on GitHub.

Back to top