Problem running LVGL examples on custom board

[mitchkapa]

We are working on transitioning our code from the LPCXpresso54018 development board to our own custom hardware.  On our custom board I am able to successfully run the example projects SDK_2.x_LPCXpresso54S018->demo_apps->touch_cursor and SDK_2.x_LPCXpresso54S018->driver_examples->lcdc->lcdc_tft.  But if I attempt to run SDK_2.x_LPCXpresso54S018->lvgl_examples->"any example" I cannot get any of these examples to run correctly.  Something appears to be running but there is just noise on the LCD screen not the correct images.

Here are some notes about our custom hardware:

1.) We are using the LPC54018 not LPC54S018 (but this is true of our NXP development board as well.)

2.) Our custom board uses the 208-pin package.  The development board uses the 180-pin package.  All of the SDK examples are set for the 180-pin package and I am making the change to the 208-pin package in the MCU settings area and updating the code via the pin configuration tool.

3.) All Ports/Pins between the custom board and the LPC54018 development board match with the exception of the Capacitive Touch interrupt pin which I have on Port3_Pin15.  I have added this pin in the pin configuration and modified board.h to reflect this change on the custom board.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to why the non-LVGL LCD examples work OK on our custom board but the LVGL examples do not?  Thanks.

[mitchkapa]

This issue is now resolved.  It was due to an SDRAM issue on my board.  At first I didn't think this was a possible cause because the build output shows a 0% usage for BOARD_SDRAM but that is apparently not accurate.

[Julián_AragónM]

Hi @mitchkapa,

Can you please confirm you followed the steps in the example's document?

It is found under the example: "lpcxpresso54018_littlevgl_xx -> doc -> readme.txt"

It says the following: 

"Running the demo
================
This demo is an external flash plain load demo, ROM will copy image in external flash to SRAMX to run:
1. Build the demo to generate a bin file.
Note: If need to generate bin file using MCUXpresso IDE, below steps need to be followed:
Set in example Properties->C/C++ Build->Settings->Build steps->Post-build steps->Edit
enbable arm-none-eabi-objcopy -v -O binary "&{BuildArtifactFileName}" "&{BuildArtifactFileBaseName}.bin"

This plainload example linked the vector table to 0x00000000, but program to external flash 0x10000000.

2. Program the bin file to external on board flash via SEGGER J-FLASH Lite(V6.22 or higher):

a. Open SEGGER J-FLASH Lite, select device LPC54018.

b. Click the 'Erase Chip' to erase the extrenal flash.(if can not success, press SW4 button and reset the board, and try to erase again)

c. Select the bin data file, set the '.bin/Erase Start' address to 0x10000000, then click 'Program Device'
Note: Please use above way to program the binary file built by armgcc tool chain to external flash.
For IAR, KEIL, MCUXpresso IDE, you can use the IDE tool to program the external flash.

If this example runs correctly, the sample GUI is displayed."

If this does not work, I would advise trying with the LPC54018's SDK.

Best regards, Julian

[mitchkapa]

Hi, Julian, thanks for your response.  I am afraid so far these steps have not helped.  I attempted to load the code via a .bin file rather than the "Debug" method I had been using but the result was the same.  I feel pretty confident the board is being programmed correctly since I am seeing something happening on the LCD it is just garbled images (with the LVGL examples).  And using the same programming method everything works correctly with the Touch Cursor demo and other non-LVGL demos.

I also tried loading an LVGL example from SDK_2.x_LPCXpresso54018 (v2.8.2) but that also was not successful.

[mitchkapa]

I forgot to add that we are using the same LCD panel on both the custom hardware and the development board.  The RK043FN66HS-CTG.