PicoVGA: VGA/TV display on Raspberry Pi Pico #RaspberryPiPico #Video @Raspberry_Pi
The PicoVGA library allows output from the Raspberry Pico to a VGA monitor or PAL/NTSC TV, with a focus on ease of use in technical and gaming applications. It provides 4 graphic overlay layers with transparency, nearly 30 frame buffer formats that can be freely combined with each other, making do with limited RAM memory size. The limitation of output to 8 bits also contributes to RAM saving.
PicoVGA library features
1 base layer and 3 overlay layers with transparency, using the PIO0 module
8-bit output in R3G3B2 format
VGA monitor output in 256×192 to 1280×960 resolution
output to a TV in PAL or NTSC interlaced mode at resolutions up to 1024×576 or 848×480
nearly 30 frame buffer formats: 8/4/2/1 bit graphics, tiles, text, special formats (charts)
colour palettes for text modes and graphics formats with limited bit depth
frame buffers of different formats can be combined together in strips and segments in the image
RLE image compression (suitable for drawings)
transparency modes with selectable key colour
hardware sprites in overlay layers
layer output only to designated output pins (color planes)
automatic configuration of the video mode according to the specified resolution and timing
automatic overclocking of the processor according to the desired resolution
the library uses the 2nd core of the processor, the 1st core is reserved for the main program
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It would have been pretty cool if it could output PAL or NTSC, but alas, it cannot. Saying that it allows output from a Pico to a PAL/NTSC TV is misleading. It only outputs RGB signals in various timings from VGA to TV-compatible 60Hz and 50Hz signals. But they would still have to be encoded to composite video, using either PAL or NTSC color-encoding, so you’re still missing a component.
It would have been pretty cool if it could output PAL or NTSC, but alas, it cannot. Saying that it allows output from a Pico to a PAL/NTSC TV is misleading. It only outputs RGB signals in various timings from VGA to TV-compatible 60Hz and 50Hz signals. But they would still have to be encoded to composite video, using either PAL or NTSC color-encoding, so you’re still missing a component.