VM800P – FT800 Development Platform
The VM800P ‘Plus’ is the latest in the series of EVE Development modules and further extends system integration by providing a comprehensive, fully integrated, ready to use development system, designed to provide engineers with everything necessary to create quality Human Machine Interface (HMI) solutions with display, audio and touch functionality.
This completely Arduino-compatible module features an FT800 graphics controller IC for three in one operation (display, audio and touch) and its FT232R USB UART interface IC for MCU programming and communications, controlled from an inbuilt ATMEGA328P microcontroller operating at 5V/16MHz. Programming and configuration is easily achieved via the Arduino IDE, using a pre-programmed Arduino-compatible bootloader.
The development system offers a hi-quality system with an elegantly designed, precision fit bezel that provides a resistive touch panel sensor and component board in a rugged, plastic enclosure. Offered in black (-BK) colours, the device provides the engineer a low priced option which can shorten development time while enabling a production finished look for 3.5″, 4.3″ or 5″ colour TFT display solutions.
An abundance of enhanced features are included in the ‘Plus’ module: a backlit LED driver, inbuilt audio amplifier and micro-speaker, Real Time Clock (RTC) with battery backup, on-board 3.3v/5v level shifters, e-Flash IC build option, and a Micro-SD Card socket for application store plus 4GB SD card pre-loaded with 11 interactive application demonstrations and one library of free running apps, showcasing just a few examples of what this innovative device, designed primarily for industrial and commercial purpose, could be used for. The Arduino-compatible display system development platforms run off a standard 5V,delivered via a micro-USB or an auxiliary power connector. Furthermore, Micro-MaTch miniature connectors are provided to further extend functionality, and plug in card connectors are available to expand the IO capability to include GPIO, RS232, RS485, RELAY IO, Ethernet and POE, promoting improved connectivity and the ability to transmit over longer distances.
For more information, please click here for the Press Release or click here to access the Datasheet
Documentation
A complete listing of technical documentation is provided below. Due to the size of the documents and Sample Application software environment, Bridgetek recommends that purchasers of a VM800P development system, first acquaint themselves with the VM800P and FT800 datasheets, after which familiarity with EVE’s pseudo language found in the Programming Guide is advised. The remaining documents and Sample Application software have been developed with an orientation toward system and design implementation.
- VM 800P Datasheet
- FT 800 Series Programmers Guide
- FT 800 Sample Application
- AN 240 FT800 From the Ground Up
- AN 246 VM800CB_SampleApp_Arduino_Introduction
- AN 252 FT800 Audio Primer
- AN 258 FT800 Chinese Font Demo
- AN 275 FT800 Example with Arduino
- AN 276 Audio File Conversion
- AN 277 FT800 Create User Defined Font
- AN 291 FT800 Create Multi-Language Font
- AN 303 FT800 Image File Conversion
- AN 314 FT800 Advanced Techniques – Working with Bitmaps
- AN 318 Arduino Library for FT800 Series
- AN 327 EVE Screen Editor Installation Guide
- AN 333 FT800 and FT801 Touch Capabilities
- EVE Screen Editor Tool
- Arduino Library v1.2.0
- VA800A PROG – VM800P Programmer Datasheet
- VM800P Preloaded Firmware
Application Architectures
Bridgetek supports two programming solutions for the VM800P module, the HAL and the Arduino libraries. The architecture of both development systems can be seen within the block diagrams below:
The first diagram portrays a sample application using the HAL structure, which is further detailed in Application Note 246 – VM800CB_SampleApp_Arduino_Introduction. The sample application is designed to easily port to numerous MCUs over SPI by introducing one generic Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL), which can then be used as a guideline for other platforms.
Alternatively, by utilising the Arduino library as outlined in Application Note 318 – Arduino_Library_For_FT800_Series the engineer benefits from dedicated library support and examples, and can operate over the popular and easy to use Arduino IDE, using a pre-programmed Arduino Bootloader.
There is an FTDI FT232R chip on the VM800P module and the FT232R datasheet is available here.
Please install the VCP and D2XX driver by the setup executable and it is available here.
Modules and Accessories
| VM800P35A-BK | FT800 Display System, ATMEGA328P @ 5V/16MHz, Micro SD socket, 3.5″ TFT LCD touch panel, black case |  |
| VM800P43A-BK | FT800 Display System, ATMEGA328P @ 5V/16MHz, Micro SD socket, 4.3″ TFT LCD touch panel, black case | |
| VM800P50A-BK | FT800 Display System, ATMEGA328P @ 5V/16MHz, Micro SD socket, 5.0″ TFT LCD touch panel, black case | |
| VA800A-PROG | Accessory – VM800P Programmer and Debugger module | |
| VI800A-TTLU | VI800A UART TTL module, plug-in accessory for the VM800P Plus Module | |
| VI800A-232U | VI800A RS232 Module, plug-in accessory for the VM800P Plus Module | |
| VI800A-N485U | VI800A RS485 Module, plug-in accessory for the VM800P Plus Module | |
| VI800A-RELAY | VI800A RELAY Module, plug-in accessory for the VM800P Plus Module | |
| VI800A-ETH | VI800A ETH Module, plug-in accessory for the VM800P Plus Module, | |
| VI800A-PoE | VI800A PoE Module, plug-in accessory for the VM800P Plus Module | |
| VA-PSU-UK1 | Accessory – UK Model 5V/1A USB Power Supply (Mfr # JX-B0520C-1-B) | |
| VA-PSU-US1 | Accessory – US Model 5V/1A USB Power Supply (Mfr # JX-B0520B-1-B) | |
| VA-PSU-EU1 | Accessory – EU Model 5V/1A USB Power Supply (Mfr # JX-B0520A-1-B) | |
| VA-FC-1M-BKW | Accessory – Flat USB A to Micro B Cable 1M – Black and White | |
| VA-FC-1M-BLW | Accessory – Flat USB A to Micro B Cable 1M – Blue and White | |
| VA-FC-STYLUS1 | Accessory – Resistive Touch Screen Pen Stylus | |