BOB-4 is Decade's fourth-generation low-cost video information overlay module, now available in a rugged 2x20 header connector format with industrial temperature specs as well as the original 30-pin SIMM format. BOB-4 lets your microcontroller or PC display text and vector graphics on standard TV monitors. With large user-definable character sets, BOB-4 also supports bitmap graphics and multiple languages. BOB-4 generates background video on-board, or automatically genlocks to your video source and superimposes characters over the image. Printable characters and commands drive BOB-4 through fast SPI or RS-232 style data links, much like a serial terminal or printer. BOB-4 links directly to most microcontroller chips and modules. NTSC and PAL video standards are supported in a single hardware version. Field firmware upgrades are supported via PC connection. Please visit our Order page for small-quantity price information on all versions.

Manufacturing quantities (10 or more) qualify for discount pricing. Inquire for details!

Here's a demo screen capture showing some of BOB-4's display capabilities. For sample video from a real-life customer application, here's a link to YouTube.

Key Features:

• Simple hookup; requires just 5VDC, serial data, video I/O
• Immediately prints plain ASCII text in default configuration
• High display density; up to 480x240 (NTSC) or 480x288 (PAL)
• Arbitrary custom font sizes and proportional font support
• Bitmap graphics and vector graphics commands
• Off-board memory expansion for huge fonts & bitmap graphics
• Industry-standard ANSI control protocol (ECMA-048)
• Automatic vertical scrolling
• Text crawl (single-line smooth horizontal scroll)
• Mirror-image reverse text display capability
• VBI (vertical blanking interval) data transmission
• Async (RS-232 style) and SPI control ports
• Automatic video mode control (local/genlock)
• Customer-configurable video standard (NTSC or PAL)
• Stand-alone operation for simple video source ID, target reticle, etc.
• Software-controlled digital logic outputs (5)
• Analog voltage inputs (two 10-bit ADC channels; BOB-4H only)
• Consumes only 1/2W at 5VDC
• Lead-free and nominally RoHS-compliant
• Designed for maximum production lifetime; no OSD chips!
• Industrial operating temperature range is standard; -40 to +85C
• Accurate 75-ohm video terminations and unity gain
• Handles S-Video (Y/C video) with simple external circuit
• Firmware can be upgraded in the field via PC connection
• Independent debug serial port assists in application development

The start-up display (boot script) memory can be loaded with commands as well as printable data, which allows BOB-4's operating modes to be semi-permanently configured for special applications. In some cases, this feature eliminates the need for a host computer or smart interface device. Read the BOB-4 Application Guide for additional details, or contact Decade Engineering to discuss your requirements.

The BOB-4 Conscriptor PC program is provided without charge to assist customers with BOB-4 configuration. See download link below. The BOB-4 Conscriptor runs on Windows XP machines and offers these conveniences:

• Font editing, importing, file management
• Bitmap graphics importing and editing
• Boot script editing and file management
• BOB-4 configuration memory management
• BOB-4 firmware upgrade utility
• One-click BOB-4 module configuration

BOB-4 Quick-Start Guide (PDF):  Preliminary release. Use with caution, and please report any problems discovered!

BOB-4 Application Guide & Specifications (PDF):  The latest version is always available here.

BOB-4 Conscriptor (EXE):  PC (XP) program to manage BOB-4 fonts, configuration, boot scripts, and firmware upgrades. Now includes a simple serial communication terminal emulator. Run the installer twice to replace an older version.

UTF-8 Encoder (EXE):  A simple PC utility program that converts hex or decimal character codes into UTF-8.

C Code Example (TXT):  Includes a couple of hints on writing C programs to control BOB-4.

Solar Car Example (TXT): Fragments of the PIC18F C program from the University of Michigan's 2007 Solar Car project.

PBASIC Fonts Example (TXT): For Parallax BASIC Stamp II (BS2). Thanks to John Smith at Milford Instruments (UK dealer).

PBASIC Graphics Example (TXT): Also for Parallax BS2. Thanks again to John Smith at Milford Instruments!

ASCII Demo File (TXT):  This file was used to create the demo display linked near the top of this page. Transmit to BOB-4 with a terminal program, or store it in a boot script. Your browser might have trouble displaying this file due to embedded control codes.

Smart Encoder Interface (PDF):  SEI implements a quadrature distance encoder interface and user controls for BOB-4 in an Atmel AVR series microcontroller. Demonstrates BOB-4 control through the SPI port. AVR-GCC Source Code (ZIP) Object Code (ZIP)

DragonOSD is an advanced First-Person-View (FPV) video information overlay system for radio-controlled aircraft that takes full advantage of GPS technology and controls BOB-4 through the SPI port. DragonOSD is an open-source project; here's version 4.6 source code (ZIP). New Generation Hobbies in Canada (Ontario) may have flight hardware, including BOB-4 modules.

BUD Schematic (PDF): Here's the schematic for a BOB-4H demo/developer/application board that's currently under development by Decade Engineering. BUD is endowed with sufficient hardware resources to completely implement many customer applications, and it's quite compact - only a bit longer than the BOB-4H module itself. The BUD schematic is being published in advance of product availability in order to supply customers with additional BOB-4 application hints. Note that prototype boards have been tested, but Decade Engineering offers no warranty on correctness or completeness of this preliminary information. Use at your own risk.

FAQs

Where can I get the latest firmware upgrade file?

You must email an explicit request to Decade Engineering for this item. Please use the feedback link below.

Is BOB-4 a direct replacement for BOB-3?

BOB-4S (SIMM version) offers limited hardware compatibility with BOB-3. It mounts in the same 30-pin SIMM socket and uses the same pins for basic functions, except power supply. If the BOB-3 socket has +5V power applied to pin 3, and nothing more than basic video and data I/O connections are deployed, then BOB-4 may be directly compatible. In all BOB-3 applications where extended functionality has been implemented, it is necessary to conduct a careful review of pinout differences. Application software compatibility is also limited. A subset of BOB-3 commands is provided in BOB-4, but most customers should revise BOB-3 application programs to use the new BOB-4 command set.

Will BOB-4 work with my data source?

BOB modules behave much like printers or dumb serial terminals. It's often necessary to insert a smart interface between the data source and BOB module, because raw data rarely produces the desired display formatting. The smart interface could be a microcontroller module or chip mounted alongside the BOB-4 socket on your host board. The choice of interface hardware is often determined by preferences of the person who will write the data processing program or 'print driver' for BOB-4. Many factors can influence the decision, including cost, serial communication support, CPU speed, development tools, package size & weight, power requirements, etc. Sometimes it's reasonable to reprogram the microprocessor in your data source, and sometimes BOB-4 can be configured to handle the existing data stream directly. BOB-4 is configured via register settings, a boot script, and custom fonts, all saved in semi-permanent flash memory. Decade Engineering supplies a PC program to simplify the configuration process, but it's also possible to configure BOB-4 through direct use of its command protocol. See BOB-4 Conscriptor link above.

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