Armadillo-43/T Embedded Computer Display Module

The Armadillo-43(T) is a complete Linux based computer display module with built-in 24bit colour 480×272 resolution TFT LCD display, and features a Resistive Touch display (Armadillo-43T), or non-touch display (Armadillo-43) on special request (please contact our sales department for this).

At the heart of the Armadillo-43(T) is a Broadcom BCM2835 System-On-Chip (SoC), which combines an ARM1176JZF-S CPU Processor with a VideoCore IV GPU in a single package. The Armadillo-43 features 512MB of RAM, which is shared between the CPU and the GPU.

The Armadillo-43(T) requires a microSD card loaded with an appropriate image in order to start up, as it features no on board Flash memory itself, and uses the microSD card for booting and persistent storage.

By default, the Armadillo-43(T) has been developed to utilise the Armadillian Operating System, which is based on Raspbian/Debian and optimised for the BCM2835 SoC.

Armadillian has been built by 4D Systems from source to optimise the features of the Armadillo-43T, yet created to remain compatible with the Raspbian OS.

Raspbian is the operating system primarily used by the Raspberry Pi™ which has a large following and development community. The Armadillo, which uses the same SoC, can utilise a majority of applications written for the Raspberry Pi™.

The Armadillo-43(T) features 13 GPIO, of which 2 can be used for a single I2C Channel, 5 can be used for a single SPI Channel (with 2 Chip Selects), and 2 can be used for a single Serial UART. There are also 2 PWM channels available for the User, one of which is shared with the Mono Audio output via the on board amplifier and mini speaker.

Each of the GPIO’s feature clamping diodes which protect the GPIO from accidental overvoltage, typically if connected to 5V devices.

The Armadillo-43(T) features a single on board USB A Jack for connecting to devices such as Keyboards, USB Storage, USB Hubs, WiFi, Bluetooth, Ethernet etc.

How to use Boot and Kernel Packs

To convert a standard Raspbian image for the Raspberry Pi so it will function on the Armadillo-43T you first have to replace the main boot file. This file is usually called “start.elf” and is in the FAT (DOS) partition of the image. It is possible this file may be called something else (some images use “start_x.elf”). Replace the file with the “start.elf” file from this archive, renaming it if necessary.

This will only allow the system to boot and operate the display. It will not allow the use of the touch screen. For this a different set of kernel drivers are needed. These are available for kernel version 3.18.11+. You will need to manually replace your current kernel with the version above

The kernel archive contains all the kernel modules which need to be extracted from within a running system since they need to go in the main filesystem of the image (the ext4 partition).

The kernel archive also contains the kernel image (boot/kernel.img) which is to be placed in the same partition as the start.elf above, renaming it to the same as the existing image. This should be done last by manually copying the file as above with the SD card connected direct to your computer.

Once all the files have been installed the system should be able to support the touch screen. The drivers still need to be activated before they will operate, however.

These two commands should be added to /etc/rc.local:

    chmod 777 /sys/class/i2c-adapter/i2c-0/new_device
    echo ar1020_i2c 0x4d > /sys/class/i2c-adapter/i2c-0/new_device

Please refer to the Datasheet for more information

SPECIFICATIONS

Diagonal Display Size INCHES	4.3
Resolution	480×272
Brightness	~500 cd/m2
Backlight LEDs	2×5
Touch	Resistive-Touch
Controller	BCM2835
Operating Ambient Temperature	-15°C to +65°C
Storage Temperature	-30°C to +70°C
Connector	USB
Display Viewing Area (mm)	95.04 x 53.86
Module Dimensions (mm)	120.50 x 69.30 x 16.50
RoHS?	Yes
Country of origin	China
CCCN / tarif code	85312000
ECCN export control code	EAR99
TARIC Code	8531209590
AHECC Code	85312000
Package Dimensions L x W x H (mm)	167 x 126 x 41
Product Weight (g)	99
Weight with Packaging (g)	143
REACH	Yes
CE Mark	Yes
Supply Voltage	4.5V – 5.5V DC
Supply Current	~400mA
Frame Rate	25 fps
colours	RGB 65K
SD Card Slot	Yes
Flash	microSD
RAM	512MB RAM
I2C	Yes
GPIO	13 x GPIO
SPI	13 channels
Codeless Programming	No
Viewing Angle	Standard Viewing Angle

SIZE & WEIGHT

Viewing Area: 95.04 x 53.86 mm

Module Width: 120.50 mm

Module Height: 69.30 mm

Module Depth:16.50 mm

Module Weight: 99 g

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WORKSHOP4 IDE

Name: Armadillo-43T
SKU: Armadillo-43T
Price: 49.95 USD
Availability: InStock

Workshop4 is a comprehensive software IDE for Microsoft Windows that provides an integrated software development platform for all of the 4D family of processors and modules. The IDE combines the Editor, Compiler, Linker and Downloader to develop complete 4DGL application code.

All user application code is developed within the Workshop4 IDE.

DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENTS THAT SUITS ANY APPLICATION & USER LEVEL

Workshop4 includes four development environments for the user to choose based on application requirements or even user skill level.

Designer

Enables user to write 4DGL code to program the display module.
4DGL syntax is similar to C: no need to learn a new language.
4DGL is optimized for GOLDELOX, PICASO, PIXXI and DIABLO Controllers.

Visi

Aptly named, a visual programming experience as you develop the display.
Enables drag and drop of objects in a WYSIWYG editor.
Software generates 4DGL code for the graphics.

Visi-Genie

An advanced environment; no 4DGL coding Required.
Everything is automated.
Drag and drop objects on the display.
Code written automatically.

Serial

ransforms the module into a serial slave.
Control the module from any host microcontroller with a serial port.
All serial protocols and documentation are provided.

WORKSHOP4 PRO

Make complex widget design, simple.

Smart Widgets Editor is a powerful utility which enables the generation of Smart Widgets.

Users can create complex widgets with up to six layers, including the layer for the base image. The order of the layers can be arranged as desired.
Each layer can contain one or more images arranged in sequence that can be manipulated in a variety of ways. Image manipulation options include horizontal motion, vertical motion, and angular motion. Additionally, the transparency of a layer can be set.
Two or more layers can be linked to produce synchronized movements of images. This enables the generation of complex widgets with multiple moving parts. Clockwork feature is also supported. This enables users to quickly generate clock widgets.
Each layer can have a numeric part which can display numbers in various fonts and formats. Alternatively, the numeric part can be a fixed sequence of text.
The output frames can be utilized using any of the supported Workshop4 environments.

GENIE MAGIC

Genie Magic is an extension to ViSi-Genie, which is available in Workshop4 PRO. Genie Magic allows the User to add 4DGL code to various points in the ViSi-Genie backend code, which allows Users to take full advantage of the power of 4DGL, while retaining the speed and convenience of ViSi-Genie and its defined communication protocol.

Genie Magic allows you to enter 4DGL code in the form of Events, Code and Objects, along with various touch related additions too, giving you to the power to achieve advanced GUI’s in ViSi-Genie without having to write the full code yourself.

Genie Magic is fully supported by the genieArduino and geniePi libraries, making communication with an Arduino or Raspberry Pi host even more powerful.

When using Genie Magic in combination with the Smart Widget Editor, it is possible to use the Smart Widgets Editor tool and Smart Widgets to create other graphical user interface elements such as:

Dropdown Menu
Side Menu
‘Carousel Slider’
List Box

Dock Menu
Quarter-Rotary Menu
Fading Slide-To-Unlock Button
Spectrum With Transparency
And Many Others

DOWNLOADS

Compatibility: Workshop4 is a Windows-only product. It is compatible with Windows 8 through to Windows 11.

Note some older OS such as ME, Vista, XP and 7 have not been tested for some time and are not supported by Microsoft anymore; however, they may still work.
Legacy support updates for the older OS may not be possible, depending on what issues are found. For best results, run a current Windows OS. It is possible to run Workshop4 under a VM on Linux or Mac. However, it is up to the User to set this up.