20+ Years
Embedded display engineering, end to end
Full Lifecycle Support
Products supported across full lifecycles
Field-Proven
Global deployments in demanding environments
Production-ready
Low-risk interfaces built to work the first time
Graphics Processor
Standalone or Co-Processor Mode
Display Solution
OLED, LCD & TFT Graphics UI
Flash Memory
6 × 32,750B User Flash Banks
SRAM Capacity
32KB Dedicated User SRAM
DIABLO16
- A custom embedded 4DGL graphics controller designed to interface with many popular OLED and LCD display panels.
- Latest addition to the 4D Systems processor range, providing more power, more FLASH, more RAM and more features than the PICASO Processor.
- The DIABLO16 is not available for purchase in our online store. This product page is up for informational purposes only. If you wish to purchase, please contact our sales team.
Volume Discount
DIABLO16 Processor
The DIABLO16 Processor is the latest addition to the 4D Systems processor range, providing more power, more FLASH, more RAM and more features than the PICASO Processor.
The DIABLO16 Processor is a custom embedded 4DGL graphics controller designed to interface with many popular OLED and LCD display panels. With its powerful graphics, text, image, and animation abilities built-in, along with numerous more features makes the Diablo16 a single chip solution for a wide variety of LCD and OLED display solutions.
The DIABLO16 belongs to 4D Systems family of processors powered by a highly optimised soft core virtual engine, EVE (Extensible Virtual Engine). EVE is a proprietary, high performance virtual processor with an extensive byte-code instruction set optimised to execute compiled 4DGL programs. 4DGL (4D Graphics Language) was specifically developed from ground up for the EVE engine core. It is a high level language which is easy to learn and simple to understand yet powerful enough to tackle many embedded graphics applications.
The processor offers a comprehensive set of I/O features and can interface to SPI, I2C, serial, digital, and analog devices, and provides a wealth of features such as PWM, Quadrature, PulseOut and Pin Counter functions. Provision is also made for a dedicated PWM audio output that supports audio WAV files and complex sound generation.
Product Availability Statement
WORKSHOP4 IDE
Tailored Development for 4D Processors and Modules
Workshop4 IDE is a comprehensive software development environment specifically designed for the 4D family of processors and modules. Whether you are a seasoned developer or just starting out, Workshop4 provides the perfect platform tailored to your development needs. This versatile IDE supports all core development processes, including code writing, compiling, linking, and transferring code to your target device.
Workshop4 IDE let you choose from four distinct environments—Designer , ViSi, ViSi-Genie and Serial—each catering to different development preferences and project specifics. This flexibility allows developers to select the most suitable environment for their tasks.
Workshop4 IDE is your go-to development companion in the 4D ecosystem, simplifying complex tasks and enhancing productivity through its user-friendly and versatile design. Whether coding manually or designing visually, Workshop4 elevates your development experience to new heights.
Information about the processor
- 6 banks of 32750 bytes of Flash memory for User Application Code and Data
- 32Kb of SRAM purely for the User.
- 16 General Purpose I/O pins for user interfacing, which include 4 configurable Analog Inputs.
- The GPIO is variously configurable for alternative functions such as:
- 3x I2C channels available
- 1x dedicated for SD Card and 3x configurable SPI channels available
- 1x dedicated and 3x configurable TTL Serial comm ports available
- Up to 6 GPIO can be used as Pin Counters
- Up to 6 GPIO for PWM (simple and Servo)
- Up to 10 GPIO for Pulse Output
- Up to 14 GPIO can be configured for Quadrature Encoder Inputs (2 channels)
- FAT16 file services.
- Dedicated SPI interface for SDHC/SD memory card for multimedia storage and data logging purposes (micro-SD with up to 2GB and SDHC memory cards starting from 4GB and above). Cards MUST support SPI.
- 4-Wire Resistive Touch panel interface.
- Audio support for wave files and complex sound generation with a dedicated 16-bit PWM audio output.
- 8 x 16 bit timers with 1 millisecond resolution.
- Low-cost OLED, LCD and TFT display graphics user interface solution.
- Ideal as a standalone embedded graphics processor or interface to any host controller as a graphics co-processor.
- Connect to almost any colour display that supports an 80-Series 16 bit wide CPU interface. All data and control signals are provided.
- RoHS compliant.
- Available in a 64 pin TQFP 10mm x 10mm package.
The DIABLO16 includes the following items:
- DIABLO16 Processor
Frequently Asked Questions
Find quick answers about our display modules, embedded integration, customization capabilities, and system compatibility.
How do I choose the right display module for my project?
Start by identifying the demands of your product environment: required screen size, touch capability, operating conditions and UI complexity. Our consistent form-factor families allow you to select a module that fits your constraints today and upgrade performance later without redesigning your enclosure or PCB. Our documentation hub provides comparison tables to assist selection.
What is the difference between a smart display and a host-driven display?
Smart displays include an onboard processor that handles graphics, widgets, UI logic and drawing commands internally. This reduces load on your host MCU, simplifies code and often shortens development time dramatically. Host-driven modules require the host MCU to manage everything, which may be appropriate for minimal UIs but introduces more integration work.
Can I upgrade processors without changing my enclosure or PCB?
Yes. Our architecture is deliberately designed around footprint consistency. Most display families maintain identical mechanical and electrical footprints across multiple processor types, enabling generation-to-generation performance improvements without mechanical redesign.
Do you offer non-touch and touch options?
Yes. Many display families provide variants for non-touch, resistive-touch and capacitive-touch configurations. Capacitive-touch variants are recommended for modern, responsive UI experiences.