sharp mobilon hc-4100

[Volker Jahns]

Linux on Sharp Mobilon HC-4100

I would like to have Linux boot on the Sharp HC-4100 and have tried a
couple of suitable kernels with the following outcome:

Booting
-------
netbsd tx3912 - netbsd 1.5.3 , keyboard functional
linux for philips velo - vmlinux-2.4.0-test4-pre3 , keyboard not
functional


Booting, but framebuffer scrambled
----------------------------------
linux nino - vmlinux-2.4.17
linux sharp HC-4500/HC-4600 - vmlinux-2.3.21. vmlinux-2.3.47

I have tried to compile a kernel from versions - 2.4.20 and 2.4.0-test9 -
( sharp mobilon, philips velo, philips nino) which all boot but have the
framebuffer device scrambled.

Which kernel version is good to start from, and where would I find its code ?
Has somebody a working .config vor the Velo 500 available, so that I get
the correct options to have this damn framebuffer device working?


Please redirect, in case this should be the wrong place to post.

[Ricardo Mendoza]

Post by Volker Jahns
Linux on Sharp Mobilon HC-4100
I would like to have Linux boot on the Sharp HC-4100 and have tried a
Booting
-------
netbsd tx3912 - netbsd 1.5.3 , keyboard functional
linux for philips velo - vmlinux-2.4.0-test4-pre3 , keyboard not
functional
Booting, but framebuffer scrambled
----------------------------------
linux nino - vmlinux-2.4.17
linux sharp HC-4500/HC-4600 - vmlinux-2.3.21. vmlinux-2.3.47
I have tried to compile a kernel from versions - 2.4.20 and 2.4.0-test9 -
( sharp mobilon, philips velo, philips nino) which all boot but have the
framebuffer device scrambled.
Which kernel version is good to start from, and where would I find its code ?
Has somebody a working .config vor the Velo 500 available, so that I get
the correct options to have this damn framebuffer device working?
Please redirect, in case this should be the wrong place to post.

Hi, sometimes the scrambled problem happens when you are using a linked
inside ramdisk image and it corrupts the kernel itself in some way, it
has happened to me quite many times with the nino kernel.

It would help to check your config, I can assure you that the 2.4.17
nino code is working, I use it myself but on the nino, it might require
some modifications for the Mobilon.

[Volker Jahns]

Post by Ricardo Mendoza

Post by Volker Jahns
Linux on Sharp Mobilon HC-4100
I would like to have Linux boot on the Sharp HC-4100 and have tried a

...

Post by Ricardo Mendoza
It would help to check your config, I can assure you that the 2.4.17
nino code is working, I use it myself but on the nino, it might require
some modifications for the Mobilon.

Modifications are certainly a must:

e.g. 2.4.20 in drivers/video/tx3912fb.h thereis _only_ framebuffer definitions for the nino:
<pre>
#if defined(CONFIG_NINO_4MB) || defined(CONFIG_NINO_8MB)
#define FB_X_RES 240
#define FB_Y_RES 320
#if defined(CONFIG_FBCON_CFB4)
#define FB_BPP 4
</pre>

while 2.4.0-test9 carries the _good_ information for the velo 1, velo 500 and for the helio ( the code for the nino is missing here). In drivers/video/r3912fb.h ( which seems to be the historic version of tx3912fb.h, ouch what a chaos :-(
<pre>
#ifdef CONFIG_PHILIPS_VELO
# ifdef CONFIG_PHILIPS_VELO1
# define FB_X_RES 480
# elif defined(CONFIG_PHILIPS_VELO500)
# define FB_X_RES 640
# endif
# define FB_Y_RES 240
# ifdef CONFIG_PHILIPS_VELO_4GRAY
# define FB_BPP 2
# else /* CONFIG_PHILIPS_VELO_16GRAY */
# define FB_BPP 4
# endif
# define FB_IS_GREY 1
# define FB_IS_INVERSE 0
# define VIDEORAM_SIZE (FB_X_RES * FB_Y_RES * FB_BPP / 8)
</pre>

On the other hand the mobilon needs
<pre>
# define FB_X_RES 640
# define FB_X_RES 240
# define FB_BPP 4
</pre>

This information ( and what else which might be of interest to make the LCD working on this thing) must have get lost on the kernel's way. I really wonder where to find a more or less functional version of the kernel code to start with.

[Martin Michlmayr]

Post by Volker Jahns
On the other hand the mobilon needs
# define FB_X_RES 640
# define FB_X_RES 240

I thought it was 800x480. BTW, how do you boot this thing? From
WinCE or can you override the ROM?

[Volker Jahns]

Post by Martin Michlmayr

Post by Volker Jahns
On the other hand the mobilon needs
# define FB_X_RES 640
# define FB_X_RES 240

that is correct.

Post by Martin Michlmayr
I thought it was 800x480. BTW, how do you boot this thing? From
WinCE or can you override the ROM?

pbsdboot :-( But if you have an idea on how to write the ROM, please let
me know.