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stef70 · 10-06-2011, 08:18 AM

I just noticed that Kobolab was recently updated with the full sources or the Kobo Touch linux kernel:

https://github.com/kobolabs/Kobo-Rea....6.35.3.tar.gz

The web interface refuses to provide the file (too large) so the only way I found to get the kernel sources was to download the whole git repository with

git clone https://github.com/kobolabs/Kobo-Reader.git

A very interesting part is the e-ink screen driver in

./cls/drivers/video/mxc/*
and
./cls/include/linux/mxc*.h

Documentation can be found in the iMX50 developper toolkit on the Freescale web site. (You may have to register first for free)

http://www.freescale.com/webapp/sps/...?code=IMX50_SW

The chapter 14 "Electrophoretic Display Controller (EPDC) Frame Buffer Driver" in the file mx50_linux.pdf describes the Linux system calls (ioctl) needed to program the e-ink screen (how to refresh,....).

Apart from the refresh problem, the e-ink screen is just a regular linux framebuffer. Search google for the numerous tutorials about linux framebuffer programming.

A few months ago, I successfully wrote a small C program to draw boxes on the screen. Unfortunately, I mistakenly remove the whole directory containing the sources and I am too busy right now to redo it :-(

To compile, I used the ARMEL cross compiler packages on Ubuntu (see gcc-arm-linux-gnueabi, libc6-dev-armel-cross, ...). Use the file include/linux/mxcfb.h from the kobolab linux kernel to program the ioctl() for the e-ink display.

Compiling a simple "hello world" program (with output on the console) was surprisingly simple. it is probably best to compile with the -static option in order to avoid mismatches in the dynamic libraries. Yo may also have to specify an option to compile for a compatible ARM processor (see /proc/cpuinfo)

The touchscreen and the 'numerous buttons' of the KT can be read via some /dev/input devices so everything needed to write new KT applications is now available.

10-06-2011, 08:18 AM	#18
stef70 Member Posts: 24 Karma: 1302 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: Kobo Touch	Linux Kernel sources are now available I just noticed that Kobolab was recently updated with the full sources or the Kobo Touch linux kernel: https://github.com/kobolabs/Kobo-Rea....6.35.3.tar.gz The web interface refuses to provide the file (too large) so the only way I found to get the kernel sources was to download the whole git repository with git clone https://github.com/kobolabs/Kobo-Reader.git A very interesting part is the e-ink screen driver in ./cls/drivers/video/mxc/* and ./cls/include/linux/mxc*.h Documentation can be found in the iMX50 developper toolkit on the Freescale web site. (You may have to register first for free) http://www.freescale.com/webapp/sps/...?code=IMX50_SW The chapter 14 "Electrophoretic Display Controller (EPDC) Frame Buffer Driver" in the file mx50_linux.pdf describes the Linux system calls (ioctl) needed to program the e-ink screen (how to refresh,....). Apart from the refresh problem, the e-ink screen is just a regular linux framebuffer. Search google for the numerous tutorials about linux framebuffer programming. A few months ago, I successfully wrote a small C program to draw boxes on the screen. Unfortunately, I mistakenly remove the whole directory containing the sources and I am too busy right now to redo it :-( To compile, I used the ARMEL cross compiler packages on Ubuntu (see gcc-arm-linux-gnueabi, libc6-dev-armel-cross, ...). Use the file include/linux/mxcfb.h from the kobolab linux kernel to program the ioctl() for the e-ink display. Compiling a simple "hello world" program (with output on the console) was surprisingly simple. it is probably best to compile with the -static option in order to avoid mismatches in the dynamic libraries. Yo may also have to specify an option to compile for a compatible ARM processor (see /proc/cpuinfo) The touchscreen and the 'numerous buttons' of the KT can be read via some /dev/input devices so everything needed to write new KT applications is now available.