CraftyMech TPG User manual
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Test Pattern Generator
Updated 6/7/2021 - Firmware 05
(C) 2014-2021 CraftyMech LLC
http://craftymech.com
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Usage
e Test Pattern Generator produces display patterns for use with
Standard Resolution (15.7khz) and Medium Resolution (24khz) RGB
monitors. ese patterns may be used to calibrate a display, or diagnose
display issues.
FEATURES
• Selectable resolution (Standard/Medium)
• Single button operation
• On-screen Menu for easy conguration
• +/- H,V Sync, +/- Composite Sync
• R,G,B Cut-o
• Inverted video mode for Sanyo/Sharp monitors
• Battery level indicator
• Low-power Sleep mode (15,30,45,60 minute timer)
• Uses 9V battery (not included)
• Power LED
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Quick Guide
How do I access the Menu?
e Menu is displayed by holding down the MODE button.
What is the green bar on the title screen?
e horizontal green bar is the battery level indicator. When the title
screen is rst displayed, the bar will be empty. e intitial battery
level reading will take about two seconds. Refer to Section 3 for more
information.
I only want to display the patterns that I nd useful.
You can enable/disable patterns (and animations) via the on-screen
Menu. If all patterns & animations are disabled, then only the title screen
will be displayed.
I changed the DIP switch for resolution but nothing happened.
Resolution change will take eect when the TPG is power-cycled. is
protects you from accidently changing the resolution, and possibly
damaging the monitor circuitry.
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CONTENTS
1. Output Header 5
2. Resolution 6
3. Battery Level 7
4. Patterns 8
5. Animations 9
6. DIP Switches 10
7. Menu 11
8. Troubleshooting 13
9. Test Cables 15
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1: Output Header
e output header is a 10 pin interface for connecting the TPG to a
monitor chassis.
e layout from left to right is: R, G, B, GND, V, H, n/c, GND, -V, -H
It is recommended to use a test cable with a 4 position connector for
R,G,B,GND and a 2 position connector for the desired sync polarity.
e H output pins may be used for composite sync. If composite sync
output from the H pins is not desired, this option can be disabled from
the Menu (hold down the MODE button).
e connector pins on the output header are .156” pitch. Although
separated into two blocks of 6 and 3 pins, the output header will accept
a 10 pin connector. However, it will be easier to remove connectors from
the output header if they are split into smaller blocks (4 and 2 pins as
recommended above).
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2: Resolution
e TPG supports Standard Resolution (15.7khz) and Medium
Resolution (24khz) modes.
e resolution is selected with position 4 of the DIP Switch, while the
unit is powered o. If the resolution is changed while the power is on, the
setting will take eect on the next power cycle.
Always double check the resolution switch setting before connecting the
TPG to a monitor chassis. Mismatching the resolution & chassis type
may result in damage to the chassis when the TPG is powered on.
Notes on Medium resolution
• ese patterns are not available: 8 Color Bars (Alternate
version), RGB Crosshatch.
• ese animations are not available: Trippy, Solar, Maze, and Hypno.
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3: Battery Level
e TPG includes a built-in battery level indicator that is displayed
on the (1) title screen, and (2) Menu screen. When the title screen is
rst displayed, it will take about two seconds for the initial battery
measurement to complement.
e battery level is visualized as a horizontal bar lled with green to
indicate battery health. When battery level is critical, the bar will be near
empty and colored red.
e battery level will be checked periodically while the TPG is powered
on. Access the Menu (by holding down the MODE button), to view the
most recent battery reading.
e battery level is measured by checking the output of the TPG’s +5v
voltage regulator. As the 9volt battery capacity diminishes from use, the
output of this voltage regulator will drop below the nominal +5v. Critical
battery level is reached when the output of the TPG’s voltage regulator
drops below +4.5v. At this point operation will become unstable, and the
9volt battery must be replaced.
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4: Patterns
e MODE button is used to select the test pattern to display. Pressing
MODE will cycle through the available patterns for the chosen resolution.
Holding down MODE will display the Menu, where patterns may be
toggled ON/OFF.
When cycling through patterns using the MODE button, only enabled
patterns will be displayed.
PATTERN LIST
Checkerboard (Black & White)
8 Color Bars
Color Gradients (R,G,B)
Vertical Bars (R,G,B)
Horizontal Bars (R,G,B)
Solid Red
Solid Green
Solid Blue
Solid White
Horizontal Bars (Black & White)
8 Color Bars (Alternate version)
Checkerboard (4 Color)
Crosshatch w/ center dots
RGB Crosshatch
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5: Animations
e TPG includes looping sequences for verifying operation over an
extended time. ey are designed to refresh the display continously,
preventing image burn-in that might occur with a static pattern. ere are
ve animations included, which can be enabled/disabled via the Menu.
ANIMATION LIST
Trippy - is sequence plots Cos(x) while cycling the color palette, with
shrinking/expanding borders.
Solar - A vertical scrolling loop of a randomly generated solar are,
plotted with Sin(x)/x.
Maze - First made famous as a one-line code demo for the Commodore
64, this sequence is a vertically scrolling randomly generated maze.
Hypno - Don’t stare at this animation for too long! Real-time scrolling
parametric plot of Sin(x+ y).
Blocks - ese randomly positioned falling blocks stack up until they ll
the screen.
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