Revision 2 Mockup

I've started working on some mockups for the next revision of the Serial Monitor. The main issues that I feel are needed to be addressed are:

Slow to update data on display
Use RAM to store data instead of FLASH
Have a more general channel where the user can choose to have two inputs, two outputs or one of each
Modular design with three major building blocks, Connector Block, Input processing Block, UI Block

Final version

This is the solution I've come up with for the second revision of the Serial Monitor. The other solutions below are left for reference purpose.

Final version

FPGA Mockup 1

Positive

Any resolution on the display can be controlled, only have to change FPGA config
The FPGA and lcd can be a separate board -> LCD controller board
Can use cheaper MCU
Can add as many features to the the “LCD controller” as I want to, i.e multiple layers, transparency etc
More fun to develop because of FPGA!
Should be faster than Revision 1 as we now have full control over the data interface between the LCD and MCU
Can basically use any display I want, LVDS, HDMI?

Neutral

Negative

A lot of work to get the FPGA working with LCD? -> Bought FPGA development board to find out!
More components -> Cheaper MCU won’t matter
Interface between FPGA and MCU hard?
Difficult to handle multiple layers?
Use two board?? One GUI board and one data processing board

FPGA Mockup 2

Positive

Easier to implement the GUI on a MCU
More fun to develop because of FPGA!
True parallell handling of the serial channels, FPGA is better at that than MCU
The interface between the MCU and FPGA only need to transfer the currently displayed data
Special data processing, like auto baud rate
Basically "infinite" number of channels as the FPGA is very flexible
Can divide the system in to two parts, Data capture (FPGA) and GUI (MCU) -> Two separate boards

Neutral