Hi everyone,
I’m working with a Verdin iMX8MM module on a Dahlia carrier board, using the Reference Minimal Image from BSP 6. I’ve compiled U-Boot from source and enabled in the configuration, aiming to display a splash screen during boot (CONFIG_DM_VIDEO).
Despite this, I still can’t get any splash screen or video output to appear
I’m using hdmi display connected to dsi-hdmi adapter.
Has anyone managed to get splash screen working with this setup? Any tips or missing steps I should look into?
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Splash Screen Configuration for Verdin iMX8MM with DSI-HDMI Adapter
Based on the hardware setup you’re using, there are several important considerations for getting splash screen functionality working on the Verdin iMX8MM with a Dahlia carrier board and DSI-HDMI adapter.
Hardware Configuration
The Dahlia Carrier Board provides a Verdin DSI Display Adapter Connector (X17) that allows connecting various DSI display adapters, including DSI to HDMI converters(1). The connector uses a Samtec LSS-130-03-L-DV-A-K-TR type and provides the necessary DSI interface signals(1).
For the DSI to HDMI adapter functionality, the key signal is the DSI_1_PWR_EN which enables the HDMI adapter power supply(2). This signal is available on pin 59 of the DSI Display Adapter Connector and operates at +1.8V with a 100k pull-down to GND(2).
Display Interface Details
The Dahlia board supports multiple display options:
HDMI (native connector X21)
MIPI DSI (via the display adapter connector X17)
The DSI interface provides the following key signals(1):
DSI data lanes (DSI_1_D0_P/N, DSI_1_D1_P/N)
DSI clock (DSI_1_CLK_P/N)
I2C interface for configuration (I2C_1_SDA/SCL)
Power enable signal (DSI_1_PWR_EN)
Device Tree Overlay Requirement
A critical point mentioned in the community discussion is that you need to ensure the DSI-to-HDMI device tree overlay is applied in your system(3). Without this overlay, the converter won’t function properly, which could explain why you’re not seeing any video output.
Troubleshooting Steps
Verify Device Tree Configuration: Ensure the DSI-to-HDMI overlay is properly applied to enable the converter functionality.
Check Power Supply: The DSI adapter requires proper power sequencing via the DSI_1_PWR_EN signal(2).
I2C Communication: The HDMI bridge IC configuration relies on I2C communication, so verify this interface is properly configured(2).
U-Boot Configuration: Beyond enabling CONFIG_DM_VIDEO, you may need additional display-specific configurations for the DSI interface.
The fact that you’re using BSP 6 with a custom U-Boot build suggests you may need to ensure all the necessary device tree configurations and overlays are properly integrated for the DSI-HDMI path to function correctly during the U-Boot phase.
Unfortunately, we do not support the U-Boot splash screen for iMX8 based SoMs onward. You can see a discussion here about a similar issue.
We only support displaying a splash screen through Plymouth, on Linux. As an alternative, you can optimize the U-Boot boot time and display the splash screen on Linux itself. If this is a valid alternative for your project, go through the steps in the following articles: