Display Features; Video Encoding; Data Transfer - Matrox Corona Installation And Hardware Reference

12 Chapter 1: Introduction

Display features

Matrox Corona's display section features the Matrox
MGA-2164W. It is a 64-bit graphics display controller for
management of an image and an overlay frame buffer.
This dual frame buffer architecture is available in two memory
configurations: a 4-Mbyte WRAM image frame buffer with a
4-Mbyte WRAM overlay frame buffer, or a 2-Mbyte WRAM
image frame buffer with a 2-Mbyte WRAM overlay frame
buffer.
With dual 4-Mbyte buffers, Matrox Corona can deliver a 24-bit
color image display with a 24-bit color overlay at up to
resolutions of 1280x1024. When true-color overlay is not a
requirement, Matrox Corona is capable of a 1600x1200
resolution at vertical refresh rates of 85 Hz.
The RAMDAC on Matrox Corona includes 3x256x8-bit output
LUTs. These LUTs can be used either by the overlay frame
buffer or the image frame buffer. In addition, the RAMDAC
performs Chroma keying, which allows non-destructive overlay
of graphics on a static image or live video.

Video encoding

In the display section, an optional factory-installed
NTSC/PAL/RGB video encoder provides an additional video
output with overlay, from Matrox Corona to external video
devices (for example, VCRs). The video encoder can be
programmed to output square pixel or CCIR 601 resolutions in
either component RGB video or both composite and Y/C video.

Data transfer

Matrox Corona allows simultaneous transfers of standard
video input to the Host memory and to the on-board display
frame buffers. The combination of Matrox VIA and Matrox
Rainbow Runner makes this possible. Matrox VIA manages the
video transfer to the Host memory, while Matrox Rainbow
Runner manages the video transfer to the frame buffers.