Skip to main content

DisplayPort MSP Extensions

Betaflight supports what is sometimes referred to as Canvas Mode whereby the OSD can send arbitrary character strings to be displayed at given screen coordinates.

DisplayPort MSP commands

MSP_SET_OSD_CANVAS

The MSP_SET_OSD_CANVAS command is sent by the VTX, or display device, to the FC to indicate the size of the canvas available to the DisplayPort rendering when in HD mode. HD mode, as is indicated by vcd_video_system = HD is automatically set on reception of this command.

CommandMsg IdDirectionNotes
MSP_SET_OSD_CANVAS188to FCSets the canvas size
DataTypeNotes
canvas_colsuint8The number of columns
canvas_rowsuint8The number of rows

MSP_OSD_CANVAS

The MSP_OSD_CANVAS command is sent by the configurator to the FC to determine the size of the canvas available to the DisplayPort rendering when in HD mode. This is then used on the OSD tab to show the correct number of rows/columns when editing the OSD element positions.

CommandMsg IdDirectionNotes
MSP_OSD_CANVAS189to FCGets the canvas size

Response is two bytes.

DataTypeNotes
canvas_colsuint8The number of columns
canvas_rowsuint8The number of rows

MSP_DISPLAYPORT

The MSP_DISPLAYPORT command is sent by the FC to the display device/VTX to perform a DisplayPort operation.

CommandMsg IdDirectionNotes
MSP_DISPLAYPORT182from FCDisplayPort specific commands follow

One of the following sub-commands will then follow.

DisplayPort sub-commands

MSP_DP_HEARTBEAT

CommandMsg IdNotes
MSP_DP_HEARTBEAT0Prevent OSD Slave boards from displaying a 'disconnected' status

MSP_DP_RELEASE

CommandMsg IdNotes
MSP_DP_RELEASE1Clears the display and allows local rendering on the display device based on telemetry information etc.

MSP_DP_CLEAR_SCREEN

CommandMsg IdNotes
MSP_DP_CLEAR_SCREEN2Clear the display

MSP_DP_WRITE_STRING

CommandMsg IdNotes
MSP_DP_WRITE_STRING3Write a string
DataTypeNotes
rowuint8Row on which to position the first character of the string
columnuint8Column on which to position the first character of the string
attributeuint8Byte indicating the font to use and if the text should flash
stringuint8 x nNULL terminated string of up to 30 characters in length

The attribute parameter is encoded thus.

FieldBitsComment
Version7Must be 0
DISPLAYPORT_MSP_ATTR_BLINK6Set to have the display device automatically blink the string
Reserved2 - 5Must be 0
Font number0 - 1Selects one of four fonts, each of 256 8 bit characters

MSP_DP_DRAW_SCREEN

CommandMsg IdNotes
MSP_DP_DRAW_SCREEN4Triggers the display of a frame after it has been cleared/rendered

MSP_DP_OPTIONS

CommandMsg IdNotes
MSP_DP_OPTIONS5Not used by Betaflight. Used by INAV and Ardupilot to set display resolution. 0 = SD (30x16), 1 = HD (50x18), 2 = 30x16 SD grid centered in an HD 50x18 grid (HDZero uses), 3 = 60x22 ( used by INAV / DJI WTF )

MSP_DP_SYS

CommandMsg IdNotes
MSP_DP_SYS6Display system element displayportSystemElement_e at given coordinates
DataTypeNotes
rowuint8Row on which to position the first character of the string
columnuint8Column on which to position the first character of the string
system_elementuint8System element to be rendered by the VTX/goggle/display device

system_element will be one of the following as defined by displayPortSystemElement_e . Once one MSP_DP_SYS sub-command has been received by the VTX/goggle/display device then the default system elements should no longer be displayed in their default locations, but only explicitly as directed by this command. In this way, the default behavior is as before, but as soon as any system element is explicitly positioned these OSD elements behave just like any other and can be called up is specific locations by any given OSD profile.

// System elements rendered by VTX or Goggles
typedef enum {
DISPLAYPORT_SYS_GOGGLE_VOLTAGE = 0,
DISPLAYPORT_SYS_VTX_VOLTAGE = 1,
DISPLAYPORT_SYS_BITRATE = 2,
DISPLAYPORT_SYS_DELAY = 3,
DISPLAYPORT_SYS_DISTANCE = 4,
DISPLAYPORT_SYS_LQ = 5,
DISPLAYPORT_SYS_GOGGLE_DVR = 6,
DISPLAYPORT_SYS_VTX_DVR = 7,
DISPLAYPORT_SYS_WARNINGS = 8,
DISPLAYPORT_SYS_VTX_TEMP = 9,
DISPLAYPORT_SYS_FAN_SPEED = 10,
DISPLAYPORT_SYS_COUNT,
} displayPortSystemElement_e;