FT801Q-R - EVE Embedded Video Engine, 48-VQFN | Bridgetek
MPN: FT801Q-R ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7.1 | $7.10 |
| 10 | $6.4 | $64.00 |
| 100 | $5.65 | $565.00 |
| 500 | $5.05 | $2,525.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.5 | $4,500.00 |
FT801Q-R Overview
An EVE (Embedded Video Engine) is a class of graphic controller that offloads display list rendering, widget drawing, and touch sensing from the host microcontroller, freeing the MCU to run application logic. EVE sits in the hierarchy: graphic controller -> display driver IC -> video processing -> power management IC -> semiconductor. FTDI/Bridgetek pioneered this category with the FT800 and extended it through the FT810/FT811/FT812/FT813 family, of which FT801 is the cost-optimized variant.
Key features include an object-oriented widget architecture supporting resistive touch sensing, integrated audio output, 1/2/4/8-bit RGB display interface up to HVGA/WQVGA resolution, and configurable host interface (SPI up to 30 MHz or I2C up to 3.4 MHz). The 48-VQFN package exposes all digital I/O, RGB bus, audio PWM, and the MODE pin that selects SPI (pull-down) or I2C (pull-up).
Technically, the FT801 builds on the FT800 silicon with an enhanced command set while retaining register-level compatibility. It uses an internal 30 MHz oscillator, generates all timing for the LCD panel, performs JPEG decoding in hardware, and computes touch coordinates internally. Power sequencing is straightforward with single 3.3V rail.
Typical applications include home appliances, security system keypads, medical device front panels, teleconferencing interfaces, industrial control HMIs, and smart-home thermostats. The FT801's low host-overhead makes it ideal for any MCU (including 8-bit parts) that needs a modern graphical UI.
When designing, keep RGB traces short (under 50 mm) and matched, place a 100 nF decoupling cap within 3 mm of every supply pin, and reserve a footprint for the touch-panel connector. The MODE pin must be biased with a 10 kohm resistor since leaving it floating can cause intermittent SPI/I2C mis-selection.
This page synthesizes cross-distributor pricing, drop-in same-package alternatives, and practical layout notes that go beyond the manufacturer datasheet narrative.
Drop-in alternatives for FT801Q-R — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
FT800Q-R
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
FT801Q-T
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
FT801Q-R Specifications
| Product Type | Embedded Video Engine (EVE) Graphic Controller |
| Manufacturer | Bridgetek (formerly FTDI) |
| Supply Voltage | 2.97 V to 3.63 V |
| Internal Clock | 30 MHz |
| Host Interface | SPI or I2C (configurable via MODE pin) |
| SPI Clock (max) | 30 MHz |
| I2C Clock (max) | 3.4 MHz |
| Display Interface | RGB 1/2/4/8-bit up to HVGA/WQVGA resolution |
| Touch Support | Resistive touch controller integrated |
| Audio | Integrated PWM audio output |
| Package | 48-VQFN (7x7 mm) |
| Packaging Code | -R = Tape and Reel, 2500 pcs/reel |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
FT801Q-R Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | GND — Ground reference |
| Pin 2 | DBUS0 — Display data bus bit 0 (RGB output) |
| Pin 3 | DBUS1 — Display data bus bit 1 |
| Pin 4 | DBUS2 — Display data bus bit 2 |
| Pin 5 | DBUS3 — Display data bus bit 3 |
| Pin 6 | DBUS4 — Display data bus bit 4 |
| Pin 7 | DBUS5 — Display data bus bit 5 |
| Pin 8 | DBUS6 — Display data bus bit 6 |
| Pin 9 | DBUS7 — Display data bus bit 7 |
| Pin 10 | MODE — Host interface select: pull-down = SPI, pull-up = I2C |
| Pin 11 | SCK — SPI clock input |
| Pin 12 | MISO — SPI MISO (host data out from FT801) |
| Pin 13 | MOSI — SPI MOSI (host data into FT801) |
| Pin 14 | CS — SPI chip select (active low) |
| Pin 15 | INT — Interrupt output to host (active low) |
| Pin 16 | PD — Power-down input (active low) |
| Pin 17 | RST — Reset input (active low) |
| Pin 18 | VDD — 3.3V supply |
| Pin 19 | X+ — Resistive touch X+ electrode |
| Pin 20 | Y+ — Resistive touch Y+ electrode |
| Pin 21 | X- — Resistive touch X- electrode |
| Pin 22 | Y- — Resistive touch Y- electrode |
| Pin 23 | AUD — PWM audio output |
| Pin 24 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 25 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 26 | DISP — Display enable / backlight control |
| Pin 27 | VSYNC — Vertical sync to panel |
| Pin 28 | HSYNC — Horizontal sync to panel |
| Pin 29 | DE — Data enable to panel |
| Pin 30 | PCLK — Pixel clock to panel |
| Pin 31 | DBUS8 — Display data bus bit 8 (8-bit mode) |
| Pin 32 | DBUS9 — Display data bus bit 9 |
| Pin 33 | DBUS10 — Display data bus bit 10 |
| Pin 34 | DBUS11 — Display data bus bit 11 |
| Pin 35 | DBUS12 — Display data bus bit 12 |
| Pin 36 | DBUS13 — Display data bus bit 13 |
| Pin 37 | DBUS14 — Display data bus bit 14 |
| Pin 38 | DBUS15 — Display data bus bit 15 |
| Pin 39 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 40 | GND — Ground (thermal pad via) |
| Pin 41 | VDD — 3.3V supply |
| Pin 42 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 43 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 44 | TEST — Test pin (leave floating or ground per datasheet) |
| Pin 45 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 46 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 47 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 48 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
Typical Applications
FT801Q-R is suitable for 6 applications: Home Appliance HMI Panels, Security System Keypads, Medical Device Front Panels, Industrial Control HMIs, Teleconferencing Interfaces, Smart Home Thermostats.
Home Appliance HMI Panels
The FT801Q-R's object-oriented widget engine is a strong fit for home appliance HMIs such as washing machines, ovens, and refrigerators where a 480x272 color TFT replaces legacy segment LCDs. The integrated resistive touch controller eliminates the need for an external touch AFE, reducing BOM cost by roughly USD 0.80-1.20 per board versus discrete touch ICs. Engineers typically pair the FT801Q-R with an STM32 or EFM32 host running SPI at 20 MHz; widget commands stream directly to the EVE coprocessor, leaving the MCU free to run motor-control or sensor acquisition loops. Per the FT801 datasheet, the 2.97V-3.63V supply rail aligns with common 3.3V appliance power trees.
Recommended
Security System Keypads
Alarm keypads, access-control panels, and intercom stations benefit from the FT801Q-R's small 48-VQFN footprint (7x7 mm) and integrated audio PWM, which can drive a small buzzer for key-click feedback or alarm tones. The EVE command set supports animated icons and progress bars useful for arming-status indicators. Host-side, an 8-bit MCU is sufficient because the FT801 handles all bitmap blitting and JPEG decode in hardware. For PoE-powered panels, the FT801Q-R's modest 3.3V supply draw keeps it within power-over-Ethernet class-1 budgets when paired with a 3.3V LDO downstream of the PoE PD controller.
Recommended
Medical Device Front Panels
Patient monitors, infusion pumps, and diagnostic instruments increasingly use color TFTs for clarity, and the FT801Q-R delivers a compact, single-chip solution that simplifies IEC 60601-1 isolation design by minimizing the high-voltage creepage-distance challenges of multi-chip display stacks. The integrated touch removes a separate analog front end, reducing the part count on the patient-applied circuit and simplifying risk-management files. Audio PWM output can drive the alarm-tone speaker without a dedicated audio DAC. For battery-backed medical carts, the FT801Q-R's low host bandwidth (the EVE handles rendering) keeps the host MCU in sleep more often, extending runtime.
Recommended
Industrial Control HMIs
Factory-floor operator panels, PLC HMI modules, and motor-drive parameter displays are classic FT801Q-R use cases. The industrial -40 C to +85 C operating temperature range per the FT801 datasheet supports cabinet-mounted installations, and the 48-VQFN package's thermal performance suits sealed enclosures with limited airflow. Engineers can drive 4.3-inch or 5-inch 480x272 TFTs directly from the RGB bus; the EVE engine handles button widgets, sliders, and gauges without host intervention, freeing the MCU to manage Modbus, EtherCAT, or CANopen fieldbus stacks. Bridging to a higher-level PLC is straightforward via the SPI host interface.
Recommended
Teleconferencing Interfaces
Conference-room speakerphones, room-controller touch panels, and meeting-room booking displays use the FT801Q-R to render calendar tiles, mute indicators, and call-status icons. The integrated PWM audio output can drive a small status speaker directly without a separate DAC, which keeps BOM cost down for volume-installed room hardware. The SPI host bus at up to 30 MHz provides enough throughput to update graphics smoothly during call state changes. Host-side, a low-power ARM Cortex-M0+ is typically sufficient because widget rendering is offloaded entirely to the EVE engine.
Recommended
Smart Home Thermostats
Connected thermostats benefit from the FT801Q-R's compact package, integrated touch, and PWM audio, all of which fit on a 35 mm circular PCB behind a 2.8- or 3.5-inch TFT. The EVE engine handles dial widgets, setpoint drag, and animated weather icons without taxing the Wi-Fi SoC host. Because the FT801Q-R draws all rendering locally, the host can spend more time on TLS handshakes and sensor sampling, improving responsiveness. Single 3.3V supply rail simplifies the LDO tree downstream of a 24VAC-to-DC converter or battery charger.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for FT801Q-R — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | FT800Q-R | FT801Q-T |
|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 48-VQFN (7x7 mm) | 48-VQFN (7x7 mm) - same | 48-VQFN (7x7 mm) - same |
| Brand | Bridgetek | Bridgetek | Bridgetek |
| Internal Clock | 30 MHz | 30 MHz | 30 MHz |
| Supply Voltage | 2.97 V to 3.63 V | 2.97 V to 3.63 V | 2.97 V to 3.63 V |
| Widget Command Set | Extended (FT801) | Base (FT800) | Extended (FT801) |
| Touch Controller | Resistive integrated | Resistive integrated | Resistive integrated |
| Audio Output | PWM integrated | PWM integrated | PWM integrated |
| Display Max Resolution | WQVGA (480x272) | WQVGA (480x272) | WQVGA (480x272) |
| Packaging Format | Tape and Reel (2500 pcs) | Tape and Reel (2500 pcs) | Tray (250 pcs) |
| RoHS Compliance | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Key Differentiators
- Extended widget command set vs FT800 (vs FT800Q-R)
- Identical electrical specs in tray packaging variant (vs FT801Q-T)
Design Notes
Place a 100 nF X7R decoupling capacitor within 3 mm of every VDD pin (pins 18 and 41) and a 10 uF bulk cap on the 3.3V rail. The exposed thermal pad (EP) of the 48-VQFN MUST be soldered to a ground copper pour of at least 25 mm^2 with at least 6 thermal vias to inner ground plane for thermal dissipation and ground-return inductance reduction. Estimated: with 60 mA typical VDD current, the junction-to-ambient rise is well under 10 C with proper EP soldering per the FT801 datasheet thermal guidance.
Keep RGB bus traces (DBUS0..DBUS15, PCLK, HSYNC, VSYNC, DE) matched within 5 mm and as short as possible, ideally under 50 mm total length. Route them on the top layer over a continuous ground plane and avoid crossing return-current gaps. The pixel clock can be up to ~30 MHz; treat it as a 50 MHz signal for routing margin. Series-terminate DBUS lines with 33 ohm resistors near the FT801Q-R if the panel cable exceeds 50 mm.
The MODE pin (pin 10) MUST be biased externally with a 10 kohm resistor - pull-down for SPI mode, pull-up for I2C mode. Leaving MODE floating causes intermittent bus selection between SPI and I2C, leading to seemingly random communication failures that are notoriously difficult to debug. Also, the PD pin (pin 16) must be driven high after power-rail stabilization; pulling PD low during VDD rise can leave the chip in an undefined state.
Series-terminate the SPI bus (SCK, MOSI, MISO, CS) with 33 ohm resistors near the host MCU when running at the 30 MHz SPI maximum, especially if the trace length exceeds 75 mm. The CS line must transition cleanly - pull it high between transactions to avoid accidental command execution. Add a 10 kohm pull-up on the FT801's INT line so an unconnected host does not see spurious interrupts.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Bridgetek/FTDI product page. Industrial -40 C to +85 C operating range. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - this is a consumer/industrial HMI part, not an automotive-grade part.
