Brightsign RS232 'Serial Port' Interface Board

16 Input, 16 Output RS232 (Serial Interface Board)

RS232-16x16

Features:

• Footprint (5.3 x 3.1 inches)
• 16 inputs, 16 medium current outputs (2 Amperes each)
• Terminal blocks for all input and output connections
• 5V (BrightSign) standard RS232 connections)
• External '+V' (12 or 24VDC) Required to drive external lighting)
• On board LED's to indicate Power and Processor running.
• Can be directly mounted to the BrightSign RS232 connector (requires attaching screws to be ordered separately)
• RS232 Cable (Not Null-Modem Crossover Cable)

Operation:

• 1. Activation of inputs 1-16 (connect any input to 0V) sends out Ascii '1' to '16' followed by <CR> (Carriage Return), because the BrightSign is normally looking for 'Strings'.
   
• 2. This board uses the 'HMS Protocol'.  Fade Control for the 8 outputs.
  Note: See the section below for 'Not HMS Protocol' for simple byte control

This Firmware allows for multiple inputs low at the same time.  I.E. If input 1 goes low ('1' is reported), then input 2 goes low (while input 1 is held low), then input 2 will be reported.  If any 'active' Input (switch) opens then closes, it will be reported as a new input. I.E. suppose input1 is closed and input2 is closed and opened multiple times.  A '2' will be sent with each successive switch closure.  This logic is for all inputs.  With Rev 2.x firmware, a single switch can be used to show closed and open.  If you want to detect a door or drawer opening and then closing, arrange the switch to close when the door or drawer opens, and then the switch opens when the door or drawer is closed.  

*********Output Control Commands (Lights):

HMS Protocol for Controlling Outputs:

Outputs: Connect Loads between 'Output' and +V.

• Command1:  Set Outputs 1-8 by: Bit selection, Brightness, Fade, Verify_byte
  5 bytes          [1, 'Select_Bits', Brightness, Fade, 204]
• Command2:  Set Outputs 9-16 by: Bit selection, Brightness, Fade, Verify_byte
  5 bytes          [2, 'Select_Bits', Brightness, Fade, 204]
  
• Command5:  Set all Outputs OFF Instant (Outputs 9-16)
  2 bytes          [5, 204]

Inputs:

When any input goes low (button input), then a string is sent to the BrightSign (or other RS232 device).

The strings are:

    Input# = String

• 1  =  "1",13 (character "1" followed by a carriage return of chr(13))
• 2 = "2",13
• 3 = "3",13
• 4 = "4",13
• 5 = "5",13
• 6 = "6",13
• 7 = "7",13
• 8 = "8",13
• 9 = "9",13
• 10 = "10",13 ("1" followed by "0" then CR)
• 11 = "11",13
• 12 = "12",13
• 13 = "13",13
• 14 = "14",13
• 15 = "15",13
• 16 = "16",13

Not HMS Protocol for Controlling the board SW1-1 = ON:

The first byte received sets output port1 (outputs 1-8), the second byte received sets output port2 (outputs 9-16).  Each byte after byte 2 discarded.
I.E. Send this byte sequence [1,128] and these are the results:

• 1=Port1 value (output 1 turns on)
• 128 = Port2 value (output 16 turns on)

Note: In BrightAuthor set the Serial I/O event to ASCII (not bytes).  Baud Setting: 38400,N,8,1 (No parity, 8 bits, 1 stop bit)

Options SW1-1 to SW1-4:

• 1 ON = Not HMS Protocol

• 2 n/a

• 3 n/a

• 4 ON = Cycle Diagnostic (one output at a time is turned on each port (port1 and port2 the same light will be on).
   

Note: The 12 volt 'barrel' connector is typically rated at 2 amps.  IF you need to drive more than 2 amps, use the output connector 0V and +V to connect your power supply.

Author: Richard Harkey
Revised: August 27, 2024