Preliminary!

For Brightsign Compact HD410, 810 & 1010

8 TO 120 CHANNEL,  HIGH CURRENT DRIVERS W/PWM

This 'Lighting System' Can control up to 1,200 watts of 12 volt lighting.

8-Play Firmware (Rev3 Board + Firmware)

8-OUT-SER (Boards)

Features:

• Footprint (3.8 x 3.0 inches)
• This board has eight 12 ampere drivers to use with PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) of LED Lights.
• 'Command Selectable' Brightness and Fade settings for each output (Channel)
• Utilizes the 5V TTL Serial Port (.9 meter cable included).
• Terminal blocks for all I/O connections
• Diagnostic Mode selectable on board
• Requires 12V External High Current Power Supply
• On board LED's to indicate Power and Processors running.
• 5VTTL Serial Setup: 19200 baud, N,8,1

Note: Synchronizing Boards:  Each 8-Out-Ser board runs on it's own timer.  Each microprocessor, will have a slight variation in 'delays' (this is normal).  If you use BrightScript to send commands (not scene commands), then each 8-Out-Ser board will be synchronized as each board will receive a command and BrightScript will set the delay to the next command.   Due to the limitations of BrightAuthor, if you need to synchronize 'scenes' so that all '8-Out-Ser' boards will be synchronized, then Order the 'Scene-Controller'.  The Scene-Controller intercepts the scene command and sends out each command of the scene to the 8-Out-Ser boards with the delays as built into the scene.  The 'Scene Controller' is therefore the common scene timer.

Recommended: Use the RS232-TTL 'Roku Adapter Board' to use your computer to test your command strings to this board prior to testing with the BrightSign.  Trial and error using the BrightSign to 'debug' strings will take hours or days to troubleshoot.  With the RS232-TTL board it will take minutes to verify your command strings.  Recommend using shielded cable (RG174) for serial connections when the serial connection is greater than 25 feet away.  The 'center' or 'ring' connector is the TX connection to the BrightSign (not the tip).  See the second page of the schematic for details of the 3.5mm stereo connector.

Description of Operation:
Use the BrightSign 5 volt serial port to send 'command strings' to control this board.  The 5 volt serial port is used to send control strings or 'Command' strings to this board.  No data is returned to the BrightSign. One '8-OUT-Ser' board controls 8 channels.  To 'daisy chain' boards, simply connect the next board with a 5 volt serial port cable (3.5 mm stereo or mono cable), and set the address of the next board.  Note: Address 0 is a diagnostic and flashes all outputs at 1/2 Hz.  The serial connection can be series to each board as each board has 2 connectors for the serial port (use either connector as input or output to the next board).  Using the HMS-8 Protocol (see the command structure below), the 8 outputs of the board are controlled with fade and brightness settings for each channel.  Each board has 8 outputs assigned to 8 channels as shown below.  PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) is used to control the brightness.

Use SW1 on the board to select the address for that board
Address           Channels            Address           Channels

1                        1-8                  2                      9-16
3                      17-24                4                    25-32
5                      33-40                6                    41-48
7                      49-56                8                    57-64
9                      65-72                10                  73-80
11                    81-88                12                  89-96
13                    97-104              14                105-112
15                    113-120 
 

Serial Transmission 'Break' Protocol:  The BrightSign has to allow 10 milliseconds to elapse between serial data 'bursts' going out.  This 10 millisecond 'rest' time is interpreted by the HMS board as a 'Break' in serial transmission.  This 'Break' condition synchronizes the HMS board to the serial transmissions from the BrightSign.

New Command Selection Protocol:  The first byte received by the HMS board (after 'break condition') sets the receive protocol command.  This new protocol simplifies how many bytes to send from the BrightSign because each channel has two parameters (intensity and fade)! The Strings are enclosed in brackets [ ].  Note: 'Fade' = Rate of change or Speed of change.  Minimum/maximum values are 0-255 (decimal).
Brightness: 0=off (no brightness), 255 is full on (100% on)
Fade: 0=no fade (instant change to the next brightness setting), 255 is 255 milliseconds for each step of brightness change (see Fade Calculation below).

• Command0:   Command 0 will synchronize the two processors (not needed for normal operation).  If address 0 and the outputs are not synchronized, issue Command 0 and both sets of 4 outputs will be synchronized (flashing at the same time but not necessarily flashing on and off together).
  
• Command1:   All bytes after this command are the sequential 'brightness' and 'fade' values for each channel
                         [1, channel1 brightness, channel1 fade, channel2 brightness,channel2 fade...and so on] ; 'Break' required
  
• Command2:   Set channel brightness starting at Channel1
                         [2, channel1 brightness, channel2 brightness....and so on] ; 'Break' required
  
• Command3:   Set an individual channel brightness and fade.
                         [3, channel#, channel brightness, channel fade]    ;No 'Break' required
  
• Command4:  Set and individual channel brightness (uses existing fade value)
                        [4, channel#, channel brightness]   ; No 'Break' required
  
• Command5:   Turn Off all channels (at the current fade setting)
                        [5, 204] ; note: the second byte is a 'verify' byte,  No 'Break' required
  
• Command6:  Turn Off all channels instantly (no fade) and does not affect the fade value
                        [6, 204] ; note: the second byte is a 'verify' byte, No 'Break' required
  
• Command7:  Set multiple channels brightness values (on or off, brighter or dimmer).
                        [7, channel #, Channel brightness, Channel#, Channel Brightness....and so on]    ;'Break' required after this command
  
• Command8:  Set multiple channels brightness and fade values
                        [8, Channel#, Channel Brightness, Channel fade, Channel#, Channel Brightness, Channel fade....and so on] ; 'Break' required after this command.
  
• Command9:  Set 'Number Channels' Brightness and Fade  (Set sequential channels Brightness and Fade, starting at Channel#)
                        [9, Number of channels, Start Channel#, Brightness1, Fade1, Brightness2, Fade2, ... to 'Number'] ; no 'Break' required if Data matches 'number channels'
  
• Command10: Set 'Sequential Number Channels' Brightness (Sets sequential channels Brightness, starting Channel#)
                         [10, Number of Channels, Start Channel#, Brightness1, Brightness2,.... to 'Number'] ; No Break required if data matches 'number-channels'
  
• Command11: Set 'Number Channels' off (sets sequential channels off from the starting channel#) ; no 'Break' Required if data matches 'number channels'
                         [11, number channels, Start Channel#, 204]  ;
  
• Command12: Set 'Number Channels' to One fade value
                         [12], Number Channels, Start Channel, Fade value, 204]    ;no 'Break' Required
  
• Command13: Set 'Number Channels' to One Brightness Value
                         [13, Number Channels, Start Channel#, Brightness, 204] ; No 'Break' Required
  
• Command14: Set 'Number Channels to One Brightness and One Fade value (all channels the same)
                         [14, Number Channels, Start Channel#, Brightness, Fade, 204] ; No 'Break' Required
  
• Command15: Set the 'Default Fade' for all channels (recorded in EEPROM) for default 'power-up' setting; no 'Break' Required
                         [15, Default Fade, 204]
  
• Command16: Reset Brightness & Fade to Power-Up condition (all channels off, default fade set)
                         [16,204]
  

Commands 17-31 are reserved for future use

'8-Play' Firmware Commands (Rev 2 and up Firmware)

• Command32: Play Scene#
                         [32,Scene#,#Loops,204]
                         Link: Play Scene Examples and Expanded Explanation
  
• Command33: Record Scene#
                         [33,Scene#,204, any number of scene bytes(1 to 256]
                         Note: If the 'Scene' does not 'end' (no 238 byte or padded zeros to the end of the scene page), the scene will roll over into the next scene.
  
• Command34: Cancel Play Command
                         [34, 204]
  
  Note: Play Commands 35-42 reserved for future use.
  
  

Development Commands

Rev 1 Boards: No Serial Transmit available.
Rev 2 Boards: 'S' on J9 on only 1 board.
Rev 3 Boards: Move the jumper on J5 from 'N' to 'P' to enable transmit on only 1 board.

• Command43: Respond with 0AAh (for testing of the serial port to the BrightSign (or computer) (Firmware version 4.01)
• Command44: Say Scene  [44,scene#,204]
• Command45: (see Note1 below) say Version [45,204]

Command46: (see Note1 below) say the goals and fade value for this address

Note1: For Development Only.  Rev 1 boards: The programming header has the TX line of the serial port.  Contact HMS Support for wiring details for the serial port connections

Scene Structure:

Scenes are 'commands' followed by one of the following:

1. End of scene byte 238 (the scene is over),  IE [04,03,128,238] (command4, channel 3 is set to 128, end of scene=238)
2. No Pause byte 170,  I.E. [04,03,128,170] (Command4, channel 3 is set to 128, no pause time, next command follows
3. Pause time Byte1 (Minutes), Byte2 (Seconds), Byte3 (.01 seconds).  I.E. [04,03,128,00,2,50]  (Command 4, Channel3 is set to 128) this is the 3 bytes of command 4, then the pause time is 0 minutes, 2 seconds, 50 .01 seconds or 2.5 seconds pause after this command is executed.
   
   The next command in the scene is executed immediately if no pause, or after the pause.

END OF PLAY COMMANDS

Note: Invalid 'Command' or 'Play' strings will be indicated by fast flashing of the 1HZ LED on the board.  All bytes after 'invalid' will be dumped until the 'break' is encountered.  The fast flashing is cleared on the next valid byte received after 'break'.

Note: Commands 9-15 are well suited to multiple boards on the same controller (BrightSign)

Note: Any 'Command' followed by a 'break condition' terminates the command. So, if zero bytes follow command=1, command 1 will simply be terminated at the break condition.  Any bytes that came in prior to the 'break' will be saved.

To Send Multiple Command protocols that require a 'Break':  Send 1 command string, then pause for 10 milliseconds, then send the next command string and pause and so on except where designated above (no 'Break' required).

Link: Setting up the Serial Port and Sending Bytes with 'BrightAuthor'.

Link: Command Examples

Link: Demo Light Program  Rename this file to 'Autorun.BRS' and put it on your SD card to run a demo of lights. (Rev 1 or Rev 2 boards 8-Out-Ser boards)

Link: 'Y' Adapters to expand the single 5V TTL serial port of the BrightSign to Communicate with multiple 8-Out Ser boards (eliminates a custom 'Y' harness).

*****************************************************************

Fade Calculation:

The fade value for each channel is used to fade up (increase brightness) or fade down (decrease brightness) at a specific rate.  The rate of change is 1 millisecond per 1 value of fade.  So, to change from a brightness of 0 to 128 (half brightness), with a fade value of 20, it takes 20 milliseconds for each step of change of brightness or 2.56 seconds fro the 128 steps of brightness.  A fade value of zero causes a new brightness level to be output with no fade (instant).

Diagnostics:

No Address (Address=0) causes flashing of outputs at 1/2 Hz.  Note: (Rev1 and Rev Boards) The processors are not synchronized so it is normal for the lower and upper 4 lights to flash out of sync.  The processors are synchronized on Rev3 and up boards)

*****************************************************************

Here is a table of 'bit' control and the decimal values to control that bit.

• Bit     Binary              Decimal
• 0       00000001b      1d
• 1       00000010b      2d
• 2       00000100b      4d
• 3       00001000b      8d
• 4       00010000b      16d
• 5       00100000b      32d
• 6       01000000b      64d
• 7       10000000b      128d

Just add the decimal numbers together to get the bits set that you want.  Setting all bits on is 255d (decimal).  Setting bits 0 and 7 on is 128+1 or 129 decimal

*****************************************************************

Electrical Specification:

V+ (Supply voltage) 12-24VDC (absolute maximum is 30VDC)

Outputs: Rev 3+ board maximum output is 15 amps per channel and 60 amps aggregate  (total current for one board).
Note: For aggregate current more than 45 amps, use the screw connections with ring terminals for an additional 45 amps.
Note: Screws and ring terminals are not provided.

Note: See page 2 of the schematic for recommended connections and for reduced EMI/RFI emissions.

Links: 5V Serial Cables (Shielded TX only) for use with this board for long wiring

Author: Richard Harkey
Copyright © 2011 HMS Electronics. All rights reserved.
Revised: February 28, 2012