For Brightsign Compact HD410, 810 & 1010

1 of 64 Inputs (Buttons), 1 of 64 Outputs (Lights)

HD_64X64 (Interface Board):

• Footprint (4.8 x 2.8 inches)
• Utilizes the 5V TTL Serial Port (.9 meter cable included).
• 1 of 64 input switches  (8 x 8 switch matrix)
• 1 of 64 outputs to drive LED's or Lamps (8 x 8 lamp matrix)
• Terminal blocks for all Switch and Lamp
• Requires 12V External Power Supply with 2.1mm jack)
• On board LED's to indicate Roku Power and Processor running.
• 5VTTL Serial Setup: 38400 baud, N,8,1
• Can plug directly into the BrightSign (no extension cable required)
• Note: PIR input is installed & Programmed on request.
• Can be used without GPIO connections (reports to serial port).

Description of Operation:

This board is used to interface to a BrightSign 'Compact'.  Use BrightAuthor with the Serial TTL (port1) selection!
Row's and Columns are continuously 'scanned'.  A single row is set low (rows 1-8), and the column is checked to see if any of the switches in that row have been actuated (buttons pressed).  If any columns inputs are low, then one of the switches is closed on that row.  The Row and Column is number is converted to a string number and output on the BrightSign TTL Port.  Scanning is stopped until all columns of that row are high (no switches closed).  The number that is sent to the BrightSign is the decimal number of the switch (1 to 64) converted to a string with leading zeros suppressed.  I.E. if switch 32 is selected, then Character('3') is sent, Character('2') is sent followed by carriage return (13).  See the Switch Matrix on page 2 of the Schematic for switch connections.  Note: The Outputs to the GPIO are programmed as open collector drivers and can only drive the GPIO pins low.

Inputs:
Inputs are connected to a matrix of 8 rows and 8 columns of switches (see page 2 of schematic).  Connect rows to one side of switches and connect column inputs to the other side of switches.  It makes no difference if one row has 1 or 8 switches or if a column has 1 or 8 switches.  It takes 10 milliseconds to 'scan' 8 rows and 8 columns (100 scans per second).  Once a switch is found low, then the switch and column are held in that state until the switch is released.  A String number is then derived from the row and column and sent to the TTL serial port of the BrightSign. Note: Row 8 buttons are not reported to the GPIO port and not the TTL port.

Special Inputs: Row 8 is reserved for GPIO inputs.  When Row 8 is set low, any column bits set low will be reflected to the GPIO.  I.E. IF Column1 is low when row 8 is scanned then BTN0 is set low on the GPIO.  Only a single 'Button' selection will be reported (not multiple buttons).

Outputs:
Outputs are to be connected to Incandescent Lamps or LED Lamps.  The outputs can drive a maximum of 500 milliamps (.5 amps).  The outputs are controlled using the TTL port from the BrightSign.  Send the decimal value out the TTL port to Light any 1 of the 64 Lights.  One row driver and one column driver will be turned on to enable power for a single light.  I.E. if zero is sent, all lights are off.  If 24 decimal is sent, then light 24 is turned on (Row3 driver is on (sink driver) and column 8 is turned on (source driver).  This turns on a single lamp or LED connected between Column 8 and Row 3.  See the schematic and page 3 (LED Lamp connections) for light outputs.
Note: Be sure to observe polarity if 'polarized' LED lamps are utilized.

Option1: Multiple Lamps enabled (2 byte protocol)
Note: More than one lamp can be on at a time (the limit is 500 milliamps aggregate for the lights).  It is recommended that LED lamps be utilized.  Option1 sets up row and column protocol for lights.  Use the BrightSign TTL port to output row and column numbers to turn on LED's.  I.E. to turn on all LED's on column 1, Set all of row 1, and set columns 1-8 all on (255 decimal). Bit values are sent for Rows and Columns.  See the Binary Bit table below for bit explanation.

Option2: Cycle Diagnostic.  This selections cycles the Rows and Column drivers.  I.E. Row 1 is turned on and Column 1 is turned on.  Row 2 is turned on and Column 2 is turned on.

Serial Transmission Protocol:  The BrightSign has to allow 10 milliseconds to elapse between serial data 'bytes' 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 so that the next byte after 10 milliseconds is considered byte 1.
Note: Extra bytes received are discarded.  I.E.  If one byte protocol, then remaining bytes are discarded until the 'break' condition'.  Likewise, if the two byte protocol is selected, then all bytes after byte two are discarded until the 'break' condition.

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

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

Options:

• Option1   Multiple Lights on (2 byte protocol of rows and columns)
  First byte is Rows, Second byte is Columns
  Example: If you want all of Row 3 Lights on (Columns 1-8 on), then you send 3,255.
  Example: If you want all Rows to be on for Column 1, send bytes '255,1' (11111111B,1B which is all rows on, column 1 on)
  Note: (Option 1)For Light Outputs a bit set high for row or column enables the source driver and the sink driver to turn on the drive current. Caution: Sending 255,255 would turn on all 64 source and sink drivers.
• Option2   Diagnostic (Sequence Rows and Columns).  One Light is turned on at a time for .1 seconds (takes 6.4 seconds to complete one cycle)
  Note: If Option1 is on, then Rows are turned on (not just one light) for .1 seconds.  For LED's only as this option could exceed the current specifications of the driver circuits!  The cycle time for this option is .8 seconds.

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

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

• Bit     Binary              Decimal
• 0       00000001b      1d (column1)
• 1       00000010b      2d (column2)
• 2       00000100b      4d (column3)
• 3       00001000b      8d (column4)
• 4       00010000b      16d (column5)
• 5       00100000b      32d (column6)
• 6       01000000b      64d (column7)
• 7       10000000b      128d (column8)

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

HD-64-IO.Zip I/O program (script file) for the BrightSign to run the HD-64x64 board.  It is only 1.5 megabyte size.  This I/O program shows a slide for each 'button' activation and turns on the Light for the 'button' that was pressed.  I.E. If button 8 is pressed, 'Slide8' is displayed and Light 8 is turned on (single byte protocol for the light).  Un-Zip this file to the root directory of your SD card.  You should have 'autorun.brs' in the root directory and a sub-directory 'Slides' with 64 low resolution slides (JPEG images).

Updated: November 3, 2011