Roku Brightsign Seial Interface w/DMX512 Controller

Roku Brightsign Serial Interface

Roku Brightsign Serial Interface board with DMX controller Output

for all Brightsign Models

ROKU_SER_DMX (SERIAL) BOARD

w/DMX512 Controller

New Rev2 Firmware

small footprint (3.0 x 3.0 inches)
Compatible with all Brightsign models that have a serial port.
8 Output Drivers for Lamps or Relays (.5 ampere each driver)
Terminal blocks for all I/O connections
Modes of operation selectable on board (SEE OPTIONS)
Optional 6, 12V or 24VDC outputs (requires External Power Supply).
On board jumper to drive 5 volt LED Loads.
On board LED's to indicate Roku Power and Processor running.
Serial Setup: 38400 baud, N,8,1 (standard RS232 communication)
On board connection for a 5 volt PIR detector (Passive Infrared Detector). The PIR 'state' overrides bit 7 (input 7) if the PIR detection is low.

Note: 03/16/2011 Baud changed from 9600 to 19200 and Rev 2.0 Firmware This applies to all product shipped after this date (03/16/2011).

Rev2 Firmware:

1. Activation of inputs 0-7 Sends out Ascii '0', '1', '2', '3', '4', '5', '6' ,'7' followed by <CR> (Carriage Return), because the BrightSign is looking for 'Strings',
2. Option1 Selects Output the inverted 'Binary' value of the inputs (see Option1 below) and overrides the string for BrightAuthor).
3. New Protocol for 'Syncing' with the BrightSign. Send 0AAh (decimal 170) before the Port Byte. This new protocol eliminates the random lights while the BrightSign is booting.

This board is used by the Brightsign to input 8 bits of data, output 8 bits of data as well as control a DMX Dimmer Pack or other DMX device. The Roku Brightsign controls the 8 outputs via the 'Port Byte' as defined below in the Serial-DMX protocol). The 8 inputs are transmitted to the Brightsign as an 'Ascii String' to indicate change of state. At anytime the inputs change state, the new state of the inputs is sent to the Brightsign. Only the first 'low' as determined by the firmware will be sent to the BrightSign. I.E. If input 0 and input 7 both go low, Input0 will be reported ('0',<CR>) (two bytes). Input 7 will not be reported until Input0 goes high.

The modes of operations are as follows as selected by jumper on the options header.

Option 1: Selects 'Send Inverted Binary Byte' for the Inputs (inputs 0-7).   The inputs are inverted (1's become 0's and vice versa), and this binary byte is sent to the BrightSign.
                  I.E. If input 0 is pulled low, then binary 00000001 (value of 1) is sent to the BrightSign. When Input 0 is released (goes high), then the new value of the 'inverted' input port is sent (value=0)
                  Note: This selection overrides the 'string' that BrightAuthor expects and should only be used for BrightScript.

Option2 : Future

Option3: Reflect the inputs to the outputs and to the DMX Dimmer Pack (Channels 1-4) Note: Inputs are inverted so that a low input will turn on the output.

Option4: Cycle outputs on (1 output on at a time) and alternate turn on and off the 4 DMX channels.

Operation:

When any input has changed states, this units transmits this byte over the RS232 serial connection to the Brightsign as an Ascii String. This string is '0' (for input0) followed by <CR> (Carriage Return). Only one 'Input' is reported. So, if two inputs are activated (low), only the first input detected low is sent to the BrightSign. All inputs have to return high before a new 'low input' is sent to the BrightSign. Note: Option1 overrides this protocol.

The New 'Set Port Protocol is 170, 'Port Byte', DMX bytes. This new protocol of sending decimal 170 prior to other bytes has been adopted because of the messages sent out the serial port during boot of the BrightSign. Decimal 170 (Binary 10101010) will verify baud setting and will synchronize the HMS board to the BrightSign. At any time, the Brightsign sends out the 'Port Byte', then the outputs (lamps) will light according to the bit pattern of that byte. I.E. Bit 0 of the byte = 1, will turn on Ouput-0.

Serial-DMX protocol: In order to reliably communicate with this board there has to be a protocol set. There has to be a 20 millisecond break when sending byte strings to this board from the Brightsign. The Protocol is: Start byte (170 Decimal or 'AA' Hex), Port Byte, DMX Channel1 byte, DMX Channel2 byte, DMX Channel3 byte, DMX Channel4 byte..to DMX Channel 100 followed by 'BREAK'

Note: If only the Port byte is sent after the 'Start Byte', then after 10 milliseconds the serial receive is reset (break is assumed) and this serial receive is ready for the next transmit sequence from the Roku Brightsign.

Example: To just set the Outputs, Send 170 (decimal), then the byte that represents the bits of the output.

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

! Custom firmware is available for controlling more than the 4 channel dimmer packs or other options as required!

Note: External Supply Voltage: An External Power Supply is needed to power the loads on the output connector. Do not connect any loads that have their own power that exceeds the power as applied to the board using the 'Ext. Power Connector'. Doing so may result in damage to the board. I.E. Suppose that 12 volts is supplied to this board and you have a relay board with it's own power of 24Volts DC that powers the relays. The 24VDC will feed back into the board via the foldback diodes. Note: Foldback diodes are required for inductive loads such as relays or small motors.

Updated: March 14, 2011