The firmware contained in this product is Copyright (c) 2001 by Industrologic, Inc.
Without any special characters or commands required, it can convert simple ASCII messages sent to it into the special message protocol required by the BetaBrite display when using its serial port.
Selecting various display and character options is easily done with character sequences using the "Escape" character/key and "Control" characters, both easily entered from a standard keyboard on a computer or terminal. Messages can even be entered "by hand" for test purposes before writing programs to send messages.
In addition to its protocol conversion capabilities, the RS51-SPR-BETA software option includes commands to operate the RS51-SPR's on-board relay with its 10 amp Form C contacts. This provides the RS51-SPR-BETA with either a general purpose serial control relay, or a method to give the BetaBrite an audible signal, by controlling a sound producing device.
Two DB9 connectors are available on the RS51-SPR board to easily connect it to the serial port of an IBM PC equivalent computer and to the serial cable provided with the BetaBrite display. No other cables or adapters are required.
The RS-232 protocol should be selected to match the transmitting device. Refer to the RS51-SPR reference manual under "On-Board Configuration Jumpers", "Baud Rate and Character Echo". The default factory configuration is set to 9600 baud, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity, no echo.
The RS51-SPR-BETA software option does not use the "Board Address" options.
Up to 86 characters may be sent to the RS51-SPR-BETA before the final required carriage return. When entering messages "by hand" from a terminal program, editing using the backspace and arrow keys is not available. Messages with typos must simply be re-entered.
The letters used in commands are case sensitive. Commands that include invalid characters or characters of the incorrect case will treat some of those characters as regular characters and display them.
The "Mode" command must be sent first and is acted on only once. If it is sent at any other time some of its characters will be treated as regular text characters and be displayed. If no Mode command is specified, the "Hold" mode will be selected, where the message is held on the display continuously.
The "Color" command may be included multiple times within a message, whenever you wish to change the color of the characters that follow. If no Color command is specified before the first text characters, the color "Red" will be selected as the default color. Other colors can then be specified anywhere else in the message.
The "Flash" and "Wide" commands may be included multiple times within a message, whenever you wish to turn the effect on or off for the characters that follow.
The "Left justified fixed width" command affects the entire message and may be placed anywhere in the message.
Most of the display commands require approximately one second to complete. The "set time, time format, and day-of-week" command is a combination of three separate commands and will take over 3 seconds to complete. The RS51-SPR-BETA software allows a single command to be received during the time that the display is busy acting on the previous command. Any other commands sent while the display is busy will be ignored.
The following commands are required only for other colors, modes, and special effects.
[ESC]Mx Select display mode for all characters
[ESC] is escape, 27 decimal, 1B hexadecimal
x is mode as 1 ASCII character, a-t, decimal 97-116, hexadecimal 61-74 and 0-9, decimal 48-57, hexadecimal 30-39
a=Rotate, b=Hold, c=Flash, d=Starbursts, e=Roll up, f=Roll down, g=Roll left, h=Roll right, i=Wipe up, j=Wipe down, k=Wipe left, l=Wipe right, m=Scroll, n=Spray, o=Auto, p=Roll in, q=Roll out, r=Wipe in, s=Wipe out, t=Compressed rotate, u=Twinkle, v=Sparkle, w=Snow, x=Interlock, y=Switch, z=Cycle colors (model 1036), Slide (older models)
Note: Any message larger than the width of the display will scroll regardless of the mode selected.
[ESC]Cx Change color for characters that followv
[ESC] is escape, 27 decimal, 1B hexadecimal
x is color as 1 ASCII character, 1-9, decimal 49-57, hexadecimal 31-39 and A-C, decimal 65-67, hexadecimal 41-43
1=Red, 2=Green, 3=Amber, 4=Dim Red, 5=Dim Green, 6=Brown, 7=Orange, 8=Yellow, 9=Rainbow 1, A=Rainbow 2, B=Mixed Color, C=Auto Color
[ESC]Fx Turn character flash on or off
[ESC] is escape, 27 decimal, 1B hexadecimal
x is on/off status as 1 ASCII character
0=off, or 1=on, decimal 48 or 49, hexadecimal 30 or 31
Note: Scrolling messages cannot contain characters that flash, so messages that are wider than the width of the display will ignore "flash" commands.
[ESC]Wx Select character width, wide or normal
[ESC] is escape, 27 decimal, 1B hexadecimal
x is on/off status as 1 ASCII character
0=normal, or 1=wide, decimal 48 or 49, hexadecimal 30 or 31
[ESC]L Select left justified fixed width characters
[ESC] is escape, 27 decimal, 1B hexadecimal
Note: All displayed characters must be of the same type, either fixed width or proportional, so using this command anywhere in a message will cause the entire message to to be left justified fixed width.
[ESC]T Display time (in default format or format selected)
[ESC] is escape, 27 decimal, 1B hexadecimal
Note: The time function in the BetaBrite display does not include seconds.
[ESC]Dx Display date
[ESC] is escape, 27 decimal, 1B hexadecimal
x is format as 1 ASCII character, 0-9, decimal 48-57, hexadecimal 30-39
0=MM/DD/YY, 1=DD/MM/YY, 2=MM-DD-YY, 3=DD-MM-YY, 4=MM.DD.YY, 5=DD.MM.YY, 6=MM DD YY, 7=DD MM YY, 8=MMM.DD,YYYY, 9=Day of Week, any other character=Month (3 characters), DD, YYYY
[^R]x[CR] Turn relay on/off
[^R] is control R (R pressed while Ctrl is already pressed), decimal 18, hexadecimal 12
x is on/off status as 1 ASCII character
0=off, or 1=on, decimal 48 or 49, hexadecimal 30 or 31
Note: This command does not affect the display and is therefore not limited to the response time of the display. The relay can be turned on and off at very short intervals if desired, limited only to the response time of the software and baud rate.
[^H][CR] Display hardware reset and memory clear
[^H] is control H (H pressed while Ctrl is already pressed), BACKSPACE key, decimal 8, hexadecimal
[CR] is carriage return (ENTER key), decimal 13, hexadecimal 0D
Note: This command will clear all messages including those entered into the display by means other than the RS51-SPR-BETA like the Remote Control unit.
[^T]hhmmfw[CR] Set time, time format, and day-of-week
[^T] is control T (T pressed while Ctrl is already pressed), decimal 20, hexadecimal 14
hh is hours as 2 ASCII characters 00-23
mm is minutes as 2 ASCII characters 00-59
f is format as 1 ASCII character, S for AM/PM (standard) or M for 24 hour (military)
w is day-of-week as 1 ASCII character, 1-7 for Sunday through Saturday
[CR] is carriage return (ENTER key), decimal 13, hexadecimal 0D
Note: The time function in the BetaBrite display does not include seconds.
[^D]mmddyy[CR] Set date
[^D] is control D (D pressed while Ctrl is already pressed), decimal 4, hexadecimal 4
mm is month as 2 ASCII characters 01-12
dd is day as 2 ASCII characters 01-31
yy is year as 2 ASCII characters, 00-99
[CR] is carriage return (ENTER key), decimal 13, hexadecimal 0D
For a more detailed explanation of the display modes, or for more information about programming the BetaBrite display, refer to the document "Alpha Communications Protocol", available from Adaptive Micro Systems, Inc., the manufacturer of the BetaBrite display. The BetaBrite uses a subset of the commands used by the Adaptive Micro Systems "Alpha" series electronic message displays.
The firmware contained in this product is Copyright (c) 2001 by Industrologic, Inc.
Industrologic, Inc. reserves the right to change any product's features, specifications, documentation, warranties, fee schedules, and conditions at any time and without notice.
Industrologic products are provided as printed circuit board level assemblies. Some Industrologic products may include mechanical packaging assessories which are provide for the purchaser's convenience, and are not intended to be final assembly enclosures.
Industrologic products are provided with the understanding that the purchaser will determine fitness for any particular application as well as achieve compliance with any particular specifications or regulations as required or desired for that application.
Industrologic's obligation under this Warranty is limited to replacement with a new or repaired unit to the original purchaser. The unit must be returned, and replacements obtained from Industrologic, Inc. or the Distributor or OEM from whom it was purchased.
This warranty will not apply if, in the judgment of Industrologic, Inc., damage or failure of the product has resulted from accident, alteration, misuse, abuse, connection to or operation with incompatible signals or power sources, or improper installation.
Under no circumstances shall Industrologic, Inc. be liable to purchaser or any third party for any loss of profits or other direct or indirect costs, expenses, losses, or consequential damages arising out of or as a result of any defects in or failure of Industrologic products or any part or parts thereof.
THIS WARRANTY IS IN LIEU OF ANY OTHER WARRANTY, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, AS TO DESCRIPTION, QUALITY, MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE, OR ANY OTHER MATTER.
Products must be returned by original purchaser with a Return Materials Authorization (RMA) number issued by Industrologic, Inc. or the Distributor or OEM from whom it was purchased, authorizing its return. Current repair or replacement fees and procedures will be related during the issue of the RMA number.
Warranty or repair units must be returned with postage and insurance paid by purchaser. Industrologic, Inc. is not responsible for damages or loss during shipment.
Two RS-232 serial ports are available on the board-
- One uses a DB9 female connector with a pinout that matches the serial port of an IBM PC equivalent computer when using a standard DB9 pin-to-pin male-to-female cable.
- The other uses a DB9 male connector with a pinout that emulates the IBM PC serial port for connection to other devices that connect to that standard.
The RS51-SPR also includes an on-board relay with 10 amp Form C contacts and screw terminal connections.
It can operate on 9 to 12 volts AC or 11 to 14 volts regulated or unregulated DC, with a coaxial power connector for connection to a wallblock transformer as well as screw terminals for other voltage sources.
The RS51-SPR is shipped with the items needed to quickly and immediately connect to an IBM PC compatible computer and to begin operating the device- A wallblock power supply, RS-232 cable, and detailed Reference Manual.
Operating environment:
Temperature: 0-50 degrees Celsius (32-122 Fahrenheit)
Humidity: 30 to 80 percent, non-condensing
Form "C" Relay Contacts:
Maximum voltage: 30 volts, AC or DC
Maximum current: 10 amps
Manufacturer's type: Omron G5LE-14 series or equivalent
The following is a table of jumper arrangements and baud rates available.
baud rate 19.2K 9600 4800 2400 1200 600 300 150
S0 left right left right left right left right
S1 left left right right left left right right
S2 left left left left right right right right
(default)
Jumper S3 selects whether or not the RS51-SPR will echo characters sent to it.
echo yes no
S3 left right
(default)
The following is a table of jumper arrangements and addresses.
Address 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8
A0 left right left right left right left right
A1 left left right right left left right right
A2 left left left left right right right right
A3 left left left left left left left left
Address 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
A0 left right left right left right left right
A1 left left right right left left right right
A2 left left left left right right right right
A3 right right right right right right right right
(default)
Connecting power to serial port 2 allows an RS51-SPR to power another board when used a part of a chain of addressed boards. Connecting power to serial port 1 allows an RS51-SPR to receive power from another board. When used in this manner, the first board in the chain should have only serial port 2 connected to power, and the rest of the boards should have both serial 1 and serial 2 connected to power. Power should then be applied only to the first board.
The following are pinouts of the serial port connectors:
Serial Port 1, DB9-Female: Serial Port 2, DB9-Male PC signal Pin RS51-SPR Signal Pin RS51-SPR Signal DCD in 1 1 receive 2 transmit 2 receive transmit 3 receive 3 transmit DTR out 4 4 ground 5 ground 5 ground DSR in 6 6 RTS out 7 7 CTS in 8 8 RI in 9 optional power 9 optional power
On serial port 1 pins 1, 4, and 6 are tied together and pins 7 and 8 are tied together.
