Black Box 262K User Manual

CUSTOMER

SUPPORT

INFORMATION

Order toll-free in the U.S. 24 hours, 7 A.M. Monday to midnight Friday: 877-877-BBOX
FREE technical support, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: Call 724-746-5500 or fax [phone]
Mail order: Black Box Corporation, 1000 Park Drive, Lawrence, PA 15055-1018
Web site: www.blackbox.com • E-mail: [e-mail]

JULY 1994

AC403A

262K Color LCD Panel

DC-IN

POWER

ON OFF

CONTRAST

COLOR

FINE TUNE

TINT

CONTRAST

COLOR

CLEAR

MONITOR

RESET

262K COLOR LCD PANEL

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

AND

INDUSTRY CANADA

RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE STATEMENTS

This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy
and if not installed and used properly, that is, in strict accordance with the
manufacturer’s instructions, may cause interference to radio communication.
It has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A
computing device in accordance with the specifications in Subpart J of
Part 15 of FCC rules, which are designed to provide reasonable protection
against such interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial
environment. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to
cause interference, in which case the user at his own expense will be required
to take whatever measures may be necessary to correct the interference.

Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible
for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class A limits for radio noise emission from
digital apparatus set out in the Radio Interference Regulation of Industry Canada.

Le présent appareil numérique n’émet pas de bruits radioélectriques dépassant les limites
applicables aux appareils numériques de la classe A prescrites dans le Règlement sur le
brouillage radioélectrique publié par Industrie Canada.

Trademarks

Apple®, Mac®, and Macintosh®are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.

Hercules®is a registered trademark of Hercules Computer Technology.

IBM

®

is a registered trademark of IBM Corporation.

Any other trademarks mentioned in this manual are acknowledged to be the property
of the trademark owners.

3

CONTENTS

Chapter Page

1. Specifications...................................................................................................4

2. Introduction ....................................................................................................5

3. Installation .......................................................................................................6

3.1 Setting Up................................................................................................6

3.2 Connecting the Cables............................................................................7

3.2.1 Connecting to a VGA System .......................................................7

3.2.2 Connecting to an EGA, CGA, or Hercules System......................8

3.2.3 Connecting to a Mac II System.....................................................8

3.2.4 Connecting to a Mac LC System ..................................................9

3.3 Rear Projection .......................................................................................9

4. Using the LCD Panel.....................................................................................10

4.1 Control Keys ..........................................................................................10

4.2 How to Use the LCD Panel...................................................................11

4.3 Using the Remote Control ...................................................................11

5. Care and Maintenance..................................................................................12

5.1 Cleaning the Bottom Glass ...................................................................12

5.2 Cleaning the Housing...........................................................................13

5.3 Static Electricity.....................................................................................13

5.4 Transporting the LCD Panel................................................................13

6. Troubleshooting............................................................................................14

6.1 Troubleshooting Guide ........................................................................14

6.2 Calling Black Box..................................................................................15

6.3 Shipping and Packaging .......................................................................15

Index....................................................................................................................16

Contents

4

262K COLOR LCD PANEL

Display — True-color active matrix

TFT (Thin Film Transistor)
LCD; 640 x 480 resolution; 100:1
contrast ratio; 4:3 aspect ratio;
30 ms typical response time

Colors — Five modes: 8, 16, 2197,

32,768, or 262,144 colors

Controls — Directions, contrast,

color selection, reset, front/rear,
clear, fine-tune, tint

Power — Autoswitching; input:

100 to 250-VAC, 50 to 60 Hz,

0.9 A

Size — 12.6"H x 14"W x 1.6"D

(32 x 35.5 x 4 cm); Display:
approx. 6.7" x 5.1" (17 x 13 cm)

Weight — 5 lb. (2.3 kg)

1. Specifications

Video Systems Supported:

H. Sync V. Sync Dot Clock

Video Mode Resolution (KHz) (KHz) (MHz)

IBM VGA 720 x 480 31.47- 70.00+ 28.322

640 x 480 31.47- 59.94- 25.175
640 x 400 31.47- 70.00+ 25.175
640 x 400 31.47+ 70.00- 25.175

IBM EGA 640 x 350 21.85+ 59.70- 16.257

IBM CGA 640 x 200 15.69+ 59.92+ 14.318

Hercules (text) 720 x 350 18.14+ 49.03- 16.000

Hercules (graphics) 720 x 348 18.51+ 50.05 16.000

IBM MDA 720 x 350 18.43+ 49.82- 16.257

Macintosh II 640 x 480 35.00- 66.68 30.240

Macintosh LC 640 x 480 34.97- 66.61- 31.334

5

CHAPTER 2: Introduction

With the 262K Color LCD Panel,
you can project computer video
on a screen big enough for a whole
room to watch. It’s perfect for
business meetings, conferences,
and classroom instruction.

Your LCD Panel has a range of
262,144 colors, for rich true-color
images. It’s compatible with both
Apple®Macintosh®and IBM

®

compatible computers; on the IBM
compatibles, it will work with VGA—
or with CGA, EGA, or Hercules

®

compatible video, with the optional
DB9 Y cable.

The Y cable that comes with the
LCD Panel lets you attach both the
Panel and your computer monitor
at once, so you can display your
presentation on both
simultaneously.

What’s in the Package

Besides this manual, the package
should contain these items:

• 262K Color LCD Panel

• DB15HD Y cable for VGA

• DB15 Y cable for Mac

®

• Power adapter with cord

• Remote control

• Two AA batteries (for the
remote control)

If anything on this list is missing,
call Black Box right away.

2. Introduction

6

262K COLOR LCD PANEL

When you connect the LCD Panel
to a PC, it works the same way a
monitor does, taking signals from
the same video port on your PC.

If you have a portable or notebook
computer with an internal screen,
you may have to activate the external
video port before it will work. See
the manual for your computer.

3.1 Setting Up

1. Position your overhead
projector at the right level and
distance for projection. For
best results, you’ll want:

• A high-intensity overhead
projector—for instance, a
400-watt halogen or metal­vapor type—that projects a
bright, uniformly illuminated
image. (A rating of 4000
lumens or better is
recommended.)

• A dimmed room with no
direct sunlight shining in.

The LCD Panel works with all
transmissive overhead
projectors—projectors with a
light source that shines through
the image (the kind of
projector you ordinarily use
with transparencies, not
opaque sheets of paper).

2. Make sure everything is turned
off—the computer, the
overhead projector, the
monitor, and the LCD panel.

3. Set up your computer and
monitor near the projector—
close enough for the 15-foot
(4.6-m) Y cable to reach
without stretching.

4. Place the LCD Panel on the
projector’s glass plate with the
controls on the Panel toward
the screen.

3. Installation

Connectors and Switch on the LCD Panel.

7

CHAPTER 3: Installation

3.2 Connecting the Cables

The LCD Panel comes with two Y
cables, one for VGA video and one
for Macintosh video. You can also
order optional cables for connecting
to CGA, EGA, and Hercules video;
call your supplier.

3.2.1 C

ONNECTING TO A

VGA S

YSTEM

1. Make sure the PC is switched
off. Never connect the LCD
panel when the PC’s power is
on.

2. Disconnect the monitor cable
from the PC. If you want to use
both the PC monitor and the
LCD Panel at the same time,
plug the monitor cable into the
short cable stub on the Y cable.
Tighten the thumbscrews to
make sure you have a good
connection.

NOTE: For some software programs that

detect the presence of an external
monitor in order to determine the
type of display, you’ll need to have
the external monitor connected.

3. Plug the single-connector end
of the Y cable—the end with
two cables coming out of it—
into the PC’s video port. Again,
tighten the thumbscrews to
make a tight connection.

4. Plug the DB25 connector (the
large one) into the LCD Panel.

5. Plug the 6-pin mini-DIN
connector from the power
adapter into the DC-IN jack on
the LCD Panel. Connect the
socket end of the AC cord to
the power adapter.

DC-IN

POWER

ON OFF

CONTRAST

COLOR

FINE TUNE

TINT

Connecting the Y Cable.

8

262K COLOR LCD PANEL

6. Make sure the power on the
LCD Panel is off, then plug the
power cord into a convenient
AC outlet.

7. Turn on the PC, then the LCD
Panel.

NOTE: Follow this power-up sequence, or

the video signals might not be
synchronized corectly. The image
on the Color LCD Panel is made up
of red, green, and blue parts, and
the parts are synchronized to the
incoming video signal from the
computer. If there isn’t a video
signal from the computer—if you
turn on the LCD Panel while the
computer is still off, for example—
then the LCD Panel might lose
synchronization, and you’ll see a
split image of red, green, and blue.

To bring the LCD panel back to
normal, you can press the RESET
button on the panel or on the remote
control.

Avoid turning on the LCD Panel
for any length of time when no video
signal is present—that can reduce
the lifetime of the LCD.

8. Run a program on the
computer that creates a
colorful image on the screen.
It’s easier to adjust the LCD
panel when it’s showing a
colorful image. Focus the
projector.

CAUTION

Make sure the LCD Panel’s
power adapter is completely
connected before you turn
on the projector. The cooling
fans in the LCD Panel won’t
work unless the power
connected, and the h
from the projector cou
damage the Panel.

3.2.2 C

ONNECTING TO AN

EGA, CGA,

ORHERCULESSYSTEM

The connections are exactly the
same as for a VGA system (see
Section 3.2.1), but you need the
optional DB9 Y cable.

For Hercules systems, the Panel
defaults to Hercules Text Mode. To
select Graphics Mode, press the
RESET button and the COLOR 
button on the front panel at the same
time. To go back to Text Mode, press
those two buttons again.

3.2.3 C

ONNECTING TO AMAC

II S

YSTEM

1. Make sure the Mac is switched
off. Never connect the LCD
panel when the Macintosh is
turned on.

2. Disconnect the monitor cable
from the Mac, and plug it into
the short cable stub on the Y
cable. Tighten the thumbscrews
to make sure you have a good
connection.

NOTE: The external monitor must be

connected for the computer to work.

3. Plug the single-connector end
of the Y cable—the end with
two cables coming out of it—
into the Macintosh video port.
Again, tighten the thumbscrews
to make a tight connection.

4. Plug the DB25 connector (the
large one) into the LCD Panel.

5. Plug the 6-pin mini-DIN
connector from the power
adapter into the DC-IN jack on
the LCD Panel. Connect the
socket end of the AC cord to
the power adapter.

9

CHAPTER 3: Installation

6. Make sure the power on the
LCD Panel is off, then plug the
power cord into a convenient
AC outlet.

7. Turn on the Macintosh, then
the LCD Panel.

NOTE: Follow this power-up sequence, or

the video signals might not be
synchronized correctly. The image
on the Color LCD Panel is made up
of red, green, and blue parts, and
the parts are synchronized to the
incoming video signal from the
computer. If there isn’t a video
signal from the computer—if you
turn on the LCD Panel while the
computer is still off, for example—
then the LCD Panel might lose
synchronization, and you’ll see a
split image of red, green, and blue.

To bring the LCD panel back to
normal, you can press the RESET
button on the panel or on the remote
control.

Avoid turning on the LCD Panel
for any length of time when no video
signal is present—that can reduce
the lifetime of the LCD.

8. Run a program on the
Macintosh that creates a
colorful image on the screen.
It’s easier to adjust the LCD
panel when it’s showing a
colorful image. Focus the
projector.

CAUTION

Make sure the LCD Panel’s
power adapter is completely
connected before you turn
on the projector. The cooling
fans in the LCD Panel won’t
work unless the power
connected, and the h
from the projector cou
damage the Panel.

3.2.4 C

ONNECTING TO AMAC

LC

S

YSTEM

The connections are exactly the
same as for a Mac II system.

The LCD Panel defaults to Mac II
mode. To switch to Mac LC mode,
press the RESET button and the
COLOR  button on the front
panel at the same time. To go back t
o Mac II mode, press those two
buttons again.

3.3 Rear Projection

To use the LCD panel for rear
projection, just press the
FRONT/REAR button on the control
panel. To go back to front projection,
press the same button again.

10

262 COLOR LCD PANEL

Once you’ve made all the connec­tions in Chapter 3, the LCD Panel is
ready to go. This chapter describes
the controls on the front panel and
the remote control.

4.1 Control Keys

The keys on the front panel and the
remote control work the same way.

A

RROWKEYS

—

Use the arrow keys to move the
screen image up, down, left, or right.
If you press an arrow key once, the
image will move by one pixel; if you
hold down the arrow key, the image
will move faster.

CONTRAST +

AND

–

Press + to lighten the image
and – to darken it.

CLEAR

Clears the image, whether a signal is
present or not. Push the CLEAR
button again to restore the image.

RESET

Restores the screen position,
contrast, and color to the default
settings. Press RESET and COLOR



together to select either Mac LC

or Hercules Graphics mode.

COLOR



AND



These buttons select the color mode.
There are five different color modes:

• 8-color

• 64-color

• 512-color

• 32,768-color

• 262,144-color

The default is 512-color mode.
Pressing the button changes the
selection one step toward the 8-color
mode; pressing the button
changes it one step toward the
262,144-color mode. For some
images, a mode with fewer colors
will give you a more brilliant and
saturated color. Pick the mode that
looks best with your image.

4. Using the LCD Panel

11

CHAPTER 4: Using the LCD Panel

FRONT/REAR

Toggles front and rear projection
to match the type of overhead
projector being used.

FINE TUNE

Turn this knob to eliminate uneven
text or streaking in the image. The
adjustment compensates for slight
variances in the PC’s video timing.
Turn the knob slowly until the image
looks best.

TINT

Turn this knob to adjust the
weighting of the red and blue color
tones to suit your own preference.

POWER

(on the right-hand side of the

LCD Panel)

Turns the power on or off.

4.2 How to Use the LCD Panel

Make sure you have everything set
up as described in Chapter 3. Then:

1. Power up your computer.

2. Turn on the power switch on
the LCD Panel.

3. Turn on the overhead
projector.

4. Use the CONTRAST + and –
buttons to get the best-looking
image.

5. Use the FINE TUNE knob to
eliminate uneven text or
streaking.

6. If you like, use the TINT knob
to set the image to a more
reddish or bluish tone.

7. Use the COLOR and



buttons to choose the best­looking color mode.

4.3 Using the Remote Control

The signal from the hand-held
remote control is received on the
side of the LCD panel that faces the
projection screen. All the buttons on
the remote control work the same
way as the buttons on the LCD
Panel.

12

262K COLOR LCD PANEL

You can reduce the chance of
damaging your LCD Panel by
treating it the same way you
would treat any valuable computer
equipment. Keep it clean, don’t
drop it, and keep it away from

static electricity and temperature

extremes.

5.1 Cleaning the Bottom Glass

You can periodically clean the airway
by removing the bottom glass of the
LCD Panel. Remove the three
mounting screws on the glass
mounting bar (see the illustration
below). Gently remove the mounting
bar and the bottom glass. Use a non­alcohol-based glass cleaner and a
soft, nonabrasive cloth. Wipe the
glass gently to remove any dust or
dirt. Reinstall the bottom glass the
same way you took it out.

5. Care and Maintenance

Removing the Bottom Glass for Cleaning.

13

CHAPTER 5: Care and Maintenance

CAUTION

Removing the bottom glass
will expose the interior LCD
glass, which is fragile and
scratches easily. Avoid
touching it. Replace the
bottom glass immediately
after cleaning.

5.2 Cleaning the Housing

Do not open the housing. If your
LCD panel requires service or repair,
call your dealer. If you attempt to open

the housing or repair the LCD Panel, you
will void the warranty.

Don’t clean the housing with
organic solvents, such as those
that contain acetone. Just wipe the
exterior of the housing with a soft,
damp cloth. Protect the LCD Panel
from rain or snow.

5.3 Static Electricity

The LCD Projection Panel is
vulnerable to static electricity—the
kind that’s generated when you walk
across synthetic carpeting. To avoid
transferring an electric charge to the
LCD Panel, be sure you discharge
this static electricity before handling
the Panel. Touch any grounded
metal object.

5.4 Transporting the LCD Panel

The LCD Panel is a sophisticated
piece of equipment, so it’s sensitive
to impact and extremes of heat,
cold, and humidity.

Store and transport the LCD
Panel at temperatures between
0° and 140° Fahrenheit (-18° to 60°
Celsius). Don’t leave the Panel in
a car during seasonal temperature
extremes: Automobile interiors can
get hotter than 160° F (71°C) in the
summer, and colder than -20°F
(-29°C) in winter.

If the LCD Panel has been
exposed to extremely hot, cold,
or humid conditions, let it stand at
room temperature for 30 minutes
before you use it.

14

262K COLOR LCD PANEL

Before you call for service, try the suggestions in Section 6.1. If you still can’t
solve the problem, read Sections 6.2 and 6.3 before you call.

6.1 Troubleshooting Guide

Problem Probable Cause What to Do

6. Troubleshooting

No image on PC monitor. No power. The Panel must

be powered before you
can use the PC monitor.

Connect the power adapter
to the Panel.

No image on the screen.

Faint screen.

Remote Control not
working.

Jittering, fuzzy letters or
image.

Contrast is not uniform.

1. Cable not firmly
connected.

2. No power.

Contrast adjustment is
wrong.

Batteries are weak or
installed wrong.

Out of sync.

Air intake and
exhaust vents are
blocked.

Check the connection—
make sure it’s secure.

Check the power-cord
connections. Make sure
the AC outlet is working.

Adjust the CONTRAST
buttons.

Check the battery
compartment. Try
replacing the batteries.

Adjust the FINE TUNE
knob.

Check to see whether air
is blowing out from the
exhaust vent, and
whether the motor is
rotating normally.

15

CHAPTER 6: Troubleshooting

Problem Probable Cause What to Do

Split red, green, and blue
image.

Reddish or bluish picture.

Shaky image with a Mac LC
system.

Out of sync.

Tint setting is wrong.

Mac LC mode not
selected.

Press RESET button.

Slowly turn the TINT knob
until the picture looks
right.

Press RESET and COLOR
 at the same time.

6.2 Calling Black Box

If you determine that your LCD Panel is malfunctioning, do not attempt to
alter or repair the unit. It contains no user-serviceable parts. Contact Black Box.

Before you do, make a record of the history of the problem. Black Box
will be able to provide more efficient and accurate assistance if you have a
complete description, including:

• the nature and duration of the problem.

• when the problem occurs.

• the components involved in the problem.

• any particular application that, when used, appears to create the problem
or make it worse.

6.3 Shipping and Packaging

If you need to transport or ship your LCD Panel:

• Package it carefully. We recommend that you use the original container.

• If you are shipping the LCD Panel for repair, make sure you include its
power supply. If you are returning the LCD Panel, make sure you include
this manual as well. Before you ship, contact Black Box to get a Return
Materials Authorization (RMA) number.

16

262K COLOR LCD PANEL

Arrow Keys ......................................10

Background color for text .......10, 11

Bottom glass, cleaning ...................12

Cables................................................7

CGA...................................................8

CLEAR button................................10

COLOR buttons .............................10

Color modes ...............................4, 10

CONTRAST buttons ..........10, 11, 14

Contrast, problems with.................14

Control Keys ...................................10

Cooling fans......................................8

EGA...................................................8

External video port (on a portable

computer) ....................................7

Faint screen ....................................14

FINE TUNE knob ..........................11

FRONT/REAR button...............9, 11

Hercules graphics mode..................8

Hercules video..................................8

Housing, cleaning ..........................13

Installation........................................6

Internal screen .................................6

Laptop computers............................6

Lighting conditions, ideal ...............6

Mac II................................................8

Mac LC..............................................9

Mac LC, problems with..................15

Maintenance...................................12

Notebook computers .......................6

Overhead projector,

what kind to use...........................6

Package contents..............................5

Portable computers..........................6

Power-up sequence ........................11

Problems.........................................14

Rear projection ................................9

Remote control ..............................11

Remote control, problems with.....14

RESET button.........................8, 9, 10

Restoring a cleared image .............10

Static electricity ..............................13

Storing the LCD Panel...................13

Synchronization .....................8, 9, 15

Temperatures .................................13

TINT .........................................11, 15

Transporting the LCD Panel.........13

Troubleshooting ............................14

VGA...................................................7

Video systems supported .................4

Y cables..............................................7

Video port, external, on a portable

computer......................................7

Index

1000 Park Drive • Lawrence, PA 15055-1018 • 724-746-5500 • Fax [phone]

© Copyright 1994. Black Box Corporation. All rights reserved.