Burst Electronics GPI-10 User Manual

GPI-10,

GPI-10K

General Purpose Interface
(GPI) to RS232 Converter,

10 Channel

Manual Version 3.01

BURST ELECTRONICS INC
ALBUQUERQUE, NM 87109 USA
[phone] VOICE

Made in USA

[phone] TECH SUPPORT
[phone] FAX
www.burstelectronics.com

Hardware, software and manual copyright by Burst Electronics. All rights reserved. No part
of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means without the
written permission of Burst Electronics.

GPI to RS232 Converter

Introduction

Congratulations on your purchase of the Burst Electronics
model GPI-10. This product con verts a momentary contact
closure (factory default) or momentary contact open (user
selectable internal jumper) to a RS232 stream of data. The
GPI-10 was originally designed to command the Burst
Electronics MCG -2 (or MCG-3) Micro Character Generator
to overlay, on to video, each of its 10 pages stored in
memory. Another option is to have the GPI-10 factory
programmed with RS232 dat a that you provide (contact
Burst Electronics for details and pricing).

The GPI-10 has 11 screw terminal connectors on the bac k.
One of these connectors, called COM (meaning common),
is used with each of the other connectors through a contact
closure suc h as a momentary push button switch to create
the trigger. Activation of the push button switch is all that is
required to trans mit the preprogrammed data. The trigger
only needs to be active for 5mS (0.005 seconds). If a
trigger is active while a second trigger is activated, no data
will be transmitted. You must release the first trigger before
activating the next trigger.

There is also a model with a keypad on the top of the unit
(GPI-10K). Each of the numbered pushbuttons (0-9), when
pressed, will stream RS232 data in the same manner as
stated above. The zero (0) key is used as number 10. The
pound (#) key and the asterix (*) key are not used.

The RS232 connector is RJ11 style (standard telephone
plug). The RJ11 cable used is also a standard 4 conduc tor

GPI -10 GPI to RS232 Converter 2

telephone cable. If you are using the GPI-10 to
communicate to a PC computer, you will need a Null
Modem Adapter (included with the GPI-10). The Null
Modem Adapter converts DB9 (standard computer serial
port) to RJ11.

If you use normally closed contacts, vs. normally open
contacts, to command the GPI-10, you will need to change
the internal jumper (factory default is for normally open
contacts). To select normally closed triggering, remove the
front panel of the GPI-10 and slide the top cover off.
Remove the shunt at W1 for normally closed trigger.
Replace the shunt if normally open contacts are going to be
used. (Note: if normally closed is selected, the front panel
LEDs corresponding to each contact will remain lit until you
perform an open trigger). Burst Electronics’ default for this
selection has the shunt installed (normally open operation).
When using normally closed contacts, use only the terminal
connectors on the rear of the unit, as the keypad is
configured for Normally Open operation only.

The GPI-10 communicates at 9600 baud, 8 data bits, No
stop bits, and 1 parity bit (9600,8,N,1). There is no flow
control associated with this device.

MCG Operation

Connect the supplied RJ11 cable between the GPI-10 and
the “Host” input of the MCG. Apply appropriate power to the
GPI-10 and the MCG (consult your users manual for
specifications). Each numbered output of the GPI-10
corresponds to the same numbered page of the MCG
(keypad 1-9 displays pages 1-9 and keypad zero (0)
displays page 10). As you trigger each of the GPI contacts,
the appropriate page is displayed from the MCG. Example:
If input terminal 5 is triggered (5 on the keypad), then page
5 in the MCG’s memory will be displayed.

GPI -10 GPI to RS232 Converter 3

The data sent in this example is:
Data Description
WK,01 Wake up MCG

DP,5 Display Page 5
MX,1 Turn Mixer On
SP Put MCG to sleep

Custom Programming of the GPI-10

If you are familiar with the programming of the PIC16C5x
family of controllers, contact Burst Electronics for advice on
programming and sample of the code that is programmed
into the GPI-10’s PIC.

GPI -10 GPI to RS232 Converter 4

SPECIFICATIONS

Input: Either normally open or

normally closed (jumper
selectable)

or Keypad (normally

open only)
Input Duration: 50mS minimum
Output Data: RS232, 9600,8,N,1,
Flow: None
GPI Connector: 11 Screw terminals
RS232 Connector: RJ11
Size: 4.2”W x 1.5”H x 5.5”D
Power Requirements: 11 to 15Vdc @ 100mA,

center pin negative
Power Supply (included): 12Vdc @ 500mA,

center pin negative
Rack Mount kit: RM-334 - can hold one

GPI-10 and two MCG’s
RM-344 - can hold two
GPI-10’s and one MCG
RM-4 - can hold four
GPI-10’s

GPI -10 GPI to RS232 Converter 5

Controlled Device

Data Terminal Ready

Data Set Ready

Request to Send

Carrier Detect

Clear to Send

Transmit Data

Receive Data

Socket (Female) Type

9 6

Ground

DB9

4

6

1

8

752

15

RJ11

61

Title

A

Null Adapter for GPI-10

Corrales, New Mexico 87048

db9nul_b.scm 11

BURST ELECTRONICS

3

Blk

Yel

4

2

RJ11DB9S

3

5

RJ11 CableNull Adapter

RJ11

4

3

Data Out

NC

2

5

GPI-10

Ground

Drawn byDate

Sheet ofFilename

WJK2.6.02

RevSize

B

GPI -10 GPI to RS232 Converter 6

NOTES

GPI -10 GPI to RS232 Converter 7

GPI -10 GPI to RS232 Converter