E Ink ARC00301 User Manual

E Ink ArC30™ Controller User’s Manual

Version REV-

E Ink P/N 960-1430

Copyright © 2018 E Ink Corporation

E Ink Corporation
1000 Technology Park Drive
Billerica, MA 01821
U.S.A.

Printed in USA

E Ink ArC30™ Controller

USER’S MANUAL

VERSION REV-

29 August 2018

IMPORTANT NOTE: Read this manual BEFORE installing
the E Ink ArC30™ Controller or powering it up. The
controller will require programming and configuration
prior to use.

The E Ink ArC30™ Controller is shipped with a default
animation file and set to “slave” mode. See Section 5 of this
manual for further information.

Contents

Contents .................................................................................... 1

1. Introduction and Overview ............................................... 1

2. Warnings and Notices........................................................ 3

3. Package Contents .............................................................. 5

4. Controller Features............................................................ 0

5. Initial Power-up and Check................................................ 7

6. Installation and Mounting ................................................. 9

7. Connecting E Ink Prism™ Tiles to the Controller ............. 11

8. Basic Operation ............................................................... 14

9. Connection to a PC and Programming ............................ 14

10. Connecting Multiple Controllers ................................. 15

11. Basic Prism Design Studio Functions ........................... 18

Checking controller status ................................................... 18

Setting a controller to master or slave mode...................... 19

Setting the controller password .......................................... 20

Identifying a controller in a multi-controller installation .... 21

12. Control via the Mobile App ......................................... 22

Checking the status of controllers within the installation .. 24

Starting and stopping animations and playlists................... 26

13. File Storage .................................................................. 28

14. Using the Sensor Input ................................................ 30

15. LED Indicators.............................................................. 40

52

“E Ink Prism™,” “E Ink ArC™,” and “E Ink Prism Design
Studio™” are trademarks of E Ink Corporation.

“Bluetooth®” is a registered trademark of the Bluetooth
Special Interest Group.

“micro SD” is a trademark of SD-3C, LLC.

20. Support

For support issues or questions regarding your ArC30™
controller, E Ink’s Prism™ color-changing material, or other
aspects of your installation, please e-mail E Ink at

[e-mail]

You can also obtain information regarding the Prism product
line of materials and controllers for architectural and design
applications by visiting our website at:

16. Troubleshooting .......................................................... 41

17. Software and Firmware Updates................................. 46

18. Specifications and Restrictions.................................... 47

19. Warranty, Disclaimers, and Regulatory Statements ... 48

20. Support ........................................................................ 51

http://www.eink.com/prism/

51

1. Introduction and Overview

Thank you for your purchase of an E Ink ArC30™ Controller.
This product provides programmable, standalone drive for
over 80 square meters (860 ft
segments of E Ink’s Prism™ color-changing material for use in
architectural and interior design applications. For larger, more
complex installations, multiple controllers may be connected
in a master/slave configuration such that control of the entire
system may be coordinated. Multiple patterns of color changes
and animations may be stored within each controller, and the
addition of optional Micro-SD flash storage permits a virtually
unlimited number of different animation programs, permitting
designers to set up a wide range of complex effects and
sequences of color-change patterns.

Physically, the controller is a compact unit that can be wall­mounted, used within a permanent enclosure, or set up as-is in
a temporary installation. The entire system can be powered by
a small external power supply or battery pack, and all
components and cabling use low voltage drive for enhanced
safety.

Please take the time to read this manual thoroughly and note
all warnings, cautions, and operational guidelines prior to the
installation and operation of this controller. Failure to heed
these warnings, cautions, and guidelines can result in improper
operation, product damage or failure, or an unsafe operating
condition.

2

) and up to 128 separate tiles or

This device complies with Industry Canada licence-exempt RSS
standard(s). Operation is subject to the following two
conditions: (1) this device may not cause interference, and (2)
this device must accept any interference, including
interference that may cause undesired operation of the device.

Le présent appareil est conforme aux CNR d'Industrie Canada
applicables aux appareils radio exempts de licence.
L'exploitation est autorisée aux deux conditions suivantes : (1)
l'appareil ne doit pas produire de brouillage, et (2) l'utilisateur
de l'appareil doit accepter tout brouillage radioélectrique subi,
même si le brouillage est susceptible d'en compromettre le
fonctionnement.

Radiation Exposure Statement

The device has been found to be compliant to the
requirements set forth in CFR 47 Sections 2.1091 and Industry
Canada RSS-102 for an uncontrolled environment. The
antenna(s) used for this transmitter must be installed to
provide a separation distance of at least 20 cm from all
persons and must not be co-located or operating in
conjunction with any other antenna or transmitter.

Le dispositif a été jugé conforme aux exigences énoncées dans
les articles 47 CFR 2.1091 et Industrie Canada RSS-102 pour un
environnement non contrôle’. L’antenne(s) utilisée pour ce
transmetteur doit etre installé pour fournir une distance de
séparation d’au moins 20 cm de toutes les personnes et ne
doit pas être co-localisés ou fonctionner en conjunction avec
une autre antenne ou transmetteur.

1

50

EU RoHS Compliance: To the best of E Ink’s knowledge and

based upon information received from our suppliers, this
product meets the requirements of the Commission Delegated
Directive 2015/863 of 31 March 2015 amending Annex II to
Directive 2011/65/EU.

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the
limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the
FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable
protection against harmful interference when the equipment
is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment
generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if
not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may
cause harmful interference to radio communications.
Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to
cause harmful interference in which case the user will be
required to correct the interference at his own expense.

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules:

IMPORTANT

These instructions do not purport to cover all details or
variations in equipment, nor to provide for every contingency
to be met in connection with installation, operation or
maintenance. Should further information be desired or should
particular problems arise that are not covered sufficiently for
your, the user’s, purposes, please contact E Ink Support. (See
Section 20 of this User’s Manual).

Operation is subject to the following conditions:

1. This device many not cause harmful interference, and

2. This device must accept any interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired operation

Changes and Modifications not expressly approved by E Ink
Corporation can void your authority to operate this equipment
under Federal Communications Commission rules.

49

2

2. Warnings and Notices

Please review the following warnings and notices prior to the
use of this product. The following symbols will be used
throughout this manual to highlight important notes regarding
the correct and safe use of this product:

Indicates an important note or item required for the
proper installation or operation of the system. Failure to install
and operate the product as directed by these notes my result
in product failure or affect the reliability or operational lifetime
of these products.

This symbol indicates important information relating to
the safe installation or operation of your system, or describes
factors which may result in product failure, unsafe conditions,
or affect the reliability or operational lifetime of these
products.

RESTRICTIONS:

WARNING: This product is intended for indoor use only.
Do not use outdoors or where the unit might be exposed to
water, excessive heat, or open flames.

This product is intended for use in commercial environments,
is not meant for use in residential areas.

19. Warranty, Disclaimers, and Regulatory

Statements

WARRANTY: This product carries a limited warranty for one
year from the date of shipment. Please see the complete
warranty terms at www.eink.com

.

This product is to be used only with E Ink Prism™ material as
provided by E Ink and its authorized resellers in installations
and operating as described in this manual and other
documentation as provided on E Ink’s website. Use of the
product in any other manner voids any and all warranties and
E Ink Corporation assumes no liability for damage, failure, or
injury to this or any other product, device, property, or person
resulting for such use.

3

Do not open the controller. There are no user-serviceable
parts inside the controller case. Opening the controller case
will void the warranty and may result in the controller being
unsafe to operate.

This product is for indoor use only. Do not install or
attempt to operate this product in locations where it will be
exposed to precipitation, extreme temperatures, etc..

This product is not intended for use in residential
locations.

48

18. Specifications and Restrictions

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS:

Overall dimensions: 239 mm W x 119.5 mm H x 22.5 mm D
(including mounting tabs); 215 mm W excluding mounting
tabs.

Weight: approximately 335 grams (~12 oz.; controller only,
does not include mounting clips or screws)

Input power requirements: 18 VDC @ 2A (5.5 mm O.D. jack,
center positive)

Outputs: 128 total outputs; 96 “high-density” outputs and 32
“high-current” outputs

High density outputs:

Max. current: 4 mA each
Max. driven area*: 0.2 m

2

(2 ft2)

WARNING: This product is intended for interior use only,
within the environmental conditions as described in the
specifications section of this manual. It should not be installed
or operated in any area or situation in which it will be exposed
to water, chemicals, exposed flame or heat sources.

WARNING: This product is to be used only in accordance
with the directions included in this manual and other user
documentation provided by E Ink. Failure to follow these
directions may compromise the safety of the product.

High current outputs:

Max. current: 50 mA each
Max. driven area*: 2.5 m

Operating temperature range: 0 to 40 deg. C

Operating humidity range: 5 to 90% R.H., non-condensing

Storage temperature range: -20 to 65 deg. C

* Maximum active area of E Ink Prism™ material which may be

driven by each output. Other limitations may apply
depending on specific design of a given Prism™ tile.

47

2

(26.9 ft2)

4

3. Package Contents

Ensure that you have the following items before installing or
using your controller:

Item Quantity Notes

E Ink ArC30™ Controller 1 ­Power supply 1 See Section 5
DIN rail mounting clips 2
Screws, #6 x 3/8” 4
Ethernet cable (controller
interconnect cable), 1 m
USB (A) to micro-USB (B)
cable, 1m
User’s manual 1 (This manual)

1 See Section 10

1 See Section 9

See Section 6

17. Software and Firmware Updates

The animation creation software, mobile control application,
and the controller firmware may from time to time be updated
by E Ink Corporation. Registered users of this controller
product may receive notification of such updates via e-mail, or
by checking for the latest revision at www.eink.com

Updates to the controller firmware must be installed via the
USB connection, using the E Ink Prism Design Studio™ software
running on a compatible computer.

.

5

46

seeing faults or intermittent operation in such
installations, try connecting a power supply to each
controller in the system. If this corrects the problem,
supplies may then be removed one at a time until the
problem recurs. This will determine the minimum
number of power supplies required for that
installation.

4. Not all controllers have been programmed with the

correct animation file(s) for all animations/playlists to
be run by that system, or animation files have become
corrupt. Check the files programmed into each
controller via the E Ink Prism Design Studio™ software
running on a computer connected to the system, or
using the E Ink ArC™ mobile app on a Bluetooth
device. Reprogram any missing or corrupt files using
the E Ink Prism Design Studio™ software.

High-density outputs,

1 through 96

4. Controller Features

High-current outputs,

101 through 116

High-current outputs,

117 through 132

45

Sensor input
(see Sec. 14)

ArC30 controller and

major features

Micro SD card slot

(see Section 13)

Controller

interconnect ports

(see Section 11)

6

(see Sec. 9)

18VDC, 2A max.

Center positive

(see Section 5)

Micro USB
Power input