Gilderfluke&Co BR-MultiBrick32 User Manual

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BR-MultiBrick32

Thirty-Two Output Show Control System

printed May 3, 2002

The BR-MultiBrick32 is a complete, stand-alone Show Control
System. All you need to add is a 9-24 VDC power supply and
whatever you want to control. It also can be used as a digital
output card in any DMX-512, ‘Dumb’ or 'Smart' Brick environment.

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Safety Disclaimer: Any electronic or mechanical
system has the potential to fail. Certain applica­tions using Gilderfluke & Company equipment may
involve potential risks of death, personal injury or
severe property or environmental damage (“Criti­cal Application”).

Gilderfluke & Company equipment is not de­signed, intended, authorized or warranted to be
suitable in life support applications, devices or
systems or other critical applications. Inclusion of
Gilderfluke & Company products in such applica­tions is understood to be fully at the risk of the cus­tomer. In order to minimize risks associated with
the customer's applications, adequate design and
operating safeguards should be provided by the
customer to minimize inherent or procedural haz­ards.

Gilderfluke & Company assumes no liability for
applications assistance, customer produced de­sign, software performance, or infringement of
patents or copyrights. Nor does Gilderfluke &
Company warrant or represent that any license, ei­ther express or implied, is granted under any
patent right, copyright, mask work right, or other in­tellectual property right of Gilderfluke & Company
covering or relating to any combination, machine,
or process in which Gilderfluke & Company prod­ucts or services might be or are used.

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BR-MultiBrick32 Overview .................................... 1

Features of the BR-MultiBrick32 .......................... 1

BR-MultiBrick32 Indicators ................................... 4

Heartbeat .............................................................................. 4

'Smart' Brick Heart/Brick Running ......................................... 4

DMX-512 .............................................................................. 5

Board Error ........................................................................... 5

Record .................................................................................. 6

Output LEDs .......................................................................... 6

Fuses .................................................................................... 6

BR-MultiBrick32 Connections .............................. 7

RS-422 Serial Port ................................................................. 7

PC and Compatible Connections .................................... 7

Apple Macintosh Connections ......................................... 7

DMX-512 Data In/Out ........................................................... 8

‘Smart’ Brick Network ......................................................... 10

‘J8’ Inputs ........................................................................... 10

Power Supply ...................................................................... 11

Digital Outputs ................................................................... 11

Edge Connector ................................................................. 16

Preparing Animation Data for AutoDownloads 18

BR-MultiBrick32 Serial Port Commands ............ 21

Echo Commands ................................................................ 21

Echo On ........................................................................ 21

Echo Off ........................................................................ 21

Card Status ......................................................................... 22

Card Reset ......................................................................... 24

Start Commands ................................................................. 24

Start Track ...................................................................... 24

Start Global ................................................................... 24

Stop Commands ................................................................. 25

Stop Track ...................................................................... 25

Stop Global ................................................................... 25

Loop Commands ................................................................ 25

Loop Track ..................................................................... 25

Loop Global ................................................................... 25

Stop at End Commands ...................................................... 26

Stop at End Track ........................................................... 26

Stop at End Global ......................................................... 26

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Select Show Commands ..................................................... 26

Select Show Track .......................................................... 26

Select Show Global ........................................................ 26

Show Pause Commands ..................................................... 26

Pause Show ................................................................... 26

Continue Show .............................................................. 26

AutoDownload .................................................................... 27

RealTime Update ................................................................. 27

BR-MultiBrick32 Hardware Configuration ......... 28

Address .............................................................................. 28

Record Enable .................................................................... 28

Dipswitch ........................................................................... 28

DMX-512 Forever! .......................................................... 28

Disable When Stopped ................................................... 29

Use DMX-512 Checksum ............................................... 29

Record Forever! ............................................................. 29

Dipsw5 .......................................................................... 29

Dipsw6 .......................................................................... 29

Dipsw7 .......................................................................... 29

Write Protect Switch ....................................................... 29

'Smart' Brick/'Dumb' Brick Select ....................................... 29

J8 Power ............................................................................ 30

BR-MultiBrick32 Software Configuration ........... 31

HEXadecimal to Decimal to Percentage ......... 36

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A note about this manual:

This manual covers the specifics of the BR­MultiBrick32. To program the BR-MultiBrick32
you will need to also need the PC•MACs man­ual sections that cover the PC•MACs software.

The BR-MultiBrick32 is typically pro­grammed in ‘Software-only’ or ‘Hardwareless
Realtime’ mode. If you are using the PC•MACs
MACs-SMP for programming your BR­MultiBrick32 through the DMX-512 input,
please refer to the PC•MACs ‘Unlimited’
mode.

The full PC•MACs manual can be down­loaded from our web site at:

http:/ /www.gilderfluke.com

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BR-MultiBrick32 Overview

The BR-MultiBrick32 is a complete stand-alone Show Control
System. The BR-MultiBrick32 can be used singly, or in combina­tion with additional BR-MultiBrick32s, BS-BRN-CRDs, BR­SmartMedia cards or any Gilderfluke & Co. Digital Audio Re­peater. It can be used to control animated shows and displays,
fountains, fireworks, lighting, sound systems, simulators, slide and
movie projectors, fiber optics, window displays, motors, pneu­matic and hydraulic systems, neon special effects, signs, machi­nes and machine tools in process control, or anything else that
can be controlled by an electrical signal.

The BR-MultiBrick32 is programmed using our PC•MACs Show
Control software. While programming, data can be sent to the
BR-MultiBrick32 through its DMX-512 input or RS-422 serial port.
Once programed, data is sent to the BR-MultiBrick32 through the
PC’s serial port for permanent storage. The BR-MultiBrick32 can
then be disconnected from the PC and it will run all by itself.

When used with a ‘Hardwareless RealTime’ licensed copy of
PC•MACs software, up to four BR-MultiBrick32s can have their out­puts programmed and updated in real time with just a PC and
a serial connection. When used with the PC•MACs hardware
(MACs-SMP or MACs-USB Smpte Card), up to sixty-four BR­MultiBrick32s can be updated in realtime through the DMX-512
port.

Features of the BR-MultiBrick32 include:

• Automatic ‘program in place’ download through the serial port on

your PC. There are no Eproms to program or install! The amount
of time it takes to download shows the BR-MultiBrick32 depends on
the length of the show(s). Short shows take only seconds. Shows
that fill the entire BR-MultiBrick32s memory will take about ten min­utes to download.

• Each BR-MultiBrick32 comes with a minimum of four MBytes of
nonvolatile memory. This gives a show capacity of over seventy­two minutes at thirty frames per second! Once downloaded, show

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data is retained for approximately forty years, with or without
power applied. You can rewrite the memory about fifty thousand
times. A ‘Write Protect’ switch can protect the show data from ac­cidental or unauthorized changes. Memory can be expanded to
up to sixteen MBytes if needed. This translates into almost five
hours of show data at thirty frames per second!

• When operated as a ‘Dumb’ Brick, four optoisolated inputs to syn­chronize BR-MultiBrick32s with pushbuttons or other real-time
events. Multiple BR-MultiBrick32s can be triggered simultaneously
or sequentially. Each BR-MultiBrick32 input can be set to start,
stop, pause, continue, or directly select and play a specific show.
Different actions can be requested on each inputs’ opening or
closing edges.

• When programming, or when installed as a permanent part of a
larger control system, the BR-MultiBrick32 accepts data through its
DMX-512 and RS-422 serial port. This data is used to update the
outputs, and takes precedence over the on board Flash memory.

• When operated as a ‘Smart’ Brick, the BR-MultiBrick32 acts just like
any other Playback-Only 'Smart' Brick, playing animation data
from an on-board Flash Memory. As a 'Smart' Brick, it requires a 'S­mart' Brick Brain to run. The 'Smart' Brick Brain tells all of the 'Smart'
Bricks attached to it (including the BR-MultiBrick32) where in the
show it is. The BR-MultiBrick32 then uses this information to access
the appropriate data in the Flash Memory and update its outputs.

• Two hundred fifty-five shows can be loaded onto a BR-MultiBrick32
at one time. Shows can be accessed sequentially or directly using
the four optoisolated inputs or serial commands sent through the
RS-422 serial port. The ‘Next’ show can be set for the end of any
show, allowing you to loop a single show or build ‘chains’ of
shows.

• The BR-MultiBrick32 supports update rates from one frame per
second to a maximum of one hundred frames per second. Differ­ent shows can each be programmed at different frame rates. This
allows you to program a ‘delay’ show that ticks along at a low
frame rate between your main shows, and uses little memory.

• The outputs from a BR-MultiBrick32 can be fed to Digital to Analog
converters (like our single channel DAC-08 or four channel DAC­QUAD) wherever you need 0-10 volt analog control signals.

• Each of the thirty-two outputs is rated for a continuous load of
150 ma., or 500 ma. peak. This is enough to drive small solenoid

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valves, relays, LEDs and similar loads. Relays can be used to con­trol higher current or voltage loads. If more than thirty-two outputs
are needed, additional BR-MultiBrick32s can be added to give you
as many outputs as you need.

• The BR-MultiBrick32 runs on anything from 9-24 VDC. BR-

MultiBrick32s can even be run from batteries.

• BR-MultiBrick32s mount in standard Brick card cages. These are

available with one, two, or sixteen slots. Styles are available for
mounting in 19” racks or independently. If space or budget con­siderations require, the BR-MultiBrick32 can be mounted on screw
standoffs and connected using a sixty position IDS ribbon cable
connector.

A ‘Dumb’ Brick is typically used in stand alone applications,

where the show runs continuously or when triggered by an exter­nal event. Multiple ‘Dumb’ bricks can be triggered simultaneous­ly, but will not be automatically synchronized as the Bricks in a
‘Smart’ Brick system are. Because each ‘Brick’ can be run com­pletely independently, each can be running its own time line
from its own trigger inputs.

A ‘Smart’ Brick system is used when you need to synchronize

any number of ‘Bricks’ together on a ‘Smart’ Brick Network under
the control of a single ‘Smart’ Brick Brain. The Brain itself allows
shows to be triggered at specific times of the day using a real
time clock and the Brains’ 365 day schedule, and locked (syn­chronized) to Smpte time code, LaserDisks and DVDs, or the
Brains’ own internal or external clock. A single Brain and ‘Smart’
Brick network can run a single time line at one time.

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Board Error

DMX-

512

Brain Heart/

Running

Heartbeat

Addres

s

BR-Multi-

Brick32

Record

MSB

(

x0h)

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Outputs

0

1

2

3

Fuse

s

LSB

(0
xh)

C

4

0

8

E

2

6

A

D

F

1

B

9

7

5
3

C

4

0

8

E

2

6

A

D

F

1

B

9

7

5
3

0

1

2

3

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BR-MultiBrick32 Indicators

There are only a small number of connections, indicators, and configuration dip-

switches on each BR-MultiBrick32.

There are five Status LEDs on the BR-MultiBrick32:

1) Heartbeat: The ‘heartbeat’ will always flash so that you can see
that the BR-MultiBrick32 is alive. If this LED doesn’t flash at least
twice per second, you should power down the BR-MultiBrick32
and check the power supply and connections to the BR­MultiBrick32. If this output ever stops flashing, a special circuit on
the BR-MultiBrick32 will reset and restart the microcontroller in less
than a second.

2) 'Smart' Brick Heart/Brick Running: Depending on the mode of
operation the BR-MultiBrick32 is in, this LED has several different
functions:

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a) When operating as a 'Smart' Brick: This LED will display the

'Smart' Brick Brain’s heartbeat. This is transmitted from the 'S­mart' Brick Brain through the 'Smart' Brick Network that inter­connects all of the 'Smart' Bricks. If this LED is not flashing,
then you need to check your 'Smart' Brick Network connec­tions or your 'Smart' Brick Brain.

b) When operating as a 'Dumb' Brick: This LED will be ON

whenever a show is running. It will be off when no shows are
running. This output is also sent out the ‘Yellow’ status output
on the ‘J8’ connection on the backplane.

c) When receiving data download for permanent storage in

Flash memory (Revision 1.nn Cards Only): This LED will

flash to show that data is being received.

3) DMX-512: This LED will light to show you that the BR-MultiBrick32 is

receiving realtime updates through either the DMX-512 or RS-422
serial ports.

4) Board Error: This LED will flash to show you that the BR-MultiBrick32

has sensed one of the following errors:

a) Just booted: Lights for a short period each time the BR-

MultiBrick32’s microcontroller starts up.

b) 'Smart' Brick Network Error: Flashes if an error is received

in a 'Smart' Brick Network packet from the 'Smart' Brick Brain.

c) Realtime DMX-512 Update Error: The optional checksum in

the DMX-512 realtime update didn’t agree with the data re­ceived.

d) Realtime Serial Update Error: The checksum in the RS-422

serial port realtime update didn’t agree with the data re­ceived.

e) Download Error: There was an error in the data being

downloaded to the BR-MultiBrick32.

f) Download Timeout: If the data being downloaded to the

BR-MultiBrick32 stops mid-stream, this LED will flash as the BR­MultiBrick32 returns itself to normal operating mode.

g) Data Verification Failure: If you ask the BR-MultiBrick32 to

verify the data in its flash memory, and it finds an error, it
will flash this LED as well as displaying an error message on
your computer screen.

h) Memory locked: If you try to clear the flash memory or

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send a show to the BR-MultiBrick32 while the Write Protect
switch is in the ‘locked’ position.

5) Record: This LED is turned on whenever a revision 1.nn BR­MultiBrick32 has had its ‘Record Enable’ button pushed. It indi­cates that the BR-MultiBrick32 has had its DMX-512 and 'Smart'
Brick Network ports disabled and the RS-422 port enabled. This LED
must be ON to talk to the BR-MultiBrick32 through the RS-422 seri­al port.

In revision 2.00 and later BR-MultiBrick32 hardware there is no
‘Record Enable’ button. The RS-422 port, BrickNet, and DMX-512
ports are always available. This LED will light whenever the card is
being configured and flash when it is receiving an AutoDownload
file.

6) Output LEDs (Revision 2.00 and Later Cards Only): These thirty­two LEDs show the current status of the thirty-two digital outputs. If
a LED is lit, then that output is ‘ON’. Because the outputs of a BR­MultiBrick32 are ‘Open Collector, Switch To Ground’, you can
ground out any output pin, and the appropriate LED will light. This
can be useful when diagnosing output wiring problems. If you are
commanding ‘on’ an output and you don’t see a LED, then the
output is probably drawing too much current and the output is
‘self protecting’. Disconnect the load and see if the LED now
lights. If it does, then it definitely is an overload problem. If it does
not, then try turning ‘on’ some of the other outputs. if they light
OK, then the output driver might be damaged. If they do not,
then verify your addressing and retest.

7) Fuses (Revision 2.00 and Later Cards Only): The thirty-two out­puts of the BR-MultiBrick32 are divided into four, eight-bit ‘chan­nels’. Each of these channels is fused for approximately one Amp
of continuous current. These four LEDs light to show if the four
fuses are OK. If any are out, then a short circuit (or too heavy of a
load) is dragging the outputs down and causing the fuse to open.
The fuses are actually ‘PTC fuses’, which act more like circuit
breakers. Once the overload is removed, they reset.

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BR-MultiBrick32 Connections

RS-422 Serial Port (Revision 1.nn Cards Only): This is used to config-

ure the BR-MultiBrick32. It is compatible with all of the RS-422 Seri­al Ports used on Gilderfluke & Company products.

As a convenience, the four active lines on this connector are
bussed to the backplane of the card cage. This allows you to
communicate to a whole card cage full of BR-MultiBrick32, BS­ANAs, 'Smart' Brick Brains, Electronic FeedBack (EFB) 'Smart' Bricks
and other cards through the connector on any single card. They
just need to be set to different addresses. If desired, permanent
connections can be made on the back of a card cage.

Revision 2.00 and later BR-MultiBrick32 cards have only the
backplane serial port connections.

The serial data signals from the 1.nn revision BR-MultiBrick32s
are brought out on a six position RJ-12 (six position, six conductor
modular telephone style connector). Facing the end of the cable
with the release latch upwards, its pin out is as follows:

COLOR SIGNAL NAME:

LEFT #1 white Signal Ground

#2 black - Serial data out from card

#3 red + Serial data out from card
#4 green - Serial data in to card
#5 yellow + Serial data in to card

RIGHT #6 blue Signal Ground

PC and Compatible Connections: If you are only talking to a
single BR-MultiBrick32 and your wire length is short, you may be
able to simply cross wire the RS-232 serial port on your PC to talk
to the BR-MultiBrick32. This does not work on all PCs, as some
don’t swing their RS-232 outputs as far as they should. If it does
not work with your PC, you may need to get a RS-232 to RS-422
converter (like our 232conv-09) to talk to the BR-MultiBrick32. To
cross wire the RS-422 / RS-485 signals from the BR-MultiBrick32 to
the RS-232 serial port of an IBM compatible, cross connect the
signals as follows:

DB-25 DE-9 Signal Signal from/to BR-MultiBrick32

2 3 DATA OUT - Serial data into card (#4 green)
3 2 DATA IN - Serial data out from card (#2 black)
7 5 GROUND Signal Ground (#1 white or #6 blue)

Apple Macintosh Connections: Apple Macintosh computers

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