Studio Technologies 5150 User Manual V.1

Model 5150

Video Generator Module

User Guide

Issue 5, March 2014

This User Guide is applicable for

Model 5150 modules with the following order codes:

M5150, M5150-01, M5150-02, M5150-03X, and M5150-04X

with serial numbers 00151 and later

and firmware versions

MCU 2.2 and later (m5150.s19) and FPGA 2.2 and later (m5150.bit)

Copyright © 2014 by Studio Technologies, Inc., all rights reserved

www.studio-tech.com

50184-0314, Issue 5

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Video Generator

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Table of Contents

Introduction ................................................................... 5

Installation .................................................................... 8

Configuration ................................................................ 12

Operation ...................................................................... 19

Technical Notes ............................................................ 23

Specifications ............................................................... 29

Appendix A—Model 5150 Versions .............................. 30

Appendix B—DC Input/Data and GPI/GPO

Interconnection Details ................................................. 31

Appendix C—Model 5150 Front Panel and

Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Dimensions ...................... 33

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Video Generator

Model 5150

Introduction

The Model 5150 Video Generator Module
is a unique device suited for a variety of
custom broadcast, post-production, in­dustrial, and corporate multimedia instal­lations. As a member of the 5100-Series
of modules, the Model 5150’s compact
size belies its powerful video feature set.
Advanced circuitry within the Model 5150
supports the generation of a broadcast­standard high-definition SDI signal. And
rather than reproducing a fixed test pat­tern, the Model 5150 has the capability
to store and output two custom video im­ages. The images, one for “720” and one
for “1080,” are based on bitmap (.bmp)
files that can be created using a personal
computer’s graphics program.

For convenience, the .bmp files are stored
in the module’s nonvolatile memory via a
standard USB flash drive. The appropriate
“720” or “1080” image is automatically con­nected to the SDI output whenever an SDI
input signal is not present. This ensures
that an SDI output signal is always sent to
equipment further along the signal chain.

The Model 5150’s video signal generation
capability can be extremely useful, serv­ing as both a “keep-alive” signal as well as
allowing a detailed graphics image to be
displayed for identification purposes. When

Module

a valid HD- or 3G-SDI signal is connected
to the module’s input it will pass through,
unchanged, to the module’s SDI output.
Only when an input is not present will the
stored image be generated. The format
and rate of the stored image will match
that of the previously-connected SDI input
signal. This “learning” capability allows a
Model 5150 to automatically adapt to the
SDI format and rate utilized by a specific
facility or application.

An alternate operating mode can be se­lected, allowing the Model 5150 to serve
as a dedicated video signal generator. In
this mode an SDI signal connected to the
module will serve as an external timing
reference.

General Highlights

Applications for the Model 5150 include
sports broadcasting booth packages,
“POV” (point-of-view) remote-controlled
camera systems, stadium video interface
(I/O) locations, and government/corporate
facilities. The module’s performance is
completely “pro” with video quality, reliabil­ity, and installation flexibility matching that
of much larger-scale equipment.

For operation the Model 5150 only requires
connection of a few signals. These con­sist of SDI inputs and outputs, an external

Figure 1. Model 5150 Video Generator Module front and rear views

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source of nominal 12 volts DC and, op­tionally, two wires associated with a local
RS-485 data bus. Some applications may
also utilize the general-purpose input (GPI)
and general-purpose output (GPO) func­tions (available only on modules with serial
numbers 00251 and later). Coaxial SDI in

­put and output support is standard. Optical
input and output support is optional. The
acceptable DC input voltage range is 10 to
18, allowing a variety of power sources to
be utilized.

The Model 5150 uses standard connectors
for fast, convenient interfacing. Coaxial SDI
input and output signals use BNC con­nectors. An optional video SFP fiber optic
module can be installed at the factory. The
module supports interconnection of single­mode optical fibers using LC plugs. The
DC power input and data bus connections
use a 4-position, 0.1-inch header. The GPI
and GPO connections use a 3-position,

0.1-inch header. Low-cost IDC (insulation­displacement connector) mating sockets
allow simple interconnection with a variety
of wire gauges. Four status LEDs offer
users both performance confidence and
troubleshooting assistance.

The Model 5150 is compatible with the
Studio Technologies’ Model 5190 Remote
Access Module. This will allow remote
configuration, monitoring and control, via
an Ethernet connection, of key module
operating and status parameters. A local
RS-485 data bus allows up to 16 of the
5100-Series modules to be connected to
a Model 5190.

A simple text file that reflects the desired
configuration is created and stored on the
USB flash drive. When inserted into the
appropriate socket on the Model 5150 the
file is read and stored. Updating the Model
5150’s firmware (embedded software) is
also possible using a USB flash drive load­ed with factory-supplied files.

Model 5150 Video Generator Modules do
not include a mounting enclosure or chas­sis. They are intended for mounting in cus­tom 19-inch rack panels, equipment boxes,
broadcast furniture, “NEMA” I/O boxes, or
other specialized enclosures. It is expected
that integration firms will create applications
that use Model 5150 modules as part of
complete broadcast, production, corporate,
and government solutions. Sophisticated
users will be able to easily create “one-off”
solutions to solve unique challenges.

SDI Inputs and SDI Outputs

High-definition SMPTE-compatible SDI sig­nals with data rates of 1.485 Gb/s nominal
(HD-SDI) and 2.97 Gb/s nominal (3G-SDI)
can be connected. Virtually all of the com­monly-utilized “720” and “1080” formats are
supported. Standard-definition SDI signals
with a data rate of 270 Mb/s nominal (SD­SDI) are not supported. It was felt that users
looking for advanced solutions such as
those provided by the Model 5150 will not
typically be working with SD-SDI signals.
But be assured that many HD-SDI and
3G-SDI formats and rates are supported,
allowing the Model 5150 to be appropriate
for worldwide use.

Several Model 5150 operating parameters
can be configured to meet the needs of
specific applications. A USB flash drive
along with several DIP switches, are used

Coaxial (BNC) Support

Using standard BNC connectors, the Model
5150 supports one coaxial SDI input and
one coaxial SDI output.

to convey the configuration to the module.

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Optical Fiber Support

Factory-implemented options allow the
Model 5150 to support SDI signals that
are transported using single-mode optical
fibers. Using video SFP modules a range
of optical input, output, and transceiver
capabilities can be supported. For a list
of available Model 5150 versions refer to
Appendix A.

The standard 1310 nanometer optical
transmit wavelength is available, as are
the more-esoteric CWDM wavelengths. A
module that includes an optical SDI output
will always have its optical output active,
transporting the same SDI data as that
present on the coaxial (BNC) output. When
a Model 5150 has been provided with an
optical SDI input a configuration choice
selects whether it, or the coaxial (BNC)
input, is active.

Video Generation Capability

During typical operation an HD- or 3G-SDI
signal is connected to the Model 5150’s
selected SDI input. It’s then “passed
through” to the module’s SDI output(s)
and on to the next part of the signal chain.
But what happens when the external SDI
signal is not present? That’s when the
Model 5150’s internal SDI generator be­comes active. When a signal is not present
on the selected SDI input the module will
generate a high-definition (HD- or 3G-SDI)
image that will serve as a “slate,” ID, or
“SDI-active” signal.

From the factory two bitmap (.bmp) image
files are stored in nonvolatile memory. One
file is used for generating the image for
1280 x 720 pixel formats and the other for
1920 x 1080 pixel formats. But alternate
bitmap image files can be created and
stored in the Model 5150. These alternate

images can supply site- or application­specific information useful to “downstream”
users. Using a personal-computer graph­ics program, such as Microsoft® Paint® or
Adobe® Photoshop®, generating custom
images and storing them in the appropriate
bitmap format is a simple matter.

A USB port, located on the Model 5150’s
front panel, allows direct connection of
a standard USB flash drive. If the Model
5150’s firmware (embedded software)
recognizes compatible FAT32 bitmap (.bmp)
files on the USB flash drive they will be au­tomatically loaded into nonvolatile memory.
The USB flash drive can then be removed
with the custom images safely stored within
the Model 5150.

One subtle but important configurable
feature has been included for broadcast
applications which use the Model 5150’s
SDI output(s) “on-air.” When an SDI signal
is removed from the module’s selected SDI
input, the Model 5150 can be configured to
output a few seconds of solid-gray color be­fore the stored image appears. This will help
to ensure that technicians or operators will
be visually “warned” that the module’s input
signal has been lost and that the stored im­age will soon be taking its place. It’s hoped
that the solid-gray video image will be in­nocuous for on-air viewers yet different
enough to encourage operators to switch the
module’s output away from being “on air.”

A unique feature of the Model 5150 is its
ability to automatically adapt to the for­mat and rate of a connected SDI signal.
This allows the stored image to be output
at the same format and rate as that used
by the associated network, local facility, or
event. If, for example, a connected input is
“1080i/59.94” then the Model 5150 will auto­matically detect and store that information.

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From then on whenever an SDI input sig­nal is not present the internal generator will
output the stored image at “1080i/59.94.”
Changing the format and rate of the gen­erator only requires connection of an SDI
signal with the desired characteristics.
(A minimum required connection time
helps to ensure that an accidental format/
rate change won’t occur.) However, there
may be situations where maintaining the
format and rate of the internally-generated
signal is important. To support this condi­tion one configuration choice allows the
automatic format/rate selection function
to be disabled.

Video Generation with External
Reference

Some applications may benefit from the
Model 5150 serving as a full-time stand
alone video generator. A configuration
choice helps to support such applications
by using the selected SDI input only as
a timing reference. Unlike typical opera­tion, when selecting this operating mode a
signal connected to the selected SDI input
would not pass through to the SDI. Its rate,
format, and specific timing characteristics
would be used as a reference for the in­ternally-generated video output. Note that
bi-level or tri-level analog timing reference
signals are not supported. Only a HD-SDI
or 3G-SDI signal can serve as a reference
signal for the Model 5150.

GPI and GPO

Model 5150 modules with serial numbers
00251 and later offer a general-purpose
input (GPI) and a general-purpose out­put (GPO) function. The GPI allows the
connection of a switch or relay contact to
control the on/off status of a Model 5150
function. As of the date of this User Guide,

no GPI operating function has been imple­mented in the module’s firmware (em­bedded software). Future versions of the
firmware may implement a GPI-controlled
action.

The GPO function provides an indication
of the status of the selected SDI input. It’s
intended that the GPO will be connected to
an LED indicator. A configuration choice se­lects whether the GPO is active (+3.3 volts)
when the selected SDI input is valid or ac­tive when the selected SDI input is invalid.
(This can also be described as active “high”
or active “low”). This allows, for example, a
green LED to light whenever a valid signal
is connected to the selected SDI input,
thus providing an “input good” indication.
Alternately, a red LED could light when the
selected SDI input is not active, providing
an “input fail” indication.

Installation

Integration of the Model 5150 into a select­ed application should prove quite simple,
only connecting SDI input and output sig­nals as well as DC power is required. Some
applications will also require connection
to the module’s data bus, GPI, and GPO
functions. The coaxial (BNC) input and out­put connections are compatible with most
HD-SDI and 3G-SDI signals. If the specific
Model 5150 being installed also includes
optical support one or two single-mode fiber
interconnections will be made. The fiber
connections utilize miniature LC plugs.

The DC power source is nominal 12 volts
with an acceptable range of 10 to 18 volts.
It’s possible that the module will be part of
a local RS-485 data bus that’s associated
with a Studio Technologies’ Model 5190 Re­mote Access Module. If so, two additional

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wires are required to connect the module
to the data bus. GPI and GPO connections
are made using a 3-pin header. After all the
connections have been completed the mod­ule can then be secured into the designated
mounting location.

Coaxial (BNC) SDI Output

The Model 5150 provides an SDI output
that utilizes a broadcast-standard BNC
socket. This output is referred to as the
coaxial (BNC) SDI output. Refer to Figure 2
for a detailed view of the connector’s loca­tion on the rear of the module. The coaxial
(BNC) output, depending on operating
conditions, will be either a SMPTE­compliant HD-SDI (1.485 Gb/s nominal) or
a 3G-SDI (2.97 Gb/s nominal) signal. The
exact format/rate combinations supported
by the Model 5150 are listed in the Specifi­cations section of this guide.

Coaxial (BNC) SDI Input

An SDI source can be connected to the
Model 5150 by way of a broadcast-stan­dard BNC connector. This is referred to
as the coaxial (BNC) SDI input. Refer to
Figure 2 for a detailed view of the connec
tor’s location on the rear of the module.
The coaxial (BNC) input is compatible
with SMPTE-compliant HD (1.485 Gb/s
nominal) and 3G (2.97 Gb/s nominal) SDI
signals. It is not compatible with standard
definition SD-SDI (270 Mb/s nominal) sig­nals. The exact format/rate combinations
supported by the Model 5150 are listed in
the Specifications section of this guide.

A configuration setting must be made for
the coaxial (BNC) SDI input to be active.
Refer to the Configuration section of this
guide for details.

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Figure 2. Detailed rear view of the Model 5150 Video Generator Module showing the MCU
and FPGA boards

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Optical SDI Output

This section applies only when the spe­cific Model 5150 module being installed
was configured at the factory to provide an
optical output. A video SFP (small form­factor pluggable) optical module is used to
provide the optical SDI output. A range of
SFP modules can be installed in the “cage”
at the back of the Model 5150. These in­clude transceiver modules that have both
an optical output (transmitter) and an opti­cal input (receiver), as well as output-only
(transmitter) modules. The technical char
acteristics of the optical output will depend
on the specific module installed. The most
common transceiver or output-only SFP
module used in the Model 5150 will have
an FP (Fabry-Perot) laser emitting “light” at
a wavelength of 1310 nanometers. Other
modules can utilize a higher-performance
DFB (distributed feedback) laser that is
manufactured to produce light at one of the
18 CWDM wavelengths. (For broadcast
applications, the common first-utilized
CWDM wavelengths are often 1490 and
1550 nanometers.)

An LC plug terminated on a single-mode
optical fiber is used to mate with the SFP’s
optical output. When referenced to the
front of an SFP transceiver or output-only
SFP module the optical output is located
on the SFP module’s left side. To indicate
the optical output port a graphic arrow icon
pointing “out” may be present on the top of
the module. Refer to Figure 2 for a detailed
view. When terminating the LC plug with the
socket on the SFP module be certain that
the plastic plug’s locking tab is fully en­gaged into the slot of the SFP module. This
will help prevent the LC plug from becom
ing disconnected due to physical stress or
vibration on the fiber. Also ensure that the

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end (“face”) of the plug’s ferrule has been
cleaned using appropriate methods.

Note that as of the time this user guide
was written the Model 5150 supports only
single-mode optical cable. Contact Studio
Technologies should support for multi­mode fiber be required.

The Model 5150 module should remain
without power whenever its optical output
has not been terminated. This ensures that
the optical energy will not project into free
space and possibly into the eyes of instal­lation personnel. The optical output power
of video SFP modules selected by Studio
Technologies adheres to the class 1 laser
standard. As such, they do not emit suf­ficient power to be considered hazardous.
But best safety practices require that the
optical output port and all unconnected
fiber ends not be directly viewed.

No configuration setting is required to
activate the optical output. It is always ac­tive and will contain the same SDI data as
that found on the coaxial (BNC) output. As
such there is no problem in simultaneously
connecting to both the optical and coaxial
(BNC) outputs.

Optical SDI Input

If supported by the specific Model 5150
module being installed, an HD- or 3G-SDI
signal transported on a single-mode opti­cal fiber can be connected. For an input to
be present a video SFP transceiver or a
receive-only SFP module must have been
installed in the SFP “cage” in the back of
the unit. The optical receiver circuitry in an
SFP module is “broadband” and doesn’t
need to receive a specific wavelength of
single-mode optical signal for correct op­eration. As long as the optical signal has

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a wavelength between 1250 and 1650
nanometers and meets the applicable
SMPTE standards it will be recognized
correctly.

A single-mode optical fiber terminated
with an LC plug can be connected to the
receive port on the SFP module. This port
is on the right side when looking directly at
the back of the SFP module. Typically there
will be a graphic arrow icon pointing “in” on
the top of the module. Refer to Figure 2 for
details on the location of the SFP module.
Ensure that the LC plug fully “mates” with
the receive port and its tab is locked into
the slot of the SFP module.

A configuration setting must be appropri­ately made to enable the optical SDI input.
There is no automatic switching between
the optical and coaxial (BNC) SDI inputs.
Only one of the two SDI inputs can be
selected and active at a time. Refer to
the Configuration section of this guide
for details.

DC Input and Data Bus

A 4-position header is used to connect DC
power and a local RS-485 serial data bus
to the Model 5150. Two pins on the mating
connector are used to connect a source
of nominal 12 volts DC. The acceptable
range is 10 to 18 volts DC with a maximum
current of 400 milliamperes at 12 volts DC.
For remote control operation two pins on
the mating connector will implement the
data bus connection from a Studio Tech­nologies’ Model 5190 Remote Access
Module.

The mating connector is compatible with
the AMP MTA-100 series of IDC recepta­cles. For 22 AWG wire the closed-end-style
receptacle is AMP 3-643813-4; the feed­through-style receptacle, used for busing

1. – DC (Common)

2. + DC (10-18 volts)

+ Data (RS-485)

3.

4. – Data (RS-485)

Figure 3. DC Input and Data Bus Connections

connections, is AMP 3-644540-4. The body
color for both receptacles is red, following
the convention of the MTA-100 series for
compatibility with 22 AWG wire. Refer to
Appendix B of this guide for additional
connector details.

GPI and GPO

This section applies only to Model 5150
modules with serial numbers 00251 and
later.

A 3-position header is used to connect with
the Model 5150’s GPI (general-purpose
input) and GPO (general-purpose output)
functions. Pin 1 is used by both the GPI and
GPO, pin 2 is used by the GPI, and pin 3 by
the GPO. The mating connector is compat­ible with the AMP MTA-100 series of IDC
receptacles. For 22 AWG wire the closed­end-style receptacle is AMP 3-643813-3;
the feed-through-style receptacle, used for
busing connections, is AMP 3-644540-3.
The body color for both receptacles is red,
following the convention of the MTA-100
series for compatibility with 22 AWG wire.
Refer to Appendix B of this guide for addi­tional connector details.

Pins 1 and 2 should be connected to the
switch or relay contact designated to control
the GPI. Electrically the GPI (pin 2) is a log­ic input that is “pulled up” to 3.3 volts DC by
way of a 5 k (5000) ohm resistor. It operates
in a “logic low” manner requiring that the
switch or contact closure carry a little less

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1. Common

2. GPI (general-purpose input)

GPO (general-purpose output)

3.

Figure 4. GPI and GPO Connections

than 1 milliamperes (0.66 mA) to activate
it. While the GPI circuitry is protected from
over-current and static (ESD) discharge,
care should be taken to prevent nasty
signals from reaching it. The input is ac­tive only when held in the low state; it can’t
be configured to change state (“latch”) in
response to a momentary closure.

Pins 1 and 3 are used by the GPO. Pin 1 is
common to the GPO, GPI, and the Model
5150’s circuitry. Pin 3 is 3.3 volts DC, cur­rent limited by a series resistance of 150
ohms. The GPO is intended to directly
power an LED indicator. Typical LEDs
have a drop of about 2 volts when active.
This will result in a GPO output current of
approximately 9 milliamperes. This LED
current will be perfectively satisfactory in
many applications but many contemporary
LEDs can function effectively with less
current. Adding additional series resis­tance can reduce the output current. For
example, adding 100 ohms in series with
the GPO will reduce the current through
a typical LED to about 5 milliamperes.
Note that shorting pin 3 to pin 1 when the
GPO is active will result in a current flow
of approximately 22 milliamperes. While
this situation is not recommended it won’t
lead to any damage to the Model 5150’s
circuitry.

Mounting

The Model 5150 is intended for mount­ing in an installation-specific enclosure or
rack panel. Refer to Appendix C at the end
of this guide for details on the required
mounting opening and screw locations.
Please contact the factory to discuss
mounting options.

Configuration

The manner in which a specific Model
5150 operates depends on how it has
been configured. One configuration param­eter, RS-485 Address, is set in hardware
using four DIP switches. The other Model
5150 operating parameters can be set
either by way of menu pages associated
with a Model 5190 Remote Access Module
or by way of a simple text file that is stored
on a USB flash drive. (The file will auto
matically load when the USB flash drive is
inserted into the Model 5150.) To assist in
the configuration process an information
file, STATUS.TXT, is automatically created
by the model 5150 and stored on the same
USB flash drive.

Note that there are a number of unused
DIP switches. One is located on the MCU
board and five are located on the FPGA
board. These switches are reserved for
future use.

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Figure 5. Rear view showing MCU and FPGA
board configuration DIP switches

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RS-485 Address

A data bus address must be configured
for applications that implement remote
control of Model 5150 functions. While up
to 16 Model 5100-Series modules can
“share” the RS-485 data bus, each module
must have a unique address. Selecting the
device’s address involves setting four con­figuration switches on the MCU board. The
switches are a “piano key” type with their
up position being defined as off and their
down position defined as on.

An initial overview of the configuration choic­es is provided in the following paragraphs.
Following these paragraphs are details on
how to determine a module’s current con­figuration and how to revise parameters as
required.

SDI Input Select

The Model 5150 is capable of having its SDI
input in the form of a coaxial signal (BNC
connector) or an optical signal (SFP mod­ule). All versions of the Model 5150 support
the coaxial (BNC) input. The optical input is
an option and may or may not be present
on the specific module you are configuring.
Configuring this function can be performed
using the Model 5190 Remote Access Mod­ule or by way of a text file stored on a USB
flash drive.

SDI Output Image Format/Rate Mode

Figure 6. RS-485 Address Settings

Configuring Everything Else

Many other Model 5150 operating param­eters can be configured using the Model
5190 Remote Access Module or by way of
a text file. Details on how to use the Model
5190’s menu pages are covered in other
documentation. Understanding how to cre­ate and use a configuration text file will be
covered in this guide.

One setting is used to configure how the
format and rate of the internal SDI genera

­tor is selected. (The internal SDI generator
creates the short-duration solid-gray video
image and plays back the stored “720” and
“1080” images.) In the Auto mode the format
and rate will automatically “follow” that of a
connected SDI input. This allows the Model
5150 to automatically “learn” the specific
format and rate used by a broadcast facility
or live event. In the Locked mode the format
and rate of the internal SDI generator will be
“locked” so that it will not change. Configur­ing this mode can be performed using the
Model 5190 Remote Access Module or by
way of a text file stored on a USB flash drive.

Delay Before Stored Image

The Model 5150 can output a solid-gray
video image prior to the stored image being
generated. This is provided as an innocuous
indication to downstream equipment that a

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loss of SDI has occurred. The solid-gray
image can be selected to be present for a
fixed duration of one to seven seconds. It
can also be disabled allowing the stored
image to be output as soon as a loss of
an input SDI signal is detected.

Moving Image Overlay

A “moving” graphic image can be overlaid
onto the stored “720” and “1080” images
when either one is being output by the Model

5150. The image is a red-colored box that
slowly moves around the screen. This simple
icon provides an indication to personnel
located downstream of the Model 5150 that
the SDI signal is active. This can be impor

­tant to ensure that a distinction can be made
between an active image and an image that’s
the result of the last valid frame being held
and displayed by a piece of equipment even
though its SDI input is no longer present.

When the function is off the stored images
(“720” and “1080”) will be displayed without
the moving image being added. When the
function is on the moving image will be
added. Configuring this mode can be per­formed using the Model 5190 Remote
Access Module or by way of a text file
stored on a USB flash drive.

SDI Input as Timing Reference

In most applications it’s desired that a sig

­nal connected to the selected SDI input will
automatically be routed to the SDI output(s).
But in special cases the Model 5150 may be
used as a full-time video generator. In this
latter case the ability to connect an external
timing reference would be desirable. This
would allow the SDI output(s) to be “locked”
to a master or “house” timing signal. An
operating mode selection allows an HD- or
3G-SDI signal to serve as a timing reference.

When the SDI Mode is set for Normal
a signal connected to the Model 5150’s
selected SDI input will pass through to the
SDI output(s). When SDI Mode is set for
RefOnly the timing, rate, and format of the
input SDI signal will impact the internally­generated video image output. The video
information associated with the input signal
will not be routed to the SDI output(s).
Configuring this mode can be performed
using the Model 5190 Remote Access
Module or by way of a text file stored on
a USB flash drive.

GPI – General-Purpose Input

Depending on the hardware version of a
specific Model 5150 module there may be
a GPI function available. The GPI (general­purpose input) will allow connection of an
external contact closure. The control will
then control a Model 5150 function. As of
the writing of this guide no function is avail­able for control by way of the GPI. Config­uring this function can be performed using
the Model 5190 Remote Access Module or
by way of a text file stored on a USB flash
drive.

GPO – General-Purpose Output

Depending on the hardware version of a
specific Model 5150 module there may
be a GPO function available. The GPO
(general-purpose output) provides a signal
corresponding to the status of the selected
SDI input. The GPO can be configured to
be active high when the selected SDI input
is correctly “locked” to the incoming SDI
signals. The GPO can also be configured
to be active low when the SDI input is
“locked.” Configuring this function can be
performed using the Model 5190 Remote
Access Module or by way of a text file
stored on a USB flash drive.

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Viewing Module Details

An associated Model 5190 Remote Ac­cess Module can be used to directly view
firmware (embedded software), hardware,
and configuration details about a Model
5150 module. In addition, the Model 5150
incorporates a unique standalone method
of providing these details. This is accom­plished by the module creating a simple
text file which is stored on a USB flash
drive. This file can then be easily viewed
using a personal computer. Information
provided in the file includes firmware ver­sion numbers, hardware serial number,
and configuration settings. The informa­tion provided in the text file can provide
assistance when configuring, using, and
troubleshooting Model 5150 modules.

Each time a Model 5150 detects that a
USB flash drive has been connected a
text file will be created and stored. The
file, named STATUS.TXT, will be stored in
a folder named M5150 which is one level
below the root of the USB flash drive. If
the folder is not already present it will be
created. If a STATUS.TXT file is already
present a new one will automatically be
written over it.

The Model 5150 does not have a method
of accessing the current date or time, i.e.,
no real-time clock. This limitation requires
that a fixed file creation date be used and
12/31/1979 was selected. However, the
time stamp continues to advance in real
time until a power cycle occurs.

Module

[SYSTEM INFO]
PRODUCT=M5150
SERNUM=00262
MCUVER=2.2
FPGAVER=2.2
ADDRESS=4

[CONFIGURATION]
SDIINPUT=BNC
FORMAT=AUTO
IMGDELAY=1
MOTION=ON
SDIMODE=NORMAL
GPI=DISABLED
GPO=DISABLED

[OPTIONS]
SDIINPUT=BNC,SFP
FORMAT=AUTO,LOCKED
IMGDELAY=0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7
MOTION=OFF,ON
SDIMODE=NORMAL,REFONLY
GPI=DISABLED
GPO=DISABLED,SDIVALID,SDINOTVALID

Figure 7. Example of STATUS.TXT file

STATUS.TXT File – [SYSTEM INFO]

The [SYSTEM INFO] section of the
STATUS.TXT file provides general informa­tion about this specific Model 5150 module.

PRODUCT= identifies the module’s prod­uct type. For the Model 5150 it will be listed
as M5150. This information is provided as
a confirmation for situations where multiple
STATUS.TXT files are being examined.

The text contained in the STATUS.TXT file
is organized into three sections. The follow­ing paragraphs provide a detailed explana­tion. Refer to the Figure 7 for a sample file.

SERNUM= identifies the factory-assigned
serial number of this specific module. It will
typically be in the form of a 5-digit base-10
number. If for some reason a serial number
has not been factory assigned no number
will display and the field will be blank (empty).

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MCUVER= identifies the version of the
microcontroller (MCU) firmware (embedded
software) that’s loaded into and operating
in this specific module’s MCU board. The
microcontroller is the overall “boss” of the
Model 5150, doing pretty much everything
but the SDI-related tasks.

FPGAVER= identifies the version of the
logic chip (FPGA) firmware (embedded soft­ware) that’s loaded into and operating in this
specific module’s FPGA board. The FPGA
creates the video images and processes the
SDI signals.

ADDRESS= identifies the RS-485 data bus
address of this specific module. The range
is 1 through 16. This address is configured
using four DIP switches located on the MCU
board.

STATUS.TXT File – [CONFIGURATION]

The [CONFIGURATION] section of the
STATUS.TXT file provides details on how
the module is actually functioning at the
time the file was created.

MOTION= identifies the status of the Mov­ing Image Overlay function. OFF indicates
that the Moving Image Overlay function is
not active. ON indicates that the Moving
Image Overlay function is active.

SDIMODE= identifies which SDI Mode has
been selected. NORMAL indicates that a
valid SDI signal connected to the selected
SDI input will pass through to the module’s
SDI output(s). REFONLY indicates that
the selected SDI input will serve only as
a timing reference signal. The internally­generated image will always be sent to
the SDI output(s).

GPI= identifies how the GPI (general­purpose input) function has been selected.
NA indicates that the hardware version of
this specific Model 5150 module does not
support the GPI function (applies to mod­ules with serial numbers 00250 or less).
DISABLED indicates that the function
is present in hardware but is not active.
Future versions of the MCU firmware may
implement other GPI actions.

SDIINPUT= identifies which physical SDI
input on the module has been selected.
BNC indicates that the Coaxial (BNC)
SDI Input has been selected. SFP indicates
that the optical SDI input has been selected.

FORMAT= identifies which SDI Output
Image Format/Rate Mode has been se­lected. AUTO indicates that the Auto Select
(Follows Input) mode has been selected.
LOCKED indicates that the Locked (Does
Not Follow Input) setting has been selected.

IMGDELAY= identifies the interval selected
for the delay before the stored image is
output. The range is 0 to 7 seconds. A set­ting of 0 indicates that there will be no delay.
During the delay period the Model 5150 will

GPO= identifies how the GPO (general­purpose output) function has been select­ed. NA indicates that the hardware version
of this specific Model 5150 module does
not support the GPO function (applies to
modules with serial numbers 00250 or
less). DISABLED indicates that the func­tion is present in hardware but is not ac­tive. SDIVALID indicates that the GPO will
be high when a valid SDI signal is con­nected to the selected SDI input (coaxial
(BNC) or optical). SDINOTVALID indicates
that the GPO will be high when a valid SDI
signal is not connected to the selected SDI
input (coaxial (BNC) or optical); the GPO
will be low when a valid SDI signal is con­nected.

output a video image with a solid-gray color.

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STATUS.TXT File – [OPTIONS]

The [OPTIONS] section of the STATUS.
TXT file is provided as a guide when creat­ing a CONFIG.TXT file which will set the
module’s configuration. This information is
provided in the STATUS.TXT file only as a
reference and doesn’t play an active part
in module configuration or operation.

SDIINPUT= selects which physical SDI
input on the module will be active. BNC
selects the coaxial (BNC) SDI input to be
active. SFP selects the optical SDI input
to be active.

FORMAT= selects the SDI Output Image
Format/Rate Mode. AUTO selects the Auto
Select (Follows Input) mode. LOCKED
selects the Locked (Does Not Follow Input)
mode.

IMGDELAY= selects the interval for the
delay before the stored image is output.
The range is 0 to 7 seconds. A setting of 0
selects no delay. During the delay period
the Model 5150 will output a video image
with a solid-gray color.

MOTION= selects the Moving Image
Overlay function. OFF disables the Moving
Image Overlay function. ON enables the
Moving Image Overlay function.

SDIMODE= selects the SDI Mode func­tion. NORMAL selects that a valid SDI
signal connected to the selected SDI input
will pass through to the module’s SDI
output(s). REFONLY

selects that the se­lected SDI input will serve only as a timing
reference signal. In this latter mode, the
internally-generated image will always be
sent to the SDI output(s).

GPI= selects the GPI (general-purpose
input) function. DISABLED selects that the
function is not active. Future versions of the
MCU firmware may implement other GPI
actions. Note that if the hardware version
of this specific Model 5150 does not sup­port the GPI function (modules with serial
numbers 00250 or less) this text line will not
appear.

GPO= selects the GPO (general-purpose
output) function. DISABLED selects that
the function is not active. SDIVALID selects
that the GPO will be high when a valid SDI
signal is connected to the selected SDI input
(coaxial (BNC) or optical). SDINOTVALID
selects that the GPO will be high when a
valid SDI signal is not connected to the se­lected SDI input (coaxial (BNC) or optical);
the GPO will be low when a valid SDI sig

­nal is connected. Note that if the hardware
version of this specific Model 5150 does not
support the GPO function (modules with se

­rial numbers 00250 or less) this text line will
not appear.

Configuration Text File

A text file can be created to specify how a
Model 5150 should be configured. Saved on
a USB flash drive, the file must have a name
of CONFIG.TXT and be stored in a folder di
rectly under the root with a name of M5150.
When the USB flash drive is plugged into
a Model 5150 the file will automatically be
read and the configuration stored. Immedi­ately after the file is read the STATUS.TXT
file will be written to the M5150 folder. The
contents of this file will reflect the configu­ration that’s present after the contents of
the CONFIG.TXT have been read. This will
provide immediate feedback that the desired
configuration has be implemented.

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[CONFIGURATION]
SDIINPUT=BNC
FORMAT=AUTO
IMGDELAY=1
MOTION=ON
SDIMODE=NORMAL
GPI=DISABLED
GPO=SDIVALID

Figure 8. Example of CONFIG.TXT file

The following paragraphs detail the con­figuration choices. This information is also
shown in the [OPTIONS] section of the
STATUS.TXT file, described previously
in this guide.

The text lines that follow the [CONFIGU­RATION] heading should remain in the
same order as shown in the example. (But
technically they are not required to do so.)
All configuration items are not required to
be present but for clarity it’s recommended
that they are. The text is case sensitive and
must follow the example.

SDIINPUT= selects which physical SDI
input on the module will be active. There
are two choices.

BNC selects the coaxial
(BNC) SDI input to be active. SFP selects
the optical SDI input to be active.

FORMAT= selects the SDI Output Image
Format/Rate Mode. There are two choices.
AUTO selects the Auto Select (Follows
Input) mode. LOCKED selects the Locked
(Does Not Follow Input) mode.

IMGDELAY= selects the interval for the
delay before the stored image is output.
The range is 0 to 7 seconds. A setting of
0 selects no delay. During the delay period
the Model 5150 will output a video image
with a solid-gray color.

MOTION= selects the status of the Mov­ing Image Overlay function. There are two
choices. OFF disables the Moving Image
Overlay function. ON enables the Moving
Image Overlay function.

SDIMODE= selects the status of the SDI
Mode function. There are two choices.
NORMAL selects that a valid SDI signal
connected to the selected SDI input will
pass through to the module’s SDI output(s).
REFONLY selects that the SDI input will
serve only as a timing reference signal. The
internally-generated image will always be
sent to the SDI output(s).

GPI= selects the status of the GPI (general­purpose input) function. DISABLED selects
that the function is not active. Future ver­sions of the MCU firmware may implement
other GPI actions. Note that if the hardware
version of this specific Model 5150 does not
support the GPI function this text line can be
part of the file but will not be recognized.

GPO= selects the status of the GPO
(general-purpose output) function.
DISABLED selects the function to be not
active. SDIVALID selects the GPO to be
high when a valid SDI signal is connected
to the selected SDI input (coaxial (BNC) or
optical). SDINOTVALID selects the GPO to
be high when a valid SDI signal is not con­nected to the selected SDI input (coaxial
(BNC) or optical); the GPO will be low when
a valid SDI signal is connected. Note that if
the hardware version of this specific Model
5150 does not support the GPO function
this text line can be part of the file but will
not be recognized.

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Operation

Power Up

Upon 12 volt DC power being applied to
the Model 5150 the four front-panel LEDs
will perform a “walk-through” test, with
each LED lighting briefly in sequence.
Then the LEDs will light in patterns that
represent the version numbers of the
firmware (embedded software) files that
are loaded into the module. Upon comple­tion, the Power LED will light continuously.
For normal operation to commence, prior
to powering up the module ensure that
a USB flash drive is not plugged into the
USB port on the front panel.

Module

The SDI Input LED lights whenever a valid
SDI signal is connected to the coaxial
(BNC) or optical SDI input. (A configuration
choice selects whether the coaxial (BNC)
SDI input or optical SDI input is active.)

The Data LED will light whenever data ac­tivity is taking place over the local RS-485
signal bus that is used to link the Model
5150 to a Studio Technologies’ Model 5190
Remote Access Module. The LED will flash
on and off each time data associated with
this specific Model 5150 is present. Not all
applications will include a connection to
the data bus so it’s certainly possible that
the Data LED may never flash except dur­ing module power up.

LED Indicators

A brief discussion of the Model 5150’s sta­tus LEDs will be covered in this section.

Front-Panel LEDs

As previously discussed, upon power up
the four front-panel LEDs will light in a
short sequence as an initialization test.
Afterwards they are used to display the
version number of the installed MCU and
FPGA firmware. Refer to the Technical
Notes section of this guide for details.
Following the power-up sequence, the
Power LED will light and remain lit.

The USB Activity LED will not light during
normal Model 5150 operation. It will be lit
continuously or in a pattern when a USB
flash drive is plugged into the USB port
on the front panel and file transfer activ­ity is taking place. Details on how the LED
functions when the USB port is active are
covered in the Technical Notes section of
this guide.

FPGA Board LEDs

Three LEDs are located on the back edge
of the FPGA printed circuit board and
serve as factory- and field-diagnostic aids.
Upon Model 5150 power up each LED will
light for several brief durations with no spe
cific meaning associated with them. Then
the FPGA Status LED, located adjacent
to the DIP switches, will light and remain
lit. This indicates that the FPGA and MCU
boards are correctly communicating.

The LED located adjacent to the coaxial
SDI input’s BNC connector will light when­ever that input has been configured to be
active and a valid SDI signal is connected.
It will not light if a valid SDI signal is con­nected but the SDI input configuration is
not set to activate the coaxial (BNC) input.

The LED located adjacent to the “cage”
that holds the SFP module will light if the
optical SDI input has been selected and a
valid SDI optical signal is connected. It will
not light if a valid optical signal is connect­ed but the SDI input configuration is not
set to activate the optical input.

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A fourth LED is located near the front of
the FPGA board. Called the FPGA Done
LED, it lights whenever the logic device
(FPGA) has loaded its firmware and is
operating normally. This LED is provided
only for factory troubleshooting use.

Initial SDI Output

After the power-up sequence has been
completed the module’s SDI output will
become active. (This will be both the coax­ial (BNC) output and, if present, the optical
SDI output.) If a valid signal is connected
to the selected SDI input it will be routed to
the SDI output. If a signal is not connected
to the selected SDI input the internal SDI
generator will supply a signal to the SDI
output. In the latter case, what occurs after
the Model 5150’s power-up sequence has
taken place (taking about seven seconds)
depends on the module’s configuration.
A solid-gray image may be output for up
to seven seconds followed by the stored
“720” or “1080” image. Or, if the solid-gray
image has been disabled the stored image
will immediately be present.

SDI Input and SDI Output

Depending on the exact Model 5150 ver­sion that has been installed and how it was
configured an SDI signal can be connected
to the coaxial (BNC) input or the optical
input. When a signal that’s compatible with
the Model 5150 has been connected the
front-panel SDI Input LED will light. This
indicates that the signal is being routed
to the SDI output and the internal SDI
generator is not active. SDI signals that
comply with most HD (1.485 Gb/s nominal)
and 3G (2.97 Gb/s nominal) standards
are compatible. Refer to the Specifications
section of this guide for a list of the
supported standards.

The Model 5150 always provides an ac­tive SDI signal on the coaxial (BNC) output.
Some Model 5150 versions also provide an
optical output. This is accomplished at the
factory by installing one of a variety of avail­able SFP optical modules in the back-panel
SFP “cage.” If an optical output is present it
will always be active and provide an identi­cal copy to the signal present on the coaxial
(BNC) output.

If a valid SDI signal is not connected to the
selected SDI input the stored image will be
present on the coaxial (BNC) output and, if
present, optical output. Depending on the
stored format and rate values, the output
will be either a 1280 x 720 pixel (“720”) or
1920 x 1080 pixel (“1080”) fixed image.

Stored Images

When a valid signal is not connected to the
selected SDI input, the module generates
one of two fixed images. The two images,
one “720” and one “1080,” are stored
in nonvolatile memory within the Model

5150. From the factory two images are pre­loaded. The two are quite different from one
another with each having a unique photo
background and overlaid text. The overlaid
text provides support details on how alter­nate custom images can be created.

It’s expected that these pre-loaded images
will be replaced with application-specific
images. They can be easily created and
what they consist of is limited only by one’s
imagination. Refer to the Technical Notes
section of this guide for details.

Transitions between External
and Internal SDI Signals

This paragraph applies when the Model
5150 has been configured for normal SDI

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input mode. Whenever a valid SDI signal is
connected to the selected Model 5150 input
it will immediately be routed to the coaxial
(BNC) and, if present, optical SDI outputs.
The situation is a little different when a valid
signal that’s been connected to the selected
SDI input is subsequently removed. When
the Model 5150 detects that an SDI input
signal is no longer present the SDI output
may switch to an image with a solid-gray
color. Depending on the module’s configu­ration this color may remain active for up
to seven seconds. This solid-gray image
provides a benign warning to users that the
normal SDI source is no longer present.

During this time period it’s expected that
any on-air use of the Model 5150’s output
can be terminated without alerting viewers
that anything is amiss. This solid-gray im­age can also be helpful as a marker when
editing recorded video. After the configured
interval has elapsed the internal generator
will output either the “720” or “1080” stored
image.

It’s also possible that the Model 5150 has
been configured to not output the solid-gray
video signal. In this case, when the module
detects that an SDI signal is no longer
present on the SDI input, the SDI output
will directly switch to the stored image.

It’s important to note that the Model 5150
does not perform a smooth transition when
switching between an external SDI source
and the internally-generated video signals.
The same holds true when the internal
color or image generator is active and then
a valid source is connected to the selected
SDI input. The SDI output does not stay
“locked” during the transition as the circuitry
in the Model 5150 was not designed to
that level of sophistication. This shouldn’t
cause an operational issue as the Model

5150 was not designed to be “on air”
during those transitions; the changeover
process is not seamless by design. One
can assume that up to two seconds of
interruption will occur during transitions but
typically it will be considerably shorter.

Full-Time Video Generation

A configuration selection allows the Model
5150 to act as a full-time video generator.
In this case the selected SDI input will only
be used as an external timing reference.
The front-panel SDI Input LED will light
whenever a valid signal is connected to
the selected SDI input. But the SDI input
source will only serve as a timing refer­ence. Its video and related data (e.g., em­bedded audio) will not pass through to the
SDI output(s). The stored video image will
always be present on the SDI output(s).

Output Format and Rate

When a valid signal is connected to the
selected SDI input it will be routed to the
SDI output at the identical format and rate
of the source. When the SDI input is no
longer present the internally-generated
signal will become active and be routed to
the SDI output. The format and rate of the
internally-generated SDI signal will depend
on parameters that are stored within the
Model 5150. Whether these parameters
can change depends on the configuration
of the module’s SDI output image format/
rate mode. Typically, the mode will be set
for Auto Select which allows the Model
5150 to revise its parameters by following
the format and rate of the connected SDI
signal. This ensures that the Model 5150
can generate an SDI signal that matches
the requirements of a facility or event.
For the module to “learn” a new format
and rate simply requires the momentary

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Module

connection of an SDI signal that has the
desired format and rate. As long as the sig­nal is present on the selected SDI input for
a minimum of five seconds the Model 5150
will store the “new” format and rate param

­eters in nonvolatile memory. The module will
then use those parameters whenever the
internal generator is active. The only caveat
for the module to “learn” a new format/rate
combination is that it must be a compatible
combination. Refer to the Specifications
section of this guide for a complete list.

There are some applications that will benefit
from the internally-generated SDI output sig
nal always having a specific format and rate.
In this case the SDI output image format/
rate mode can be set for Locked. No mat

­ter what the format and rate of a connected
SDI signal, the stored parameters will not
change. Changing the stored parameters
would require the format/rate mode to be
changed to Auto Select, an SDI signal with
the desired format and rate be connected
for a minimum of five seconds, and then the
format/rate mode changed back to Locked.

viewing is active. And, just to clarify, if
a signal is present on the Model 5150’s
selected SDI input it will be passed on to
the coaxial (BNC) and, if present, optical
SDI outputs. The moving image will never
overlay an input signal—it can only overlay
on top of the stored image.

GPI and GPO

Model 5150 modules with serial numbers
of 00251 and later include a GPI (general­purpose input) and a GPO (general­purpose output) function. Depending on
the application, connections may have

­been made to the GPI and/or the GPO.

GPI

As of the date of this User Guide the
Model 5150’s firmware (embedded soft­ware) does not support the performance of
any action in response to the GPI function
changing state. Future firmware versions
may implement an action. (For now it’s just
something ready for the future.)

GPO

Moving Image Overlay

The Model 5150 has the ability to overlay a
moving image on top of the stored “720” and
“1080” images. A configuration setting se­lects whether the moving image overlay will
be active. The moving image, a box that’s
red in color, slowly moves around and on
top of whatever stored image is present on
the SDI output. The color, size, and rate of
motion of the “box” are fixed in the FPGA’s
firmware (embedded software) and can’t be

The GPO may be connected to an LED
indicator. A configuration choice allows the
GPO to be active “high” or active “low” in
response to a SDI signal connected to the
selected SDI input. If configured for active
high an associated LED would light when­ever a valid SDI source is connected to the
selected SDI input. If configured for active
low the LED would light whenever a valid
SDI is not connected to the selected SDI
input.

altered.

The moving image is provided specifically
so that users who are “downstream” from
the Model 5150’s SDI output are assured
that the “720” or “1080” image they are

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Technical Notes

Bitmap Image File
Requirements

The Model 5150 allows two bitmap (.bmp)
images to be stored and output when an
SDI input signal is not present. One image
has a pixel size of 1280 x 720 while the
other has a pixel size of 1920 x 1080. To
be stored with the Model 5150 the files
must be FAT32-compatible and have
names of img720.bmp and img1080.bmp,
respectively.

The reason two files are required is simple:
the Model 5150 does not have the ability to
digitally “scale” a 1920 x 1080 image down
to 1280 x 720. But it does have the ability
to store two unique files. Most users will
create a single image using a personal­computer graphics program and then save
it in the two required formats. So when the
Model 5150 generates either of the two im
ages (“720” or “1080”), a user will see what
appears to be an identical image. But there
is no reason why the two images (“720” and
“1080”) have to be based on the same orig­inal graphics. Studio Technologies chose to
create two different “720” and “1080” bitmap
files that are pre-loaded in the Model 5150
at the time of manufacture. They feature two
unique background images with text high­lighting the main requirements for updating
them.

-

Module

Microsoft Paint and Adobe Photoshop appli­cations will create .bmp files that meet this
requirement. But some other programs may
produce non-compatible files. For example,
the open-source GIMP graphics program
is very good but appears to save .bmp files
only as a BITMAPV4HEADER type. These
are not compatible with the Model 5150.
The possibility that various .bmp files will
have different header types doesn’t seem to
be an issue for displaying them successfully
with most personal-computer programs.
This is most likely due to the PC’s large
code space allowing essentially all the pos­sible header types to be supported. But the
Model 5150, due to its target application,
has limitations in the file support area. (For
additional background information, please
refer to the Wikipedia online entry that dis­cusses the structure of .bmp files.)

A compatible 1280 x 720 (“720”) .bmp
file created using Microsoft Paint or Adobe
Photoshop will have a size of approximately

2.63 MB; a 1920 x 1080 (“1080”) .bmp file
will have a size of approximately 5.63 MB.
The actual size of the files when created in
Microsoft Paint should be 2,764,854 bytes
and 6,220,854 bytes, respectively. When
created in Adobe Photoshop, the file sizes
should be 2,764,856 bytes and 6,220,856
bytes, respectively. (Why are they each
two bytes in size different? Who knows!
But both use the appropriate BITMAPINFO­HEADER DIB type.)

While the two bitmap files (img720.bmp
and img1080.bmp) are “standard” in the
sense that they are FAT32-compatible and
have the extension .bmp, they must adhere
to one important requirement that not all
personal-computer graphics programs sup­port. Their DIB (bitmap information header)
must be a BITMAPINFOHEADER type. The

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Bitmap Image Update
Procedure

It’s expected that the Model 5150’s bitmap
(.bmp) files associated with the custom
“720” and “1080” images will always be
updated to best serve specific applications.
This will typically take place soon after a

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Model 5150 has been installed. (While the
pre-loaded images are nice, they aren’t
really appropriate for actual active applica­tions.) There’s no problem changing the files
whenever the application warrants alternate
images. The module has the ability to au­tomatically load revised files by way of its
USB interface. The Model 5150 implements
a USB host function that directly supports
connection of a USB flash drive.

Updating the Model 5150’s “720” and “1080”
images is quite simple but requires some
care. The process begins by preparing a
USB flash drive. The flash drive doesn’t
have to be empty (blank) but must be in the
personal-computer-standard FAT32 format.
Save the new image (.bmp) files in the root
directory. Their names must be img720.
bmp and img1080.bmp. Typically both
.bmp files will be updated at the same time.
But there’s no requirement to do so. Individ­ual files can be updated whenever desired.
Simply copy the desired file or files to the
root directly on the USB flash drive. Be cer­tain that there are no Model 5150 firmware
files (m5150.s19 and m5150.bit) present
on the USB flash drive during this process.

As previously reviewed in this guide, the
1280 x 720 image must have a file name of
img720.bmp; the 1920 x 1080 image must
have a file name of img1080.bmp. Also
ensure that both have the DIB header type
BITMAPINFOHEADER so that they can be
recognized correctly by the Model 5150.

To install the new image files:

1. Power down the Model 5150 module.

2. Insert the prepared USB flash drive into
the module’s USB port.

3. Apply power to the module.

4. The module will go through its power­up LED sequence and normal opera­tion will begin. At about the same time
that normal operation starts the new
.bmp files will begin to load, one after
the other. The USB Activity LED on the
module’s front panel will flash while the
loading process is taking place. Loading
both .bmp files will take approximately

6.5 minutes. (Loading only the

img720.

bmp file takes approximately 2 minutes;

loading only the img1080.bmp file takes
approximately 4.5 minutes.) Once the
loading process has been completed the
USB Activity LED will change from flash­ing to being lit continuously.

Note: If the module is currently output-

ting one of the stored images and a new
image of the same type (“720” or “1080”)
has just completed loading, the output
will automatically change to the new im­age. (It’s possible that a few seconds of
a solid color could be output during the
transition from the old image to the new
image.)

5. Power down the module.

6. Remove the USB flash drive from the
module’s USB port.

7. Power up the Model 5150 module. It will
go through its normal power-up LED
sequence and begin operation. It will use
the updated images whenever the inter­nal SDI generator is active.

It’s possible that during the update process
any LEDs located on the USB flash drive
may light steadily or flash with varying pat­terns. These actions are not significant
to the Model 5150’s update procedure.
(The status LEDs on various USB flash
drives seem to behave in different ways
so there are no universal patterns that
can be identified.)

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Firmware Update Procedure

It’s possible that updated versions of the
firmware (embedded software) that runs
the Model 5150 will be released to add fea­tures or correct issues. The module has the
ability to automatically load revised files by
way of its USB interface. The Model 5150
implements a USB host function that direct­ly supports connection of a USB flash drive.
The Model 5150 uses two firmware files to
perform its functions. One file is used by the
microcontroller integrated circuit (MCU) and
has a file name of m5150.s19. The micro­controller is the overall “boss” of the Model
5150, doing pretty much everything but the
SDI-related tasks. The other firmware file
is used by the logic chip (FPGA) and has a
name of m5150.bit. This firmware, running
in the FPGA, creates the video images and
processes the SDI signals. The factory will
provide updates of these firmware files if
it’s warranted for your specific Model 5150
module.

To update the Model 5150’s firmware is
quite simple but requires careful execution.
The process begins by preparing a USB
flash drive. The flash drive doesn’t have to
be empty (blank) but must be in the per­sonal-computer-standard FAT32 format.
Save the new firmware files in the root
directory. Their names must be m5150.s19
and m5150.bit. Be certain that any custom
image files (img720.bmp and img1080.
bmp) are not present on the USB flash
drive during this process.

the name of the zip file itself will include
the version number. For example, a file
named m5150v1r2MCU.zip would indi­cate that version 1.2 of the MCU firmware
(m5150.s19) is contained within this zip
file; a file named m5150v1r1FPGA.zip
would indicate that version 1.1 of the
FPGA (m5150.bit) is contained within
this zip file. The version numbers of the
files that are copied to the USB flash drive
should be noted for later reference. Once
the new files are loaded into a Model 5150
the module’s front-panel LEDs should be
used to confirm that the correct firmware
versions have been successfully installed.

Note: The firmware update procedure
itself will not erase or overwrite bitmap
image files that are already saved in the
Model 5150. However, this requires that
the custom image files (img720.bmp and
img1080.bmp) are not present on the
USB flash drive.

To install the firmware files:

1. Power down the Model 5150 module

you intend to upgrade.

2. Ensure nothing is inserted into the

USB port on the module. Power up
the module and “read” the version
numbers of the currently-installed
MCU (m5150.s19) and FPGA
(m5150.bit) files. Write these numbers
down for reference. The next section
of this guide details how to “read” the
installed firmware version levels.

Studio Technologies will supply the MCU
and FPGA files inside individual .zip
archive files. While the firmware file inside
of each zip file will adhere to the naming

3. Power down the Model 5150 module.

4. Insert the prepared USB flash drive into

the module’s USB port.

5. Apply power to the Model 5150 module.

convention required by the Model 5150,

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6. The module will run a “boot loader”
program that will immediately load the
new MCU (m5150.s19) file. This takes
approximately eight seconds. Once the
file is loaded the module will perform
a normal power-up sequence with the
microcontroller using its newly-loaded
MCU firmware.

7. After the power-up sequence has been
completed the module will begin op­eration. It will process video as well as
checking for an FPGA (m5150.bit) file
on the USB flash drive. If it doesn’t find
this file normal operation will continue.
If it locates this file it will begin to load it
from the USB flash drive. In that case,
some Model 5150 functions will halt,
including reading changes to the con­figuration switches. As an indication that
the file transfer is under way, the USB
Activity LED will flash on and off.

8. The process of loading the FPGA
(m5150.bit) file will take approximately
90 seconds to complete. When the file
loading process is complete you will
see the module’s front-panel USB Activ­ity LED change from flashing to being
continuously lit. At that time the Model
5150’s logic chip (FPGA) will reboot and
run under the newly-loaded firmware.

9. Power down the module.

10. Remove the USB flash drive from the
module’s USB port.

11. Power up the Model 5150 module and
it will begin operation using the updated
MCU and FPGA firmware. The ver­sion numbers of the installed MCU and
FPGA firmware should be “read” by way
of the front-panel LEDs. Compare and
confirm that these numbers match those
from the zip file names that were pro­vided by the factory.

Note: It’s possible that during the update
process any LEDs located on the USB flash
drive may light steadily or flash with varying
patterns. These actions are not significant to
the Model 5150’s firmware update process.
(The status LEDs on various USB flash
drives seem to behave in different ways so
there are no universal patterns that can be
identified.)

Identifying the Installed
Firmware Versions

As previously discussed in the Configura­tion section of this guide, a file is automati­cally written to a USB flash drive whenever
it is plugged into the Model 5150. This file,
named STATUS.TXT, provides details of the
Model 5150’s firmware (embedded soft­ware), hardware, and configuration param­eters. These parameters include the version
numbers of the MCU and FPGA firmware
that are stored in the module. This informa­tion is also available when using a Model
5190 Remote Access Module with the Model

5150. A third method is also available to de­termine the two firmware version numbers.
The Model 5150’s four status LEDs are used
during the power-up sequence to display
the numbers in a cryptic but effective man­ner. While the display method is a bit unique,
once a user gets accustomed to what’s
actually happening during power up it should
be fairly straightforward to “read” the version
numbers.

To identify the installed firmware versions:

1. Power up the Model 5150. The four LEDs
will perform a “walk-through” test, with
each LED briefly lighting in a sequence.

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The USB Activity LED lights to represent the number 1

The SDI Input LED lights to represent the number 2

The Power LED lights to represent the number 3

The Data LED lights to represent the number 4

Figure 9. Detail of front panel showing how
the LEDs display the MCU and FPGA firmware
version numbers.

2. After a slight pause one of the four LEDs
will light briefly. This will indicate the
major number of the MCU’s firmware
version. The LED will stop lighting then
another one of the four LED will light
briefly to indicate the minor number of
the MCU’s firmware version. The range
of each is 1-4. A period (.) is inserted
between the major and minor numbers.

As an example, if the USB Activity LED

lights first followed by the SDI Input LED
lighting this would indicate version 1.2 of
the MCU firmware.

3. After another slight pause one of the
LEDs will light briefly. This will indicate
the major number of the FPGA’s firm­ware version. The LED will stop lighting
then another one of the four LED will
light briefly to indicate the minor num­ber of the FPGA’s firmware version.
The range of each is 1-4. A period (.) is
inserted between the major and minor
numbers.

As an example, if the SDI Input LED

lights twice this would indicate version

2.2 of the FPGA firmware.

4. After a final short pause the four LEDs
will begin performing in their normal
operating manner. The Power LED will
light and remain lit. The USB Activity
LED will only be active when a USB
flash drive is inserted and file transfer
activity is taking place. The SDI Input
LED will light whenever a valid SDI
signal is connected to either the coaxial
(BNC) input or the optical input, de­pending on the module’s capability and
configuration setting. The Data LED will
light whenever local data is received
via the RS-485 data bus from a Studio
Technologies’ Model 5190 Remote
Access Module.

SFP Module Flexibility

The Model 5150 was designed to allow an
MSA-compliant SFP optical module to be
installed at the factory. Optical modules are
available with a range of input and output
capabilities to meet the needs of various
applications. For maximum flexibility the
SFP mating connector and associated
“cage” on the Model 5150’s FPGA circuit
board were implemented to meet the elec
trical and mechanical requirements of the
MSA SFP standard. The MSA SFP stan­dard was originally developed for use with
optical data (Ethernet) modules. It has
also become popular for use with SFP
modules that support SMPTE-compliant
SDI signals.

It’s interesting to note that several compa­nies offer non-optical SFP modules that
support the MSA SFP standard as well.
For example, Embrionix of Canada offers
a wide range of specialized SFP modules.
These include coaxial SDI input and output
modules that use DIN 1.0/2.3 and HD-BNC
connectors. In addition, they offer SFP
modules that provide an HDMI® output.

-

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Several of these modules have been in­stalled and tested in Model 5150 modules
at the factory and acceptable performance
was confirmed. It’s possible that special
applications could benefit from the features
provided by installing these non-optical
SFP modules in a Model 5150. For further
dialog about this topic please contact
Studio Technologies technical support.

USB Port Capabilities

The USB port, accessible on the Model
5150’s front panel, is provided for use in
only a few specific tasks. While it imple­ments a high-speed USB host interface,
it is not intended for general-purpose use
and does not support connection with
mass-storage devices, personal comput­ers, printers, etc. It is intended only for use
with USB flash drives. These devices can
contain image and firmware files that are
intended for loading into the Model 5150.
Details on these file-transfer functions can
be found in other sections of this guide.

Module

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Specifications

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SDI Compatibility, Supported Formats and
Rates:

HD-SDI per SMPTE ST 292:2011:

720p: 50, 59.94, 60
1080i: 50, 59.94, 60
1080p: 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30
1080psf: 23.98, 24, 25

3G-SDI Level A per SMPTE ST 424:2006 and
ST 425:2011:

1080p: 50, 59.94, 60
SD-SDI per SMPTE® ST 259:2008:

Not supported

Coaxial (BNC) SDI Input and Output:
Type: unbalanced
Impedance: 75 ohms
Level: 800 mV p-p, nominal

Optical Input (optional):
Compliance: SMPTE ST 297:2006 (as applicable)
Fiber Type: single mode
Wavelengths Supported: 1250 to 1650 nm
Receive Sensitivity: –17 dBm, nominal @

2.97 Gb/s

Maximum Input Power: –3 dBm, nominal

Optical Output (optional):
Compliance: SMPTE ST 297:2006 (as applicable)
Fiber Type: single mode
Wavelength: 1310 nm (FP laser) or CWDM (DFB

laser), as per order

Launch Power: –3 dBm, nominal

Typical Fiber Interconnect Length:

minimum

10 km

Remote Control Data Interface: RS-485 115.2
Kb/s, 8-1-N; compatible with Studio Technologies’
Model 5190 Remote Access Module

Connectors:
Coaxial SDI Input and Output: BNC, 3G-SDI

optimized, gold plating on center pin, per IEC
61169-8 Annex A

Optical Module: MSA-compliant SFP
DC Input/Data: 1, 4-position male header. Refer

to Appendix B for mating connector details.
GPI/GPO: 1, 3-position male header (applies to

modules with serial numbers 00251 and later).
Refer to Appendix B for mating connector details.

Power Requirement: 12 volts DC nominal,
400 mA max; acceptable range 10-18 volts DC,
480 mA max at 10 volts

Dimensions (Overall):

3.75 inches wide (9.5 cm)

1.69 inches high (4.3 cm)

2.30 inches deep (5.8 cm)

Mounting: requires custom implementation;
no mounting method provided. Refer to Appendix C
for details.

Weight: 0.2 pounds (91 g)

Specifications and information contained in this
User Guide subject to change without notice.

GPI: active low, “pulled up” to 3.3 volts DC using
5 k ohm resistor; activates on closure to common
(applies to Model 5150 modules with serial numbers
00251 and later)

GPO: active high, 3.3 volts DC with series resis­tance of 150 ohm; short circuit current of approxi­mately 22 milliamperes in reference to common
(applies to Model 5150 modules with serial numbers
00251 and later)

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Appendix A–Model 5150 Versions

The following list describes the available Model 5150 versions along with their respective
order codes. List is current as of the publication date of this guide.

Version Order Code Figure

Model 5150 Video Generator Module M5150 A

Model 5150 Video Generator Module with Optical Output (1310 nm) M5150-01 B

Model 5150 Video Generator Module with Optical Input/Output (1310 nm) M5150-02 C

Model 5150 Video Generator Module with CWDM Optical Output M5150-03X* B

Model 5150 Video Generator/ Module with Optical Input/CWDM Output M5150-04X* C

* For order codes -03X and -04X, X = the standard CWDM wavelength letter code, e.g., L=1490 nm.

Figure A (No SFP)

Figure B (Optical-Output-Only SFP)

Figure C (Transceiver SFP)

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Appendix B–DC Input/Data and GPI/GPO Interconnection Details

The required mating receptacle is from the TE Connectivity (formerly AMP) MTA-100 series
of IDC (insulation displacement) connectors. This series was selected because of its low­cost and wide range of offerings. Separate connectors are offered for compatibility with 22,
24, 26, and 28 AWG (American Wire Gauge) insulated wire. The connector color indicates
its AWG-compatibility. Unfortunately, with flexibility can come some confusion. The MTA-100
offers a number of different connectors that will work with the DC input/data and GPI/GPO
headers. Before obtaining receptacles it’s important to determine two things: wire gauge
and wiring arrangement. For this application 22 AWG is recommended.

DC Input/Data

• For 22 AWG wire this receptacle (red in color) is recommended:
TE Connectivity (AMP) 3-643813-4, closed-end type

Digi-Key part number A31108-ND

Mouser part number 571-3-643813-4

TE Connectivity (AMP) 3-644540-4, feed-through type

Digi-Key part number A31122-ND

Mouser part number 571-3-644540-4

GPI/GPO

• For 22 AWG wire this receptacle (red in color) is recommended:
TE Connectivity (AMP) 3-643813-3, closed-end type

Digi-Key part number 3-643813-3-ND

Mouser part number 571-3-643813-3

TE Connectivity (AMP) 3-644540-3, feed-through type

Digi-Key part number A31121-ND

Mouser part number 571-3-644540-3

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Appendix B–Interconnection Details, continued

Tools for Connecting Wires to the Mating Receptacles, continued

For applications where a larger number of Model 5100-Series modules are going to be
installed it’s worth considering a semi-automatic termination tool. The recommended tool
consists of a handle assembly and crimp die for MTA-100 receptacles. The total price for
both, approximately US$300 as of this writing, is steep but the performance that this tool
assembly provides is excellent. We feel that the time savings and reliability of the connec­tions may warrant the price when many terminations are going to be made:

• Handle Tool, Pistol Grip:
TE Connectivity (AMP) 58074-1
Digi-Key part number A2031-ND

Mouser part number 571-580741

• Crimp Head Die Assembly for MTA-100 Receptacles:
TE Connectivity (AMP) 58246-1
Digi-Key part number A1998-ND

Mouser part number 571-58246-1

Headers on the Model 5150 Printed Circuit Board

The actual part number of the header connectors that are soldered into the Model 5150’s
printed circuit board is provided in this section. But do not order this part number with
the intent of interconnecting signals with the Model 5150! We are providing this detail only
so that interested technical personnel can have the full background on the Model 5150’s
interconnect system. The appropriate mating receptacle is detailed in a previous section
of this Appendix.

• DC Input/Data:
TE Connectivity (AMP) 2-644486-4 (DO NOT ORDER THIS NUMBER!)

• GPI/GPO:
TE Connectivity (AMP) 2-644486-3 (DO NOT ORDER THIS NUMBER!)

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Appendix C–Model 5150 Front Panel and Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Dimensions

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