DMX512 Programmable Theater Lighting Controller Jeff Sand and Kris Kopel Advisor: Dr. Don Schertz

Outline Overall Project Description Digital Theatrical Lighting Control System Block Diagram Functional Description Software Equipment List Project Timeline

Overall Project Description PC-Based Theatrical Lighting Console Windows/Linux PC for User Interface, programming, and status Several sets of faders and buttons connected via microcontroller USB Interface between PC and microcontroller

Digital Theatrical Lighting Console Lights Dimmers DMX512

DMX512 Protocol Controls up to 512 dimmers/devices Serial and asynchronous 250 kbits/s RS-485 physical implementation 32 nodes on one chain

Digital Theatrical Lighting Console Lights Dimmers DMX512

System Block Diagram Motorola  Controller Personal Computer Input Blocks RS485 Driver DMX512 Output USB!

Motorola Microcontroller Moves data between physical inputs/outputs and the PC UART for DMX512 output Queued Serial Module for analog fader and pushbutton inputs USB Interface to PC

Microcontroller Block Diagram Motorola  Controller UART Out RS485 Driver DMX512 Output QSPI Serial In Control Lines USB USB Transceiver

Input Blocks Modular input blocks Connected to using QSM Standard input blocks: 8 faders, 8 buttons Master input block: master level fader and submaster faders Able to define new input block types for later use using software updates

Input Blocks Serial A/D 8 to 1 Mux Fader Inputs Button Inputs Control Logic Out to  Controller QSPI Module Control Lines

The PC Interface Provides GUI user interface Provides scene programming capabilities for the lighting designer USB interface to external hardware USB Input from User Interface Personal Computer Output to monitor

Software USB driver development Direct fader control Software dimmer “patching” Programmed lighting queues

Equipment Windows NT PC for development (Microtek XRAY package) Linux/Windows 98 PC for main USB and user software development Motorola Development board

Project Status Development interface QSPI, RS-485, USB chip selection Linux/Windows 98 PC setup Web site -

Hardware Timeline Week 1: Build header connectors for microcontroller bus and begin work on temporary PC/microcontroller interface Week 2: Develop temporary PC interface Week 3: Finish temporary interface, start DMX output block Week 4: Finish and test DMX output block Week 5: Begin USB interface, input blocks Week 6: Continue USB interface Week 7: Finish input blocks Week 8: Finish USB, begin testing Week 9: Test inputs blocks Week 10: Test/verify DMX output stream Week 11: Miscellaneous hardware testing Week 12/13: Add extra features if time permits

Software Timeline Week 1: Develop interface software for temporary PC/microcontroller interface Week 2: Begin USB drivers Week 3: Write initial DMX512 program for 376 Week 4: Finish and test temporary x86/376 output software Week 5, 6, 7: Continue USB driver software, begin user software Week 8: Start testing USB software on x86 and 376 Week 9: Test input block communication Week 10, 11: Continue and test user software Week 12, 13: Add additional programming and user interface features as time permits