Christie LW400 User manual

NetLinx Module Interface Specification
for a
Christie Digital
LW400 Projector
Also works with LX501/LW401/LWU421/
LX601i/LW551i/LWU501i

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction................................................................................................................................................3
Overview....................................................................................................................................................3
Implementation ..........................................................................................................................................3
Channels.....................................................................................................................................................4
Levels.........................................................................................................................................................4
Command Interface....................................................................................................................................6
String Feedback..........................................................................................................................................8
Device Notes..............................................................................................................................................9
Programming Notes ...................................................................................................................................9
Adding Functions to Modules....................................................................................................................9
Commands to the device........................................................................................................................9
Additional Feedback from the device..................................................................................................10
Revision History
Date
Initials
Comments
3-14-2010
DC
Initial release
6-4-2013
DC
IP control –additional models –other minor updates

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Introduction
This is a reference manual to describe the interface provided between an AMX NetLinx system and a
Christie Digital LW400 projector. The required communication settings are a baud rate of 19200, 8 data
bits, 1 stop bit, no parity, and handshaking off.
Overview
The COMM module translates between the standard interface described below and the LW400 serial
protocol. It parses the buffer for responses from the LW400, sends strings to control the LW400, and
receives commands from the UI module or telnet sessions.
A User Interface (UI) module is also provided. This module uses the standard interface described below
and parses the string responses for feedback.
The following diagram gives a graphical view of the interface between the interface code and the NetLinx
module.
Implementation
To interface to the LW400 module, the programmer must perform the following steps:
1. Define the device ID for the LW400 that will be controlled.
2. Define the virtual device ID that the LW400 COMM module will use to communicate with the
main program and User Interface. NetLinx virtual devices start with device number 33001.
3. The NetLinx LW400 module must be included in the program with a DEFINE_MODULE
command. This command starts execution of the module and passes in the following key
information: the device ID of the LW400 to be controlled, and the virtual device ID for
communicating to the main program.
An example of how to do this is shown below.
LW400
NetLinx
COMM
Module
NetLinx
Main
Program
Virtual
Device

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DEFINE_DEVICE
dvLW400 = 5001:1:0 // The LW400 connected to the NetLinx on 1st RS-232 port
OR
dvLW400 = 0:3:0 // The P_SERIES connected to the NetLinx via IP
dvLW400 TPl = 10001:1:0 // The touch panel used for output
vdvLW400 = 33001:1:0 // The virtual device use for communication between the
// Comm module interface and User_Interface (UI) module interface
DEFINE_START // Place define_module calls to the very end of the define_start section.
// Comm module
DEFINE_MODULE 'Christie Digital_LW400_Comm' mdlLW400_APP(vdvLW400, dvLW400)
Upon initialization the AMX Commmodule will communicate with the Christie Digital LW400 and
information will be exchanged.
Channels
The channels supported by the COMM module are listed below. These channels are associated with the
virtual device(s) and are independent of the channels associated with the touch panel device.
Note: An ‘*’ indicates an extension to the standard API.
Channel
Description
251
This channel is used for feedback only.
ON: Device is online.
OFF: Device is offline.
255
This channel is used for feedback only.
ON: POWER is ON.
OFF: POWER is OFF
Levels
The Main Program controls the video projector via level events (NetLinx command send_level) sent to
the COMM module. The levels supported by the COMM module are listed below. These levels are

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associated with the virtual device(s) and are independent of the levels associated with the touch panel
device.
Level
Description
1
Lamp-Hours used

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Command Interface
The UI module controls the LW400 via command events (NetLinx command send_command) sent to the
COMM module. The commands supported by the COMM module are listed below.
NOTE: AMX has not defined a standard API for LW400 devices.
Command
Description
ADDRESS=<value>
Sets the IP address for the projector
<value>: valid IP address
ADDRESS=192.168.1.200
ASPECT=<value>
Sets the current aspect ratio.
<value>: 1 = Normal (All modes)
2 = Wide (All modes)
ASPECT=2: Turn aspect mode to Wide.
ASPECT?
Request for current aspect ratio.
ASPECT?
AUTO=<value>
Auto-adjust PC image
<value>: 1 = Execute Auto-Adjust
DEBUG=<state>
Set the debug state
<state> : 0 OFF
1 ON
DEBUG=1
DEBUG?
Request the debug state.
DEBUG?
INPUT=<value>
Selects the input source.
<value> : 1 = HDMI
2 = RGB1
3 = RGB2
4 = VIDEO
5 = S-VIDEO
6 = COMPONENT
INPUT=3
INPUT?
Request the current input setting.
INPUT?

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PASSTHRU=<string>
Allows user the capability of sending commands
directly to the LW400 without processing by the
NetLinx module. User must be aware of the protocol
implemented by the unit to use this command. This
gives the user access to features which may not be
directly supported by the module. See “Adding
Functions to Modules” section at the end of this
document for more information.
The COMM module automatically adds the required
checksum to the command string.
<string> : string to send to unit
PASSTHRU=RVER
POWER=<state>
Sets the power state.
<state> : 0 = off
1 = on
POWER=0
POWER?
Request the current power setting.
POWER?
REINIT=<value>
Reinitialize communications with the projector
<value> : 1 = re-establish IP communication
REINIT=1
VERSION?
Request the current version number of the NetLinx
module.
VERSION?
Table 1 –Send Command Definitions

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String Feedback
The NetLinx COMM module provides feedback to the User Interface module for LW400 changes via
string events. The strings supported are listed below.
String
Description
ASPECT=<value>
Reports the current aspect ratio.
<value>: 1 = Normal (All modes)
2 = Wide (All modes)
ASPECT=2:
INPUT=<value>
Reports the input source.
<value> : 1 = HDMI
2 = RGB1
3 = RGB2
4 = VIDEO
5 = S-VIDEO
6 = COMPONENT
INPUT=3
LAMPTIME=<value>
Reports lamp usage in hours. (Updated every 5 minutes).
Also available as level 1.
POWER=<value>
Reports the power status.
<value> : 0 power is off
1power is on
2cooldown
VERSION=<version>
Reports the current version number of the NetLinx
module.
<value> : current version number in xx.yy format
VERSION=1.06
Table 2 - String Feedback Definitions

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Device Notes
Commands implemented by this interface include those that are commonly used and shared between
various LW400 devices. Several of the LW400 commands have been omitted and may be executed using
the PASSTHRU command.
A periodic poll will return the power state and the total number of hours used by the device. Should the
LW400 shift into sleep mode, it will be automatically shifted back into power-on mode.
Programming Notes
The COMM module imposes synchronous operation i.e. the COMM will not send a command to the
LW400 until it has gotten a response or a timeout from the previous command.
A queue is implemented so that the commands from can be stacked. Commands are pulled off the queue
(1) when a reply is received or, (2) after the reply timer times out (200 milliseconds). The device is
polled every 10 seconds to return the power state and the input selected.
The Request commands return the state that is currently stored in the COMM module. They do
NOT send a new Request to the device. The COMM module states are updated either by the periodic
poll or by the enforced feedback. When a state changes, the UI is automatically informed.
Adding Functions to Modules
Commands to the device
This module supplies a mechanism to allow additional device features to be added to software using the
module. This is the PASSTHRU command, which allows protocol strings to be passed through the
module. The device-specific protocol must be known in order to use this feature.
As an example, suppose that a module for a projector has not implemented the 'white balance adjustment'
feature. The command that the projector protocol requires is 03H, 10H, 05H, 14H, followed by a
checksum. The documentation for the PASSTHRU command specifies that the module will
automatically generate the checksum. In this case, the following string should be sent from
the UI code to implement 'white balance adjustment'.
send_command vdvDevice,"'PASSTHRU=',$03,$10,$05,$14"
The reason to use PASSTHRU instead of sending a protocol string directly to the device port is that the
device may require command queuing, calculation of checksums, or other internal processing, which
would not be done if the string was sent directly. Because of this, it is best to filter all communication TO

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the device through the module. (The module documentation will indicate any processing that will be
automatically done to the PASSTHRU string like checksum calculation.)
Additional Feedback from the device
The module documentation indicates what feedback is provided. If additional feedback is required, a
CREATE_BUFFER for the device must be implemented in the user code to process the strings from the
device manually. Note that the module will still be processing the response strings independently
and sending the interpreted feedback up to the user code.