Data Display Great Hills User manual

Display User Manual
DDJ07310001 1-Oct-03 Page 1
Great Hills
GB-64x120-UBR with Grafit Software
Version 1.18b
Graphics Board Display
User Manual
Title Page
2003 Data Display Ltd
No part of this document may be reproduced by any process without the prior written permission from Data Display Ltd.
The information in this document is provided for reference only. While every effort has been made to make sure it is accurate and
complete, Data Display Ltd does not accept any liability arising out of the application or use of the information or products described
herein. Moreover, Data Display Ltd reserves the right to alter specifications or procedures without notice.
This document may contain or refer to information or products protected by copyright or patents and does not convey any license under
the patent rights of Data Display Ltd nor the rights of others.
All products referred herein are trademarks of their respective owners.
Publication details:
Title: Great Hills Graphics Board Display User Manual
Issue: 1
Issue Date: 1-Oct-03
Part Number: DDJ07310001
P. O. Number: 4189
Produced by:
Product Support Department
Data Display Ltd
Deerpark Industrial Estate
Ennistymon, Co. Clare
Ireland

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DDJ07310001 1-Oct-03 Page 2
Table of Contents
1Introduction.........................................................................................................................................3
1.1 Scope.......................................................................................................................................................3
1.2 Purpose....................................................................................................................................................3
1.3 System.....................................................................................................................................................3
2Hardware............................................................................................................................................4
2.1 Unpacking................................................................................................................................................4
2.2 Installation................................................................................................................................................4
2.3 Control Box..............................................................................................................................................5
2.4 Interface Board ........................................................................................................................................6
2.5 Display Panels, GB8835-Rev4................................................................................................................7
2.6 Logic Board, PAS145 ..............................................................................................................................8
3Software.............................................................................................................................................9
3.1 System Requirements .............................................................................................................................9
3.2 Conventions used in this Manual.............................................................................................................9
3.3 Installation..............................................................................................................................................10
3.4 Getting Started.......................................................................................................................................11
3.5 Exiting from the Software.......................................................................................................................11
3.6 Accessing Help......................................................................................................................................11
3.7 Screen Layout and Symbols..................................................................................................................12
3.7.1 The Caption Bar.................................................................................................................................12
3.7.2 The Speed Bar...................................................................................................................................13
3.7.3 The Menu Bar ....................................................................................................................................13
3.7.4 The Canvas........................................................................................................................................13
3.7.5 The Status Line..................................................................................................................................13
3.8 The Menu Bar........................................................................................................................................14
4Examples..........................................................................................................................................35
4.1 How to Setup a Graphics Frame...........................................................................................................35
4.2 How to create a simple animation with effects. .....................................................................................35
4.3 Adding text to a Graphics frame............................................................................................................35
4.4 Displaying the Date, Time or Temperature............................................................................................36
4.5 Notes on importing Clipart and Fonts....................................................................................................37
5Trouble Shooting ..............................................................................................................................38
5.1 Software.................................................................................................................................................38
5.2 Hardware ...............................................................................................................................................38
6Effects ..............................................................................................................................................39
6.1 ON/OFF Effects .....................................................................................................................................39
6.2 Character Fonts.....................................................................................................................................40
7Maintenance.....................................................................................................................................40
7.1 Maintenance Instructions.......................................................................................................................40
7.1.1 Cleaning the Display..........................................................................................................................40
7.1.2 Preventative Maintenance..................................................................................................................40
7.2 Technical Support..................................................................................................................................40
8Specifications ...................................................................................................................................41

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1 Introduction
1.1 Scope
The scope of this document covers the 2 Graphics Board Displays for the Regal Arbor Project at
Great Hills.
1.2 Purpose
The purpose of the document is to provide the relevant information to enable the user to operate and
maintain the Display Boards correctly.
1.3 System
The Display system comprises of 2 Graphics Display Boards, 2 Control Boxes, an RS485 Box and
the GRAFIT 1.18b, graphics software package. Each Display is 64 pixels high by 120 pixels wide
and uses ultra-bright red LED technology. The housing is fabricated from aluminium and has a black
powder coat finish. To increase visibility and protect the lens, an aluminium louver system is fitted to
the front of the Display.
Each Display has four cable entries, two Mains 120V AC power cables, an RS232 serial data cable
and a Temperature Probe serial cable. The two Mains power cables provide power for the top and
bottom half of the Display and terminate at Filters inside the Display.
Two Control Boxes are supplied that contain the Wireless Modems and the RS485 Card for remote
communication. The serial and power cables and a Temp Probe are routed through cable glands at
the bottom of the Boxes. See Fig. 2.3 for details.
The Displays are controlled from a host PC using the GRAFIT graphics software. Users can create
and edit both text and graphic messages. The Display Board can show a combination of static and
scrolling messages, normal, large, and/or specialized fonts as well as various ON/OFF effects such
as Flash, Jump, Wipe Sparkle etc.
Warning
Only trained and authorised personnel should do tests and maintenance on this Display
Board System.

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2 Hardware
2.1 Unpacking
Carefully remove the items from their package and store the packaging safely. After unpacking,
inspect the contents for any damage that may have occurred during shipment. In the event of
damage, refer to the '
Technical Support' section of this manual.
2.2 Installation
Mount the Displays securely and connect the cables as shown in the Figure below. The Light Sensor
is fitted in the top right-hand corner.
Figure 2.1 – System Configuration
Wireless Modem
TX
TX Control Box
Graphic Board Display
64 x 120 Pixels
RX Control Box
Warning: Do NOT power up the Display Board
until all cabling is connected.
Power Consumption per Display: 2500W. Two
120V AC Mains required per Display.
Control PC with
GRAFIT software
RS232 Serial Cable, 9-way
to 5 Pin Maplin
9-way wiring at PC
Pin 5 = GND (Black)
Pin 3 = Rx (Red)
Pin 2 = Tx (White)
RS485 Box
RS485 Cable
RS485 Card converts the
RS485 signal to RS232 for
Modem
Wireless Modem
RX
120V AC Power
120V AC Power
Light Sensor
Location of Logic
Board
Temp Probe
External Isolators
provided by the
Customer
7.5V PSU
120V AC Power
120V AC Power
120V AC Power

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Figure 2.2 – Access to Parts.
2.3 Control Boxes
There are two Control Boxes supplied with the Displays. The TX Control Box houses the Transmit
Wireless Modem, a 7.5 PSU and the RS485 Card to convert the RS485 signal back to RS232. The
RX Control Box houses the Receive Wireless Modem, and a 7.5 PSU.
Located on the bottom of the Boxes are cable glands through which the incoming 120V AC power
and Serial Cables for the Modems are routed. The two Temp Signal cables and two RS232 Serial
Cables to the each Displays Logic Board are also routed out of the RX Control Box.
Figure 2.3 – Control Boxes.
TX Control Box
1 INSTRUCTIONS
1. Unscrew the 3 screws at the right-
hand side and remove Side Profile.
Put all hardware in a safe place.
2. Slide out Visor and Lens carefully.
3. Remove Display Panels as required.
RS485 Card
Modem
7.5V PSU for
Modem
RX Control Box
Lens
3
1
2
Modem
7.5V PSU for
Modem

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2.4 Interface Board
The Interface Board, PAS186, provides buffering of the LED Display multiplexing signals which form
part of the Display interface. The source of these interfaces is the PAS145 V53 Logic Board via 14-
way ribbon cable headers at PL1- PL8.
Figure 2.4 –Interface Board.

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2.5 Display Panels, GB8835-Rev4
The Display face consists of 8 rows by 15 columns of GB8835-Rev4 Display Boards. Each Board
consists of an 8 x 8 pixel matrix of ultra-bright red LEDs with each pixel consisting of 4 LEDs. This
results is an overall matrix of 64 high by 120 wide Display. The Boards are driven in a multiplex
mode with the row anodes connected to the horizontal drive and the column cathodes connected to
the vertical drive. The Boards contain the display driver circuitry, which generates the multiplexing
signals for illuminating the LEDs.
Data enters the Board via the Buffer Board (PAS186) on a 14-way screened Horizontal ribbon cable
via an IDC socket.
The 4-way Molex connector supplies 5 Volt Display Logic power and 15 Volt LED power to the
Board.
The Display Boards are fixed to stand-offs attached to the Display chassis using 4 off M6 screws.
Refer to the Figure below for Display Panel Wiring.
Figure 2.5 – Display Board Wiring.
Refer to dataflow diagram at the end of this Manual for further details.
14-way Horizontal
Ribbon Cable to next
Display Board up
12 core cable from
Interface Board
DC Power
Red = 5V DC
Black = GND
Blue = 15V DC
Brown = GND

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2.6 Logic Board, PAS145
The PAS145 Board consists of a V53 Micro Processor running at 29 MHz. (bus speed 14.5 MHz.)
and associated peripheral devices together with the following features necessary to control and
monitor the Display System as a whole:
- Real Time Clock if required.
- RS485 optically isolated 4 wire communications interface for communication with the rest
of the Passenger Information Display System.
- Program memory to store the application code which the Logic Board executes in order to
allow the Display to operate.
- SRAM (896 Kbytes) memory to store various program variables and show data.
- 2 display/control interfaces to facilitate connection with the Display Boards, one for each
side of a double-sided Display (largest Display requirement).
- Serial EEPROM (4 Kbytes) for reset determination purposes and in-house usage where
required.
- Flash memory
This device provides for 512KB of non-volatile memory but has the facility to be erased and
reprogrammed on-board.
Figure 2.6 – Logic Board.
Incoming RS232 signal wires from the Wireless Modem are terminated at PL18, while the Temp
Probe Signal terminates at PL21. The display data and control signals connect to the Interface
Board using a 14-way horizontal ribbon cable.
5 Volt DC Logic power is connected at the screw terminal block at J1.
Temp Probe Signal Input
Light Sensor Signal Input
DC Power
Red = 5V DC
Yellow = 15V DC
Black = GND
Display Cables to
Interface Board
RS232 Signal on PL18 of V53
Logic Board
Pin 1 = GND (Blue/White) Pin
2 = Rx (Orange/White) Pin
3 = Tx (White/Orange)

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3 Software
The Display Boards are operated using the text and graphic based GRAFIT 1.18b software package.
The user can edit general text messages, time, temperature, and date messages as well as draw
and create their own single frame graphics or multi-frame sequences and animations.
This chapter contains information to enable the installation and configuration of the software.
3.1 System Requirements
It is assumed that the reader is familiar with the use of an IBM PC or compatible computer and with
the basic Microsoft Windows terminology. It is also recommended that the user is familiar with
Microsoft Paintbrush to better edit graphic frames for the display.
The minimum hardware and software requirements to run the
GRAFIT software are as follows:
Processor: Pentium 1 or higher
Memory: 16MB
Display: VGA (15 inch or larger recommended), 256 colors, 16-bit color
Software: Microsoft Windows 95or later
Disk Space: 10MB minimum free space for GRAFIT plus space for database
and event log storage. ( Bitmaps, Gifs, Tiffs, etc.)
Comms Standard Communications Port (Rs232), 9 Pin serial port.
Modem- 33.6k or better Data/ Fax configured between com ports 1
through 4. Also, a dedicated phone line for PC.
Other: Mouse or other pointing device, and standard keyboard.
3.2 Conventions used in this Manual
Menu Commands
This manual uses a shorthand method when referring to a series of menu commands e.g. ‘Choose
the About option from the Help menu’ is shown as
Help|About .
Clicking the Mouse buttons
The term ‘Click’ denotes clicking the left mouse button.

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3.3 Installation
The GRAFIT software package is supplied on CD-ROM. To install the software, do the following
steps:
1. Insert the GRAFIT CD into your CD-ROM drive.
2. Where
Autorun is enabled, the installation screen appears as below.
Figure 3.1 –Introduction Screen for CD-ROM Installation.
3. Click on the
Next > button to begin the installation and follow the on-screen instructions.
4. When the process is complete, all files are stored in the C:\GRAFIT folder unless the
destination folder has been changed.
If the Autorun feature on your PC is disabled or you are installing the software from a floppy disk,
click the
Start button, then select Settings|Control Panel . Double-click the Add/Remove Programs
icon and follow the instructions shown on the screen.
Figure 3.2 –Installation Screen.

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This will add GRAFIT to the Start menu or your Desktop by creating a short-cut as described in your
Windows User Manual. The executable file to run the software package is as follows:
GRAFIT Version 1.18ß = C:\GRAFIT\GRAFIT.EXE
3.4 Getting Started
To start GRAFIT, select 'Start|Programs|Shortcut' to GRAFIT.EXE.
3.5 Exiting from the Software
There are three ways to exit from the software:
1. Use the normal menu command. Click on
'Frame/ Exit ' and click on the 'Yes' button of the
dialog box.
2. Click on the Close button in the top right-hand corner of the screen, and click on the
'Yes'
button of the dialog box.
3. Press the ALT and F4 keys together, and click on the
'Yes' button of the dialog box.
3.6 Accessing Help
Help is available in the GRAFIT application and may be accessed in the following ways:
•By reading the status bar at the bottom of the screen when a menu option is
highlighted.
•Select Help|Help or Help|About.
•Press F1 to view context sensitive help for the menu option selected.
•Most dialog boxes have HELP buttons.

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3.7 Screen Layout and Symbols
This section gives details of the Graphic User Interface (GUI) for the GRAFIT application. The
components of the GUI are the Caption Bar, the Speed Bar, the Menu Bar, the Canvas (the main
area of the window) and the Status Line at the bottom of the screen. When selected, many of the
main menu items open Dialog Boxes.
Note: For single color Displays, red is used as the default color.
Figure 4.1 - The Main GRAFIT User Interface.
3.7.1 The Caption Bar
The Caption Bar contains the name of the software application GRAFIT followed by the current view
title and the resolution.
Caption Bar
Speed Bar
Menu Bar
Canvas
Co-ordinates
Lines
Palette
Tools

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3.7.2 The Speed Bar
The Speed Bar consists of five buttons that are used to directly access Frame Menu options.
Clears or Blanks current frame Previous/ Next Frame
Load frame from a file on disk Play animation
Saves frame to a file on disk Stop animation
Undo latest changes to image Frame number of Animation
3.7.3 The Menu Bar
The Menu Bar is the primary means of accessing all the menu commands and should always be
kept visible. If a menu command is followed by an ellipsis (…), choosing the command opens a
dialog box. If the command is followed by an arrowhead () the command leads to another menu
selection. If the command has neither an ellipsis nor an arrowhead, then the action occurs as the
command is chosen or. For further information on the use of windows, icons, mouse and menus
refer to the Microsoft Windows User Manual.
3.7.4 The Canvas
The Map is the main central area of the ‘application’ window. Using the commands from the menus,
the user is able to create text/ graphics frames on the Canvas.
3.7.5 The Status Line
The status line appears at the bottom of the main window. It shows useful information as well as
brief explanations of menu items.

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3.8 The Menu Bar
Frame
This menu provides options for dealing with single bitmaps only. Only the working
frame is effected using options in this menu.
Clear
Blanks/clears the current frame.
Delete
This option allows you to delete any frame from the frame list/sequence provided
that there are two or more frames in the sequence.
Insert
This option is like the 'Frame/Load' except that the frame loaded is inserted into the
frame list after the current frame, provided that there is frame space left in which to
store it. This allows you to insert a frame into a sequence.
Load
Selecting 'Load' under the 'Frame' menu produces a dialog box from which the user
may select any of the file types listed. For example .bmp, .gif, .pcx, .tga or .tif.
FIELDS
File Name:
To select a file, click on a '.BMP' file listed under 'File Name' in the dialog box or type
in the name of the required '.BMP' file in the space given under 'File Name'.
List Files of Type:
Clicking on this option with the left mouse button pulls down a menu from which the
user may choose what type of files he wishes to see in the 'File Name' selection
menu.
Folders:
Option to select the subdirectories from which the user is able to view the files
contained in the subdirectory under the field 'File Name'.
Drives:
Lists local Drives where images may be stored.
BUTTONS
OK
Accept configuration as entered and load file.

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Load
continued…
BUTTONS
CANCEL
Exit dialog without loading file.
NETWORK
Lists networked Drives where images may be stored.
Save
This option 'Save' under 'Frame' provides the facility to save any changes to the
bitmap or system, e.g. pause rate, of this application as a '.BMP' file. A '.BMP' file is
a single bitmap.
Send
Send the current frame to the Display hardware as a single frame sequence.
Depending on communication settings, several “Pop-Up” windows will appear
prompting that data is being transmitted to the display. Refer to the insert
Sending
Information Procedures.

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Setup
Selecting this option provides a dialog box so that the user may select a frame type,
an effect for the current bitmap frame being worked on and a pause rate i.e. how
long the bitmap frame drawing will be left on the screen during animation.
FIELDS
Type:
Click on the arrow to show the frame type options available, Graphic frame or Text
frame. When creating or editing the animation, a sequence of Graphic or Text
frames may be inserted in the animation.
Setup
continued …
Effect:
Clicking with the left mouse button on this field pulls down a menu from which the
user can select an effect for the bitmap frame being worked on. The ON effect is
how the frame is drawn onto the Display page and the OFF effect is how the frame
is drawn off the Display page.
Pause:
As yet the pause length of time is variable and depends on the size of the Display.
To define a pause rate click the left mouse button in the space to the right of 'pause'
and type in your required value. (For the 128 x 48 Display a pause of 20 is equal to
approx 1.0 second)
BUTTONS
OK
Accept configuration as entered.
CANCEL
Exit dialog without altering bitmap effect or pause file.
Fixup Colors
This option converts images to match the palette of the Display being used. The
result will depend on how much color information is lost in the process. This option is
limited to a 4 color Display.
0, 0, 120, 64

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Exit
This option is used to exit GRAFIT and a dialog box appears to give the user the
choice to stop the exit procedure.
BUTTONS
YES NO
Exit GRAFIT. Do not exit GRAFIT.
AAnim
This menu provides options for dealing with animations or sequences of frames. All
working frames are effected using options in this menu. An ‘Animation’ is a group of
saved frames (*.frm).
Clear
Blanks/clears the all frames.
Load
Selecting 'Load' under the 'Anim' menu opens a dialog box from which the user may
select a ''.FRM'' file only. A ''.FRM'' file is a sequence of frames.
FIELDS
File Name:
To select a file, click with the left mouse button on a '.FRM' file listed under 'File

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Name' in the dialog box or type in the name of the required '.FRM' file in the space
given under 'File Name'.
List Files of Type:
Clicking on this option with the left mouse button pulls down a menu from which the
user may choose what type of files he wishes to see in the 'File Name' selection
menu.
Directories:
Under this heading is provided an option to select the subdirectories from which the
user will be able to view the files contained in the subdirectory under the field 'File
Name'.
Drives:
When clicked on with the left mouse button this field produces a pull down menu
from which the user may select their drives by clicking with the left mouse button on
the required drive.
BUTTONS
OK
Accept configuration as entered and load file.
CANCEL
Exit dialog without loading file.
Join
This option works like load except the loaded animation/frame sequence is joined at
the current frame.
Save
This option 'Save' under 'Anim' provides the facility to save any changes to the of
sequence of bitmaps or the system e.g. pause rate, of this application as a '.FRM'
file. A '.FRM' file is a sequence of frames.
Send
Send animation sequence to attached Display hardware.
Depending on communication settings, several “Pop-Up” windows will appear
prompting that data is being transmitted to the display. Refer to the insert
Sending
Information Procedures.
Setup
Selecting this option provides a dialog box, which enables the user to define Display
specific animation parameters.
FIELDS

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Frames:
The number of pages or picture frames in the animation.
Pause:
The 'pause' allows the user to set the same delay between all frames in the
animation sequence. To define a pause click the left mouse button in the space to
the right of 'Pause' and type in your required value.
BUTTONS
OK
Accept configuration as entered.
CANCEL
Exit dialog without altering bitmap effect or pause file.
Frame -
Clicking with the left mouse button on 'Frame- ' replaces the current bitmap frame
with the previous bitmap frame for viewing. This option is also available as the fifth
button on the speed bar.

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Anim
Continued …
Frame +
Clicking with the left mouse button on 'Frame + ' replaces the current bitmap frame
with the following bitmap frame for viewing. This option is also available as the sixth
button on the speed bar.
Play
Clicking with the left mouse button on 'Play' will show each frame, of the '.FRM' file,
in sequence one after the other at a rate depending on the delay until the user
chooses to stop. This option is also available as the seventh button on the speed
bar.
Stop
Clicking with the left mouse button on 'Stop' will stop the animation. This option is
also available as the eight button on the speed bar.
Schedule
This menu provides options for dealing with schedules of animation sequences.
Load
Load a schedule setup from a .SCH file on disk into memory.
Save
Save a schedule setup to a .SCH file on disk.
Send
Send the current schedule setup to the Display. Depending on communication
settings, several “Pop-Up” windows will appear prompting that data is being
transmitted to the display. Refer to the insert
Sending Information Procedures.
Setup
Popup the Schedule setup dialog that provides an interface with which you can
create and edit an animation schedule.