NOVASTAR KU20 LED Display Controller User Manual

KU20
LED Display Controller
User Manual

Change History

• Updated the description of the USB port on the front panel.
• Added a table of load capacity per Ethernet port.
• Added the limitations of some functions.

V1.0.1| 2022-10-24| Updated the appearance diagram.
V1.0.0| 2022-10-11| First release

Overview

The KU20 is an LED display controller with 6 Ethernet ports in the brand-new control system COEX series of Xi’an NovaStar Tech Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as NovaStar). This controller offers 1x HDMI input, 6x Ethernet outputs and 1x optical output. It can also work with the brand-new software VMP (Vision Management Platform) to provide a better operation and control experience.
This document mainly describes the menu operations on the LCD screen of the controller. For more function operations, see the VMP Vision Management Platform User Manual.

Appearance

2.1 Front Panel

• Solid red: Standby
• Solid blue: The device is being started.
• Solid green: The device is running normally.
• Flashing red: The device is running abnormally.

Standby Button|

• Press the button to power on or power off the device.
• Hold down the button for 5s or longer to restart the device.

USB 2.0|

• Connect to a USB drive only to export the device diagnostic result.
• Only the NTFS and FAT32 file systems are supported. Others are not supported.

LCD Screen| A 2.0-inch screen to display the device status, menus, submenus and messages for parameter settings
Knob|

• On the home screen, press the knob to enter the main menu screen.
• On the main menu screen, rotate the knob to select a menu item or adjust the parameter value. Press the knob to confirm the operation.
• Hold down the knob and BACK button simultaneously for 5s or longer to lock or unlock the buttons.

BACK| Go back to the previous menu or cancel the current operation.

2.2 Rear Panel

Inputs

Type| Qty| Description
HDMI IN| 1| Resolutions| Max resolution: 1920×1200@60Hz Min resolution: 800×600@60Hz
Max width/height| Max width: 3840 (3840×600@60Hz) Max height: 2560 (800×2560@60Hz)
Frame rates| 23.98 / 24 / 25 / 29.97 / 30 / 47.95 / 48 / 50 / 59.94 / 60 / 71.93 / 72 / 75 / 100 / 119.88 / 120 Hz
EDID management| Support standard resolutions, up to 1920×1200@60Hz. Support custom input resolutions.
HDCP| HDCP 1.4 compliant
Interlaced signal inputs| Not supported
Outputs
Type| Qty| Description
1–6| 6| Gigabit Ethernet output ports. Support hot backup between Ethernet ports.

• Max device load capacity: 2.3 million pixels
• The maximum load capacity per Ethernet port is as follows. For details, see 11 Ethernet Port Load Capacity.

−  8bit@60Hz: 659,722 pixels
−  10bit@60Hz: 329,861 pixels. When the controller works with the A10s Pro receiving card, the capacity can be up to 494,791 pixels.

OPT| 1| 10G optical output port
HDMI LOOP| 1| HDMI loop through. Up to 8 devices can be cabled in one loop.
SPDIF| 1| A digital audio output (Reserved)
Controls
Type| Qty| Description
ETHERNET| 2| Gigabit Ethernet control ports. Support TCP/IP protocol and star topology.
They have the same functions without priority and order, and can be connected to VMP software. No switch or router is needed to deploy multiple devices on the same LAN via device cascading as the network switching function is already built in. Up to 20 KU20 devices can be cascaded.
AUX| 1| An auxiliary port that connects to the central control device (RS232) (Reserved)
Power
100-240V~, 50/60Hz, 1.5A| 1| An AC power input connector and switch

The KU20 has two typical application scenarios as shown below. In those application examples, the LED screen size is 1920×1200.

Application 1: Synchronous Mosaic

Application 2: Long-Distance Transmission via OPT Ports

Home Screen

After the device is powered on, the home screen is displayed as follows. On the home screen, press the knob to enter the main menu screen.

The home screen is shown in Figure 4-1 and the home screen descriptions are shown in Table 4-1.
Table 4-1 Home screen descriptions

are unlocked.
The buttons will be locked only in the following situations:

• Hold down the knob and BACK button simultaneously for 5s or longer.
• Operate and control the device in VMP software.

| The connection status of the Ethernet ports

• Blue: Connected
• Gray: Disconnected

192.168.0.10| The device IP address
For related operations, please refer to 7.2 Set an IP Address.
Input| HDMI, Internal| The device input source type and status

• Green: The signal is accessed normally.
• Blue: The signal is accessed normally, but not used.
• Red: The signal is abnormal.
• Gray: The signal is abnormal and not used.

For the input source settings, please refer to 5.1.1 Set Input Source.

Internal 1920*1080@60.00Hz| The resolution and frame rate of the currently available input source
For the resolution and frame rate settings, please refer to 6.1.2 Set Resolution and Frame Rate.
Screen| 1920×1080@59.94Hz| The screen resolution and frame rate
---|---|---
| The screen brightness
For the screen brightness settings, please refer to 6.3.1 Adjust Screen Brightness.
Port| 1–6| The statuses of the Ethernet ports

• Blue: Connected
• Gray: Disconnected

OPT| 1| The status of OPT port

• Blue: Connected
• Gray: Disconnected

Bottom line| Sync: Active Input| The sync signal currently used and the signal status

• Sync: Active Input: Sync with the frame rate of the current input source
• Sync: Internal: Sync with the frame rate of the internal clock of the device Color code:
• Blue: The signal is normal.
• Red: The signal is abnormal.

For the synchronization settings, please refer to 6.3.5 Set Sync Source.

| The output display is frozen. After the screen is blacked out, this icon is not displayed and   is displayed.
For the display control settings, please refer to 7.4 Control Display Status.
| The temperature inside the chassis

Screen Configuration

If the LED screen, cabinets, data flow and the number of cabinets loaded by Ethernet ports can meet the following requirements, you can configure the screen via the device front panel menu; otherwise, screen configuration in VMP will be your ideal choice.

• Screen: The LED screen must be a regular screen.
• Cabinet: The cabinets must be regular ones of the same size, and function well.
• Data flow: The data must run in the same way for all Ethernet ports and the data flow must be one of the followings. The starting position of the data flow is the first cabinet of Ethernet port 1, and the connections are made in sequence according to the serial number of the Ethernet port.
• Number of cabinets loaded by Ethernet ports: If n ports are used to load the cabinets, the number of cabinets loaded by each of the first (n–1) ports must be the same and the integral multiple of the number of cabinet rows or columns, and it must be greater than or equal to the number of cabinets loaded by the last port.

5.1 Quick Screen Configuration via Front Panel Screen
5.1.1 Set Input Source
Select the desired input source and complete the related settings, such as resolution and frame rate. If the resolutions of the input source and screen are the same, the image can be displayed pixel to pixel. A lower frame rate may result in image flickering, while a higher frame rate helps stabilize the display image.
Step 1 On the main menu screen, choose Input Settings > Select Input to select a video source.

Step 2 Perform the corresponding operations for the input source according to the input source type.

• HDMIa. Choose HDMI > EDID.
  b. Set Mode to Custom or Standard, and then set the resolution and frame rate.
  Custom: Set the resolution manually.
  Standard: Select the desired resolution from the drop-down options.
  c. After the settings are done, select Apply and press the knob.

• Internal sourcesa. Choose Internal Source > Image, and then select a static picture or a motion picture.
  b. When the relevant parameters of the image are displayed, set the parameters according to your actual needs; otherwise, please skip this step.
  c. Press the BACK button to go back to the upper-level menu and select Resolution.
  d. Set Mode to Custom or Standard, and then set the resolution, frame rate and bit depth.
  e. After the settings are done, select Apply and press the knob.

5.1.2 (Optional) Send Cabinet Config File

Send the cabinet configuration file (.rcfgx) to the cabinet and save it to display the image normally. Before the operation, please import cabinet configuration file with VMP.
Step 1 On the main menu screen, choose Screen Configuration > Send Cabinet Config File.
Figure 5-2 Send cabinet config file

Step 2 Select the target configuration file.
Step 3 Select Yes in the displayed dialog box.
After the configuration file is successfully sent, a message appears on the menu screen and then then you will automatically return to configuration file screen.
Step 4 Press the BACK button to go back to the upper-level menu.
Step 5 Select Save to RV Card.
Step 6 Select Yes in the displayed dialog box.
After the configuration file is successfully saved, a message appears on the menu screen.

5.1.3 Quick Configuration
Set the screen configuration parameters to quickly complete the cabinet connection, so that the LED screen can display the input source image normally.
Step 1 On the main menu screen, choose Screen Configuration > Quick Configuration.

Step 2 Select Yes in the displayed dialog box.
Step 3 Set the following parameters as required.

• Cabinet Row Qty: Set the quantity of cabinet rows.
• Cabinet Column Qty: Set the quantity of cabinet columns.
• Port 1 Cabinet Qty: Set the quantity of the cabinets loaded by Ethernet port 1.
• Data Flow (Front View): Select the data flow for the cabinets loaded by Ethernet port 1.
• H Offset: Set the horizontal offset of the displayed image.
• V Offset: Set the vertical offset of the displayed image.

5.2 Free Screen Configuration via VMP
The VMP software can be used to configure either the regular screens or complex screens, and supports free wiring of the cabinets, plus the ability of calculating the used load capacity according to the cabinets that are actually loaded.
For the details of performing the free screen configuration, please refer to VMP Vision Management Platform User Manual.

Display Effect Adjustment

6.1 Set External Input Sources
6.1.1 View Input Source Information
View the attribute values of the input source, including the resolution, frame rate, bit depth, color gamut, etc.
Step 1 On the main menu screen, choose Input Settings > Select Input and select HDMI.

Step 2 Choose HDMI > Infoframe.

Step 1 View the input source information.

6.1.2 Set Resolution and Frame Rate
Set the resolution and frame rate of the input source. If the resolutions of the input source and screen are the same, the image can be displayed pixel to pixel. A lower frame rate may result in image flickering, while a higher frame rate helps stabilize the display image.
Step 1 On the main menu screen, choose Input Settings >HDMI > EDID.

Step 2 Set Mode to Custom or Standard, and then set the resolution and frame rate.

• Custom: Set the resolution manually.
• Standard: Select the desired resolution from the drop-down options.

Step 3 After the settings are done, select Apply and press the knob.

6.1.3 Adjust Color
Set the input source override parameters and adjust the color. The override parameters will be used in the calculation of color adjustment. If the values of these parameters are not set manually, the values that come with the input source can be used.
Step 1 On the main menu screen, choose Input Settings > HDMI > Infoframe Override.

Step 2 Set the following override parameters as required.

Select From Input and the device will read the attribute value that comes with the input source.
Step 3 Press the BACK button to go back to the upper-level menu.
Step 4 Select Color Adjustment.
Step 5 Set the related parameters.

image. The smaller the value, the darker the dark part of the screen.
Contrast| It is used to adjust the brightness of the highlight areas of the image. The greater the value, the brighter the highlight part of the screen.
Contrast and black level together affect the overall contrast of the image.
Saturation| It is used to adjust the color purity of the image. The greater the value, the more vivid the color.
Hue| It is used to adjust the color effect of the displayed image color.
Red Shadow/Green Shadow/Blue Shadow| It is used to adjust the brightness of the dark areas of the image. The principle is the same as that of black level, but only the RGB components are adjusted.
Red Highlight/Green Highlight/Blue Highlight| It is used to adjust the brightness of the highlight areas of the image. The principle is the same as that of contrast, but only the RGB components are adjusted.

6.2 Set Internal Input Sources
Select the internal source stored in the device and set the related parameters for screen testing and troubleshooting.
Step 1 On the main menu screen, choose Input Settings > Internal Source > Image.

Step 2 Select a static picture or a motion picture.
Step 3 When the relevant parameters of the image are displayed, set the parameters according to your actual needs; otherwise, please skip this step.
Step 4 Press the BACK button to go back to the upper-level menu and select Resolution.
Step 5 Set Mode to Custom or Standard, and then set the resolution, frame rate and bit depth.

• Custom: Set the resolution manually.
• Standard: Select the desired resolution from the drop-down options.

Step 6 After the settings are done, select Apply and press the knob.

6.3 Set Output Parameters
6.3.1 Adjust Screen Brightness
Adjust and save the screen brightness.
Step 1 On the main menu screen, select Screen Brightness and press the knob to let the brightness value become editable.

Step 2 Rotate the knob to adjust the brightness to the target value, and then press the knob to confirm.
Step 3 Choose Screen Configuration > Save to RV Card.

Step 4 Select Yes in the displayed dialog box.
After the brightness value is successfully saved, a message appears on the menu screen.

6.3.2 Adjust Gamma and Color Temperature
Adjust and save the Gamma and color temperature.
Step 1 On the main menu screen, choose Advanced Functions > LED Screen Color.

Step 2 Adjust the Gamma value.

1. Select Gamma and press the knob to let the value become editable.
2. Rotate the knob to adjust the Gamma to the target value, and then press the knob to confirm.

Step 3 Adjust the color temperature value.

1. Select Color Temperature and press the knob to let the value become editable.
2. Rotate the knob to adjust the temperature to the target value, and then press the knob to confirm.
   If you want to restore the parameters to the defaults, select Reset.

Step 4 Press the BACK button to go back to the main menu, and then choose Screen Configuration > Save to RV Card.

Step 5 Select Yes in the displayed dialog box.
After the values are successfully saved, a message appears on the menu screen.

6.3.3 Set Low Latency
The low latency function is used to reduce the delay at the controller, or increase the latency when the device works with high-latency equipment. To do screen configuration when low latency is enabled, ensure that the values of Y coordinates of all the cabinets loaded by each Ethernet port must be the same, as illustrated in the figure below.
Figure 6-13 Y coordinates having the same values (Correct)

Step 1 On the main menu screen, choose Advanced Functions > Output Settings.

Step 2 Perform any of the following operations as required.

• Enable low latency
  Set the Low Latency switch to to enable the low latency function.

• Set additional video delay
  a. Select Additional Video Delay and press the knob to let the value become editable.
  b. Rotate the knob to adjust the parameter to the target value, and then press the knob to confirm.

Note
To enable the low latency function, the sync source must be the active input source.

6.3.4 Set Output Bit Depth
Set the output bit depth of the input source.
Step 1 On the main menu screen, choose Advanced Functions > Output Settings.

Step 2 Select Bit Depth, press the knob, and select the desired bit depth value from the drop-down options.
If Auto is selected, the output bit depth is the same as the input bit depth.

6.3.5 Set Sync Source
Select a synchronization signal for the display frame rate and set the phase offset.
Step 1 On the main menu screen, choose Advanced Functions > Output Settings > Synchronization.

Step 2 Select Sync Source and then select the desired sync source from the drop-down options.

• Current Input: Sync with the frame rate of the current input source.
• Internal: Sync with the frame rate of the controller’s internal clock.

Step 3 Press the BACK button to go back to the upper level menu.
Step 4 Select Sync Shift.
Step 5 Choose Adjustment Mode and then select the desired mode from the drop- down options. When you select Phase Angle or Percentage, please set the corresponding value.

Device Management

7.1 Set a Backup Device
Specify a backup device for the current device so that the backup device can take over the primary device when it fails.
Step 1 On the main menu screen, choose Advanced Functions > Device Backup.

Step 2 Choose Select Backup Device.
Step 3 Select a device from the devices found.
Step 4 Select Yes in the displayed dialog box.
A prompt will be displayed after the operation is successful.

7.2 Set an IP Address
Manually set a static IP address for the device or set up the device to automatically obtain an IP address.
Step 1 On the main menu screen, choose Communication Settings > Network Settings.

Step 2 Choose Mode and then select a mode from the drop-down options.

• Manual: Manually set a static IP address for the device.
• Auto: The device automatically obtains an IP address.

Step 3 If the manual mode is selected, set an IP Address, Subnet Mask and Default Gateway and select Apply. If the automatic mode is selected, this step is not required.
If you want to reset the network parameters to the defaults, select Reset.

7.3 Enable Mapping
After the Mapping function is enabled, cabinets can display the controller number, Ethernet port number and receiving card number, allowing users to easily obtain the locations and connection topology of receiving cards.
Step 1 On the main menu screen, choose Screen Configuration > Mapping.

Step 2 Enable the Mapping function by toggling on this switch .

7.4 Control Display Status
Set the display loaded by the controller to a black screen or frozen status.
Step 1 On the main menu screen, choose Display Control.

Step 2 Select a display status as required.

• Normal: Display the normal output screen.
• Freeze: Make the output screen always display the current frame. The input source is played normally.
• Blackout: Make the output screen go black. The input source is played normally.

7.5 Diagnostics
Perform device diagnostics, then view and export the result.
Step 1 On the main menu screen, choose System Settings > Diagnostics.

Step 2 Select Yes in the displayed dialog box.
Step 3 After successful diagnostics, do any of the following as required.

• View the diagnostic result
  a. Select View Results to enter the report page.
  b. View the information of MCU, FPGA, motherboard voltage, temperature inside the device, and more.

• Export the diagnostic result to a USB drive
  a. Insert the USB drive to the USB port on the front panel of the device.
  b. Select Export to USB Drive.
  A prompt will be displayed after the operation is successful.

7.6 View the Firmware Version
View the current firmware program version of the device.
Step 1 On the main menu screen, choose System Settings.

Step 2 View the current firmware program version next to Firmware Version.

7.7 Reset to Factory Settings
Reset part or all of the device data to the factory settings.
Step 1 On the main menu screen, choose System Settings > Factory Reset.

Step 2 Do any of the following according to the data you want to reset.

• Reset part of the data
  Reset all the data except the imported files, network parameters, language settings, and device name.
  a. Select Keep User Data.
  b. Select Yes in the displayed dialog box.
  The device restarts automatically while the data is being reset.

• Reset all the data (This action cannot be undone.)
  Reset all the data to factory settings.
  a. Select Reset All.
  b. Select Yes in the displayed dialog box.
  The device restarts automatically while the data is being reset.

Basic System Settings

8.1 Set Language
Change the system language of the device.
Step 1 On the main menu screen, choose Language.

Step 2 Choose English as required.

8.2 Set Session Timeout
Specify a certain amount of time for session timeout. The LCD will return to the home screen automatically after the specified amount of time if no action is performed during the time specified.
Step 1 On the main menu screen, choose System Settings > Return to Home.

Step 2 Select 30s, 1min or 5min from the drop-down options as required.

8.3 View Service Information
View the service information of NovaStar, allowing users to ask questions and give feedback.
Step 1 On the main menu screen, choose System Settings > About Us.

Step 2 View the official website, technical support email address and service hotline of NovaStar.

Product Specifications

Note: It is the total weight of the product, accessories, and packing materials packed according to the packing specifications.
Packing Information| Outer box| 387.0 mm × 173.0 mm × 359.0 mm, kraft paper box
Packing box| 362.0 mm × 141.0 mm × 331.0 mm, white cardboard box
Accessories|

• 1x Power cord
• 1x Ethernet cable
• 1x HDMI cable
• 1x Certificate of Approval

IP Rating| IP20
Please prevent the product from water intrusion and do not wet or wash the product.

The amount of power consumption may vary depending on various factors such as product settings, usage, and environment.

Video Source Specifications

YCbCr 4:4:4
YCbCr 4:2:2

Ethernet Port Load Capacity

When Working with A10s Pro Receiving Card

The formula of calculating the load capacity per Ethernet port and the detailed parameters are as follows.

• 8bit: Load capacity × 24 × Frame rate < 1000 × 1000 × 1000 × 0.95
• 10bit: Load capacity × 32 × Frame rate < 1000 × 1000 × 1000 × 0.95

Max Load Capacity per Ethernet Port (Pixels)

Frame Rate / Bit Depth| 8bit| 10bit
24 Hz| 1,649,305.556| 1,236,979
25 Hz| 1,583,333| 1,187,500
30 Hz| 1,319,444| 989,583
50 Hz| 791,667| 593,750
60 Hz| 659,722| 494,792
120 Hz| 329,861| 247,396

When Working with Other Armor Series Receiving Cards
The formula of calculating the load capacity per Ethernet port and the detailed parameters are as follows.

• 8bit: Load capacity × 24 × Frame rate < 1000 × 1000 × 1000 × 0.95
• 10bit: Load capacity × 48 ×Frame rate < 1000 × 1000 × 1000 × 0.95

Max Load Capacity per Ethernet Port (Pixels)

Frame Rate / Bit Depth| 8bit| 10bit
24 Hz| 1,649,305.556| 824,653
25 Hz| 1,583,333| 791,667
30 Hz| 1,319,444| 659,722
50 Hz| 791,667| 395,833
60 Hz| 659,722| 329,861
120 Hz| 329,861| 164,931

Copyright © 2022 Xi’an NovaStar Tech Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved. No part of this document may be copied, reproduced, extracted or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of Xi’an NovaStar Tech Co., Ltd.
Trademark
  is a trademark of Xi’an NovaStar Tech Co., Ltd.
Statement
Thank you for choosing NovaStar’s product. This document is intended to help you understand and use the product. For accuracy and reliability, NovaStar may make improvements and/or changes to this document at any time and without notice. If you experience any problems in use or have any suggestions, please contact us via the contact information given in this document. We will do our best to solve any issues, as well as evaluate and implement any suggestions.

Official website
www.novastar.tech
Technical support
support@novastar.tech

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