pixblasters MS1 Video LED Controller User Guide
- June 27, 2024
- pixblasters
Table of Contents
MS1 Video LED Controller
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Product Information
Specifications:
- Product: Pixblasters MS1 Video LED Controller
- Model: PAPP003 (v2.0)
- Release Date: May 28, 2024
- Website: www.pixblasters.com
Product Usage Instructions
Initialization of Pixblasters MS1 Video LED Controller:
-
Before the first use or significant LED display changes,
initialize the controller through the user’s interface. -
Refer to the User’s Manual for detailed initialization
steps. -
Ensure the LED controller is fully initialized to display video
content.
FPGA Update Process:
-
Download the latest FPGA configuration files from the official
website. -
Set the on-board DIP switches to ‘000’ to activate service mode
for FPGA update. -
Refer to the User’s Manual chapter 8.7 for detailed
instructions on updating FPGA configuration.
Required Hardware Equipment:
- Control Computer
- Mini-B USB Serial Cable
- +5 VDC Power Supply
Operating System & Software:
-
Operating System: Compatible with any OS supporting a serial
terminal emulation program. -
Recommended Terminal Emulator: Tera Term (Download Tera Term)
-
Communication Parameters: Baud rate 115,200, data 8 bit, no
parity, 1 stop bit, no flow control.
Important Terminals:
-
Slave Video Input (RJ45 type connector): Active video input in
Slave configuration. -
Slave Video Output (RJ45 type connector): Active video output
in both Master and Slave configurations. -
32 LED Outputs on eight snap-in connectors (black).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
- Q: How do I know if my Pixblasters MS1 Video
LED Controller is initialized?
A: The controller needs to be initialized
through the user’s interface before it can display any video
content. Refer to the User’s Manual for detailed initialization
steps.
- Q: What are the communication parameters for
updating the FPGA configuration?
A: The recommended communication parameters are
baud rate 115,200, data 8 bit, no parity, 1 stop bit, and no flow
control.
- Q: Can the control computer and USB serial
cable be disconnected after initialization?
A: Yes, once the initialization is complete,
the control computer and USB serial cable can be permanently
disconnected.
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Pixblasters MS1 Controller FPGA Update Guide
APPLICATION NOTE: PAPP003 (v2.0) May 28, 2024
Introduction
Pixblasters MS1 Video LED Controller are fully programmed and tested prior to
shipping.
Before the first use, or in a case of a significant change of the LED display
controlled by already initialized PixblastersTM LED controller, the MS1 Video
LED controller must be initialized through the embedded user’s interface. Non
initialized LED controllers cannot display any video. The initialization is
fully explained in the following documents:
User’s Manual :http://pixblasters.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Pixblasters-
MS1-UsersGuide_v1.0.pdf
Application Note PAPP002 (for LED strips):
http://pixblasters.com/wpcontent/uploads/2021/02/papp002-Pixblasters-Quick-
Start-Guide_v1.0.pdf
Application Note PAPP005 (for LED panels):
http://pixblasters.com/wpcontent/uploads/2021/02/papp005-Pixblasters-Quick-
Start-Guide_v1.0.pdf
While the software initialization, which describes the LED display’s
architecture, is the MUST-HAVE step, the FPGA update is an optional step. By
following the simple steps described in this document and the associated video
clip, Pixblasters MS1 Video LED Controller board can upgrade their hardware
with newly released features. It also enables users to prepare the LED
controller for controlling different types of LED panels. The described
procedure assures compatibility with new and emerging LED types and shapes.
FPGA update is fully described in this short video clip:
https://youtu.be/EklypNg4qbM.
Figure 1. FPGA Update Guide – Click on Photo to Play Video
The FPGA update is very simple and can be done within a couple of minutes. It
is also permanent, since on-board memory holds up to seven (7) different FPGA
configurations. Users can choose the FPGA configuration for their application
by on-board DIP switches (Figure 3). Depending on the
Copyright © Pixblasters d.o.o. PixblastersTM is a Pixblasters trademark. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
PAPP003 (v2.0) May 2024
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Pixblasters FPGA Update Guide
programmed configurations, the Pixblasters MS1 can be setup in the master or
slave mode, to support 3-wire WS2812B-like, 4-wire APA102-like LED strips and
WS2812B LED panels.
The DIP switches combination 000 activates the FPGA update configuration and
it is not user-programmable. For full explanation, please read the User’s
Manual chapter 8.7 Updating FPGA Configuration
The FPGA update runs on any control computer and any operating system that
enables use of a simple serial terminal emulation program. The Pixblasters
development team preference is the Tera Term, an open-source and free terminal
emulator program: https://ttssh2.osdn.jp/. The requested serial communication
parameters are: baud rate 115,200, data 8 bit, no parity, 1 stop bit and no
flow control.
Required hardware equipment is also very simple and includes only the control
computer, Mini-B USB serial cable and the +5 VDC power supply. Upon the
initialization, the control computer and the USB serial cable can be
permanently disconnected.
Pixblasters MS1 Controller – Important Terminals
Figure 2. Board’s Terminals Important for the Initialization Process
+5 VDC power supply connects to the blue power input screw wire terminal Power
switch the red LED next to the switch is ON when the board is powered Mini-B
USB connector for serial connection with the control computer HDMI video input
is the active video input in the Pixblasters MS1 Master configuration
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Pixblasters FPGA Update Guide
Slave video input (RJ45 type connector) is the active video input in the
Pixblasters MS1 Slave configuration
Slave video output (RJ45 type connector) is the active video output in both,
the Master and the Slave configurations
32 LED outputs are placed on eight snap-in connectors (black)
The FPGA Update – Step by Step
Download the latest FPGA configuration files from
http://pixblasters.com/deliverables/
Set the on-board DIP switches to 000 (Figure 3). This activates the service
mode and enables the FPGA update.
Figure 3. On-Board DIP Switches Set To FPGA Update Configuration
Connect the control computer and the Pixblasters MS1 with the Mini-B USB
serial cable. Connect the +5 VDC power supply to the blue power terminal on
the MS1 controller Switch-on the MS1 board with the on-board power switch (the
RED LED must be ON) Start the serial terminal application on your control
computer. Select the proper serial port and
setup communication parameters to 115200 8 0 1 0. The Pixblasters User’s Menu
should pop-up in the serial terminal window (Figure 4) Hit U’ to start the update procedure. HitS’ to open the configuration selector menu (Figure 5)
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Pixblasters FPGA Update Guide
Figure 4. The Pixblasters User’ Menu in the Serial Terminal Window
Hit `3′ to select the FPGA configuration No. 3 for the update (Figure 5)
Figure 5. Opened the Pixblasters Configuration Selector Menu
The 30 seconds timeframe for the update’s start begins Select and transfer to
the board the configuration binary file (.BIN) with the FPGA
configuration update. In Tera Term you need to select menu
File/Transfer/XMODEM/Send
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Pixblasters FPGA Update Guide
Figure 6. Start the Configuration File Transfer (Update)
In the pop-up window find and select the .bin FPGA update file downloaded from
our website
Figure 7. Select the Configuration File Transfer (Update)
The FPGA update takes about 30-40 seconds (Figure 8).
At the end of the update, the Device Update Menu (Figure 5) pops-up again.
Select `E’ to exit.
The FPGA update is finished and you can start using the new and updated
Pixblasters MS1 features.
To start using the FPGA configuration number 3, please switch off the board
and set the DIP switches to 011 position.
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Pixblasters FPGA Update Guide
Figure 8. The FPGA Update in Progress
The Pixel Mapping Matrix Update for LED panels only
Figure 8. Different WS2812B LED Panels
The Pixblasters MS1 Video LED Controller requires an additional initialization
step for driving WS2812B compatible LED panels. LED panels are usually
controlled by the FPGA configuration 5 and must be accompanied by the pixel
mapping matrix that describes the structure of the LED panel. The pixel
mapping matrices are provided by Pixblasters, as parts of the FPGA update
package.
Depending on the attached LED panel, the user must select the correct .BIN
file and program it to the dedicated Configuration 7 by following the steps
described in the previous paragraph.
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Pixblasters FPGA Update Guide
LED Panel Type 8×8
16×16 32×8 22×22 44×11
Pixel Mapping Matrix File p8x8_deg0.bin
p16x16_deg0.bin p32x8_deg0.bin p22x22_deg0.bin p44x11_deg0.bin
Table 1. Examples of Pixel Mapping Matrix Files for Different LED Panels
Recommendations and Conclusion
Pixblasters FPGA update is optional, very easy and straightforward. For more
instructions video clips, please visit: http://pixblasters.com/videos/
Revision History
Version
1.00 2.00
Date
02.03.2021. 28.05.2024.
Description of Revisions
Initial public release. Explained programming of the pixel mapping matrix for
LED panels.
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References
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Read User Manual Online (PDF format) >>