USB to DMX Interface

A Demonstration of “The Game of Life”

Presented by: Jeffrey ZampieronBrian G VanBuren

Introduction Project consists of three sections

A Hardware “Game of Life” board USB to DMX Interface PC Software to control the board

Motivation for DMX Stage lighting often uses expensive,

custom lighting consoles Laptops are inexpensive (relatively)

and compact Easily movable when working on-stage

PCs can run automated tasks to either run cues or do sequential dimmer tests

Motivation for USB USB is the defacto standard for

connecting devices to a PC Supports Hot Plug and Play Speeds up to 480Mb/s Commonly available on Laptops

DMX512/1990 DMX is a Stage Lighting control

protocol USITT Standard established in 1990 Hardware is RS485 compatible 250Kbps baud rate serial data stream Up to 512 devices, smaller amount

allows greater refresh rate 11 Bits per frame

USB to DMX Schematic

USBMOD3 Schematic

USBMOD3 Picture

Game Board Schematic

Game of Life Population simulation algorithm Shown on an LED matrix (8x8)

Can be used to demonstrate automation

Requires starting population Surrounding organisms determine

Survival Death Birth

PC Software User configurable starting matrix

Able to save and load matrix states Allows matrices other than 8x8 to

be used Up to eight 8x8 sections of the main

matrix can be sent to the DMX boards

Proposed User Interface

Proposed User Interface

PIC16F747 40 Pin DIP UART (for the DMX RS485 bus) Parallel Port In (RA)

Board Address for entire 8x8 Array (3 bit) PIC Address indicating row PIC control

(3 bit) with row 0 at the bottom Parallel Port Out (RB)

A bit per LED in the row it controls LSB is the rightmost LED

System Cost

Item Quantity

Price/Unit

Retail Price

Our Cost

ICD2 PIC Programmer 1 $159.00 $159.00 $0

ICD2 Interface Board 1 $19.00 $19.00 $0

PIC16F747 12 $6.85 $82.20 $82.20

USB Module 2 $33.00 $66.00 $66.00

LEDs (Green) 100 $0.297 $29.70 $29.70

Inverters (74LS04) 25 $0.40 $10.00 $10.00

DMX Cable (5”) 1 $29.99 $29.99 $0

DMX Female Connector (5 pin XLR)

1 $9.98 $9.98 $9.98

DMX Male Connector (5 pin XLR) 1 $8.08 $8.08 $8.08

Resistors, IC Sockets, Switches, etc.

$20.10 $20.10

$433.85 $225.86

Difficulties Game Board Construction

Area Constraints 64 LEDS, 64 Resistors, 16 74LS04, 8 PICs More than 1000 solder joints!!!

High Bit Rate DMX Issues Termination Issues PIC supporting 250Kbps

Questions?