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This page describes the characteristics and operation of all connectors on 4K models.
Power Connector
The power connector for 4K players is rated for 12V @ 5A. The plug is a right-side positive, keyed and locking 4-pin connector.
DE9 RS-232 Serial
The RS-232 interface is a male DE9 connector. The BrightSign 4K player is a DTE device, similar to a PC. The input to the chip accepts a range between +25V and -25V, so it is compatible with +12V/-12V signaling.
The baud rate of the RS-232 interface (which is controlled by system software) is 115200, with no parity, 8 data bits, and 1 stop bit. The RS-232 interface supports RTS/CTS hardware flow control, but no software flow control. The maximum cable length is 50 meters, and the total cable capacitance is 2500pF.
Note
A lower capacitance cable allows you to use cable lengths beyond 50 meters.
The following diagram illustrates the behavior of the TX and RX signal:
The following table illustrates the pinout of the DE9 serial connector on 4K players:
pin | Description | pin | Description |
1 | NC | 2 | Receive data into the device |
3 | Transmit data out of the device | 4 | Available 5V@500mA |
5 | Ground | 6 | NC |
7 | RTS | 8 | CTS |
9 | NC | -- | -- |
DA15 GPIO
The GPIO switch/lLED connector is a DA15 female. This connector is used to allow the player to control external LEDs or other devices requiring 24mA of current or less.
Connect the LED outputs to the LED ANODE and connect the LED CATHODE to the ground. If you want to connect another device, then the output is capable of sourcing or sinking up to 3.3V at 24mA, but there is a series resistor of 100Ω in each line.
The connector also allows the connecting of external contact closures to the ground. In order to connect a switch, connect one side of the switch to the switch input, and connect the other side to one of the ground pins on the DA15 connector. The connector can also supply 3.3V at up to 500mA to an external device. The 3.3V output is polyfuse-protected and can source up to 500mA.
If one BrightSign player is driving the inputs on another BrightSign player, then you can drive at most three inputs from one output. The following calculations explain this limitation:
Note
The GPIO outputs have 100Ω series resistors; the GPIO inputs have 1K pullup resistors to 3.3V; and the input threshold on the 541 chips is 2V high and .8V low. The high voltage is not problematic, but the low voltage can be if there are too many inputs connected to one output.
1 out driving 1 in | V=3.3*100/(100+1,000)=0.3 |
1 out driving 2 in | V=3.3*100/(100+500)=0.55 |
1 out driving 3 in | V=3.3*100/(100+333.3)=0.76 |
1 out driving 4 in | V=3.3*100/(100+250)=.94 (This is too high, so 1 output driving 3 inputs is the maximum) |
The following table illustrates the pinout of the DA15 on the 4K series of players:
pin | Description | pin | Description |
1 | IR blaster input | 2 | Ground |
3 | Button 6 I/O | 4 | Button 5 I/O |
5 | Button 3 I/O | 6 | Ground |
7 | Button 1 I/O | 8 | +3.3V output at 500mA |
9 | Ground | 10 | Button 7 I/O |
11 | Ground | 12 | Button 4 I/O |
13 | Button 2 I/O | 14 | Ground |
15 | Button 0 I/O | -- | -- |
Here is the DA15 female as viewed from the front of a BrightSign 4K player:
A button/LED/IR board can be used to demonstrate the GPIO and IR functions on a BrightSign player. This board is built by a third-party manufacturer and can be purchased upon request.
RJ45 Ethernet
The 4K series has an RJ45 connector for Gigabit (10/100/1000) base-T Ethernet, as well as Power over Ethernet (PoE) capabilities. The maximum Ethernet-cable length is 91 meters for PoE applications and 100 meters for non-PoE applications. To operate using PoE, 4K players require type-2 PoE supplying a minimum of 25W.
Important
The equipment should be connected only to PoE networks without routing to the outside plant.
The following table illustrates the pinout of the RJ45:
pin | Description | pin | Description |
1 | TX+ | 2 | TX- |
3 | RX+ | 4 | BI+ |
5 | BI- | 6 | RX- |
7 | BI+ | 8 | BI- |
USB
The 4K1042 has a single USB 2.0 port, and the 4K1142 has two USB 3.0 ports and a single USB 2.0 port. All ports are capable of transfer speeds up to 480 Mbit/s. The maximum length for a USB cable is 5 meters. The following tables illustrate the pinout of the USB 2.0/3.0 host ports:
USB 2.0
pin | Description | pin | Description |
1 | VBUS | 2 | D- |
3 | D+ | 4 | Ground |
USB 3.0
pin | Description | pin | Description |
1 | VBUS | 2 | D- |
3 | D+ | 4 | Ground |
5 | StdA_SSTX- | 6 | StdA_SSTX+ |
7 | Ground | 8 | StdA_SSRX- |
9 | StdA_SSRX+ |
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3.5mm Audio Connector
All 4K models have a single 3.5mm female audio connector, which transmits an analog stereo signal. The full-scale voltage output of the audio is 2V RMS. The minimum load impedance of the audio connector is 32Ω.
Note
The BrightSign expansion module allows you to drive up to three sets of 5W headphones directly.
The audio connector has the following pinout:
- Tip: Left audio
- Ring: Right audio
- Sleeve: Ground for audio signal
HDMI Output
The HDMI-out connector is used to send digital video and audio to HDMI-enabled sink devices. This connector is compatible with HDMI 2.0 devices, capable of outputting a maximum video resolution of 3840x2160x60p.
The following table illustrates the pinout of the HDMI connector:
pin | Description | pin | Description |
1 | TX2p | 2 | Ground |
3 | TX2n | 4 | TX1p |
5 | Ground | 6 | TX1n |
7 | TX0p | 8 | Ground |
9 | TX0n | 10 | TXCp |
11 | Ground | 12 | TXCn |
13 | CEC | 14 | NC |
15 | DDC SCL | 16 | DDC SDA |
17 | Ground | 18 | +5V DDC |
19 | HPD (Hot Plug Detect) | -- |
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HDMI Input
The HDMI-in connector is used to receive digital video and audio from HDMI-enabled source devices. This connector is compatible with HDMI 2.0 devices, capable of accepting a maximum video resolution of 3840x2160x60p. The signaling also conforms with DVI 1.0, HDMI 1.4, and HDCP 2.2 standards.
The HDMI signaling has CEC (but no ARC or HEC) functionality. The CEC channel is electrically coupled to the corresponding signal on the HDMI output, and the CEC commands will pass through the player even when it does not have power.
3.5mm IR Input/Output
The IR blaster generates or receives a space-encoded NEC or Pronto Hex signal. The two transported bit values of the signal (0 and 1) are encoded using differing lengths of low-time IR pulses.
The 3.5mm IR in/out port has the following pinout:
- Tip: 3.3V
- Ring: IR Input
- Sleeve: IR Output
Note
The sleeve is used as a ground during input operations.
SPDIF Out
The SPDIF_OPT signal is generated within the BCM7444 CPU, which is connected directly to the SPDIF output.
Wireless
BrightSign 4K players feature a six-pin connector on top of the printed circuit board (PCB) within the case. This connector allows installation of a peripheral wireless module that supports 802.11 a/b/g/n WiFi protocols.