VSC-VPLEX4 VideoPlex4 Video Wall Controller Display standard single- or dual-link DVI input across four output monitors. BLACK BOX ® Each output can be driven as DVI or analog RGB, and can represent an arbitrary crop region of the original input image. Customer Support Information Order toll-free in the U.S.: Call 877-877-BBOX (outside U.S.
Trademarks Used in this Manual Trademarks Used in this Manual Black Box and the Double Diamond logo are registered trademarks of BB Technologies, Inc. UL is a registered trademark of Underwriters Laboratories. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Any other trademarks mentioned in this manual are acknowledged to be the property of the trademark owners.
FCC and IC RFI Statements Federal Communications Commission and Industry Canada Radio Frequency Interference Statements This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio-frequency energy, and if not installed and used properly, that is, in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, may cause interference to radio communication.
NOM Statement Instrucciones de Seguridad (Normas Oficiales Mexicanas Electrical Safety Statement) 1. Todas las instrucciones de seguridad y operación deberán ser leídas antes de que el aparato eléctrico sea operado. 2. Las instrucciones de seguridad y operación deberán ser guardadas para referencia futura. 3. Todas las advertencias en el aparato eléctrico y en sus instrucciones de operación deben ser respetadas. 4. Todas las instrucciones de operación y uso deben ser seguidas. 5.
Safety Instructions Safety Instructions To prevent damage to your VideoPlex4 or injury to personnel operating the equipment, read the following safety precautions prior to operation. These instructions should be made available to all those who will use and operate the VideoPlex4. Power Supply All VideoPlex4s require a power supply. This power supply must be disconnected when equipment is being upgraded or relocated.
Table of Contents Table of Contents 1. Specifications................................................................................................................................................................ 7 2. Overview .................................................................................................................................................................. 8 2.1 Introduction...................................................................................................
Chapter 1: Specifications 1. Specifications Technical Specifications Approvals FCC, TUV, CE, UL®, CSA, RoHS, WEEE Arbitrary Upscaling Up to 64 X non-integer scale factors allowed Cooling This unit contains a cooling fan. CAUTION: The input and output vents should not be restricted. Dual-Link DVI Capture Up to 330 Mpixels/s Efficiency Level IV Heat Dissipation (Voltage x Nominal Current) x 3.41 = BTU/hr.
Chapter 2: Overview 2. Overview 2.1 Introduction The VideoPlex4 is a standalone display wall controller that accepts a standard single- or dual-link DVI input and can flexibly display this across four output monitors. Each output can be driven as DVI or analog RGB, and can represent an arbitrary crop region of the original input image.
Chapter 2: Overview Figure 2-2. Divide the input signal into quadrants and display each quarter on separate displays with optional frame rate conversion (in this case 30 to 60 Hz). You can adjust crop regions to compensate for monitor bezel. 724-746-5500 | blackbox.
Chapter 2: Overview Figure 2-3. Duplicate the input signal x2 and display one output on a single landscape display and divide the second output into thirds, rotate to portrait, upscale, and split between three displays. Figure 2-4. Crop input signal, upscale specific areas, and display on four separate screens. Page 10 724-746-5500 | blackbox.
Chapter 2: Overview Figure 2-5. Crop the input signal into VideoPlex4 and display x2 quarters landscape and x2 quarters portrait. 724-746-5500 | blackbox.
Chapter 2: Overview Figure 2-6. Crop the input signal, rotate through 90º, 180º, or 270º; display in landscape and portrait. Arbitrary crop regions can allow the monitors to be artistically arranged, but maintain an undistorted image. 2.3 What’s Included Your package should contain the following items. If anything is missing or damaged, contact Black Box Technical Support at 724-746-5500 or info@blackbox.com. • VideoPlex4 Video Wall Controller • 100–240-VAC, 5-VDC, 18-W universal power adapter • USB 2.
Chapter 2: Overview Fitting the VideoPlex4 PSU Blades Push to release blade Figure 2-7. PSU blades. Select the appropriate blade for use, place the top edge of the blade into the recess of the PSU and then slide upwards ensuring the release catch clicks firmly into place and secures the blade inside the recess. To remove the blade, press the release catch down fully and pull the blade away from the PSU recess. The PSU is shipped fitted with the UK blade. 2.4 Hardware Description 2.4.
Chapter 2: Overview NOTE: W hen the VideoPlex4 is connected to a PC by a USB cable and the VideoPlex4 control application is active, all three lights flash to identify which unit is being controlled. 2.4.2 Back Panel 1 1 4 2 4 4 3 4 5 Figure 2-9. Rear panel. Table 2-2. Back-panel components. Number Indicator Description 1 Sync Sockets The Sync sockets are provided for future genlock enhancements. Leave them unconnected.
Chapter 3: Setting Up the VideoPlex4 3. Setting Up the VideoPlex4 • Make sure the power supply for the DVI source is disconnected. • Connect the cable from the DVI source to the input socket on the rear of the VideoPlex4. • Connect the four displays to the output sockets on the rear panel of the VideoPlex4. • Connect the VideoPlex4 power supply to the VideoPlex4 and switch on the power supply at the socket. • Power up the DVI source.
Chapter 4: Configuring the VideoPlex4 4. Configuring the VideoPlex4 4.1 Factory Default Settings The VideoPlex4 stores a number of parameters to configure its operation. This allows it to operate standalone in a very flexible manner. The configurations affect the input and output display modes as well as the required partitioning of the input image between monitors.
Chapter 4: Configuring the VideoPlex4 But, if the input resolution changes to 1600 x 1200, then for the same output monitor, the VideoPlex4 would upscale from an 800 x 600 region and would reprogram its scale factors to 2.4 horizontally and 1.8 vertically to support the same 1080p monitor. The cropping regions can be assigned arbitrarily and can overlap; the only restriction is that the resulting scale factor must be greater than 1.0 (i.e., 1:1 or scaled up) in either direction.
Chapter 5: Operating Instructions 5. Operating Instructions 5.1 DVI Input When the VideoPlex4 is powered up successfully and the Power, Input, and Status LED indicators are lit, a DVI input mode has been detected and is working normally. If the Input LED indicator is not on, make sure a single- or dual-link DVI cable is correctly fitted to the appropriate sockets.
Chapter 6: VideoPlex4 Control Application 6. VideoPlex4 Control Application 6.1 Application Installation NOTE: Do not plug the VideoPlex4 into a USB port until the driver installation is complete. Locate the Install folder on the CD supplied with the VideoPlex4, run install.exe, and follow the installation wizard. During installation, a warning message is displayed stating that the driver does not have Windows® Logo accreditation. Select “Continue Anyway” to complete the installation.
Chapter 6: VideoPlex4 Control Application The main control dialog is divided into the following groups: • Connection Diagram • DVI-D Input • Input Capture Regions • Device • Monitor Outputs 6.3 Connection Diagram The connection diagram displays a schematic view of the rear panel of the VideoPlex4 to assist in identifying the connectors. Figure 6-2. Back of unit. 6.4 Device The unique USB device name that is connected is displayed in the Device group.
Chapter 6: VideoPlex4 Control Application To boost the equalization hardware, click on the “Settings” button. The following dialog is displayed. Figure 6-4. DVI-D input settings dialog box. Use the slider to compensate for the loss of signal quality due to DVI cable lengths over 16 feet (5 m). The equalization hardware can compensate for cables up to 64 feet (20 m) in length. To change the timings of the input EDID, click on the “Modify” button. The dialog shown on the next page is displayed.
Chapter 6: VideoPlex4 Control Application Figure 6-5. DVI-D input dialog box. The DVI-D Input dialog displays the resolution of the current mode for reference and allows the timings of the EDID preferred mode to be edited. To populate the EDID timings with the current timings, click on the Copy Timings button.
Chapter 6: VideoPlex4 Control Application 6.6 Input Capture Regions Each output of the VideoPlex4 can select a different region of the input source image. This dialog (Figure 6-6) displays the settings of each region (region 1 corresponds to output 1, etc). The numbers denote the top, left, width, and height coordinates of the region that is to be displayed. NOTE: These are described in terms of the current active input resolution.
Chapter 6: VideoPlex4 Control Application 6.7 Predefined Regions You can use the preset buttons to select the two most popular configurations: Quarter or Replicate. Quarter The first monitor displays the top left-hand corner of the input image, the second monitor the top right, the third the bottom left, etc. Use this mode of operation to drive four monitors in a 2 x 2 arrangement from a single high-resolution input. Replicate Each output displays the entire input image.
Chapter 6: VideoPlex4 Control Application Figure 6-8. Monitor outputs screen. Individual monitor outputs can be configured by clicking on the corresponding Modify button. This will bring up a timing dialog similar to that of the input timings. This dialog is shown in Figure 6-9. Figure 6-9. Timing dialog box. 724-746-5500 | blackbox.
Chapter 6: VideoPlex4 Control Application The source of mode selection controls whether the VideoPlex4 output should take its timing values and resolution from the preferred mode of the monitor that is connected, or use its internally programmed “default” mode. NOTE: You can edit only the internal default timings in this dialog.
NOTES 724-746-5500 | blackbox.
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