Input/Output Configuration Tab

The Input/Output Configuration tab is present when one of the following ports is selected in the IP Link® Tree window:

Flex I/O Ports

Flex I/O ports are found on the following devices:

  • IPL T SF24

  • IPL T SFI244

  • IPCP 505

Flex I/O ports can be configured in three different ways:

  • Analog in

  • Digital in

  • Digital out

Flex I/O ports allow IP Link devices to accept an input voltage and then send out a serial command to trigger another event.  These ports can support TTL and analog signals from 0 to 24 volts, allowing a wide variety of devices to be controlled and monitored.

Analog inputs to Flex I/O ports

Flex I/O ports can be configured to receive analog voltages for use with photo sensors, level feedback, strain gauges, thermocouples, variable potentiometers and other devices.  Incoming analog voltages from 0 to 24 volts are sampled with 12-bit precision.

For example, a thermal sensor installed in an equipment rack can be connected to one of the Flex I/O inputs and the IP Link device can be configured to send an e-mail message, turn on auxiliary cooling fans, and turn off equipment if the rack temperature exceeds a specified temperature value.

Digital inputs to Flex I/O ports

Configured as digital inputs, the Flex I/O ports can connect to switches, motion sensors, moisture sensors and tally feedback.  This allows you to receive status from a variety of devices including projector lifts, motorized projection screens, room partition switches, and push buttons.

Digital outputs from Flex I/O ports

When configured as digital outputs, the Flex I/O ports can drive LEDs, 24 volt incandescent lamps, an additional external power supply, or other devices that accept a TTL input signal.  For applications that require contact closure control, the Flex I/O ports can interface with an Extron IPA T RLY4 (an IP Link accessory featuring four isolated relays).

To configure a Flex I/O port:

  1. In the IP Link Tree window, select a Flex I/O folder.  The Input/Output Configuration tab opens.

  2. On the Input/Output Configuration tab, select a Flex I/O port (see below).

  3. From the Flex I/O Mode
    drop-down list in the Flex I/O Port Configuration section, select the mode for the port.  Options include:

  4. Digital Input

  5. Digital Output

  6. Analog Input

  1. In the Label/Description field, enter a unique description.

  2. In the Open Label field, enter a unique label.

  3. In the Close Label field, enter a unique label.

  1. Select the Pullup check box, if desired.  If this check box is selected, the signal line will be connected to a positive voltage through a pullup resistor which prevents the signal line from floating to an in-between state when it is not active.

  2. Select the Threshold check box, if desired.  Set the lower and upper threshold limits by clicking and dragging the associated Lower and Upper slider bars.  The Threshold option allows you to set signal levels at which the port activates and deactivates.

Contact Input Ports and Relay Ports

The IPL T CR48 has:

  • Four Contact Input ports

  • Eight relay ports

The Contact Input ports and Relay ports can be used to control screens, timers, lights, motion sensors, and more as shown below.

Contact Input ports

Contact Input ports can receive 0 to 5 VDC TTL input signals from devices such as screens, timers, lights, and motion sensors in order to track the status of such devices.

To configure a Contact Input port:

  1. In the IP Link Tree window, select a Contact Input folder.  The Input/Output Configuration tab opens.

  2. On the Input/Output Configuration tab, select a Contact Input (see below).

  3. In the Contact Input / Relay Group section, click the Add icon to add a Group folder.

  4. Update the folder label with a unique folder name (such as Projector Screen).

  5. Click the Add I/O Port to Group icon.

  6. In the Label field of the Contact Input Configuration section, enter a unique label name (such as Status).  There is a 16-character maximum for the label.

  1. Enter the desired Open label description (such as Screen is UP).  There is a 16-character maximum.

  2. Enter the desired Close label description (such as Screen is DOWN).  There is a 16-character maximum.

  3. Build changed configurations (see the Build Changed Configurations section).

Note:  Before changes are viewable in GlobalViewer®, you must perform the build and upload process in Global Configurator.

To view the Contact Input label in GlobalViewer:

  1. In the IP Link Tree window, select a GlobalViewer host device.

  2. Right-click on the host device name and select Open GlobalViewer®  Webpage from the drop-down list.  The GlobalViewer web page opens (see below).

  3. Expand the GlobalViewer® folder in the left window pane by clicking the + sign.

  4. Select the Contact Input folder (such as Projector Screen in the image below).

The following information is displayed on the Control page (5):

  • Folder name (such as Projector Screen)

  • Label (such as Status)

  • Open Label (such as Screen is UP)

Note:  If the current status of the projector screen is down, the close label (such as Screen is DOWN) is displayed here.

 

Relay ports

Relay ports provide the capability to control a wide range of AV devices such as screens, lights, and projector lifts.

To configure a Relay port:

  1. In the IP Link Tree window, select a Relays folder.

  2. On the Input/Output Configuration tab, select a Relay port (see below).

  3. In the Contact Input / Relay Group section, click the Add icon.

  4. Update the folder label with a unique folder name (such as Projector Lift).

  5. Click the Add I/O Port to Group icon.

  1. From the Mode drop-down list in the Relay Configuration section, select the desired mode.  Options include:

  2. Open/Close - 2 Push Button

  3. Toggle - 1 Push Button

  4. Pulse - 1 Push Button

Note:  See the Mode options subsection below, for a description of the different mode options.

  1. In the Tooltip field, enter the desired tooltip.

  2. Label the buttons as needed (see the Mode options subsection, below).

  3. Build the changed configurations (see the Build Changed Configurations section).

Mode options

The button labeling options in the Relay Configuration section differ depending on which mode was selected in step 6 above.

  • Open/Close - 2 Push Button

    In this configuration there are two distinct buttons created for the GlobalViewer interface, with two separate button labels.  One button provides the relay open condition and the other button provides the relay closed condition.

In the Open Label field, enter the desired Open label.

In the Close Label field, enter the desired Close label.

  • Toggle - 1 Push Button

    In this configuration, there is only one button that acts as a toggle switch.  The first press closes the relay and the next press opens the relay.

    In the Toggle Label field, enter the desired button label.

  • Pulse - 1 Push Button

    In this configuration there is only one button that closes the relay for the duration of time selected in the Pulse Time field.

    In the Pulse Label field, enter the desired button label.

 

 

Note:  Before changes are viewable in GlobalViewer, you must perform the build and upload process in Global Configurator.

To view the Relay button captions in GlobalViewer:

  1. In the IP Link Tree window, select a GlobalViewer host device.

  2. Right-click on the host device name and select Open GlobalViewer®  Webpage from the drop-down list.  The GlobalViewer web page opens (see below).

  3. Expand the GlobalViewer® folder in the left window pane by clicking the + sign.

  4. Select the Relay folder (such as Projector Lift in the image below).

The following information is displayed on the Control page (5):

  • Folder name (such as Projector Lift)

  • Open Button (such as Projector Up)

  • Close Button (such as Projector Down)