SilverLeaf Electronics VDX 404 Manual

VDX 404 Manual

VDX 404

Automotive Video Switch

Installation and Configuration Manual

SilverLeaf Electronics Inc.

2472 SW Ferry St.

Albany OR 97322

(541) 967-8111

www.vidswitch.com

Page 1

VDX 404 Manual

Product Summary

The VDX 404 allows four video sources to be routed to four video outputs in virtually any

combination. The switch status is controlled by a set of discrete inputs that can be connected to

vehicle blinkers or other switches or devices. It can also read a J 939 vehicle data bus to

determine whether the vehicle is in Reverse.

Any of the four video outputs can be set to any of the sources in any combination. The

video signal is not degraded when multiple outputs are connected to a single source. Each output

is independently buffered and amplified, and no additional signal conditioning is required for most

applications.

The unit also has two programmable outputs, which are also controlled by the inputs. These

can be used to trigger or control other products.

General Specifications

Input Voltage 9 Vdc - 8 Vdc

Input Amperage 200 mA @ 2 Vdc

Temperature Range -40 - 60 Deg F

Environmental Limitations Not sealed for exterior mounting.

Output Capacity 00mA @ 2Vdc

Installation Summary

The installation process requires two steps. The unit must be physically wired into the

vehicle, and then it must be configured to meet the particular needs of the system.

Vehicle wiring consists of the following elements:

•Power and Ground.

The unit has two LEDs. The green LED indicates the unit has power, and the red LED

flashes to indicate that the VDX is functioning.

•(Optional) Blinkers

This is necessary if the video signals should be routed according to whether the blinkers

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VDX 404 Manual

are on.

•(Optional) Switches

These are necessary if the user(s) are to be able to switch video signals by pressing a

switch of some kind. They can also be used to connect to a Reverse signal.

•(Optional) Vehicle Data Bus

This connection allows the unit to detect whether the vehicle is in Reverse by reading the

vehicle data bus. Not all vehicles have a fully implemented J 939 data bus compatible

with this feature.

•(Optional) Signal Outputs

These connections allow the unit to trigger a relay or provide a signal to other devices in

the vehicle.

In addition, there are four RCA jacks for the video sources and four RCA jacks for the video

outputs.

The configuration process consists of defining the behavior when any particular input is

triggered. First, a “Default” case has to be defined - that is, which video source is each output tied

to when the unit is first powered on and no signal inputs are applied. For example, it may be

decided that each video output might be mapped to video source # .

Then, each of the switch inputs must be defined. With each switch, every video output can

be programmed to connect to a new source, or stay as it is. For example, switch input #7 might be

hooked up to the left blinker signal. It may be programmed so that when that signal is detected,

video outputs # and #2 connect to video source #2, while #3 and #4 are left unchanged.

The signal outputs are programmed in the same manner.

The configuration of the unit is accomplished using a PC program and a special adapter

cable. The program is available for download at www.vidswitch.com. The adapter cable (p.n.

HA060) can be ordered from SilverLeaf Electronics. The cable includes a pass-through so power

can be maintained to the unit while it is hooked up to the PC.

Connectors

Receptacle - Molex 5557 Series. Part #39-0 -2 20

Strain Relief - 4 995 Series. Part # 5-04-0345

Crimp-on Connectors - 5556 Series. Part #39-00-0039

Main Connector

Pin Designation Type Notes

GROUND Ground

2 Unused

3 Unused

4 Unused

5 J 939 DATA + CAN Attach to vehicle Bus

6 J 939 DATA - CAN Attach to vehicle Bus

7 POWER 2V Power Input Attach to constant power source

8 Serial Transmit RS-232 For configuration via PC

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12 11 10 9 8 7

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VDX 404 Manual

Pin Designation Type Notes

9 Serial Receive RS-232 For configuration via PC

0 Serial Ground RS-232 For configuration via PC

OUTPUT Active Lo Output Grounded when Active, 500 mA Capacity

2 OUTPUT2 Active High Output 2 Vdc when Active, 00 mA Capacity

Input Connector

Pin Designation Type Notes

INPUT Active Low Input Activates when connected to Ground

2 INPUT2 Active Low Input Activates when connected to Ground

3 INPUT3 Active Low Input Activates when connected to Ground

4 INPUT4 Active Low Input Activates when connected to Ground

5 INPUT5 Active Low Input Activates when connected to Ground

6 INPUT6 Active Low Input Activates when connected to Ground

7 INPUT7 Active High Input Activates when connected to Power

8 INPUT8 Active High Input Activates when connected to Power

9 INPUT9 Active High Input Activates when connected to Power

0 INPUT 0 Active High Input Activates when connected to Power

INPUT Active High Input Activates when connected to Power

2 INPUT 2 Active High Input Activates when connected to Power

Using the VDXSerTool Program

First, connect the VDX404 to the PC using the adapter harness, and attach the vehicle

power connector so the unit is powered on. The harness is designed so that you can fully wire the

VDX404 into the vehicle, then simply unplug the main connector, insert the programming harness

between the vehicle connector and the VDX404, and connect the harness to the PC.

If the harness is too short to reach the PC, an ordinary serial extension cable can be added.

If the PC does not have a serial port, an inexpensive USB-Serial adapter will work.

The VDXSerTool.exe program does not require any special installation. Simply copy the

program to a convenient location on the PC hard drive, and start the program by browsing that

location and double-clicking on the program icon. The VDXSerTool program does not require any

special drivers or settings.

When the program starts, it will not initially be able to see the VDX404. The first step is to

select the COM port the unit is hooked up to on the PC. In the top right of the program window is

a control that allows you to choose the COM port. When you have the correct port chosen, within

a few seconds the unit will download the current configuration from the VDX 404. The window

should look something like the diagram.

The Current Mode should normally be “Auto”, indicating that the unit will switch

automatically according to the status of the various inputs. The “Manual” mode indicates that the

unit is ignoring the inputs because a manual command has been sent. Clicking on the Change

button will switch this mode. The unit will always start in “Auto” mode when first powered on.

The Current Status field indicates what each output is currently set to. A report of “Video [

3 3] Output [0 0] indicates that video outputs # and #2 are set to display video source # , video

outputs #3 and #4 are set to display video source #3, and both switch outputs are turned On.

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VDX 404 Manual

You can manually change this by clicking on

Manual Command. You can then send a

command to switch the outputs around. This

also puts the unit into “Manual” mode. This

feature is provides mostly as a way to test the

wiring.

When you click on Manual Command, a new

window appears. You may type in the source

for each video output. A zero indicates the

output should be turned off altogether. A value

of one through four indicates which video

source the output should display. A value of 2

indicates that the output should be left exactly

as it currently is. The signal outputs can also be

turned on or off with this screen.

The changes will take effect when the Ok

button is clicked.

The largest part of the window shows the

configuration of each switch. For each switch

input there are settings for determine how the

unit should change the connections of each output. For each of the video outputs, either a video

source is listed or a value of “No Change”. Similarly, the signal outputs are set to turn on, turn off,

or stay as they are.

Each input also has a Priority, which determines which input has precedence when more

than one input is active. At any time, many inputs might be active at once. These inputs may or

may not affected each other - some might trigger changes in outputs that others leave untouched.

But if more than one input affects a video output assignment, the higher priority switch takes

preference.

Two inputs have special meaning. Input #249 is reserved for the J 939 Reverse Video

signal. This acts like a switch input, but the only physical connection is via the vehicle data bus.

Input #0 is the Default case. It determines the connections when no inputs are active at all.

To change the configuration of an input, double-click on the appropriate line in the large

box. A new window appears, allowing you to change the settings. The first setting is Type. There

are four possibilities.

A “Conventional” switch indicates a switch that is either constantly on or constantly off, or

“latches” when pressed. A conventional Reverse signal is one example. A “Blinker” is similar, but

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VDX 404 Manual

the unit is programmed to recognize the repetitive on-

off-on-off behavior and treat the signal as being “on”

until it is seen to be off for a certain period of time. A

“Momentary” switch is an input that triggers briefly to

indicate a change from being on to being off. This is

used mostly for user input, and allows the use of a

wide variety of membrane or push-button switches.

For each video output, any video source can

be selected, or “No Change”. The same is true for the

signal outputs - they can be set to turn on or off, or

stay as they are. The Priority field is a number from 0

to 250, and the higher the number the greater the

rank of the switch.

When the settings are correct, hitting Ok will commit them to the unit's memory. The

process may take one or two seconds, during which time the color of the main window will change

to indicate the process is not complete.

Cycling

Special provisions are made to allow a switch to “cycle” through multiple states. These are

called “virtual inputs”. Each virtual input is programmed to direct the video signals just like a

conventional input. But instead of being triggered by a specific switch input, one or more switch

inputs can be programmed to trigger several such virtual inputs one at a time in sequence. For

example, four virtual inputs can each be programmed to switch video output #4 to a different video

input. Then a single switch input can be programmed to trigger each of these virtual inputs in turn -

each time the switch is pressed it activates a different virtual input.

To set this up, first configure each virtual input. Simply double-click on one of the “virtual”

inputs in the main box, then program the input as before. Note that the input type can't be

changed.

Then click on the line corresponding to the switch that will trigger the cycling. For the type,

select “Cycling”, then enter the states on the right side of the box. If fewer than four states are

required, fill in the unused states with “33”.

Sample Configuration

As an example, we'll consider a high-value cargo can in which four cameras are mounted

(left, right, rear, and cargo), and two monitors are desired. The driver monitor shall be programmed

to switch according to the status of the blinkers and reverse signal, and a switch in the dash will

show the cargo camera. The second monitor will have a momentary button to allow the passenger

to cycle through all four cameras manually. In addition, one switch output will be set to trigger

whenever the vehicle is in Reverse.

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VDX 404 Manual

Video Sources

- Left

2 - Right

3 - Rear

4 - Cargo

Switch Inputs

- Driver “Cargo View” Switch

2 - Passenger “Camera Select” Switch

7 - Left Blinker

8 - Right Blinker

Reverse Signal via J 939 Vehicle Data Bus

Video Monitors

- Driver

2 - Passenger

State Priority Name Vid

Vid

Out

0 0 Default Special 3 4 0 0 0 0

00 “Cargo View” Conventional 4 NC NC NC NC NC

2 50 “Camera Select” Cycling Cycle : 20, 2 , 22, 23

7 3 Left Blinker Blinker NC NC NC NC NC

8 4 Right Blinker Blinker 2 NC NC NC NC NC

20 0 Virtual Virtual NC NC NC NC NC

2 0 Virtual 2 Virtual NC 2 NC NC NC NC

22 0 Virtual 3 Virtual NC 3 NC NC NC NC

23 0 Virtual 4 Virtual NC 4 NC NC NC NC

249 Reverse Signal Special 3 NC NC NC NC

Cloning

In many cases you may want to create several identical units. To do this efficiently, first

configure one unit completely. Then click in the Save For Cloning button. The program will ask for

a file name, and after you specify the file it will save the configuration to that file.

Later, you can plug in another VDX404 and click in Clone From File. It will again ask for a

file name, and you can select the file you previously saved the data in. When the cloning process

starts the main window will dim, and when the process is complete it will turn back to its normal

brightness. The process can take up to a minute or more, depending on the complexity of the

configuration.

Ordering Information

VDX 404 Automotive Video Switch JR404

Serial Programming Cable HA060

USB-Serial Adapter HA302

Connector Kit (2 Molex Connectors, 20 Pins) HA06

All parts can be ordered directly from SilverLeaf Electronics, Inc..

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VDX 404 Manual

Warranty

The obligation of SilverLeaf Electronics, Inc. under this warranty shall be limited to repair or

replacement (at our option) during the warranty period of any part which proves defective in material or

workmanship under normal installation, use, and service, provided the product is returned to SilverLeaf

Electronics, Inc.. The warranty period shall be one year from date of purchase of the product.

This warranty shall be invalid if the product is damaged as a result of defacement, misuse, abuse,

neglect, accident, destruction, alteration, improper electrical voltages or currents, repair or maintenance by

any party other than SilverLeaf Electronics Inc. or an authorized service facility, or any use violative of

instructions furnished by us.

This one-year warranty is in lieu of all other expressed warranties, obligations, or liabilities. Any implied

warranties, obligations, or liabilities, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and

fitness for a particular purpose, shall be limited in duration to the one-year duration of this written limited

warranty. In no event shall SilverLeaf Electronics, Inc. be liable for any special, incidental, or consequential

damages for breach of this or any other warranty, expressed or implied, whatsoever.

This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from state

to state.

SilverLeaf Electronics Inc.

2472 SW Ferry St.

Albany OR 97322

(541) 967-8111

www.vidswitch.com

Page 8

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