DRAFT
Standard, BSR E1.11, Entertainment Technology – USITT DMX512-A Asynchronous Serial Digital
Data Transmission Standard for Controlling Lighting Equipment and Accessories
– 4 –
©
USITT / ESTA -This document is a work in progress, and may be duplicated only for the purposes of finalizing this Report. It may not be
published in part or in whole or be duplicated for-profit or sold in any manner.
CP/1998-1031r3
DRAFT
Printed Oct 25, 2000 10:25 p
3 Definitions
3.1 Asynchronous:
signals that start at any time and are not locked or synchronized to the receiving device by
a separate clock line.
3.2 Balanced Line:
a data communications line where two wires are present, the signal and its opposite
(complement), the actual signal being the difference between the voltages on the two wires. Balanced
lines have excellent noise and interference rejection properties.
3.3 Break:
a high to low transition (space) followed by a low of at least 88 microseconds followed by a low to
high transition.
3.4 Common:
see Data Link and Signal Common.
3.5 Common-Mode Voltage:
a voltage appearing equally on the data + (plus) and data - (minus) lines relative
to signal common.
Vcm = (Va + Vb)/2
where:
Vcm
is the Common Mode Voltage
Va
is the voltage on DMX512 data + with respect to signal common
Vb
is the voltage on DMX512 data - with respect to signal common
3.6 Controller:
a transmitting device that originates DMX512 data.
3.7 Data +:
true signal.
3.8 Data -:
complementary data signal.
3.9 Data Link:
physical connection between transmitting and receiving devices.
3.10 Data Link Common:
the connection to signal common at the point of interconnection (DMX512 Port) of the
product.
3.11 DMX512 Port:
see Port.
3.12 DMX512 Processing Device:
a piece of equipment that regenerates the timing of any DMX512 packet or
has provision for other signal inputs from which the outgoing DMX512 packet is generated. In the
absence of any DMX512 transmitting capability, the device has provision for other signal outputs which
are controlled in some manner by the incoming DMX512 packet. Basic buffer products are not normally
considered processing devices.
3.13 Driver:
the circuit which drives the transmit signal and is directly connected to the DMX512 line. See Line
Driver.
3.14 Enhanced Functionality:
Active use of the optional secondary data link of a DMX512 port.
3.15 Idle:
the time that the DMX512 line is high and not sending any information (also known as the ‘Mark’
condition).
3.16 In-Line Device:
any component that receives and re-transmits DMX512.
3.17 Isolation:
circuit topology in which the output is completely electrically disconnected from the input.
3.18 Isolation voltage:
voltage specification between input and output stages of an isolated system at or below
which damage or breakdown of circuit components will not occur.
3.19 Legacy Equipment:
transmitting and receiving devices complying with the original USITT DMX512 or
DMX512/1990 in all aspects of those standards. (Exception: receiving devices that are not dimmers but
comply with all other aspects of DMX512/1990 shall be considered to be Legacy Equipment.)
3.20 LEN:
(Load Equivalent Number) the number or fractions of Unit Loads as defined by EIA-485-A.
3.21 Line Driver:
an electrical circuit providing differential voltage excursions on a data link, operating within a
defined Common Mode voltage range and with a specified response to overload and overvoltage
conditions.
3.22 Line Receiver:
an electrical circuit allowing detection of differential voltage excursions on a data link,
operating within a defined Common Mode voltage range and with a specified response to overload and
overvoltage conditions.
3.23 Loop-Through Connection:
a connector or terminal port which connects the signals present on at least
Pins 1, 2 and 3 of one port to another port. Frequently abbreviated to Loop or Thru.