BenQ L720D Series - User Manual

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Overview

This document serves as an installation guide for controlling BenQ L720/L720D Series projectors via RS232 commands from a computer. It outlines the necessary connection procedures, communication settings, and a comprehensive command table for various projector functions.

Function Description

The BenQ L720/L720D Series projectors can be remotely controlled using RS232 serial communication. This allows for integration into control systems, enabling automated operation and management of the projector's features. The control can be established through a direct RS232 serial port connection, via a Local Area Network (LAN), or through HDBaseT. The guide provides detailed instructions for setting up each connection type and configuring the communication parameters.

Important Technical Specifications

The RS232 communication relies on a D-Sub 9 pin connection. The wire arrangement for a crossover cable is specified, detailing the pin assignments for P1 and P2 connectors, including Black (pin 1), Brown (pin 2), Red (pin 3), Orange (pin 4), Yellow (pin 5), Green (pin 6), Blue (pin 7), Purple (pin 8), Gray (pin 9), and a Drain wire for the Case. The RS232 pin assignment clarifies the functions of each pin: Pin 1 (NC), Pin 2 (RXD), Pin 3 (TXD), Pin 4 (NC), Pin 5 (GND), Pin 6 (NC), Pin 7 (RTS), Pin 8 (CTS), and Pin 9 (NC).

For serial port communication, the supported baud rates are 9600, 14400, 19200, 38400, 57600, and 115200 bps. The data length is fixed at 8 bits, parity check is set to None, stop bit to 1 bit, and flow control to None. These settings are crucial for establishing a stable serial connection.

When controlling via LAN, the projector's Wired LAN IP address must be known, and the TCP port is specified as 8000. For HDBaseT control, the connection also utilizes a D-Sub 9 pin and RJ45 port, with similar serial communication settings as the direct RS232 connection.

The command table provides a comprehensive list of ASCII commands for various projector operations. Each command follows a specific format, typically <CR>*command=value#<CR>, where <CR> represents a carriage return. Commands are case-insensitive.

Usage Features

The projector offers extensive control over its power state, input source selection, audio settings, picture modes, picture settings, aspect ratio, digital zoom, brilliant color, projector position, quick cooling, auto search, direct power on, signal power on, standby network settings, and lamp control.

Power Control:

Power On: <CR>*pow=on#<CR>
Power Off: <CR>*pow=off#<CR>
Power Status: <CR>*pow=?#<CR>

Source Selection:

Supports various input sources including COMPUTER/YPbPr, COMPUTER 2/YPbPr2, HDMI(MHL), HDMI 2(MHL2), Composite, S-Video.
Commands like <CR>*sour=RGB#<CR> for COMPUTER/YPbPr, <CR>*sour=hdmi#<CR> for HDMI(MHL), etc.
The Current source command <CR>*sour=?#<CR> can be used to query the active input.

Audio Control:

Mute On/Off: <CR>*mute=on#<CR>, <CR>*mute=off#<CR>
Mute Status: <CR>*mute=?#<CR>
Volume Adjustment: <CR>*vol=+#<CR> (increase), <CR>*vol=-#<CR> (decrease)
Volume Level: <CR>*vol=value#<CR> (set specific level)
Volume Status: <CR>*vol=?#<CR>
Microphone Volume: Similar commands for mic volume adjustment and status.
Audio Pass Through: <CR>*audiosour=off#<CR> to disable, <CR>*audiosour=?#<CR> for status.
Audio Source Selection: Commands for selecting audio input from Computer 1, Computer 2, Video/S-Video, HDMI, HDMI2.

Picture Mode:

Offers various picture modes such as Presentation, sRGB, Bright, Living Room, Game, Cinema, Standard/Vivid, Football, Football Bright, DICOM, THX, Silence mode, DCI-P3 mode, Vivid, Infographic, User1, User3, ISF Day, ISF Night, and 3D.
Commands like <CR>*appmod=preset#<CR> for Presentation, <CR>*appmod=srgb#<CR> for sRGB, etc.
Picture Mode status can be queried with <CR>*appmod=?#<CR>.

Picture Settings:

Contrast: Adjust with <CR>*con=+#<CR> (increase), <CR>*con=-#<CR> (decrease), and query value with <CR>*con=?#<CR>.
Brightness: Adjust with <CR>*bri=+#<CR> (increase), <CR>*bri=-#<CR> (decrease), and query value with <CR>*bri=?#<CR>.
Color: Adjust with <CR>*color=+#<CR> (increase), <CR>*color=-#<CR> (decrease), and query value with <CR>*color=?#<CR>.
Sharpness: Adjust with <CR>*sharp=+#<CR> (increase), <CR>*sharp=-#<CR> (decrease), and query value with <CR>*sharp=?#<CR>.
Color Temperature: Options include Warmer, Warm, Normal, Cool, Cooler, and Native. Commands like <CR>*ct=warmer#<CR>, <CR>*ct=normal#<CR>, etc. Query status with <CR>*ct=?#<CR>.

Aspect Ratio:

Supports 4:3, 16:6, 16:9, 16:10, Auto, Real, Letterbox, Wide, Anamorphic, Anamorphic 2.35, Anamorphic 16:9.
Commands like <CR>*asp=4:3#<CR>, <CR>*asp=AUTO#<CR>, etc.
Query status with <CR>*asp=?#<CR>.

Digital Zoom:

Zoom In/Out: <CR>*zoomI#<CR>, <CR>*zoomO#<CR>
Auto: <CR>*auto#<CR>

Brilliant Color:

On/Off: <CR>*BC=on#<CR>, <CR>*BC=off#<CR>
Status: <CR>*BC=?#<CR>

Projector Position:

Settings for Front Table, Rear Table, Rear Ceiling, Front Ceiling.
Commands like <CR>*pp=FT#<CR>, <CR>*pp=RE#<CR>, etc.
Query status with <CR>*pp=?#<CR>.

Quick Cooling:

On/Off: <CR>*qcool=on<CR>, <CR>*qcool=off<CR>
Status: <CR>*qcool=?<CR>

Quick Auto Search:

On/Off: <CR>*QAS=on#<CR>, <CR>*QAS=off#<CR>
Status: <CR>*QAS=?#<CR>

Power Management:

Direct Power On: On/Off control and status query.
Signal Power On: On/Off control and status query.
Standby Network: On/Off control and status query.
Standby Microphone: On/Off control and status query.
Standby Monitor Out: On/Off control and status query.

Miscellaneous Controls:

Blank On/Off: <CR>*blank=on#<CR>, <CR>*blank=off#<CR>
Freeze On/Off: <CR>*freeze=on#<CR>, <CR>*freeze=off#<CR>
Menu On/Off: <CR>*menu=on#<CR>, <CR>*menu=off#<CR>
Navigation (Up, Down, Right, Left, Enter): <CR>*up#<CR>, <CR>*down#<CR>, etc.
3D Sync: Off, Auto, Top Bottom, Frame Sequential, Frame Packing, Side by Side, Inverter Disable, Inverter, 2D to 3D, nVIDIA.
Remote Receiver: Controls for front+rear, front, rear, top, top+front, top+rear.
Instant On: On/Off control and status query.
Lamp Saver Mode: On/Off control and status query.
Projection Log In Code: On/Off control and status query.
Broadcasting: On/Off control and status query.
AMX Device Discovery: On/Off control and status query.
Mac Address: Query command.
High Altitude Mode: On/Off control and status query.

Maintenance Features

The guide provides commands relevant to monitoring and managing the projector's lamp and baud rate.

Baud Rate Control:

The baud rate can be set to 2400, 4800, 9600, 14400, 19200, 38400, 57600, or 115200 bps using commands like <CR>*baud=2400#<CR>.
The current baud rate can be queried with <CR>*baud=?#<CR>. It is important to match the baud rate of the connected projector from its OSD menu.

Lamp Control:

Lamp Hour: Query lamp usage with <CR>*ltim=?#<CR>.
Lamp Mode: Set to Normal, Eco, SmartEco, SmartEco 2, SmartEco 3, Dimming, Custom, Dual Brightest, Dual Reliable, Single Alternative, Single Alternative Eco.
Commands like <CR>*lampm=lnor#<CR> for Normal mode, <CR>*lampm=eco#<CR> for Eco mode, etc.
For Custom mode, the light level can be set with <CR>*lampcustom=value#<CR> and queried with <CR>*lampcustom=?#<CR>.
The Lamp Mode Status can be queried with <CR>*lampm=?#<CR>.

Installation Features

Lens Memory: Commands to load and save up to 10 lens memory presets. For example, <CR>*lensload=m1#<CR> to load memory 1, and <CR>*lenssave=m1#<CR> to save memory 1.
Reset Lens: <CR>*lensreset=center#<CR> to reset the lens to the center position.

The document emphasizes that available functions and commands may vary by model, and users should refer to their projector's specifications and user manual. It also notes that commands work if the standby power is 0.5W or a supported baud rate is set. Error messages like "Illegal format," "Unsupported item," or "Block item" are provided for troubleshooting command execution issues. For LAN control, commands are functional whether they start and end with <CR>, and their behavior is identical to serial port control.