Advanced Laser Router
As laser shows and installations become more advanced, controlling them becomes more of a challenge and expense.  
 
For example, consider a 6 projector beam show. Each projector requires its own DAC for show data. With professional DACs costing more than $500 each, 6 channels will set you back more than $3000.  
 
Using a splitter is a possibility but what you save in DAC cost is offset by the lack of control. A splitter may be able to invert and swap X and Y, but what about color? All splitter outputs will have the same color. Programmable orientation and dynamic color requires individual DACs for each projector.  
 
Graphic shows are also a challenge due to cost and complexity. If multiple projectors need to project the same image but in different colors or orientations, a DAC is required for each projector. What about programmable gain and offset? If each image needs to be adjusted independently, a DAC for each projector is needed.  
 
Enter the Advanced Laser Router! 
 
The Advanced Laser Router addresses the issues mentioned above, and a whole lot more. In an attempt to reduce the production costs of laser shows and installations, the Advanced Laser Router is able to reduce the number of DACs needed and expands the flexibility and control for the laserist or lighting director. 
 
Using industry standard ILDA and DMX signals, the Advanced Laser Router adds a dimension of control not seen in the industry before.  
 
The Advanced Laser Router is a 1U rack mount, ILDA compliant laser projector controller. It is similar in function to a basic ILDA signal splitter with a large number of DMX controllable features. The DMX control of the Advanced Laser Router is what makes this product much more than just a simple signal splitter.
The Advanced Laser Router has 4 modes of operation
Referred to as personalities, the Advanced Laser Router can be easily configured for your specific needs.
  • Basic Splitter - In this mode, DMX is disabled, all outputs are max with offsets set to center.
  • Advanced Splitter - This mode allows basic DMX control over the six outputs.
  • One Input Router - This mode allows advanced DMX control over the six outputs.
  • Dual Input Router - Same as the One Input Router with the added control over a 2nd ILDA input.
More details about the individual personalities may be found by clicking the links above.
In the most advanced mode (Dual Input), the Router has the following independant capabilities for each of the 6 outputs, all controlled by DMX: 
 
Where an output is getting it's input from. The following signals can be mapped dynamically, by DMX, from either input 1 or 2 to each output indendently: 
  • X Source
  • Y Source
  • Red Source
  • Green Source
  • Blue Source 
Each output can be dynamically altered by DMX: 
  • X Normal/Invert
  • Y Normal/Invert
  • X/Y Swapped 
Each output can dynamically use color information from either input 1 or 2. In addition, color channels can be mapped to other color channels. The Advanced Laser Router allows every output to get it's color signal from any input color signal. For instance, say a signal is only projecting in Red but you would like one of the outputs to be Purple, Using DMX, the laserist or lighting director would map the Red input to both the RED and Blue outputs. The mapping can be altered live allowing maximum flexibility.
  • Red Mapping
  • Green Mapping
  • Blue Mapping 
The gain of each output's color channels can be independantly, dynamically adjusted. This allows on the fly color changes. This feature can also be used for color balancing of each projector. 
  • Red Gain
  • Green Gain
  • Blue Gain 
The position and size of each output can be independantly, dynamically adjusted. In a static installation, this allows the size and posiston of each output to be adjusted so all projections are aligned. 
  • X Gain
  • X Offset
  • Y Gain
  • Y Offset
The Router has been tested with multiple DMX lighting consoles and with assorted DMX computer interfaces. It has also been tested with Art-Net and OSC.
 
The Advanced Laser Router has also been tested with Pangolin's Beyond software. In Beyond, DMX cues can be created to add effects to the individual outputs of the router. To the right is an example of the Router controlling 3 different projectors. With only a single DAC attached, the Router is able to manipulate the output channels to add the rotating effects you see. This was a DMX cue created in Beyond, along with the single stationary frame being displayed from Beyond. 

 
Advanced Laser Router Specifications: 
 
  • Two ILDA inputs - ILDA input B is only used when the Router is in Dual Input Router mode.
  • Interlocks are optically isolated and short circuit protected. If the connection between the Advanced Laser Router and the DAC is lost, all output interlocks will open.  
  • Two fully buffered ILDA pass-thrus - Regardless of Router mode, the pass-thrus provide a buffered pass-thru of their respective ILDA input.  
  • Six DMX controllable ILDA outputs - The Router uses X, Y, R, G, B, shutter and interlock. All others are ignored. Output signals are clamped to the ILDA standard voltage levels.  
  • DMX Address - Can be set with front panel, RDM or RDMX. Range is 1 to 400.  
  • DMX Input and Thru- 3 pin, optically isolated. The Advanced Laser Router will ship with a "3 pin male  <-> 5 pin female" and a "3 pin female <-> 5 pin male" adapter. 
 
User Interface: 
  • Front panel has recessed trimmers to manually adjust offset and gain for all six outputs. These trimmers are independent of the DMX controlled offsets and gains and are used for setting the maximum size and relative positioning of each output.
  • A single encoder and 2x20 LCD display is used for status and configuration of the Advanced Laser Router.  
  • An E-Stop button that will break the Interlock loop when pressed and reset when manually turned. 
  • A tubular key to control access to configuration parameters and personality selection. 
  • VGA Monitor Port that allows you to see which DMX address controls which effect. Very useful when programming! More details about the VGA port may be found on the individual personality pages listed above.  
  • Power - 100-240VAC, 50-60Hz through a Neutrik PowerCon.
  • RDM v1.20 compliant.  
Using the TouchOSC app (http://hexler.net/software/touchosc) available for both Apple and Android, we have created the an OSC layout for the Advanced Laser Router. 
 
It allows full control of the Advanced Laser Router with OSC compatible software including Pangolin Beyond.
The Advanced Laser Router will ship with the following accessories: 
 
3 pin male <-> 5 pin female DMX adapter 
3 pin female <-> 5 pin male DMX adapter 
Trimmer tools 
Key 
The Advanced Laser Router has been discontinued