Description:

This driver supports communication with the HTIQ screen masking system. The driver is designed to work with optional encoder and the masking systems presets to allow aspect ratios to be set directly when a movie is played. This device does not provide any kind of feedback, so this driver is strictly one-way.

The driver relies on the masking system’s presets being programmed to specific values so that aspect ratios strings can be assigned from fields like ChangerManager’s CurAspectRatio directly to the Command value in this driver.

Quirks and Limitations:

None at this time.

Connection Details

This device uses an RS-232 connection, 4800 baud, 8 data bits, no parity and one stop bit. That's very slow but the commands are all pretty simple, and it's a one way only driver anyway.

Driver Fields

This section lists the fields that the driver makes available, their types, minimum and maximum values, etc...

Name	Type	R/W	Description/Limits
Command	String	W	Used to send commands to the driver. See the table below for valid commands

Command Values:

Value	Alternate Value	Description/Limits
0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9		If not preceded by the ‘Program’ command, moves the widescreen mask to the preset position. Does not affect the current position of the 4:3 mask. If preceded by the ‘Program’ command, remembers the current widescreen mask position at the corresponding preset memory location
Program	!	If followed by a number command, programs a corresponding preset location for the widescreen mask.
Open	>	Retracts the widescreen mask to the maximum possible (narrowest aspect ratio).
Close	<	Extends the widescreen mask to the maximum possible (widest aspect ratio).
43Open	+	Retracts (raises) the 4:3 mask.
43Close	-	Extends (lowers) the 4:3 mask.
MoveUp	:	Retracts the widescreen mask slightly. Use this to adjust the mask position in order to set a preset.
MoveDown	;	Extends the widescreen mask slightly. Use this to adjust the mask position in order to set a preset.
1.33		Selects preset 0 for the widescreen mask and lowers the 4:3 mask. This preset is used for NTSC aspect ratios.
1.66	1.67	Selects preset 1 for the widescreen mask and raises the 4:3 mask. This preset is used for European Standard and Super 16 aspect ratios.
1.77	1.78	Selects preset 2 for the widescreen mask and raises the 4:3 mask. This preset is used for conventional 16:9 HDTV aspect ratios.
1.85		Selects preset 3 for the widescreen mask and raises the 4:3 mask. This preset is used for modern theatrical widescreen aspect ratios (e.g., “Star Wars” and “The Matrix”)
2.00		Selects preset 4 for the widescreen mask and raises the 4:3 mask. This preset is used for VistaVision aspect ratios (e.g., “Apocolypse Now”).
2.35		Selects preset 5 for the widescreen mask and raises the 4:3 mask. This preset is used for CinemaScope and early Panavision aspect ratios, (e.g. “Forbidden Planet”).
2.39		Selects preset 6 for the widescreen mask and raises the 4:3 mask. This preset is used for 35mm Anamorphic ‘Scope aspect ratios.
2.55		Selects preset 7 for the widescreen mask and raises the 4:3 mask. This preset is used for Full Heigh Cinerama aspect ratios.
2.59		Selects preset 8 for the widescreen mask and raises the 4:3 mask. This preset is used for CinemaScope 55 aspect ratios.
2.76		Selects preset 9 for the widescreen mask and raises the 4:3 mask.  This preset is used for MGM Camera 65 aspect ratios (e.g., “Ben Hur”).