Description:

This driver controls the Sony VLP-W10HT DLP projector, which support a limited but still useful serial control protocol that handles most day to day control needs, plus some configuration features that are not supported in this driver.

This driver's server side component is based on the protocol description language.

Quirks and Limitations:

Though the projector's protocol is two way, for some reason if you poll it when it is doing certain operations, it will freak out. Since the only way to know what it is doing it so poll it, this leaves us with a bit of a quandary. So, for now, the driver is one way, i.e. it only writes to the device and does not provide any feedback. This is unfortunate, but the likelihood of getting any answers from a company the size of Sony is small.

Connection Details

The Sony uses a serial connection at 38,400, even parity, 8 data bits, one stop bit, and no flow control. It uses just the usual send, receive, and ground wires, so you can use a standard three wire connection. It must be a null modem cable, not a straight through, so if it's just a 'bought off the shelf' serial cable, you'll probably have to use a null modem adaptor!

The data rate is high for this kind of device, but the protocol is very wordy. Still, given that we cannot poll the device, the baud rate is more than sufficient and response should be fairly good.

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
Aspect	String	W	A write only field that sets the aspect ratio. This is an enumerated field with the values: Full, Full Through, Normal, Normal Through, Zoom, Subtitle, Wide Zoom.
Brightness	Card	W	A write only field that sets the brightness level. The range is 0 to 100.
Color	Card	W	A write only field that sets the color saturation level. The range is 0 to 100.
Contrast	Card	W	A write only field that sets the contrast level. The range is 0 to 100.
CurInput	String	W	A write only field that sets the current input. This is an enumerated field with the values: Video, S-Video, Input A, Input B.
Hue	Card	W	A write only field that sets the hue level. The range is 0 to 100.
Power	Boolean	R/W	A write-only field that sets the current power state of the projector. Write true to power on and false to power off.