This was an parts, assembly and brief use booklet for a reading device for the blind.

1. TOPAZ™
Connectivity Pack
User's Guide
Freedom Scientific Blind/Low Vision Group, Inc.
September 2006
Part Number # 440340-001 Rev. B

2. PUBLISHED BY
Freedom Scientific
11800 31st Court North
St. Petersburg, Florida 33716-1805
USA
www.FreedomScientific.com
Information in this document is subject to change without notice. No part of this publication
may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, for
any purpose, without the express written permission of Freedom Scientific.
© 2006 Freedom Scientific Blind/Low Vision Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
TOPAZ™ is a trademark of Freedom Scientific Blind/Low Vision Group, Inc. in the United
States and other countries.
ii TOPAZ Connectivity Pack User’s Guide

3. Table of Contents
Introduction ..................................................................................... 1
What’s Included with the TOPAZ Connectivity Pack .................... 2
Installing the Connectivity Pack to TOPAZ .................................. 3
Attaching Components to the Pack .............................................. 6
1 Control Pad ................................................................................ 8
2 Power......................................................................................... 8
3 Computer Monitor ...................................................................... 9
4 Foot Pedal................................................................................ 10
5 Distance Camera ..................................................................... 11
Using the Control Pad .................................................................. 12
Power Button .............................................................................. 14
View Selection Button (Orange).................................................. 14
TOPAZ Connectivity Pack User’s Guide iii

4. Camera Selection Button (Yellow) .............................................. 15
Line Button (Red) ........................................................................ 15
Windows Button (Blue) ............................................................... 16
Position Dial ................................................................................ 16
Width Dial.................................................................................... 17
Using the Foot Pedal .................................................................... 18
What To Do If You Have Difficulty ............................................... 20
iv TOPAZ Connectivity Pack User’s Guide

5. Introduction
The TOPAZ Connectivity Pack lets you connect a computer and a
camera to the TOPAZ. The Connectivity Pack also provides:
Additional display controls via a control pad and a foot pedal
The ability to cycle through the document camera, an optional
distance camera (if available), and the computer screen
Split-screen displays of the document and the computer screen,
or the distance camera and the computer screen
Masking
Line display
TOPAZ Connectivity Pack User’s Guide 1

6. What’s Included with the TOPAZ Connectivity Pack
The TOPAZ Connectivity Pack includes the following:
Connectivity box
Power supply
Hand-operated control pad
Foot pedal (with attached cable)
RJ45 cable (for the control pad)
TOPAZ Connectivity Pack User’s Guide
Note: A VGA-type cable for connecting the computer monitor to
the Connectivity Pack is not included with this package.
2 TOPAZ Connectivity Pack User’s Guide

7. Installing the Connectivity Pack to TOPAZ
The TOPAZ Connectivity Pack connects to the back of the TOPAZ
and requires no special tools or equipment to install. Before you
begin, move to the back of the TOPAZ.
1. Disconnect the two power cables and video cable from the back
of the camera module.
2. Line up the screws on the connectivity box with the keyhole
locks on the back of the TOPAZ support column and slide the
box firmly into place. (See illustration on next page.)
TOPAZ Connectivity Pack User’s Guide 3

8. Keyhole Keyhole
Locks Locks
4 TOPAZ Connectivity Pack User’s Guide

9. 3. Replace the power cables. (See the section on Connecting the
Power Cables in the TOPAZ User’s Guide.)
4. Connect the video cable to the monitor video port on the
connectivity box.
5. Plug one end of the RJ45 cable into the connectivity box and the
other end into the rectangular RJ45 port on the back of the
TOPAZ just below the power input ports.
6. Connect the power adapter to the connectivity box.
You are now ready to connect the components that you want to use
with the TOPAZ. (See the section Attaching Components to the Pack
on the next page.)
TOPAZ Connectivity Pack User’s Guide 5

10. Attaching Components to the Pack
Optional Distance Camera
Connection Port
Control Pad
Power Connection Port Connection Port
Left-side view of Connectivity Pack and input ports
6 TOPAZ Connectivity Pack User’s Guide

11. VGA-Type Computer
Monitor Input Port Foot Pedal
Connection Port
Right-side view of Connectivity Pack and input port
TOPAZ Connectivity Pack User’s Guide 7

12. 1 Control Pad
The control pad port is located on the lower left side of the
Connectivity Pack. The control pad port is slightly smaller than the
distance camera port. To connect the external control pad to the
TOPAZ, push the control pad’s cable into the port until you hear a
click. For information on using the control pad, see the section on
Using the Control Pad.
2 Power
The power connector is located on the lower left side of the
Connectivity Pack and supplies power to all the components in the
TOPAZ Connectivity Pack. To connect the power adapter, plug it into
the small round port.
8 TOPAZ Connectivity Pack User’s Guide

13. 3 Computer Monitor
The computer monitor port is located on the lower right side of the
Connectivity Pack and allows you to view your computer monitor on
the TOPAZ. To connect your computer monitor to TOPAZ, plug a
VGA-type cable (not included) into both the monitor port on your
computer and the monitor input port on the connectivity box.
Note: Your computer monitor must be set for a screen resolution
of 1024 x 768 and at 60 Hertz. Any settings other than this
will cause the screen-view to roll.
TOPAZ Connectivity Pack User’s Guide 9

14. 4 Foot Pedal
The foot pedal port is located on the lower right side of the
Connectivity Pack. The foot pedal lets you cycle through various
screen-views as desired. The foot pedal plug is a standard 1/8”
audio-type jack which you attach directly to the foot pedal. To
connect the foot pedal to the Connectivity Pack, push the plug firmly
into the port. For more information, see the section on Using the Foot
Pedal.
10 TOPAZ Connectivity Pack User’s Guide

15. 5 Distance Camera (Optional)
The optional distance camera port is located on the lower left side of
the Connectivity Pack and connects the distance camera to the
TOPAZ. The distance camera port is slightly larger than the control
pad port. To connect the distance camera, push the camera cable
into the port until you hear a click.
TOPAZ Connectivity Pack User’s Guide 11

16. Using the Control Pad
The hand-operated control pad allows you to increase the functions
of the TOPAZ. The control pad lets you:
Cycle through the full-screen display of the document camera,
the optional distance camera, and the computer screen
Display split-screen views of the computer screen and the
document camera or the distance camera
Mask unnecessary parts of the screen so that you can focus on
specific lines of text only.
Display guidelines to help you maintain your place while reading
12 TOPAZ Connectivity Pack User’s Guide

17. Using the control pad is covered on the following pages.
Width Dial
Position
Dial
Horizontal
Guidelines
Masking
Button Power
Button
Camera
Selection View
Button Selection
Button
The TOPAZ hand-operated control pad
TOPAZ Connectivity Pack User’s Guide 13

18. Power Button (Green)
Press the Power button to turn the connectivity box, TOPAZ monitor,
and the connected cameras on or off.
View Selection Button (Orange)
Press the View Selection button to cycle through a full-screen view
of the computer screen, a split-screen view of the computer and the
selected camera, and a full-screen view of the camera.
14 TOPAZ Connectivity Pack User’s Guide

19. Camera Selection Button (Yellow)
If a secondary camera is connected, press the Camera Selection
button to switch between the document camera and the secondary
camera. This switches the camera image you are viewing. (This
button is non-functional if only one camera is connected or you are in
the full-screen PC view mode.)
Line Button (Red)
Press the Line button to display horizontal guidelines that help you
read lines of text. Press the button again to display vertical lines to
help you read columns of text. Press the button a third time to turn off
the line display.
TOPAZ Connectivity Pack User’s Guide 15

20. Windows Button (Blue)
Press the Windows button to turn masking on and off and to switch
between horizontal and vertical masking.
In the split-screen mode the Windows button switches from
horizontal split-screen mode to vertical split-screen mode.
Position Dial
Turn the Position dial to move the primary line up or down. The
primary line helps you maintain your place while reading. Turn the
dial to the left to move the primary line upward. Turn the dial to the
right to move the line downward.
16 TOPAZ Connectivity Pack User’s Guide

21. In the split-screen mode the Position dial changes the amount of the
monitor each side of the screen uses.
Width Dial
The Width dial controls the distance between the primary line and a
second line. The secondary line, or boundary line, defines your
reading area and the area that you want to mask. Turn the Width dial
left to move it above the reference line or to the right to move it below
the reference line.
In the split-screen mode, the Width dial changes the part of the
screen that is displayed.
TOPAZ Connectivity Pack User’s Guide 17

22. Using the Foot Pedal
The foot pedal lets you cycle through the components of the TOPAZ.
The TOPAZ Connectivity Pack foot pedal
18 TOPAZ Connectivity Pack User’s Guide

23. With no optional distance camera attached you can show:
The computer view
A split-screen view of the computer and the document
The document only view
With the optional distance camera attached you can show:
The computer view
A split-screen view of the computer and the distance camera
The distance camera view
The document only view
TOPAZ Connectivity Pack User’s Guide 19

24. What To Do If You Have Difficulty
Contact the Freedom Scientific Technical Support Department for
technical assistance with the TOPAZ Connectivity Pack. To contact
Freedom Scientific Technical Support by telephone within the United
States, call (727) 803-8600, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 AM to
7:00 PM, Eastern Daylight Time. Alternatively, e-mail your questions
to Support@FreedomScientific.com.
If you cannot resolve your issue visit www.FreedomScientific.com.
Select Support to search the Knowledge Base. The Knowledge Base
contains articles that address common questions and technical
issues concerning Freedom Scientific products.
20 TOPAZ Connectivity Pack User’s Guide

25. Note: This device has no user-serviceable components. Any
unauthorized attempt to service or replace internal
components will void the product’s warranty.
When you call be sure to have your documentation available and be
prepared to provide the following information:
Product name
A detailed description of the problem
What you were doing when the problem occurred
How you attempted to resolve the problem
TOPAZ Connectivity Pack User’s Guide 21