ABLE Systems Limited DENTON DRIVE, NORTHWICH, CHESHIRE, CW9 7TU, ENGLAND Tel: +44 (0)1606 48621 Fax:+44 (0)1606 44903 Website: www.able-systems.com e-mail: contact@able-systems.com USER INFORMATION for PSCC Parallel to Serial Convertor Cable (Including Specific Information for "Ap1200-PSCC" and "Ap800-PSCC") Revision: 1.2 Filename: Comb_PSCC_UI(1.2).doc Date: 29 Mar. 2004
1 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Table Of Contents...2 2 Introduction...3 2.1 PSCC / Printer Combinations...3 2.2 Copyright and Confidentiality Notice...3 2.3 EMC Disclaimer...3 2.4 Documentation Revision History...3 3 Operation and Connections...4 3.1 Mode of Operation...4 3.2 Parallel Input (PC "D-25") Connections...4 3.3 Exceptions to Centronics Standard Connections...5 3.4 Power Arrangements...5 3.5 Buffer Size, Serial Output Baud Rate and Data Throughput...5 3.6 Serial Output Connections (Ap1200-PSCC Version)...5 3.7 Serial Output Connections (Ap800-PSCC Version)...5 4 Further Information...6 4.1 On-Line Information...6 4.2 If All Else Fails......6 Combined PSCC User Information - Revision 1.2 - Page 2 of 6
2 INTRODUCTION This document is a User Guide, written for the person connecting and using the ABLE Systems PSCC (Parallel to Serial Convertor Cable) in conjunction with an appropriate ABLE Systems printer. Please read this Guide carefully before making any connection. Full details of the operation of ABLE Systems printers are provided in separate User Guides. 2.1 PSCC / PRINTER COMBINATIONS The PSCC unit is currently available in two forms. The Ap1200-PSCC is suitable for use with the Ap1200 panel mounted printer. The Ap800-PSCC is suitable for use with the entire Ap800 range of printers, including the Ap863-F, Ap890 and Ap892. In each case the core PSCC element of the product remains unaltered. The output connector style is selected to match the printer, and a charger socket is included in some versions to allow the printer to be charged. Further variants may be made available in due course (e.g. for the Ap24-XS or Ap25-S panel mounted impact printers). Please refer to the factory for more details if required. 2.2 COPYRIGHT AND CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE ABLE Systems Limited property is subject to copyright. This includes single chip controller firmware, layout diagrams, circuit diagrams, pin connection lists, application data. Other property may also be subject to copyright. However, you may copy this leaflet if you are an ABLE Systems customer AND the copy is for your own use. If you want to copy information to anyone else then you must first obtain permission from ABLE Systems. No warranty in respect of patent rights of ABLE Systems or of third parties is given. You must not amend or copy controller firmware. You may be prosecuted if you do. 2.3 EMC DISCLAIMER The PSCC will not compromise the EMC performance of the ABLE Systems printer, if installed according to the recommendations in the User Guide. 2.4 DOCUMENTATION REVISION HISTORY Title (and Revision Number) Issue Date Comments Combined PSCC User Information Rev 1.1 23 Mar. 2004 This document is the original release Combined PSCC User Information Rev 1.2 29 Mar. 2004 Added discussion of baud rate versions General tidying up Combined PSCC User Information - Revision 1.2 - Page 3 of 6
3 OPERATION AND CONNECTIONS 3.1 MODE OF OPERATION The PSCC comprises: a 25 way male "D-25" connector for parallel data input, a length of cable, a suitable RS-232 output connector for the ASL printers (Ap1200, Ap863-F etc). It is suitable for direct connection to the RS-232 input of the relevant ABLE Systems printer. The convertor allows the printer to operate with data from a standard PC style Centronics-compatible female parallel printer port (sometimes refered to as LPT port). The PSCC is powered directly from the parallel port. The PSCC accepts parallel data into an internal buffer and transmits that data as serial RS-232 signals directly to the printer. If the internal buffer becomes full, then the convertor asserts the busy signal to the parallel port. The PSCC does not allow bi-directional data transfer. Only transmission to the printer is supported. The Ap800-PSCC can be used with an Ap800 printer operating on battery power. The PSCC will wake the printer when data is waiting to be sent, and then allow the printer to go to sleep again after the transmission is complete. 3.2 PARALLEL INPUT (PC "D-25") CONNECTIONS The 25 way "D" connector of the PSCC is intended to be connected directly into a PC parallel (LPT) port. Detailed information should not be necessary for proper operation. The following information is provided in full for applications where the host parallel port is not a standard Centronics port and special measures may be necessary: Pin Signal Name Direction Power No (at PSCC) (at PSCC) Stealing Notes 1 /Strobe Input Yes Data latched in on falling edge of /Strobe 2 D0 Input Yes 3 D1 Input Yes 4 D2 Input Yes 5 D3 Input Yes Eight bit parallel data 6 D4 Input 7 D5 Input 8 D6 Input 9 D7 Input 10 /Ack Output Low pulse output on data read 11 Busy Output High output when converter not ready to receive 12 Paper_out Output Constantly Asserted Low (Paper OK) 13 Select Output No Connection (May require pullup in host) 14 /Autofeed Input Yes Not implemented - Signal ignored 15 /Error Output Constantly Asserted High (No Error) 16 /Init Input Yes Not implemented - Signal ignored 17 Select_in Input 18 GND - Configuration control signals - Must be low (GND) 19 GND - 20 GND - 21 GND - 22 GND - 23 GND - 24 GND - 25 GND - Main power 0V connections (All commoned together) N.B. The "/" prefix character is used to show that the signal is "active low". N.B. Please see the following section for more details on the deviations from the Centronics standard. Combined PSCC User Information - Revision 1.2 - Page 4 of 6
3.3 EXCEPTIONS TO CENTRONICS STANDARD CONNECTIONS Please note that the PSCC does not fully support the following signals: Paper_out - Constantly asserted low to indicate that 'Paper is OK' Select - Left unconnected - A pullup resistor may be neccesary for proper operation /Autofeed - Ignored /Error - Constantly asserted high to indicate 'No Error' condition /Init - Ignored N.B. It is essential for normal operation that "Select_In" (pin 17) and pins 18 & 19 are logic "0" (or grounded). Failure to observe this requirement may result in unexpected operation. 3.4 POWER ARRANGEMENTS The PSCC does not require any external power supply. It derives its operating power directly from a selection of the driven control signals available on the host parallel port. The seven signals used for this "Power Stealing" purpose are shown in the table in section 3.2 above. The total operating current required is around 2mA at a minimum of 3.0V which is well within the capabilities of most PC parallel ports. 3.5 BUFFER SIZE, SERIAL OUTPUT BAUD RATE AND DATA THROUGHPUT The PSCC contains a 74 byte buffer. If this buffer becomes full, then the PSCC will assert the busy control signal to the host. If further data is sent while the busy is asserted, it will be lost. The serial output baud rate in the PSCC is pre-selected at 9600. This matches the default setting for both the Ap1200 and the range of Ap800 printers, and allows transfer of about 960 bytes per second. This output baud rate is usually the limiting factor in defining the overall system throughput. If a higher throughput is required then the PSCC and printer may be configured to operate at a higher baud rate. The maximum baud rate currently supported is 57,600, yielding a thoughput of about 5,760 bytes per second. This may be configured in the field using a setup utility running on a PC, or alternatively the operating baud rate may be specified when each of the units are ordered. N.B. The PSCC and the printer must be set to operate at the same baud rate. 3.6 SERIAL OUTPUT CONNECTIONS (AP1200-PSCC VERSION) The serial output connector of the Ap1200-PSCC connects directly to the 6-way data connector (J2) on the standard Ap1200, which has the following pinouts: Pin No Signal Name Function (at Printer) 1 SGND Signal Ground (Input ) 2 RxD Receive (Input ) 3 BUSY Busy (Output ) 4 TxD Transmit (Output ) 5 N/C (No Connection) 6 N/C (No Connection) 3.7 SERIAL OUTPUT CONNECTIONS (AP800-PSCC VERSION) The serial output connector of the Ap800-PSCC connects directly to the 6-way data connector on the standard Ap800 style printers (e.g. Ap863-F, Ap890 and Ap892). The pinout is as follows: Pin No Signal Name Function (at Printer) 1 TxD Transmit (Output ) 2 BUSY Busy (Output ) 3 RxD Receive (Input ) 4 No Connection 5 Ground ( 0V) Signal Ground (Input ) 6 Charger (+12V) Charger Input (Input ) Combined PSCC User Information - Revision 1.2 - Page 5 of 6
4 FURTHER INFORMATION 4.1 ON-LINE INFORMATION Able Systems maintains a site on the World Wide Web. This includes application data updates, product announcements, and e-mail facilities for customer support. The Windows Driver can be requested from this site: please note that this is a third-party product, and Able Systems do not accept responsibility for the installation or use of this program. Further details are given on the web site. The URL of our web site is: Our e-mail address is: http://www.able-systems.com contact@able-systems.com 4.2 IF ALL ELSE FAILS... You are always welcome to contact Able Systems or your local supplier for specific assistance. We would also appreciate reports of any errors in our documentation, or suggested improvements. Copyright Able Systems Limited 2004. All Rights Reserved Combined PSCC User Information - Revision 1.2 - Page 6 of 6