Parallel Port; Parallel Port Protocol; Figure 24 Parallel Port Data Timing - TransAct Ithaca 90PLUS Series Programmer's Manual

Programmer's Guide

8.2 Parallel Port

8.2.1

Parallel Port Protocol

The Series 90PLUS parallel port behaves just like any printer connected to a personal computer. The
parallel interface accepts 8 bits of data from the host. The strobe signal from the host is used to indicate that
data is available. When the printer sees the strobe signal and has accepted the data, it asserts a busy signal.
The busy signal indicates to the host that the printer has accepted the data and is working on it. When the
printer has been able to absorb the data and is ready to accept another byte, the printer asserts ACK
(acknowledge), negates busy, and then finally negates ACK.
The host computer should meet the following parallel port specifications and timing. In standard PC s, the
strobe signal is generated by software writes to the parallel port control port. This is typically done in the
bios or in some parallel port driver. As personal computers become faster, it is up to the software to assure
that the strobe signal does not get too narrow. One microsecond is about the minimum pulse width that
should be sent down a cable. Shorter pulse widths (500 nanoseconds) will be accepted by the printer;
however, the cable can introduce significant signal degeneration and skew.
It is important that the data be valid before the strobe signal is asserted and remain valid until after the
strobe is removed. A 500 nanosecond setup and hold time is required by the printer.
The following chart illustrates this sequence:
INIT
Pin 16
DATA
Pins 2-9
STROBE
Pin 1
BUSY
Pin 11
ACK
Pin 10
Dstu 500 nS (Min)
Dhld 500 nS (Min)

Figure 24 Parallel port data timing

To implement flow control, the busy signal is asserted by the printer outside the normal data transfer
sequence. The busy signal has several uses, but it always indicates that the printer cannot accept
information. The busy signal may happen at any time and may not adhere to the above timing chart in all
cases. It is up to the host s parallel port driver to handle all possible busy states. It is important that the host
driver does not hang up if it takes some time for an acknowledge (ACK) response to a strobe signal.
Standard personal computer parallel port hardware, implements an interrupt on the ACK signal to make this
task easier.
11/07/05
PcOS Series 90PLUS
< ---- Rdly
Data
Dstu---> < > <-- Dhld
> <--Tstb
<----------------
Rdly Approx. 2 seconds
Tstb 1 uS (Min)
Sdly ----->
Bhld--->
Tcycle --------------->
Ahld ---->
Bhld Approx. 5 uS
Ahld Approx. 5 uS
Sdly 3 uS (Min)
Tcycle 200 - 280 uS Typ.
Rev Q
Communications
Parallel port
Data
<
<
<
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