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Glossary
Characters per second (CPS)
is a measurement of printing speed, like miles
per hour for an automobile. The Gemini printers have a print speed of 120
CPS at 10
characters per inch (CPI)_
Chip
is a small integrated circuit that is made from multiple layers of silicon
and other materials, which conducts electricity in a manner that renders the
device capable of handling computer-logic tasks.
Computer
is a device that can automatically process and execute a sequence
of mathematical or logical operations.
Computer language
is the set of software instructions understood by the
computer that allows the user to communicate human ideas through
electronic devices.
Data
is a collection of factual information, converted to a form (coding) that
allows it to be stored, transmitted, and manipulated by computers and their
peripherals.
Diode
is a semiconductor, such as the
light-emitting diode (LED)
that is each
lamp on the printer's control panel.
Direct current (DC)
is electrical current that flows in one direction ("directly"),
such as with devices powered by flashlight batteries. The Gemini power unit
converts the input AC power into voltages of
+5V DC (which is used as a
power supply for the CPU, ROM, and RAM),
+8V DC (used to hold the
positions of the motors and as a power supply to reset the timing circuit),
+24V DC (used to drive the solenoids of the print head, and the motors).
Down-Loading
(Down-Loadable Character Sets) is the ability to transfer
programmed character codes from a computer to a receptive peripheral
device (Gemini-10X/15X) that contains storage RAM for such "down-loading"
of specially created symbols.
Dual In-line Package (DIP) switch
is a set of "microswitches" that allows you
to quickly convert your machine to perform important functions.
Dump
is a term for copying a storage file from the computer onto a line printer
or other peripheral device.
Escape character
is the signal sent from your computer to Gemini, via your
pressing the
ESC
key on the keyboard, that initiates one of the
escape-
function codes
that control some of the printer's key operating parameters.
In BASIC, sending
CHR$(27),
which is the code for ESC, initiates one of the
ESC function control commands.
File
is a collection of related records that are treated as a single set of data
for purposes of storage, retrieval, and transmission.
Form Feed (FF)
is a paper-advancing function that is initiated by pressing
the FF button on the control panel while the printer is in the "local" mode.
FF advances the paper around the platen and stops at the first line of the
next page. FF may also be activated through software control.
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