SATO D508, D512 READY/BUSY Flow Control, ON/X-OFF Flow Control, Universal Serial BUS Interface

SECTION 5: INTERFACE SPECIFICATIONS

5.4.2 READY/BUSY FLOW CONTROL

Ready/Busy is the hardware flow control method for the serial interface on the printer. By raising/lowering the voltage level on Pin 20 of the RS232 port, the printer notifies the host when it is ready to receive data. Pin 4 (RTS) and pin 20 (DTR) are the important signals on the printer for this method of flow control. The host must be capable of supporting this flow control method for it to function properly.

5.4.3 X-ON/X-OFF FLOW CONTROL

X-On/X-Off flow control is used whenever hardware (Ready/Busy) flow control is not available or desirable. Instead of a voltage going high/low at pin 20, control characters representing "Printer Ready" (X-On =11 hexadecimal) or "Printer Busy" (X-Off = 13 hexadecimal) are transmitted by the printer on pin 2 (Transmit Data) to the host. In order for this method of flow control to function correctly, the host must be capable of supporting it. X- On/X-Off operates in a manner similar to the function of pin 20 (DTR) as previously explained. When the printer is first powered on it sends an X-Off when the "Buffer Near Full" level is reached and a X-On when the data level of the buffer drops below the "Buffer Available" mark. When the printer is taken off-line manually, it transmits an X-Off indicating it cannot accept data. When it is placed back on line manually, it sends an X-On, indicating it is again available for receipt of data. If an error occurs during printing (paper out, Time Out), the printer sends an X-Off as soon as an error condition is detected. When the error is cleared and the printer is placed back on-line, it transmits an X-On indicating it is again ready to accept data.

Upon power up if no error conditions are present, the printer will continually send X-On characters at five millisecond intervals until it receives a transmission from the host.

5.5 UNIVERSAL SERIAL BUS INTERFACE

The Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface is a factory installed option that must be specified at the time of order. It requires a driver (shipped with each printer that has the interface installed) that must be loaded on your PC and the PC must be configured to support USB peripherals using Microsoft Windows. Details for loading the USB driver are contained in the USB Interface Manual that is shipped with each printer with a USB Optional interface installed. Up to 127 devices may be connected to a USB port.

5.6 LOCAL AREA NETWORK INTERFACE

A Local Area Network (LAN) interface is a factory installed interface option that must be specified at the time of order. It requires a driver (shipped with each printer that has the interface installed) that must be loaded on your PC and the PC must be configured to support the TCP/IP network protocol using a 10BaseT LAN connection. Details for loading the LAN driver are contained in the LAN Interface Manual that is shipped with each printer with a LAN Optional interface installed.

SATO D508/D512 Operator Manual Page 5-7