SECTION 6.
INTERFACE SPECIFICATIONS
INTRODUCTION
The “Se” printers utilize a Plug-In Interface Module for maximum printer
configuration flexibility. This section presents the interface specifications for the “Se”
Series printers. These specifications include detailed information on how to properly
interface your printer with your host system.
The following information is presented in this section:
• Interface Types
• Using the Receive Buffer
• IEEE1284 Parallel Interface
• Universal Serial Bus (USB) Interface
• Local Area Network (LAN) Interface
• RS232C Serial Interface
General Specifications
Electrical Specifications
Pin Assignments
Ready/Busy Flow Control
X-On/X-Off Flow Control
Bi-Directional Communications Protocol
• Bi-Comm Communications Protocol
• Status Response
INTERFACE TYPES
The parallel interface for the “Se” printers is a high speed, bi-directional interface that
conforms to the IEEE1284 specification (ECP mode on some computers). The
interface is also compatible with the older Centronics parallel interface standard. If it
does not detect the correct IEEE1284 signals in the interface connection, it will
automatically operate in the standard Centronics mode which is much slower. To use
the IEEE1284 parallel interface to its fullest capability requires that the host also have
an IEEE1284 compatible interface and that the two be connected with a cable that
meets the IEEE1284 specification. If either of these two are not present, the data rate
is severely compromised.
In order to provide flexibility in communicating with a variety of host computer
systems all “Se” printers use a Plug-In Interface Module. The IEEE1284 Interface
module is shipped with the printer unless another interface type is specified at the
time of the order. The other interfaces available are a high speed (to 57.6K bps) serial
interface, an Ethernet interface or an optional Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface.
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