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Parallel Port CompleteParallel Port Complete

Table of Contents

1 Essentials

  • Defining the Port: Port Types • System Resources • Addressing • Interrupts • DMA Channels • Finding Existing Ports
  • Configuring: Port Options • Drivers • Adding a Port
  • Port Hardware: Connectors • The Circuits Inside • Cables
  • Multiple Uses for One Port: Security Keys
  • Alternatives to the Parallel Port: Serial Interfaces • Other Parallel Interfaces • Custom I/O Cards • PC Cards

2 Accessing Ports

  • The Signals: Centronics Roots • Naming Conventions • The Data Register • The Status Register • The Control Register • Bidirectional Ports
  • Addressing: Finding Ports
  • Direct Port I/O: Programming in Basic • Other Programming Languages
  • Other Ways to Access Ports: LPT Access in Visual Basic • Windows API Calls • DOS and BIOS Interrupts

3 Programming Issues

  • Options for Device Drivers: Simple Application Routines • DOS Drivers • Windows Drivers • Custom Controls
  • Speed: Hardware Limits • Software Limits

4 Programming Tools

  • Routines for Port Access: Data Port Access • Status Port Access • Control Port Access • Bit Operations
  • A Form Template: Saving Initialization Data • Finding, Selecting, and Testing Ports

5 Experiments

  • Viewing and Controlling the Bits: Circuits for Testing • Output Types • Component Substitutions
  • Cables & Connectors for Experimenting
  • Making an Older Port Bidirectional: Cautions • The Circuits • The Changes

6 Interfacing

  • Port Variations: Drivers and Receivers • Level 1 Devices • Level 2 devices
  • Interfacing Guidelines: General Design • Port Design
  • Cable Choices: Connectors • Cable Types • Ground Returns • 36-wire Cables • Reducing Interference • Line Terminations • Transmitting over Long Distances
  • Port-powered Circuits: When to Use Port Power • Abilities and Limits • Examples

7 Output Applications

  • Output Expansion
  • Switching Power to a Load: Choosing a Switch • Logic Outputs • Bipolar Transistors • MOSFETs • High-side Switches, Solid-state Relays • Electromagnetic Relays • Controlling the Bits • X-10 Switches
  • Signal Switches: Simple CMOS Switch • Controlling a Switch Matrix
  • Displays

8 Input Applications

  • Reading a Byte: Latching the Status Inputs • Latched Input Using Status and Control Bits • 5 Bytes of Input • Using the Data Port for Input
  • Reading Analog Signals: Sensor Basics • Simple On/Off Measurements • Level Detecting • Reading an Analog-to-digital Converter • Sensor Interfaces • Signal Conditioning • Minimizing Noise • Using a Sample and Hold

9 Synchronous Serial Links

  • About Serial Interfaces
  • A Digital Thermometer: Using the DS1620 • The Interface • An Application • Other Serial Chips

10 Real-time Control

  • Periodic Triggers: Simple Timer Control • Time-of-day Triggers • Loop Timers
  • Triggering on External Signals: Polling • Hardware Interrupts • Multiple Interrupt Sources • Port Variations

11 Modes for Data Transfer

  • The IEEE 1284 Standard: Definitions • Communication modes
  • Detecting Port Types: Using the New Modes • Port Detecting in Software • Disabling the Advanced Modes
  • Negotiating a Mode: Protocol
  • Controller Chips: Host Chips • Peripheral Chips • Peripheral Daisy Chains
  • Programming Options

12 Compatibility and Nibble Modes

  • Compatibility Mode: Handshaking • Variations
  • Nibble Mode: Handshaking • Making a Byte from Two Nibbles
  • A Compatibility & Nibble-mode Application: About the 82C55 PPI • Compatibility and Nibble-mode Interface

13 Byte Mode

  • Handshaking
  • Applications: Compatibility & Byte Mode • Compatibility, Nibble & Byte Mode with Negotiating

14 Enhanced Parallel Port: EPP

  • Inside the EPP: Two Strobes • The Registers
  • Handshaking: Four Types of Transfers • Switching Directions • Timing Considerations
  • EPP Variations: Use of nWait • Clearing Timeouts • Direction Control
  • An EPP Application: The Circuit • Programming

15 Extended Capabilities Port: ECP

  • ECP Basics: The FIFO, Registers • Extended Control Register (ECR) • Internal Modes
  • ECP Transfers: Forward transfers • Reverse Transfers • Timing Considerations • Interrupt Use • Using the FIFO
  • Other ECP Modes: Fast Centronics • Test Mode • Configuration Mode
  • An ECP Application

16 PC-to-PC Communications

  • A PC-to-PC Cable
  • Dos and Windows Tools: MS-DOS's Interlnk • Direct Cable Connection
  • A PC-to-PC Application

Appendices

  • Resources
  • Microcontroller Circuit
  • Number Systems