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Centronics parallel connector, Centronics parallel connector 1 – Apple LaserWriter Select 310 Printer User Manual

Page 17

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C H A P T E R 1

LaserWriter Select 310 Hardware

Communication Ports

5

Figure 1-2

An 8-pin serial port connector

Centronics Parallel Connector

1

The LaserWriter Select 310 printer provides a 36-pin connector for communication with
a standard Centronics parallel interface. It is fully compatible with the IBM PC
Centronics port.

The parallel channel is basically unidirectional and is used to input information from the
host computer to the printer. The printer returns minimal status information to the host,
such as /POUT and /FAULT, which flag paper errors. It also returns handshaking signals
such as PBUSY and /PACK. If you require additional status information from the printer
while you are printing to the parallel port, you can use a host computer running a
terminal emulation at 9600 bauds to connect to the serial port of the printer.

Table 1-2

Signal descriptions for an 8-pin serial port

Pin
number

Signal
name

I/O

Description

1

DTR

I

Data terminal ready. Send data when this signal
is asserted.

2

DSR

O

Data set ready.

3

/TXD

O

Transmit data (inverted)

5

/RXD

O

Receive data (inverted)

4, 6

GND

Ground

7, 8

Not used

These pins are not connected

8

7

6

1

5

4

Connected to
chassis ground

2

3