beautypg.com

2 flow control – Matrix Orbital PK162-12 User Manual

Page 31

background image

6.1.13 Set Serial Number (254 52 [byte1] [byte2]) (R)

Modules may be delivered with the serial number blank. In this case the user may set the desired 2 byte

serial number using this

one time only command. Upon the execution of this command, the module will

echo these two bytes back over the RS-232 interface. The serial number may be set only once. Any future

attempt to execute this command will result in no change and the module will return to the originally set

serial number.

6.1.14 Read Serial Number (254 53)

This command will return, over the RS-232 interface, the two-byte serial number of the module as it was

previously stored.

6.1.15 Read Version Number (254 54)

This command will return the firmware version number of the display. The firmware version number is

a 1-byte hex value.

6.2 Flow Control

The display has built in flow control which may be useful when long strings of text are downloaded to

the display. Flow control is enabled or disabled by two commands. If flow control is enabled, the display

will return an "almost full" message (0xFE) to the controller when its internal buffer fills to a defined level,

and an "almost empty" message (0xFF) when the buffer contents drop to a defined level.

6.2.1 Enter Flow Control Mode (254 58 [full][empty])

NOTE Flow control applies only to the RS-232 interface. It is not available for I

2

C.

This command enables flow control. When the buffer fills so that only [full] bytes are available the display

will return an "almost full" message (0xFE) to the controller. When the buffer empties so that only [empty]

bytes remain the dislay will return an "almost empty" message (0xFF) to the controller.

The display will return the "almost full" message for every byte sent to the display until the used buffer

space once more drops below the [full] level.

Whether the user is in ’flow control mode’ or not, the module will ignore display or command bytes

which would over-run the buffer. While in ’flow control mode’ the unit will return 0xFE when buffer is

almost full even though it may have already thrown rejected data away. The buffer size for the display is 80

bytes.

When using this command in an application, selection of the value for the buffer almost full should be

considered very carefully. This is a critical aspect of using this command to it’s full potential. When using a

host system or PC which contains a FIFO, the user should set the value of [full] equal to or greater than the

Matrix Orbital

PK162-12

27