Measurement Computing Micro 488/EX rev.2.1 - Manual (Page 24)

Section 2 Getting Started
2.10
2.5 Mode Selection
SW2-1 and SW2-2 set the major operating mode of the Micro488/EX. There are
four distinct modes of operation.
1. System Controller
2. Peripheral
3. Controller Pass-Thru
4. Peripheral Pass-Thru
As a System Controller, the Micro488/EX accepts simple high-level ASCII
commands from a serial host. It interprets these commands and performs the required
bus action to bi-directionally communicate with up to 14 IEEE devices. As a
Peripheral, the Micro488/EX becomes a bus device. It accepts simple high-level
ASCII commands from a serial host and interprets these commands and status to
communicate with another IEEE controller. Applications include computer controlled
automatic test systems. These modes of operation are discussed in Sections 3, 4 and 5.
The IEEE Controller Pass-Thru (RS-232 to IEEE Converter) mode allows a serial
host device to send data to a single IEEE bus peripheral. Applications include
interfacing a listen-only or addressable IEEE printer/plotter to a serial printer port.
Refer to Section 6 for more detailed information on the Controller Pass-Thru mode of
operation.
The Peripheral Pass-Thru mode is used when interfacing a serial device to an
IEEE controller. Data which is sent by the IEEE controller to the Micro488/EX is
transmitted out its serial port. Data received from the serial device is buffered by the
Micro488/EX until read by the IEEE controller. Refer to Section 7 for more detailed
information on the Peripheral Pass-Thru mode of operation.
The factory default is the System Controller mode.