Digital Equipment LASO User manual

EK-OLASO-RM-002
LASO Printer
Programmer Reference Manual

EK-OLASO-RM-002
LASO Printer
Programmer Reference Manual
Prepared by Educational Services
of
Digital Equipment Corporation

1st Edition, August 1982
2nd Edition, March 1983
Copyright© 1982, 1983 by Digital Equipment Corporation
All Rights Reserved
The reproduction of this material, in part or whole, is strictly prohibited. For
copy information, contact the Educational Services Department, Digital
Equipment Corporation, Maynard, Massachusetts 01754.
The information in this document is subject to change without notice. Digital
Equipment Corporation assumes no responsibility for any errors that may
appear in this document.
Notice: This equipment generates and uses radio frequency energy. It has
been type tested and found to complywith the limits for a Class Bcomputing
device in accordance with the specifications in Subpart J of Part 15 of FCC
Rules, which are designed to provide reasonable protectionagainst radio and
television interference in a residential installation. However, there is no
guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this
equipmentdoescause interference to radio or televisionreception, the useris
encouraged to try to correct the interference.
Printed in U.S.A
The following are trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporation, Maynard,
Massachusetts.
DEC DECnet IAS
DECUS DECsystem-10 MASSBUS
DIGITAL DECSYSTEM-20 PDT
Digital Logo DECwriter RSTS
PDP DIBOL RSX
UNIBUS EduSystem VMS
VAX
OMNIBUS VT
OS/8

CONTENTS
CHAPTER1 FEATURES
1.1
1.1.1
1.1.2
1.1.3
1.2
CHAPTER 2
2.1
2.1.1
2.1.1.1
2.1.1.2
2.1.1.3
2.1.1.4
2.1.1.5
2.1.1.6
2.1.1.7
2.2
2.2.1
2.2.2
2.2.3
2.3
General . .... ... .. .... .. ........ .... .. ..... .... ... ... . 1
Text Mode .. ... .... .. ........ .... .. ..... .... ... .. .. 2
Graphic Mode .. .... ... ... ... .. .. ....... ....... ... . 2
LA50 Features .. .... ... ... ... .. .. ........... ... ... . 2
Specifications .. ... ... .. ... .. ... ... ... ... .. .... ... ... . 2
COMMUNICATIONS
Data Interface ............. ..... ........ .............. 5
Interface Signals ..... ..... .......... .............. 5
Receive Data ...... ............... .............. 5
Send Data .............. ....... ... .............. 6
Terminal Ready .. .. ......... .. . .. ....... .. ...... 6
Request to Send ......... ... ................ .... 6
Ready/Busy .. .. .... .. . .. . .. . .. . .. .. .... . .. .. .. .. 6
Protective Ground ....... . ...... .............. ... 6
Signal Ground................................... 6
Data Synchronization .. ... ... . ..... ... ... ... ... .... .. 6
Input Buffer........................................ 7
XON/XOFF Protocol . .... .. . .. .. .. .. . .... .. .. . .. . .. 7
Ready/Busy Protocol .. ... .. .. .. .. ........... .. .. .. 8
Data Transmission .................. ...... ........... 8
iii

iv CONTENTS
CHAPTER3
3.1
3.2
3.2.1
3.2.2
3.2:3
3.2.4
3.2.5
3.2.6
3.3
3.3.1
3.3.2
3.3.3
3.3.4
3.3.5
3.3.6
CHAPTER4
4.1
4.1.1
4.1.2
4.1.3
4.2
4.3
CHA.PTER 5
5.1
5.2
5.2.1
5.2.2
5.2.3
5.2.4
5.2.5
5.2.6
PRINTER CONFIGURATION
General .............................................. 11
Front Panel Indicators and Switches ......... ...... .. 11
Ready Indicator. ..... .............................. 12
FAULT Indicator ................................... 12
POWER Indicator .................................. 12
READY Switch .. ... .. . .. .............. .. ... ........ 12
LINE FEED Switch ................................. 12
FORM FEED Switch . ... . .. . .. . .. ............ ...... 12
Configuration Switches. ...... ..... ............. ...... 12
National Character Set Switches .. .... .... .. ..... . 14
Graphics Aspect Ratio Switch SW1-5 ....... . ...... 14
XON/XOFF and Ready/Busy Protocol
Switches SW1 -6 and SW1 -7 ...... .. . .. ... .. ... ... . 14
Right Margin Switch SW1 -8 ... .. ... .... .... .. .... . 16
Baud Rate Select Switches
SW2-1, SW2-2, SW2-3 ................. : .. . .. ... .. . 16
Data Format Switches
SW2-4, SW2-5, SW2-6 .. ... ... .... .... .... .. ...... . 17
TEXT MODE CHARACTER PROCESSING
Text Mode Character Processing ... .. .. .... ... ... ... . 19
Active Column and Active Line .................... 19
Horizontal Advance Increment ..................... 21
Vertical Advance Increment ........................ 21
Printable Characters ................................. 21
Control Characters ............. ............... ....... 21
ESCAPE AND CONTROL SEQUENCES
General .............................................. 27
Escape and Control Sequences ...................... 28
Partial Line Paper Motion ......................... 29
Horizontal Pitch Selection ......................... 29
Vertical Pitch Selection ........................ .- ... 32
Page Length Selection ....................... ..... 34
Character Set Selection ..... ...................... 35
Printing Density Selection ......................... 36

5.2.7
5.2.8
5.2.9
5.2.10
5.2.11
5.2.12
5.3
5.3.1
5.3.2
5.3.3
5.3.4
5.3.5
5.3.6
APPENDIX A
APPENDIX B
FIGURES
2-1
3-1
3-2
3-3
4-1
5-1
5-2
TABLES
2-1
3-1
3-2
4-1
4-2
5-1
5-2
A-1
A-2
A-3
CONTENTS v
Selection of Bold and Underlined Printing ......... 38
Product Identification .............................. 40
Printer Status Request ............................ 41
Printer Status.Report ... ,, .......................... 42
Escape Sequences with 8-bit Equivalents ......... 44
Entering and Exiting Graphic and Text Mode ....... 44
Graphic Mode . ·. ..... .............. ......... .......... 45
Graphic Control Characters ........................ 46
Graphic Carriage Return ........................... 46
Graphic New Line .: ............................... 46
Repeat Sequence ................................. 46
Graphic Substitute ................................. 47
State After Exiting Graphic Mode .................. 47
CHARACTER SET CHARTS
ESCAPE SEQUENCE SUMMARY
Serial Character Format ........ .............. ... ..... 9
Front Panel Controls and Indicators .................. 11
LA50 Printer Configuration Switches .... .. ... ... .... . 13
Changing Switch Positions ... ... ...... .... ... ... ..... 13
ASCII Chart .......................................... 20
Changing Horizontal Pitch ........................... 30
Changing Vertical Pitch .............................. 33
Printer Interface Signals ......... .......... ......... . 5
Character Set Selection .. ... .. ... ...... . .. ... .. .... .. 15
Character Set Switch Positions .... .... .. ............ 15
Text Mode ANSI Control Characters ................. 22
Text Mode ANSI Control Characters ................. 23
Active Character Set Selection ... .. .... .. .. .... .. ... . 37
Character Set Selection .. ... ... .. .... .. .. ...... . ..... 38
ASCII Character Set .. ... ... ... ... ... ..... .. ... .. ... .. 50
VT100 Special Graphic Character Set ................ 51
Finnish Character Set ................................ 52

vi CONTENTS
A-4 French Character Set ................................ 53
A-5
A-6
A-7
A-8
A-9
A-10
A-11
A-12
A-13
A-14
French Canadian
Character Set ...................... 54
German Character Set . .. . .. .. . .. . . .... .. .. ... ... . .. . 55
Italian Character Set ................................. 56
Japanese (JIS Roman) Character Set ................ 57
Katakana Character Set .. .. . .. .. . . .. .. .. . .. ..... .. .. . 58
Multinational Character Set .......................... 59
Norwegian/Danish Character Set .................... 60
Spanish Character Set ............................... 61
Swedish Character Set . ... . .. .. . .. . .. ... ... .. .. ... . .. 62
United Kingdom Character Set ....................... 63

FEATURES
1.1 GENERAL
The LASO is a compact, dot matrix, serial printer. It was designed for use in
personal computer systems, office workstations, and small-sized business
computer systems.
The printer is available in four models.
LASO-RA -120 V
LASO-RB -220 V
LASO-RC -240 V
LASO-RD -100 V
The printer has an input buffer capacity of 2047 characters.
The LASO receives characters and commands through an asynchronous serial
interface. The interface operates at any of several selectable baud rates up to
4800 baud.
The paper feed mechanism is able to move paper both forward and reverse.
The printhead is mounted on a carriage that scans horizontally across the
paper. The printer is capable of bidirectional printing with automatic print direc-
tion determination. The ribbon is in a disposable cartridge.
The printer operates in either of two fundamental modes: text mode or graphic
mode. In text mode, characters define the functions and character symbols usu-
ally associated with alphanumeric printers. In graphic mode, characters d~fine a
single column of 6 dots to be printed, not an entire character image as in text
mode.

2 FEATURES
1.1.1 Text Mode
In text mode, the printer uses a 9-element impact dot matrix printhead to print
characters
in an 8-dot character cell at 100 characters per second. Lines of 80,
96, or 132 characters can be selected to print in the 8-inch wide print region. An
enhanced printing mode is available that allows more fully formed characters to
be printed in a 16-dot character cell at 50 characters per second.
1.1.2 Graphic Mode
In graphic mode the LASO allows the programmer to print graphic images by
sending data that controls the dot printing elements individually.
1.1.3 LASO Features
The following are the main features of the LASO.
• Compact size suitable for desk-top location
• ASCII and multinational character set
• VT100 special graphics character set
• Katakana character set for Japan
• Standard escape and control sequences
• Graphic image printing
• Enhanced printing
• High reliability
• Light weight
• Low cost
1.2 SPECIFICATIONS
The following are the specifications for the LASO.
Print method
Print speed
Character format
(including intercharacter
space)
Incremental with bidirectional
lookahead
100 characters/second
(7 x 9 matrix
printing)
44 lines/minute (80 columns printed
per line)
7 x 9 matrix atfull speed
13 x9 matrix at half speed

Horizontal pitch of 10,
12, 5, 6 characters/inch
Horizontal pitch of 8.25
characters/inch
Horizontal pitch
of
16.5 characters/inch
Graphic mode
Characters
Character pitch
Bold, underline, or enhanced
density with the following
restrictions:
FEATURES 3
1. No enhanced printing when using
VT100 or Katakana character sets
2. Bold and enhanced density cannot
be used at the same time
Bold, underline (no enhanced
density)
Underline (no bold, no enhanced
density)
144
or 180dots/inch horizontal
72 dots/inch vertical
2 to 1 or 2-1 /2 to 1 aspect ratio
94 ASCII
81 multinational
63 JIS Katakana
27
VT1 00 special graphics
1
error indicator
Compressed font -
1.6.5
characters/inch, 132characters/line
Double width -8.25
characters/inch, 66 characters/line
Elite pitch
-12 characters/inch,
96 characters/line
Double width -- 6 characters/inch,
48 characters/line
Pica pitch -10 characters/inch, 80
characters/line

4 FEATURES
Line spacing
Line feed speed
Form dimensions
Form thickness
Paper feed method
Form loading
Ribbon cassette
Power requirements
Power consumption
Weight
Dimensions
Data interface
Double width - Scharacters/inch,
40 characters/line
12,
8, 6, 4, 3, or 2 lines/inch
Partial line up and down, 1
/12 inch
6 lines/inch at 100 ms/line
Single sheets: 3
to 9 inches wide
Up to 0.011 inches, up to 3-part
form
Friction feed and sprocket/pin feed
From rear-top
Operator installable
LASO-RA 120(104 -128) Vac
LASO-RB 220 (191 -23S) Vac
LASO-RC 240 (208 -2S6) Vac
LASO-RD 100 ( 90 -110) Vac
47
to 63 Hz
Less than 180W
8.S Kg (18.7 lb)
400 mm
(W) x 29S mm (D) x 142 mm (H)
(16 in x 11.8 in x 5.6 in)
Serial RS232-C and RS423 EIA
Standard

COMMUNICATION
2.1 DATA INTERFACE
The LASO data interface is RS-232C and RS-423 compatible. It does not include
an interface cable but does include a 25-position plug mounted on the rear of
the cabinet. The printer contains the following interface signals listed
in Table
2-1 for connection to an interface cable.
2.1.1 Interface Signals
The following paragraphs describe these interface signals.
2.1.1.1 Receive Data -The printer receives serial encoded characters on this
line.
Table 2-1 Printer Interface Signals
Function Direction Pin RS-232 Mnemonic
Receive data To printer 3 BB
Send data From printer 2 BA
Terminal ready From printer 20 CD
Request to send From printer 4 CA
Busy or ready From printer
11
Protective ground From printer 1
Signal gro'und Common 7 AB
5

6 COMMUNICATION
2.1.1.2 Send Data -The printer sends serial encoded characters on this line.
Although the bit rate within a character may be up
to 4800 bits per second, the
character transmission rate from printerto
host for any two characters does not
exceed 1
00 characters per second.
The printer,
when transmitting to the host, always includes one stop bit with
each character.
2.1.1.3 Terminal
Ready-The printer sends signals on the Terminal Ready line
which indicate the readiness of the printer to send and receive data. When this
signal is ON the printer is capable of sending and receiving data. When this sig-
nal is OFF the printer is not ready for communication.
The terminal is ready
to send and receive data after it completes its power-up
initializations, and remains ready
to communicate indefinitely.
2.1.1.4 Request to Send -The printer maintains the Request to Send line in
the
ON condition indefinitely.
2.1.1.5 Ready/Busy -This line carries the Busy/Ready signal, depending on
the setting
of the Ready/Busy Polarity switch. The printer is unable to receive
characters
if this signal is in the 'Busy' state and is able to receive characters if
this signal is in the 'Ready' state.
2.1.1.6 Protective Ground -This line is connected via removable jumper into
the chassis ground
of the printer. The chassis is further connected to external
grounds through the third wire of the power line cord.
2.1.1.7 Signal Ground -This line establishes the common ground reference
potential for all other interface circuits.
2.2 DATA SYNCHRONIZATION
Data synchronization with the printer is attained by an input buffer used in con-
junction with either the XON/XOFF
protocol or the Ready/Busy protocol,
depending on ~he position of the protocol switch.

COMMUNICATION 7
2.2.1 Input Buffer
All characters received, except nulls and deletes, are temporarily stored in an
input buffer before further processing. Nulls and deletes are ignored and do not
occupy space in the input buffer. The input buffer has a 2047 character
capacity.
If the printer falls too far behind the incoming data, the input buffer overflows
and data is lost. If characters are lost due to input buffer overflow, a single sub-
stitute control character (octal 032) is placed in the input buffer at the point of
loss. If acharacter is received with a parity error, the character is replaced in the
input buffer by the substitute control character (octal 032) thus causing the error
character (reverse question mark) to be printed. The 032 control character, thus
indicates loss of characters, or a character received with parity error.
When the printer is capable of printing, characters are fetched from the input
buffer and printed or otherwise processed as required. When the printer is
incapable of printing, the printer scans the input buffer for printer status request
control sequences even if the input buffer is full.
2.2.2 XON/XOFF Protocol
Using the XON/XOFF protocol, the data source becomes synchronized with the
printer as described below.
After successfully powering up and becoming enabled to send, the printer
sends an XON control character and constantly monitors the number of empty
character positions in the input buffer. When the number is less than 128, the
printer sends an XOFF control character, signaling the data source to temporar-
ily stop sending data. Meanwhile, the printer continues to take characters from
the input buffer and print or otherwise process them. When the number of
empty positions in the buffer exceeds 224, the printer sends an XON control
character, thus signaling that transmission may resume.
The printer also sends an XOFF control character when it is not ready due to
error conditions or operator actions. Running out of paper or detecting a print-
head position failure causes an XOFF control character to be sent. The operator
actions of opening the cover or placing the printer off-line also cause an XOFF
control character to be sent.

8 COMMUNICATION
The printer sends an XON control character whenever an XOFF state is pres-
ent, and all of the following conditions are true.
• The printer is ready.
• All fault conditions are cleared.
• There are more than 224 empty positions for characters in the inputbuffer.
NOTE: At power up, an XOFF state is assumed.
The printer sends an XOFF control character whenever an XON state is pres-
ent, and any of the following conditions is true.
• The printer is not ready.
• A fault condition occurs.
• There are less than 128 empty positions for characters in the input buffer.
The printer sends an extra XOFF control character if more than 64 characters
have been received since the first XOFF control character has been sent.
2.2.3 Ready/Busy Protocol
The Ready/Busy protocol is functionally the same as the XON/XOFF protocol.
However, instead of sending an XOFF control character, the printer places the
Ready/Busy signal in the Busy state, and instead of sending an XON control
character, the printer places the Ready/Busy signal in the Ready state.
2.3 DATA TRANSMISSION
The LASO printer communicates using serial characters. The serial character
format used must be the same character format used by the computer. Serial
characters are transmitted using a start bit, 7 or 8 data bits, an optional parity bit
and 1 or more stop bits (Figure 2-1 ). The number of bits and the polarity of the
parity (even or old) is switch selectable. Parity errors can be detected for either
polarity.

COMMUNICATION 9
IDLE START BIT OF
STATE OF NEW CHARACTER
70R8 \
DATA BITS -r T - _. -
SPACE+ - .,. - .... -.... - ,. "T 07 I m[TOP
L~OB I 01 I 02 I 03 I 04 I 05 I 06 I MSB I BIT
"MARK" t - .L -.J. - ~ -.J. -..L / ..lT
START ONE BIT WHEN OPTIONAL RETURN TO IDLE
BIT TIME= 8-BIT PARITY STATE OF LINE
ONE/ CHARACTERS BIT
BAUD RATE ARE USED
ath BIT=O
MA-7815A
Figure 2-1 Serial Character Format

PRINTER CONFIGURATION
3.1 GENERAL \
This chapter describes the
LASO configuration switches located in the front of
the printer under the access cover. There are two switch packs with eight slide
switches in each pack. The switches are used to configure the:
• National character sets
• Graphics aspect ratio
• XON/XOFF and ROY /BUSY protocol
• Right margin
• Baud rate
• Data format.
Additional information regarding these items is included in subsequent
chapters.
3.2 FRONT PANEL INDICATORS AND SWITCHES
The following indicators and switches are on the front panel of the LASO (Figure
3-1).
1 mamaoma
\.
READY D FAUL TD POWERD
J
MA-10,017
Figure 3-1 Front Panel Controls and Indicators
11

12 PRINTER CONFIGURATION
3.2.1 READY Indicator
The green READY light indicates the operating state of the printer. The light ·is
on when the printer is ready to print or is printing. The light is offwhen the print-
er
is not ready and will not start.
3.2.2 FAULT Indicator
The red FAULT light blinks when the printer detects an electronic fault. It stays
on when the printer is out of paper.
3.2.3 POWER Indicator
The green POWER light is on when power is applied to the printer.
3.2.4 READY Switch
The READY switch controls the operating state of the printer. Pressing the
switch alternately puts the printer
in the Ready or Not Ready state. Observe the
READY light to determine the state of operation.
3.2.5 LINE FEED Switch
Pressing the LINE FEED switch advances the paper one line.
3.2.6 FORM FEED Switch
Pressing the FORM FEED switch advances the paper one full sheet.
3.3 CONFIGURATION SWITCHES
The configuration switches are set for printer use with DIGITAL systems. They
are located under the access cover (Figure 3-2).
The switch positions
can be changed by sliding the tab with a ballpoint pen or
equivalent (Figure 3-3).
The rest of this chapter describes the switch positions for the system
configurations.