Quatech SSCF-200 User manual

QUATECH, INC.
5675 Hudson Industrial Parkway
Hudson, Ohio 44236
TEL: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
http://www.quatech.com.
CompactFlash Card
User’s Manual P/N: 940-0190-110
Version 1.10, 02.05.04
User’s Manual
SSCFSSCF--200/300200/300
One Port RS-422/485 Serial
CompactFlash Card

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(c) 2003-2004, Quatech, Inc. This manual is copyrighted. All rights
are reserved. The information contained in this document cannot be
reproduced in any form without the written consent of Quatech, Inc.
Likewise, any software programs that might accompany this
document can be used only in accordance with any license
agreement(s) between the purchaser and Quatech, Inc. Quatech Inc.
reserves the right to change this documentation or the product to
which it refers at any time and without notice.
CompactFlash is a trademark of Sandisk Corporation. IBM®, PC®,
and PC-AT® are trademarks of the International Business Machines
Corporation. Windows®, Windows 95®, Windows 98®, Windows
NT®, Windows 2000®, Windows Me®, Windows XP®, Windows CE®
and MS-DOS® are trademarks of the Microsoft Corporation. All other
trademarks or registered trademarks are property of their respective
owners.
The authors have taken due care in the preparation of this document
and every attempt has been made to ensure its accuracy and
completeness. In no event will Quatech, Inc. be liable for damages of
any kind, incidental or consequential, in regard to or arising out of
the performance or form of the materials presented herein or in any
software program(s) that may accompany this document.
Changes or modifications to this device not explicitly approved by
Quatech will void the user's authority to operate this device.
Quatech, Inc. encourages and appreciates feedback concerning this
document. Please send any written comments to the Technical
Support department at the address listed on the cover page of this
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Quatech CompactFlash Card User’s Manual SSCF-200/300
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Table of contents
1. Overview---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4
2. About The SSCF-200/300------------------------------------------------------------------------------4
3. Installing The SSCF-200/300-------------------------------------------------------------------------5
3.1 Windows CE, PocketPC-------------------------------------------------------------------------5
3.2 Windows 95, 98, Me, 2000, XP ----------------------------------------------------------------5
3.3 DOS & Windows 3.x -----------------------------------------------------------------------------5
4. SSCF-200/300 Register Interface--------------------------------------------------------------------5
5. Hardware Specification --------------------------------------------------------------------------------6
5.1 Pinout -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6
5.2 Electrical--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7
5.3 Power Consumption -----------------------------------------------------------------------------7
5.4 Mechnaical-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7
5.5 Environmental ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7
5.6 Notes on Serial Data Throughput------------------------------------------------------------8
5.7 Baud Rate Settings ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------8
6. Using The SSCF-200/300------------------------------------------------------------------------------9
6.1 Termination----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------9
6.2 Fail Safe Open Circuit Protection------------------------------------------------------------9
6.3 TxD and RTS Drivers ---------------------------------------------------------------------------9
6.4 RS-422 Operation------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10
6.5 RS-485 Operation------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10
7. Warranty-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------11

Quatech CompactFlash Card User’s Manual SSCF-200/300
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1. Overview
The SSCF-200/300 card is a single port RS-422/485 Serial CompactFlash card with the following
features:
•Type I CompactFlash form factor for CF+ equipped PDAs, Handheld, Laptop, & Tablet PCs
Windows 95/98/Me/2000/XP/CE, PocketPC, DOS compatible using O.S. standard drivers
•Industry standard 16550 register set.
•Transmission rates up to 115.2K Baud as standard.
•Switchable x1 or x8 baud rate providing up to 921Kbaud.
•Compatible with 3.3V and 5V systems.
•Hardware modem control line support.
•Compatible with standard PCMCIA slots using CompactFlash Adapter (not included)
•Standard PC IO port decode for COM1 to COMn
•“Any” IO port and interrupt decode option for best PNP flexibility
•ESD protected RS-422/485 drivers
•Software controlled power management
•Low power consumption
•Supplied with 300mm DB9-male terminated cable
2. About the SSCF-200/300
The SSCF-200/300 is a RS-422/485 serial card with a 16550 compatible UART ASIC device. The
serial data and control lines are buffered using ESD protected RS-422/485 drivers.
Industry standard baud rates up to 115.2K baud are supported, together with 16-byte deep TX and
RX FIFOs. A small switch located at the back edge of the card can be used to select a “x1” or “x8”
baud rate multiplier. This feature enables up to 921KBaud operation without requiring special
device drivers on the host (in x8 mode you simply multiply the setting shown on the host by 8 to get
the real serial data rate e.g. 19200 Baud set on host with x8 mode gives 153600Baud true rate in
hardware). See section 5 for the switch settings.
The SSCF-200/300 conforms to the industry standard CompactFlash+ interface that allows
connection of peripherals to the system bus of a laptop, handheld PC or PDA. The CF+ specification
extends the earlier memory-only CompactFlash interface to enable the use of I/O devices and to
provide the extra power required by I/O cards. The SSCF-200/300 is an I/O type device and therefore
requires a CF+ capable slot.

Quatech CompactFlash Card User’s Manual SSCF-200/300
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3. Installing the SSCF-200/300
3.1 Windows CE, PocketPC
There is no need to install any software for Windows CE or PocketPC. Simply insert the SSCF-
200/300 card and it will appear in a list when you set up a “Connection.”For more information about
setting up a “Connection” see the manual for your handheld device.
3.2 Windows 95, 98, 98SE, Me, 2000, XP
The “generic” serial drivers in these Operating Systems support the SSCF-200/300. Before inserting the card,
however, execute the SERIALSETUP.EXE program provided on the Quatech Data Communication CD in the
Serial Port Adapters\Drivers\Windows 95, 98, Me, 2000, XP for CompactFlash directory.
3.3 DOS & Windows 3.1x
Operation in DOS or Windows 3.1 requires 3rd party Card and Socket Services drivers to be properly
installed and configured. Follow your software vendor’s instructions on how to do this.
The SSCF-200/300 requires no extra drivers to operate in DOS. Insertion of the card should create a
familiar “happy beep” as the host software configures the card as a standard DOS COM port.
Resource allocation and troubleshooting is all related to the 3rd party software and any issues that
may arise during configuration should be addressed to the vendors of this software. The SSCF-
200/300 has been tested with: SystemSoft Cardware and Award Cardwizard
4. SSCF-200/300 Register Interface
For reference, the SSCF-200/300 behaves as a 5V card to the host system because Vs1 and Vs2 pins
are not connected. This is to make the host default to 5V when possible, giving the highest RS-
422/485 output signals and therefore the best noise margins. The Card Information Structure (CIS)
does not define any 3.3V tuples because some platforms will also take this as a sign to run at 3.3V
even when 5V is available. On a PDA or HPC, the host will power the card at 5V if it is available, or
at 3.3V if that is the only option (despite there being no 3.3V tuple entries).

Quatech CompactFlash Card User’s Manual SSCF-200/300
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5. Hardware Specification
5.1 PINOUT
The SSCF-200/300 is supplied with a 300mm long Type 46 cable that terminates with a DB9 Male
connector with female screwlocks (to match the port at the back of a PC)
The pin-out below applies to both the SSCF-200/300 card and the DB9 male connector on the
supplied cable (the cable is pinned one-to-one).
PIN NAME FUNCTION
1* RXD-Receive Data inverting input
2RXD+ Receive Data non-inverting input
3TXD-Transmit Data inverting output
4TXD+ Transmit Data non-inverting output
5GND GROUND
6CTS-Clear To Send inverting input
7RTS-Request To Send inverting output
8CTS+ Clear To Send non-inverting input
9RTS+ Request To Send non-inverting output
For ref: mating connector type: Honda rmc-e9f2s-bsla2n-a2
*Pin 1 is nearest the edge of the card.
Baud multiplier switch
PIN 9 PIN 1
x1
x8

Quatech CompactFlash Card User’s Manual SSCF-200/300
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5.2 ELECTRICAL
All figures quoted are typical parameters @ 25°C
ESD PROTECTION: All RS-422/485 signal lines on the SSCF-200/300 card are protected
against electrostatic discharge (ESD)
•>1kv –IEC1000-4-4
UART CLOCK SPEED: x1: UART CLOCK is 1.8432MHz ->115.2KBaud max
x8: UART CLOCK is 14.7456MHz->921.6KBaud max
RS-422 MODE: CTS/RTS flow control signals available.
RS-485 MODE: Auto-tristate of TXD drivers when not transmitting
TERMINATORS: None fitted in card, use an external termination resistor as required.
FAIL-SAFE FEATURE: The receiver inputs include a fail-safe feature that guarantees a logic
high on the receiver when the inputs are open circuit.
5.3 POWER CONSUMPTION
All figures quoted are typical parameters @ 25°C
COMMUNICATION ACTIVE: 80mA typical @ 5V, 55mA typical @ 3.3V
(includes 45mA consumed by terminating resistors)
IDLE MODE : 22mA typical @ 5V, 10mA typical @ 3.3V
5.4 MECHANICAL
MASS: 10g typical.
FORM FACTOR: 36.4mm x 42.8mm x 3.3 mm overall size
5.5 ENVIRONMENTAL
HUMIDITY: <80% non-condensing
TEMP: 0-50°C ambient

Quatech CompactFlash Card User’s Manual SSCF-200/300
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5.6 NOTES ON SERIAL DATA THROUGHPUT
The maximum serial baud rate of 921KBits/sec does not imply that the maximum sustained
throughput rate of the serial port will be as high. The actual throughput rate that can be achieved
depends on many factors including the host PC speed, the serial data source’s data block size and
whether the block are “back-to-back”, whether the interrupt in use on the host is being shared by
other devices leading to increased latency, etc.
As a simple rule of thumb, using the standard serial drivers on a fast PC will allow throughput rates
of 400-600KBits/sec although these rates can’t be guaranteed and will be application specific.
5.7 BAUD RATE SETTINGS
The table below illustrates the common baud rate values available for each of the baud rate
multiplier switch positions:
HOST SETTING SWITCH = x1 SWITCH = x8
300 300 2400
1200 1200 9600
2400 2400 19200
4800 4800 38400
9600 9600 76800
19200 19200 153600
38400 38400 307200
57600 57600 460800
115200 115200 921600

Quatech CompactFlash Card User’s Manual SSCF-200/300
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6. Using the SSCF-200/300 Card
6.1 TERMINATION
RS-422 and RS-485 lines should be terminated at the end of the main branch of the receiver with the
cables characteristic impedance. These terminating impedances reduce signal reflections at the cable
end. It is not necessary to terminate the transmitter end of the cable. The most common method of
termination is to install a terminating resistor, typically with a value of 120Ω, at a single receiver.
The SSCF-200/300 does not have internal terminating resistors fitted as standard. If required, a
120Ωresistor should be connected between the RXD+ and RXD-pins of the DB9 connector. For RS-
422 applications, a terminating resistor will also be required between the CTS+ and CTS-pins.
6.2 FAIL SAFE OPEN CIRCUIT PROTECTION
A transmission line enters an indeterminate state if no drivers are transmitting on it or the line has
been cut. This indeterminate state can cause the receivers to receive invalid data bits from noise
picked up on the cable. To prevent reception of these data bits, the SSCF-200/300 receiver inputs
incorporate 1.2kΩbias resistors (one pulling up on “+” and one pulling down on “-“) that ensure that
the differential voltage on the RXD and CTS pairs is greater than the 200mV input logic “1”
threshold (even in the presence of an external 120Ωterminating resistor).
6.3 TXD AND RTS DRIVERS
The RTS signal driver on the SSCF-200/300 is always enabled, regardless of the mode in which the
card is to be used.
The SSCF-200/300 incorporates an auto-tristate feature on the TXD signal driver. The driver is
enabled only when data is in the process of being transmitted. This mechanism can prevent bus
contention in RS-485 systems (caused by multiple transmitters driving the line in opposing states).
The RS-485 transmitter arbitration scheme is beyond the scope of this guide, and is typically
handled by application software.
Note that when multiple characters are transmitted “back-to-back” the output drivers stay active for
the entire duration of the transmission i.e. the drivers do not go in and out of tri-state for each
character in a multi-character block. The auto-tristate feature is always in operation, regardless of
the mode in which the card is to be used.

Quatech CompactFlash Card User’s Manual SSCF-200/300
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6.4 RS-422 OPERATION
Generally, in RS-422 systems, all 8 signal lines from the DB9 connector are used. Thus 4 twisted
pair cables are used, one pair for each of the 4 signals TXD, RXD, RTS and CTS. The RS-422
arrangement allows data to be transmitted and received simultaneously since each signal has its
own twisted pair.
6.5 RS-485 OPERATION
The SSCF-200/300 can be used for both half-duplex (one twisted pair) and full-duplex (two twisted
pairs) arrangements, however for half-duplex mode, the link between the TXD and RXD signals
must be made externally on the DB9 connector. Also, it should be noted that the transmitted
characters will always be received in this mode. The RXD receiver is not disabled during
transmission.
The handshaking signals RTS and CTS, although driven by the card, are usually not connected to
another node. However, if required by the application software, to force the CTS signal input on the
SSCF-200/300 true, the RTS signals must be looped back to the CTS inputs.