UTC RETAIL PD1200 Operating instructions

PD1200 POLE DISPLAY
PROGRAMMING GUIDE
Congratulations on your purchase of UTC RETAIL’s innovative PD1200 Pole Display!
Designed to suit virtually any POS environment, the PD1200 Pole Display is as user-
friendly as it is customer-friendly. The display features selectable baud rates, 360°pole
rotation and 20°tilt.
The PD1200 Pole Display is a 2 line by 20 character vacuum fluorescent display, with
four programmable display intensities. The PD1200 can have a DB9 RS-232 Serial
interface, or a standard USB 1.1 interface.
This guide is designed to demonstrate how to efficiently program UTC RETAIL’s
PD1200 Pole Display. This guide is not designed for users who are using their PD1200
in an OPOS or JavaPOS Environment.

11393104 Rev G PD1200 Pole Display Programming Guide
UTC RETAIL2
PD1200 Pole Display Programming Guide
February, 2004
All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or
mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior
written permission of UTC RETAIL
This Programming Guide was prepared by UTC RETAIL for use by Qualified
Service Personnel Only. All attempts have been made to ensure that the
information presented in this manual is correct. No liability, expressed or implied,
will be assumed by UTC RETAIL, its dealers, or affiliates, for damage resulting
from the use of this information.
If a unit needs to be shipped to UTC RETAIL for repairs, please return it in the
original packing material and shipping container. If you purchased the PD1200
Pole Display through a dealer, and the dealer is unable to answer your questions,
please call UTC RETAIL Technical Support at 1.800.349.0546.
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class “A”
digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to
provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is
operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can
radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with
the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful
interference, in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at
his/her own expense.
UTC RETAIL
100 Rawson Road
Victor, NY 14564
1.800.349.0546
fax: [phone]
www.utcretail.com

PD1200 Pole Display Programming Guide
UTC RETAIL 3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PRODUCT INFORMATION.............................................................................................4
PD1200 Pole Display Components.................................................................4
Features..........................................................................................................5
General Specifications....................................................................................6
Service and Warranty......................................................................................7
PROGRAMMING............................................................................................................8
Display Control Features and Commands.......................................................8
Display Control.........................................................................................9
Dimming Feature......................................................................................9
Back Spacing Feature..............................................................................9
Horizontal Tab Feature...........................................................................10
Line Feeding Feature.............................................................................10
Carriage Return Feature ........................................................................10
Display Position Feature ........................................................................11
Normal Display Mode Feature................................................................11
Vertical Scroll Mode Feature..................................................................11
Reset Feature........................................................................................11
Flashing Text Start Feature....................................................................12
Flashing Text Stop Feature....................................................................12
Clear to End of Line Feature..................................................................12
Clear to End of Display Feature .............................................................12
Home and Clear Display Feature...........................................................12
Display Character Codes .......................................................................13
TECHNICAL INFORMATION........................................................................................14
Cable Pinouts................................................................................................14
Serial Operating Parameters selection..........................................................15
Jumper tables ........................................................................................15
USB Operating Parameters selection............................................................16
INDEX...........................................................................................................................18

11393104 Rev G PD1200 Pole Display Programming Guide
UTC RETAIL4
PRODUCT INFORMATION
The PD1200 is a 2 line, 20 character per line, Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD)
unit attached to a pole-mounting base. The serial version of the PD1200 ships
factory set for 9600 baud, 8 data bits, and no parity.
PD1200 Pole Display Components
You will find the following components inside the PD1200 Pole Display Box:
•VFD display and pole
•Hat bracket
•Cables
•Wall transformer

PD1200 Pole Display Programming Guide
UTC RETAIL 5
Features
The following is a list of the PD1200 Pole Display features:
•2 Line − 20 Character/Line Vacuum Fluorescent Display
•10.5 mm Character Height
•5 x 7 Dot Matrix
•RS232 Serial or USB 1.1
•360 Degree Rotation
•10 Degree Bi-directional Tilt
•4 Selectable Baud Rates (RS-232 Only)
•4 Programmable Display Intensities
•Flashing Text
•Vertical Scrolling

11393104 Rev G PD1200 Pole Display Programming Guide
UTC RETAIL6
General Specifications
NAME SPECIFICATIONS
Number of Characters 2 rows of 20 characters
Character Configuration 5 x 7 Dot Matrix
Character Set ASCII
Character Height 10.5 mm
Character Width 5.5 mm
Character Pitch 7.4 mm (Horizontal)
Peak Wave Length of
Illumination Green (505 nm)
Luminance 690 cd/m
2
(204fL)
Height 23”
Weight 2.50 lbs.
Width 8.75”
Depth 1.80”
Operating Temperature 0 to +50 degrees C
Storage Temperature -20 to +70 degrees C
Relative Humidity 90% Non-Condensing (Max.)
Power Requirements +5 VDC @ 800 mA

PD1200 Pole Display Programming Guide
UTC RETAIL 7
Service and Warranty
The PD1200 Pole Display comes with a three-year parts and labor warranty.
Assistance and customer service is always available from UTC RETAIL Technical
Support. If your dealer or service provider cannot answer your questions or
provide satisfactory service, please call UTC RETAIL Technical Support. When
calling for assistance or service information, please be ready to provide the model
number, part number and serial number of the pole display. This information is
found on a decal located on the bottom of the pole display.
If the pole display needs to be returned to a repair facility, please use the original
packing material and shipping carton.
The address and telephone numbers to be used for assistance, service, and
warranty information are:
UTC RETAIL
100 Rawson Road
Victor, NY 14564
1.800.349.0546
fax: [phone]
www.utcretail.com

11393104 Rev G PD1200 Pole Display Programming Guide
UTC RETAIL8
PROGRAMMING
The PD1200 Pole Display operates by converting recognized data, supplied by a
communicating device, into a display message. The supplied data may also
contain commands that control the display.
The PD1200 uses a limited command structure for display control, requiring
minimal programming effort. Table 3-1 lists the display control features of the
PD1200 and control codes (in ASCII, DEC, and HEX expression). The display
control command structure, with examples, is described in this section.
Display Control Features and Commands
The following table outlines the PD1200 Pole Display control features and
commands:
FEATURE ASCII DEC HEX
Dimming* <EOT>x 4, x 04, xx
Back Space <BS> 8 08
Horizontal Tab <HT> 9 09
Line Feed <LF> 10 0A
Carriage Return <CR> 13 0D
Display Position* <DLE>p 16,p 10,pp
Normal Display <DC1> 17 11
Vertical Scrolling <DC2> 18 12
Reset <US> 31 1F
Flashing Text Start* <FS> 28 1C
Flashing Text Stop* <GS> 29 1D
Clear to End of Line** <CAN> 24 18
Clear to End of Display** <EM> 25 19
Home and Clear Display <RS> 30 1E
* See command subsection for special information regarding the USB PD1200
** This command is not supported on the USB PD1200

PD1200 Pole Display Programming Guide
UTC RETAIL 9
Display Control
The command and data sequence for all display control features follows the
following structure:
Dimming <EOT>x 04 DEC 04 HEX
Dimming Feature
The dimming command sets the brightness level for the characters displayed.
Where x is the option byte:
Dim Low Medium High
x = 20h 40h 60h FFh
USB Note: Both bytes of the command must be sent in one write to the port,
splitting the bytes between writes will not work.
DIMMING LEVEL ASC II DEC HEX
100 % - 255 FF
60 % ‘ 96 60
40 % @ 64 40
20 % Space 32 20
Back Spacing Feature
Back Spacing <BS> 08 DEC 08 HEX
When the backspace command is executed, the write-in position is shifted to the
left one position, erasing the character, if any, in that position. When the write-in
position is in the first (read from left to right) position of the first row, the write-in
moves to the last position of the second row. When the write-in is in the first
position of the second row, the write-in moves to the last position of the first row.

11393104 Rev G PD1200 Pole Display Programming Guide
UTC RETAIL10
Horizontal Tab Feature
Horizontal Tab <HT> 09 DEC 09 HEX
DC1 Mode
(Normal Display Mode)
The write-in position is shifted to the right one position. When the write-in is in the
last position of the first row, the write-in moves to the first position of the second
row. When the write-in is in the last position of the second row, the write-in moves
to the first position of the first row.
DC2 Mode
(Vertical Scroll Mode)
When the write-in is in the last position of the second row, the characters displayed
in the second row are shifted up to the first row and the write-in moves to the first
position of the second row. This action clears the second row.
Line Feeding Feature
Line Feeding <LF> 10 DEC 0A HEX
DC1 Mode
(Normal Display Mode)
The write-in moves up or down to another row, staying in the same horizontal
position.
DC2 Mode
(Vertical Scroll Mode)
When the write-in is in the second row, the characters displayed there are shifted
up to the first row, leaving the write-in at its present position. This action clears the
second row. When the write-in is in the first row, the write-in moves down to the
second row.
Carriage Return Feature
Carriage Return <CR> 13 DEC 0D HEX
The write-in moves to the first position of the same row.

PD1200 Pole Display Programming Guide
UTC RETAIL 11
Display Position Feature
Display Position <DLE>Tab Over 16 DEC 10 HEX
After writing the <DLE> character to the display, enter a position byte from the
following Character Position Chart (HEX):
USB Note: Both bytes of the command must be sent in one write to the port,
splitting the bytes between writes will not work.
ROW
1 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F 10 11 12 13
2 14 15 16 17 18 19 1A 1B 1C 1D 1E 1F 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
Normal Display Mode Feature
Normal Display Mode <DC1>Tab Over 17 DEC 11 HEX
After writing a character, the write-in is shifted automatically to the right one
position. When the write-in is in the last position of the first row, the write-in moves
to the first position of the second row. When the write-in is in the last position of
the second row, the write-in moves to the first position of the first row.
Vertical Scroll Mode Feature
Vertical Scroll Mode <DC2>Tab Over 18 DEC 12 HEX
After writing the characters up to the last position of the second row, all characters
displayed in the second row are shifted to the upper row (first row), clearing the
second row.
Reset Feature
Reset <US> 31 DEC 1F HEX
All characters displayed are erased, and the write-in position (cursor position) is
set in the first position of the first row. The display mode returns to the power-on
default set-up.

11393104 Rev G PD1200 Pole Display Programming Guide
UTC RETAIL12
Flashing Text Start Feature
Flashing Text Start <FS> 28 DEC 1C HEX
After receipt of this command, all subsequent data received will flash, until a <GS>
command is received. Flashing will be terminated with the flashing text stop
command.
USB Note: The USB PD1200 only supports flashing of the entire screen.
Sending the <FS> command will cause the entire screen to flash.
Flashing Text Stop Feature
Flashing Text Stop <GS> 29 DEC 1D HEX
After receipt of this command, the characters following will not flash.
USB Note: The USB PD1200 only supports flashing of the entire screen.
Sending the <GS> command will cause the entire screen to stop flashing.
Clear to End of Line Feature
Clear to End of Line <CAN> 24 DEC 18 HEX
This command will clear out the display from the current write-in position to the
end of the current line. The current write-in position will not change.
USB Note: This command is not supported on the USB PD1200
Clear to End of Display Feature
Clear to End of Display <EM> 25 DEC 19 HEX
This command will clear out the display from the current write-in position to the
end of the second line. The current write-in position will not change.
USB Note: This command is not supported on the USB PD1200
Home and Clear Display Feature
Home and Clear Display <RS> 30 DEC 1E HEX
This command will clear the display and move the write-in position to the first
position of the first row.

PD1200 Pole Display Programming Guide
UTC RETAIL 13
Display Character Codes
Refer to the ASCII Character Set in the table on Page 15, for a full listing of the
display character codes used by the PD1200.

11393104 Rev G PD1200 Pole Display Programming Guide
UTC RETAIL14
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Cable Pinouts
The PD1200 Pole Display cable connections can be configured to user
specifications. The following graphic shows a typical RS232 (serial) pinout.
DB9 Female RS232 Pinout
1
2
3 Receive Data
4
5 Ground
6
7
8
9 +5VDC Input

PD1200 Pole Display Programming Guide
UTC RETAIL 15
Serial Operating Parameters Selection
The RS-232 PD1200 ships factory set for 9600 baud and no parity. This can be
changed by removing the Lens cover. Push the (2) tabs in on the bottom side of the
display and rotate the cover off, starting at the tab side. Once the lens is removed,
shorting jumpers (supplied) can be added to change both the baud rate and/or parity.
The diagram below shows positions of the shorting jumpers needed for different baud
rates and parities. Up to 4 shorting jumpers may be needed.
BAUD RATE
9600 Baud
. .
7 2400 Baud
. .
7 4800 Baud
. .
7 19.2K Baud
. .
7
DEFAULT
. .
6
. .
6
. .
6
. .
6
. .
5
. .
5
. .
5
. .
5
. .
4
. .
4
. .
4
. .
4
. .
3
. .
3
. .
3
. .
3
. .
2
. .
2
. .
2
. .
2
. .
1
. .
1
. .
1
. .
1
PARITY
No Parity
. .
7 Odd Parity
. .
7 Even Parity
. .
7
DEFAULT
. .
6
. .
6
. .
6
. .
5
. .
5
. .
5
. .
4
. .
4
. .
4
. .
3
. .
3
. .
3
. .
2
. .
2
. .
2
. .
1
. .
1
. .
1

11393104 Rev G PD1200 Pole Display Programming Guide
UTC RETAIL16
USB Operating Parameters Selection
The USB PD1200 can be assigned to any virtual COM port using the configuration utility
that is shipped with the driver, and any Baud-Rate / parity can be used with the virtual
COM port. The driver can be found at http://www.utcretail.com
ASCII Character Set
DEC HEX ASCII DEC HEX ASCII DEC HEX ASCII DEC HEX ASCII
0 00 Ctrl-@ (NUL) 32 20 Space 64 40 @ 96 60 `
1 01 Ctrl-A (SOH) 33 21 ! 65 41 A 97 61 a
2 02 Ctrl-B (STX) 34 22 “ 66 42 B 98 62 b
3 03 Ctrl-C (ETX) 35 23 # 67 43 C 99 63 c
4 04 Ctrl-D (EOT) 36 24 $ 68 44 D 100 64 d
5 05 Ctrl-E (ENQ) 37 25 % 69 45 E 101 65 e
6 06 Ctrl-F (ACK) 38 26 & 70 46 F 102 66 f
7 07 Ctrl-G (BEL) 39 27 ‘ 71 47 G 103 67 g
8 08 Ctrl-H (BS) 40 28 ( 72 48 H 104 68 h
9 09 Ctrl-I (HT) 41 29 ) 73 49 I 105 69 i
10 0A Ctrl-J (LF) 42 2A * 74 4A J 106 6A j
11 0B Ctrl-K (VT) 43 2B + 75 4B K 107 6B k
12 0C Ctrl-L (FF) 44 2C , 76 4C L 108 6C l
13 0D Ctrl-M (CR) 45 2D - 77 4D M 109 6D m
14 0E Ctrl-N (SO) 46 2E . 78 4E N 110 6E n
15 0F Ctrl-O (SI) 47 2F / 79 4F O 111 6F o
16 10 Ctrl-P (DLE) 48 30 0 80 50 P 112 70 p
17 11 Ctrl-Q (DC1) 49 31 1 81 51 Q 113 71 q
18 12 Ctrl-R (DC2) 50 32 2 82 52 R 114 72 r
19 13 Ctrl-S (DC3) 51 33 3 83 53 S 115 73 s
20 14 Ctrl-T (DC4) 52 34 4 84 54 T 116 74 t
21 15 Ctrl-U (NAK) 53 35 5 85 55 U 117 75 u
22 16 Ctrl-V (SYN) 54 36 6 86 56 V 118 76 v
23 17 Ctrl-W (ETB) 55 37 7 87 57 W 119 77 w
24 18 Ctrl-X (CAN) 56 38 8 88 58 X 120 78 x
25 19 Ctrl-Y (EM) 57 39 9 89 59 Y 121 79 y
26 1A Ctrl-Z (SUB) 58 3A : 90 5A Z 122 7A z
27 1B Ctrl-[ (ESC) 59 3B ; 91 5B [ 123 7B {
28 1C Ctrl-\ (FS) 60 3C < 92 5C \ 124 7C |
29 1D Ctrl-] (GS) 61 3D = 93 5D ] 125 7D }
30 1E Ctrl-^ (RS) 62 3E > 94 5E ^ 126 7E ~

PD1200 Pole Display Programming Guide
UTC RETAIL 17
DEC HEX ASCII DEC HEX ASCII DEC HEX ASCII DEC HEX ASCII
31 1F Ctrl-_ (US) 63 3F ? 95 5F _ 127 7F DEL

11393104 Rev G PD1200 Pole Display Programming Guide
UTC RETAIL18
INDEX
360 Degree Rotation, 5
ASCII Character Set, 16
Back Spacing Feature, 9
Bi-directional Tilt, 5
Cable Pinouts, 14
Carriage Return Feature, 10
Character Height, 5
Clear to the End of Display Feature, 12
Clear to the End of the Line Feature, 12
Control Codes, 8
DC1 Mode, 10
DC2 Mode, 10
Dimming Feature, 9
Display Character Codes Feature, 13
Display Control, 9
Display Control Features and
Commands, 8
Display Position Feature, 11
Dot Matrix, 5
Features, 5
Flashing Text, 5
Flashing Text Start Feature, 12
Flashing Text Stop Feature, 12
General Specifications, 6
Home and Clear Display Feature, 12
Horizontal Tab Feature, 10
Line Feeding Feature, 10
Normal Display Mode, 10
Normal Display Mode Feature, 11
PD1200 Pole Display Components, 4
Product Information, 4
Programmable Display Intensities, 5
Programming, 8
Reset Feature, 11
RS232 (serial), 5
Selectable Baud Rates, 5
Service and Warranty, 7
Technical Information, 14
USB, 4, 5
Vacuum Fluorescent Display, 5
Vertical Display Mode, 10
Vertical Scroll Mode Feature, 11