MICROPLOT 50A

The MicroPlot 50A interface converter allows HP PCL5/6 (Printer Command Language, version 5 or 6) LaserJet III and above and HP DeskJets 1200/1600/2500C+/2250 parallel printers to be used as plotters with IEEE-488 (HP-IB/GPIB) controllers. When these HP printers are programmed by the MicroPlot to operate as plotters, they are referred to as Switched Plotters; i.e., HP-GL(HP Graphics Language) vector graphics are supported. All other HP printers which implement PCL raster graphics are supported and are referred to as Printers.

The MicroPlot 50A is equipped with Variable Resolution, HP-GL /Plotter Emulation, Auto Page Eject, Color, and Speed modes. These OPERATING MODES, along with the type of devices they support (printers/switched plotters) are discussed in detail in the following sections.

The MicroPlot 50A is an interface converter only - it will not convert between printer or plotter languages. Your software must send the correct data format to the MicroPlot and printer. HP computers and test instruments send text and raster graphics data to printers in PCL format, and vector graphics data in HP-GL format. Most HP printers accept PCL data and all HP plotters (including switched plotters) accept HP-GL data. The MicroPlot will accept both PCL and HP-GL data. Unless you are printing text only, you must use a HP-compatible printer with HP (or comparable) equipment. Consult your computer or software manual to ensure the printer you wish to use is supported before connecting the MicroPlot.

The MicroPlot 50A is a one-way converter: from HP-IB to Parallel. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO USE IT IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION (i.e., with the MicroPlot 50A Centronics output connected to a computer parallel output port) or the unit may be damaged.

The Variable Resolution mode of the MicroPlot 50A allows owners of HP DeskJet and LaserJet printers (or compatibles) to select the raster graphics resolution, and hence the size of the graphics output, of their printer by setting switches on the MicroPlot before powering on or after RESETting the unit. To increase the graphics size, lower the resolution; to decrease the graphics size, raise the resolution. Once the resolution has been set, it remains in effect until the switch settings are changed and power re-applied or the RESET switch on the side of the MicroPlot is pushed and released. Note that the VR option sends the resolution commands to the printer only when the MicroPlot is first turned on or RESET. Any subsequent graphics resolution control characters sent to the printer by the computer or test equipment will override the commands sent by the MicroPlot. Also, turning the printer off and then on without resetting the MicroPlot, will result in the printer being reset to its default condition. If you wish to change the printer resolution, always power on or reset the MicroPlot after the printer has been turned on and is in the ready state. To reset the MicroPlot, push the momentary-contact RESET switch, wait a few seconds, and release. The power indicator will go out while the switch is pressed.

Most individual printers do not implement all of the resolutions provided by the MicroPlot. Consult your printer manual to determine which resolutions are applicable.

The MicroPlot 50A allows HP PCL5/6 printers to be used as plotters by sending commands to the printer that enable the HP-GL subset of the PCL5/6 command set (To date, PCL5/6 is available on the LJIIIand later series Printers and DeskJet 1200/16002500C+/2250 printers).This mode is particularly useful when connecting a LaserJet to a test instrument that supports only plotters or when the extra speed of HP-GL (vector graphics) is desired in lieu of the relatively slow PCL raster (bit-mapped) graphics.

When the MicroPlot is in the HP-GL mode, it emulates a HP 7440A plotter by returning the appropriate responses to plotter-query commands. The 7440A plotter was chosen because the X-Y plotting coordinates of this model provide a good “fit” on 8.5” X 11” paper.

In this mode, the MicroPlot intercepts and reverses printer color palette commands, or changes a plotter yellow pen command to a brown pen command, sent by the controller. Use this mode if you obtain color PCL graphics on a black background or, when in the HP-GL mode, a yellow trace that is difficult to photocopy.

In this mode, the MicroPlot response is slowed by a factor of approximately 7 to more closely match the response of a HP PaintJet printer. Use this mode if you obtain a partial printout and then the controller quits sending data.

This feature automatically ejects the page at the end of each plot or printout after a set delay has elapsed. This delay can be disabled (RESET switch on side of unit must be pressed to eject the page) or enabled by setting internal switch positions 1-3 to OFF or the desired delay respectively. Factory default is delay enabled and preset to 4 seconds which seems to give the most reliable results with the different models of test instruments tested.

This feature, which is transparent to the user, automatically sends Variable Resolution or HP-GL commands to the printer at set intervals. This prevents HP and other network printers from resetting to the factory default mode between plots.

The MicroPlot HP-IB port connects to the controller with a HP-IB (IEEE-488) cable: HP model 10833A, Intelligent Interfaces model 52-2201, or equivalent. The Parallel port connects to the printer with the PC printer cable supplied with the unit.

If your controller does not issue a Form Feed character at the end of a plot, pressing the RESET switch when in the Variable Resolution or HP-GL mode will reset the printer and cause the page to be ejected. Also, sending successive plots to the printer (without pressing RESET between plots) will cause the printer to eject the previous plot if its page buffer cannot hold another full drawing. In this case, press RESET to eject the last plot in the queue. The above assumes that you have turned the automatic page eject feature off as explained below.

To place multiple plots on a sheet of paper, first turn the automatic page eject feature off as described below, set the unit to your Variable Resolution choice, and then send successive plots to the printer. After the last plot is sent, push the RESET switch to eject the paper from the printer. This procedure will not work in the Variable Resolution "default" mode (Positions 6 - 8 OFF), or if an Interface Clear (IFC) or form feed command is sent by the controller at the end of each plot. Since most HP-GL plots fill virtually all of a page, this is not applicable in HP-GL mode.

The settings for the configuration switch on the side of the MicroPlot are shown below. A "0(zero)" indicates the switch is turned OFF; a "1" indicates the switch is turned ON (the "ON" direction is shown on the left side of the switch). Factory settings are address 5, HP-GL mode ON, and Color Mode ON. Therefore, switch positions 1,3, & 6-10 are ON; all others are OFF.

ADDR	1	2	3	4	5	ADDR	1	2	3	4	5
0	0	0	0	0	0	16	0	0	0	0	1
1	1	0	0	0	0	17	1	0	0	0	1
2	0	1	0	0	0	18	0	1	0	0	1
3	1	1	0	0	0	19	1	1	0	0	1
4	0	0	1	0	0	20	0	0	1	0	1
5	1	0	1	0	0	21	1	0	1	0	1
6	0	1	1	0	0	22	0	1	1	0	1
7	1	1	1	0	0	23	1	1	1	0	1
8	0	0	0	1	0	24	0	0	0	1	1
9	1	0	0	1	0	25	1	0	0	1	1
10	0	1	0	1	0	26	0	1	0	1	1
11	1	1	0	1	0	27	1	1	0	1	1
12	0	0	1	1	0	28	0	0	1	1	1
13	1	0	1	1	0	29	1	0	1	1	1
14	0	1	1	1	0	30	0	1	1	1	1
15	1	1	1	1	0	LA	1	1	1	1	1

LA (Listen Always) - Unit responds to all data sent over the buss regardless of address. Use this setting only when the controller and MicroPlot are the only devices on the buss and HP-GL mode is not selected.

Resol./Mode	6	7	8	9	Resol./Mode	6	7	8	9
Default	0	0	0	0	Undefined	0	0	0	1
75P	1	0	0	0	75LS	1	0	0	1
100P	0	1	0	0	100LS	0	1	0	1
150P	1	1	0	0	150LS	1	1	0	1
200P	0	0	1	0	200LS	0	0	1	1
300P	1	0	1	0	300LS	1	0	1	1
600P	0	1	1	0	600LS	0	1	1	1
Undefined	1	1	1	0	HPGL LS	1	1	1	1

P - Portrait Mode can be used with all HP-compatible PCL printers

Color Mode (Pos.10) - Set this switch ON to reverse the color palette when you obtain graphs with black backgrounds or when plotting (HP-GL mode) in color.

Speed Mode (Pos. 11) - Set this switch ON to slow down the MicroPlot when you obtain only a partial printout of a plot.

When this mode is selected, the MicroPlot 50A will automatically eject the page at the end of each plot or printout after a set delay has elapsed. This delay can be set to Off (feature disabled, RESET switch on side of unit must be pressed to eject the page) or from 1 to 7 seconds. The delay has been preset at the factory to 4 seconds which seems to give the most reliable results with the different models of test instruments tested.

To change or disable the delay, disconnect the power and all cables from the unit; remove the four screws on the bottom of the unit; and set the internal 4-position DIP switch labeled “SW3” on the printed circuit board according to the table below. “0” indicates the switch is set to the OFF position; “1” indicates the switch is set to the ON position.

Position 4 is used to enable (Position 4 ON) or disable (Position 4 OFF) this feature. Set parallel poll enable ON when you wish to replace a HP-IB printer when using an old HP computer system.

1) Set the MicroPlot 50A to the correct HP-IB address, mode, and resolution using the twelve-position switch on the side of the MicroPlot. The MicroPlot is set at the factory to address 5, HP-GL Landscape, Color Mode ON (Switch positions 1,3,6-10 ON); all other switch positions are OFF. Refer to the Setting the MicroPlot Switch section of this manual.

2) Attach the HP-IB cable from the computer/controller connected to a grounded power outlet to the "HP-IB" connector on the MicroPlot. CAUTION: This step or step 3) below must be performed before the printer cable is connected to the MicroPlot. Printers with ungrounded power cords (2-prong plugs) can have up to -35Vdc on the printer shield (even when then printer is turned off) prior to grounding through the HP-IB cable or grounded power adapter. Connecting the printer cable before grounding the converter can cause the converter to prematurely fail. Use ONLY the AC-DC adapter supplied with this unit!

3) Plug the grounded wall mount power supply connector into the female connector located on the side of the MicroPlot. Plug the grounded wall mount power supply into a grounded AC outlet, which will activate the LED indicator next to the Centronics connector. CAUTION: This step or step 2) above must be performed before the printer cable is connected to the MicroPlot. Printers with ungrounded power cords (2-prong plugs) can have up to -35Vdc on the printer shield (even when the printer power is turned off) prior to grounding through the HP-IB cable or grounded power adapter. Connecting the printer cable before grounding the converter can cause the converter to prematurely fail. Use ONLY the AC-DC adapter supplied with this unit!

4) Connect the printer cable to the MicroPlot. The MicroPlot is now ready for use.

5) To use a power strip for portable applications, Do Not connect the strip to a grounded power outlet until the MicroPlot AC adapter and printer power cord have been plugged into the strip, the DC plug of the MicroPlot adapter has been connected, and the printer cable attached to the MicroPlot. This ensures that the portable printing setup is simultaneously grounded when the strip is plugged into the power outlet.

NOTE: If the power indicator LED on the MicroPlot blinks after the unit has been connected to the printer and is powered on, there is a problem with the cabling between the printer and MicroPlot, or the printer is off-line.

No, the HP3000 communicates with HP-IB printers using CIPER bi-directional protocol; the MicroPlot is not compatible with this protocol.

2) My test equipment supports only plotting (i.e., there is no print function). What kind of printer should I use?

For color plotting, use a DeskJet model 1200/1600/2500C+/2250 or color LaserJet. These, to date, are the only HP color printers that support HP-GL. For black and white plotting, LaserJets that implement PCL5/6 will work. PCL5/6 LaserJets include LaserJet series III and above.

3) Nothing is printed when I connect the MicroPlot between my controller and HP printer.

Check that your MicroPlot address switch settings match the address that the test instrument or computer expects. If the MicroPlot is the only HP-IB device connected to the bus, use the "Listen Always" address switch setting if you are in the default or Variable Resolution modes; if in the HP-GL mode, the correct address (usually address 5) must be set.

Ensure that the HP-IB and parallel cables are firmly attached to the controller and printer connectors, and the MicroPlot power indicator is on. It is recommended that you connect and disconnect

the HP-IB cable connections at both ends 2 or 3 times to "wipe" the contacts before tightening the jackscrews.

If the printer "Ready" light blinks after you send data to the printer, but nothing is printed, press the RESET switch on the MicroPlot to eject the page if you are in the Variable Resolution or HP-GL modes.

4) Strange characters are printed when I send graphics data to the MicroPlot from my HP controller.

HP test equipment and computers send data to printers in PCL format. Non-HP printers such as Epson, Okidata, etc. do not understand this format in graphics mode (text-only data should work OK). Unless your controller has a menu listing non-HP printer drivers, you must use a HP-compatible printer.

If the printed characters include characters such as PA, SPO, or other similar strings with numeric data, you may be trying to send a HP-GL plot to a printer that does not implement PCL5/6. If the controller has both "Print" and "Plot" capabilities, select "Print," set the MicroPlot switches to any print mode (Variable Resolution or default), and try again. If you are trying to use a PCL5/6 printer such as the DeskJet 1200/1600/2500C+/2250 or LaserJet III or above (IV, V, etc.) as a plotter, the switches on the MicroPlot have not been set to program the printer to accept HP-GL data. Select HP-GL landscape mode on the MicroPlot, RESET it, and try again.

5) I am able to print graphics data, but the graph over-runs the edge of the paper or the plot is extremely small.

Use the MicroPlot Variable Resolution switches to adjust the size of the graph. Raising the resolution shrinks the graph; lowering the resolution expands the graph. Don't forget to RESET the MicroPlot after the switches are set; the MicroPlot reads the switch settings only after a RESET or when power is applied to the unit.

6) I set the Variable Resolution switches to two different resolutions but I still get the same size graph.

Most LaserJets and DeskJets do not implement all of the resolutions available in the MicroPlot. Some DeskJets implement 75, 150, 300, and 600 dpi (dots/inch). If you set the VR of the MicroPlot to 100 dpi, the printer will default to the next highest valid setting; in this case 150 dpi. Therefore the 100 and 150 dpi graphs will be the same size.

This also occurs when the controller sends a resolution command, which over rides the MicroPlot’s resolution command sent at start up, to the printer each time it sends data.

Turn the automatic page eject feature off, set the Variable Resolution to the size graph desired. Send the first graph to the printer, but do not press the RESET switch. Send the second, third, etc. graphs in the same manner. When all desired graphs have been sent, press the RESET switch or printer page eject button.

The above method will work only if the controller does not send an Interface Clear (IFC) or Form Feed command to the printer. If it does send one of these commands while the MicroPlot is in the Variable Resolution mode, then the page will be ejected each time a graph is sent. In this case, set the MicroPlot to default (Variable Resolution OFF) and send the first graph again. If the page is not ejected, send the second graph etc. Note that you will not be able to adjust the size of the graph in this case.

8) When I send a PCL graph to the printer, about half of the graph is printed and then the printer stops.

This usually occurs when the instrument's printer driver was written for a ThinkJet or PaintJet printer and you are using a DeskJet 600 series printer. Since the ThinkJet and PaintJet printers process data very slowly, the instrument's printer driver sends a small block of data to the printer and waits for the printer to request more data a short time later. Since the DeskJet can accept more data at a faster rate, the instrument sends a lot of data in short bursts, the DeskJet stores this data in its buffer until it has accumulated enough to begin printing, stops accepting data, and begins formatting the stored data for printing. The latter operation in DeskJet 600 printers takes more time than the instrument has been programmed to expect, so it "times out" and aborts printing. To correct this problem, set the Speed Mode, switch position number 11, ON.

With the exception of DeskJet models 1200/1600/2250/2500C+, DeskJets are line printers, not page printers. In the latter, the whole image is accepted and stored before printing begins, whereas the DeskJet only stores a partial image before beginning to print. Since the MicroPlot relies on the ability to rotate the whole graph in the printer memory to implement landscape printing, this mode is valid only for PCL5/6 printers; i.e., LaserJets III and later and the DeskJet 1200/1600/2500C+/2250.

10) Can I hook multiple controllers to the MicroPlot input to share a printer among the controllers?

Only one controller at a time can be connected to the bus. To share the MicroPlot, you can install an HP-IB switch, III 52-2221 or equivalent, between the controllers and MicroPlot. Alternately, you can connect a MicroPlot to each controller and run the MicroPlot outputs into a manual or automatic Centronics parallel switch.

12) When I send PCL graphics data to my color DeskJet printer I get a black-background plot.

This happens when the controller driver was written for the PaintJet printer which uses a different color palette than the DeskJet. Select the "reverse"( Position 10 ON) function on the color mode switch to reverse the printer color palette, changing black to white, etc..

This happens when the controller sends a “user defined character” to the switched plotter that the switched plotter does not recognize. We do not currently have a solution to this problem so the character must be changed manually.

The controller and the MicroPlot are both sending page eject commands. Set the internal switch positions 1-3 OFF to disable the automatic page eject feature.

Input: 100-240Vac, 50/60Hz; Output: 9Vdc, 1.67A Regulated, Grounded (Outer conductor of DC connector at earth ground), Converter internally fused on EXW models

*Maximum data rate possible. Actual data throughput will vary depending on computer/controller hardware, software, and peripheral used.

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