Manual

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Chapter 5 IEEE 1284 Parallel Interface
Nibble Mode
Eight bits equals one byte. When a byte of data is sent to the printer, the eight
bits are sent over eight data lines.
Some devices cannot send data over their eight data lines. To bypass this,
the 1284 permits data to be sent as half a byte over four status lines. (Half a
byte equals one nibble.) Two sequential four-bit nibbles are sent over the
lines.
Data is transferred from printer to host in four-bit nibbles over the status lines,
and the host controls the transmission.
Byte Mode
The printer and host send data to each other along eight data lines (one bit
per line).
If bidirectional communication is supported by the printer and the host, the
host will take control of the data transfer.
Signals
Table 6 lists each of the signals associated with the corresponding pins on the
1284 interface. Descriptions of the signals follow.
Table 6. 1284 Signals
Pin Source of Data
Type of Mode
Compatible Nibble Byte
1 Host nStrobe HostClk Host/Clk
2 Host/Printer Data 1 (LSB)
3 Host/Printer Data 2
4 Host/Printer Data 3
5 Host/Printer Data 4
6 Host/Printer Data 5
7 Host/Printer Data 6
8 Host/Printer Data 7
9 Host/Printer Data 8 (MSB)
10 Printer nAck PtrClk PtrClk
11 Printer Busy PtrBusy PtrBusy
12 Printer PError AckDataReq AckDataReq
13 Printer Select Xflag Xflag