TESTING USB EXPANSION AND MASTER CARDS

We are going to connect our cards for first time and check if they work properly.

 

USBExpansion+Master

We connect Master from its parallel port to the parallel port J1 on the USBExp card (directly or using an extension cable). We feed master with 5 volts DC using for example an old PC power source. Finally we connect USBExp to any available USB port on our PC.

To check that every inputs work properly, we use a little piece of cable; to check outputs we use one led with a 470 ohm serial resistor.

We will use now "Controlador" software. Let's check the configuration file "controlador.ini":

[ fichero de configuracion para el programa CONTROLADOR ]
[ Configuration file for CONTROLADOR ]

[ Uso de Expansión USB ]
[ Iocard Master expansion USB ]
USB=yes    we are using USB Expansion card

[ Múltiples USBs ]
[ Non unique USB ]
MUSB=No   only one USB Expansion card

[ Número de periférico para el USB ]
[ USB Device number ]
deviceUSB=2048

[ Número de A/D a usar de la placa de Expansión USB ]

[ A/D used by Iocard Master expansion USB ]
USB_AD=0

[ Puerto donde se encuentra conectada la IOCard Master ]
[ Iocard Master, parallel port address ]
Port=$0378

[ Modo compatible yes/no , necesita cable especial ]
[ Compatibility Mode yes/no, needed special cable ]
FullCompatible=No

[ Utiliza placa de expansión yes/no]
[ Use Expansion card yes/no]
Expansion=no    we are not using the old parallel expansion card

[ Activar en modo SIMULADOR yes/no]
[ Use simulated card yes/no]
simulator=no

[ Numero de tarjetas Master inter-conectadas ]
[ Number of connected master cards ]
NCards=1

[ Refresco de poll tarjetas Master ]
[ Master cards refresh ]
MasterRefresh=10

[ End of File ]

Once checked, we start the program and click on "Start". As we have nothing connected to the cards, every box must show blank.

Let's check inputs first (J3 and J4 connectors on Master card). The correspondence between phisical and logical inputs numbers are as follows:

We shortcircuit any GND pin with any pin of their same group. The corresponding logical number is shown in the window.

 

In the picture, input number 37 (pin number 1 in J4 connector) is shown. We check every input changing the cable. We can check several inputs at the same time (the red number indicates tha last input enabled).

Now we will check outputs (J2 and DB9 de la Master) using the led. The correspondence between phisical and logical inputs numbers are as follows:

For outputs, there is only one GND pin.

We connect the led anode to output number 13 for example, and the resistor to GND. We enable this output by writing "13" in the "IN/DPLAY" box and clicking "ON". The led then turns on. When we click "OFF", the led turns off. We check the rest of outputs.

And the test has finished. Our new cards work properly.

 

 

Last edition: 07.10.2005