Electronic PC Console Interface card model 1.3 - specification

1.The PC console system and video requirements.

The PC console must be AT compatible with 16 bit ISA bus. The PC console Video card must be VGA or EGA and 16 or 8 bits. Console application has to run in text mode 80x25 characters.

2. Keyboard connections to the EPIS card:

Connectors type: Mini DIN type, both for the actual keyboard (top connector) and loopback cable (middle connector).

Signaling: AT keyboard compatible. Loopback output is to be connected to the PC console keyboard input via a keyboard extension cable (plus Mini DIN to DIN adaptor if required). Keyboard must be connected to the EPIS card.

3. Serial interface

It provides connectivity to an ANSI terminal emulator.

The output data stream

consists of:
  1. screen characters hex20 to hexFF
  2. screen characters hex00 to hex19 are converted to spaces
  3. ANSI style control commands are used to control cursor position and atributes including RGB colors.

The input data stream

The following control codes are utilized to control the EPIS card: 
Control code	Hex	Description
DC1 (Xon)	11	Resume transmission
DC2 		12	Display menu
DC3 (Xoff)	13	Stop  transmission
EPIS can be configured to process the input data stream as:

  1. VT100 data stream - VT100 mode

  2. key codes - extended mode to allow processing of key combinations with Alt Ctrl etc.
In this mode the EPIS card is capable of generating combinations of keystrokes with shift ctrl and alt keys utilizing an extended mapping built into the EPIS firmware. A corresponding mapping file for some automation systems can also be provided. Click on key codes to obtain a full list of hex key codes to keystrokes translation.

RS232 connector

Type: 25 pin D. DTE configuration.

Handshaking:

Xon / Xoff is supported. Xon is assumed after system reset. Hardware lines handshaking is also supported. Both modes of handshaking can be activated with a DIP switch.

Serial communication parameters:

speed	bps:	9600/19200/28800/57600 selectable

parity	bits	    None 

lenght  bits:	    8

stop 	bits:	    1

4. Configuration switches.

There are several 4 position DIP switches provided in order to custom configure the EPIS board: SW1 SW2 and SW4. The switches are read after EPIS reset (power on or remote menu command).

Configuration examples

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